Answering questions streamed live on April 2, 2022 - this one is about why I don't just crank out some more pedals. Easy peasy!
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- Intro Music by Fran Blanche -
Fran's Science Blog - http://www.frantone.com/designwritings/design_writings.html
FranArt Website - http://www.contourcorsets.com
Join Team FranLab!!!! Become a patron and help support my YouTube Channel on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/frantone
#Frantone #FranLab #stream
- Intro Music by Fran Blanche -
Fran's Science Blog - http://www.frantone.com/designwritings/design_writings.html
FranArt Website - http://www.contourcorsets.com
You have a high standard when it comes to the pedals you made and you should. The going rates of your pedals show that people want that kind of high quality. If you do a thing, do it on your terms and be proud of your work.
Having high standards these days is lost on a lot of people and that shows as well. How many of the pedals made these days will still be around and working in ten years? Much less, how many will be commanding the kind of money that your pedals are going for? Not a lot if you ask me.
Keep on being awesome!
Given all the time, effort, and money spent on finishing, it seems to me you were in the paint business, not the pedal business. This begs the question – is there a profitable business in that level of painting / finish work? That's something I know absolutely nothing about. That level of expertise and skill in any area doesn't come easy. If there is enough market for that level of quality, maybe it would be worth setting up a small company with some skilled young artists trained to do that kind of work. If they have enough work from other businesses coming in to be self-sustaining, doing a batch of Frantone pedals every once in a while would be no big deal.
Of course, starting a whole new company is no easy feat. Not recommended for the faint of heart, or those without a couple million to spare for a start-up.
I just looked on the web and found close photos of a bunch of your (new at the time) pedals. The cases ARE great looking.
Hey Fran I enjoy your videos and I’m listening to your experience with manufacturing pedals .
what about selling the electronics only populated board or in kit form ?
What’s sad about the music industry as a player on a gig you’re not making a lot of money as a musician you probably have another job and playing for the love of it. But when it comes time to buy instruments and devices 200 here 300 there it’s brutal. So I wonder how many folks like myself would be willing to put the board in a case solder a few switches and jacks and be happy because the end result is that sound. Also maybe just sell the case that they can work on themselves so another words just supplying parts that’s a big business. I’m looking to come up with a river board I’m a harmonica player so something small so I see there’s a couple reverb modules one can purchase and add a few discrete components to make this thing work in the module is 20 bucks few resistors passengers diode‘s pot. Anyways just a thought… Ken
Frantone pedals are works of art that happen to also be functional guitar pedals. She won't sell anything that isn't a work of art, and she cannot manufacture art at a reasonable price. So you can't have one. And that's the way it should be, because she rightly gets to choose how to spend her own time and energy.
I worked at BBC Engineering in Chiswick and just making a single PCB could take an afternoon with all the different stages and that was from being handed the design sheet cel from another department.
Fran, I disagree with you! they’re buying the name, not what kind of paint is on the chassis. You could have a plain aluminum box with your logo etched in and as long as it’s your electronics, people will buy it. Like they always say, “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good” or in this case GREAT.
There's a lot more complexity than I thought. High quality demands such attention.
I think you are overestimating how much pedal buyers (I am one) care about the finishing process.
Love your work but it seams like this is a self defeating line of thought.
People buy pedals because of the way they look? Isn't the pedal the part people step on? I'm not a guitar guy and I apparently I don't understand guitar guys.
"I don't enjoy doing it". that's enough reason right there for not doing it.
Fran: (Twenty minutes of reasoned detailed explanation why not)
Teh Internetz: So…you're saying there's a chance?