Pedalmania Dying Out?

[andrewsrea]

Is it me, or is the pedal craze dying out?

JHS just shutdown Ross pedals, there have been a flurry of pedal maker ads slashing prices and not a lot of new designs coming out.

[Floridian FX]

It's winding down for sure. The market is oversaturated.

[Floridian FX]

Sweetwaters Pedals Page: 3,576 products.

[Floridian FX]

Using the wayback machine:

May 23 2020 Distortion, Overdrive, Boost & Fuzz Pedals 409

November 19th 2024 Distortion, Overdrive, Boost & Fuzz Pedals 1037

[uwmcscott]

I would guess that the infiltration of multi effects devices and amps with built in effects/software based amps have taken over a decent share of the traditional pedal market over the past 10 years. That and the proliferation of decent/cheap imported pedals. Oh, and old guys like me that are largely just playing acoustic guitars as we start kicking kids off our lawns.

[glasshand]

I do think that the market is oversaturated at this point. It seems like everybody and his brother is making pedals. And some of them are cool companies, but at this point, how many more takes on the Blues Breaker or Rat does the world need?

[tonebender]

I think the multi-effects units are taking over. Everywhere I go the bands are running direct. Sounds good too. Line 6 which I would have abolished if I were King 25 years ago, actually seem to be getting the job done. Hell I have even thought about it myself, but I play in such a traditional blues band that showing up without a tube amp may result in much shame.

[golem]

You know me, I'd want to see actual data. I don't know if reviving Ross ever made much sense. The compressor was the most famous one, but there were better clones, and the rest of them were cheaper used than he had to blow them out for new. And even then, they all sold out when he dropped the price.

I agree we have an insane amount of choice these days.

[tlarson58]

Shoot. I just ordered a pedal.

Am I behind the curve?

[Tonray's Ghost]

I think the multi-effects units are taking over. Everywhere I go the bands are running direct. Sounds good too. Line 6 which I would have abolished if I were King 25 years ago, actually seem to be getting the job done. Hell I have even thought about it myself, but I play in such a traditional blues band that showing up without a tube amp may result in much shame.

I understand for some larger acts, the amps on stage are becoming more of a prop and the FX / Modeler direct to house is more common, but because of historically being expected by fans, the amps are just put out to make everyone feel nice and nostalgic

[Tonray's Ghost]

Is it me, or is the pedal craze dying out?

JHS just shutdown Ross pedals, there have been a flurry of pedal maker ads slashing prices and not a lot of new designs coming out.

I'm extremely happy with my latest setup for home with both an old Vox Stomplab and the NUX MG-30, but I still am gassing for oddball stuff like the Hologram Chroma Console or the Source Audio Artifakt pedal. But they're expensive

[toomanycats]

Playing Devil's advocate:

If pedalmania is dying out . . .

And if multi-effects units going direct through FOH and monitors is the new SOP for live performance (I've personally witnessed this) . . .

Then why can't I pick up one of the thousands of 70s Plexi or 80s Marshall JCM-800 heads that should be flooding the market at this point, reduced in price to just a couple hundred bucks? As heavy, fragile, expensive to maintain, hopelessly obsolete technology these things should have the street value of the vintage Electrolux vacuum cleaners and Kodak Carousel Slide Projectors I see being given away for $10 at thrift stores and flea markets.

[mozz]

Started scanning these years ago on a usb thing that makes photos and slides into jpgs. 50's dad in the service up to 70's us kids playing in the back yard. Then we have pedals got in a trade i haven't really even tried out yet.

I don't think pedalmania is dying out just yet. Especially for vintage clones. If i see any plexis for a good price I'll let you know.

[Tonray's Ghost]

Playing Devil's advocate:

If pedalmania is dying out . . .

And if multi-effects units going direct through FOH and monitors is the new SOP for live performance (I've personally witnessed this) . . .

Then why can't I pick up one of the thousands of 70s Plexi or 80s Marshall JCM-800 heads that should be flooding the market at this point, reduced in price to just a couple hundred bucks? As heavy, fragile, expensive to maintain, hopelessly obsolete technology these things should have the street value of the vintage Electrolux vacuum cleaners and Kodak Carousel Slide Projectors I see being given away for $10 at thrift stores and flea markets.

Collector's items. Like Beta max machines or 8 track tape players ..ha ha ha

[BatUtilityBelt]

It does feel like a saturated market. My perspective is that big brands have raised prices like crazy, all trying to become boutique. Meanwhile knock-offs in the sub-$50 range have been taking off like crazy. Add virtual effects and multi-effects, and it's far more choices than I personally need to consider. I seldom run more than 4 pedals together, and just swap out as I need them.

[andrewsrea]

Shoot. I just ordered a pedal.

Am I behind the curve?

You are all good, Tommy!

[tonebender]

@tlarson58 What pedal did you order?

[tlarson58]

@tlarson58 What pedal did you order?

A Soundlad "Scran." It's a Marshall-in-a-box with a lot of bells 'n whistles that I want to use through my home rig.

@andrewsrea's Dumblicious is the only pedal I use through my amp at the practice space. Damn, it's a good pedal.

[tlarson58]

I have a Quilter Superblock US which I think is a hybrid of sorts. It can go directly to a DAW (or to a FOH mixing board) and still power a speaker with 4 or 25 watts. I use it both ways at home (with the same rig as he is using). It's pretty cool.