Jaycar has changed their MXR style enclosures! I'm not happy about that. I Think

[darron]

I use the diecast aluminium enclosures from Jaycar (major Australian electronics store). They were original MXR style, and I believe that they were possibly even manufactured by the same company as these seemed identical. I bought ten new enclosures today and brought them home. I noticed the outside looked different as they usually have their sides brushed (or a bit gauged!) and these you could only see all of the aluminium parts melted together. "Okay, maybe it will be easier to work with".

Opened one up, and it has this massive company logo imprinted on the inside. "Soanar" http://www.soanar.com.au/ I don't like this because the imprint is about a millimeter thick, and also if someone's going to look inside one of my pedals I don't want them to see anyone's logo except my own.

I noticed that the screw holes are pre-threaded, unlike the previous model that Jaycar sold where you would need a drill to set the thread with the nickel screws that they gave you. The screws look a bit nicer, well machined and chunky looking though they are the same size.

Other than the giant logo, it's also different in that it's about 1.5 - 2 millimeters shorter in height.

I suppose that's my rant. I fear change sometimes... I know it seems like a stupid thing to start a thread on. I don't know what to make of this. Is this a bad thing? Someone please give em some opinions to latch off!

I'm considering looking for the original kind which was identical (I think?) to the MXR ones. And ways to cover up that massive Soanar imprint! I'll submit a photo if anyone's actually interested and uses the enclosures also.

Thanks for the long boring read (:

[Cliff Schecht]

Hammond 1590B FTW!

[stobiepole]

Try Altronics - http://www.altronics.com.au - they have real Hammond boxes and generally a much wider range (there's even a sale on right now). Check the dealers list for somewhere near you.

Chris

[ulysses]

my local jaycar changed to soanar about 2 months ago.

my problem with the logo being such a big embossed inprint is that led holders dont take well if you put them anywhere near the middle of the box (where the logo is).

my main problem with these soanar boxes is that the screw on bottom plate *never* sits flush on the sides.

i bought 2-3 without realising that they changed them. i wont buy them ever again.

unfortunatly jaycar has some made some really bad choices as far as parts go. i get the feeling they are buying stock with the biggest profit margin. rarely a very good choice for the consumer.

now i just buy hammond boxes from mouser.

cheers
ulysses

[George Giblet]

Soanar have been a professional component supplier in Australia for many years.  They have now merged with Jaycar.

It appears Soanar are getting the boxes made themselves, probably made in china for bugger all and they are still selling them at the high price.

If I were you guys I would:
1) Return the enclosures, especially if these enclosures are sold under the same Jaycar part number as before.
2) Formalize your complaints to Jaycar regarding dimensional changes, the depth of the Soanar logo and the poor alignment.  I hate deep logos because they interfere with machining (especially drilling), they weaken the surface and provide grab points for manual drilling which can cause parts of the enclosure to crack off.
3) Stop buying them until the quality returns.  Quite franky I'm sick to death of dodgy sub-standard crap which is becoming the norm these days - that goes for parts and for finished goods.

If no one acts the crap will becomes accepted as the norm - don't stand for it!

[9 volts]

Right on George Say it how it is!
Complacency sucks
'dodgy sub-standard crap' was one of the reasons I started making my own pedals in the first place (hey I couldn't afford boutique stuff)

[brett]

Hi
which size are you using?
If you have an ABN, DSE sells these "Taiwanese" boxes in lots of 20 for $8.10:
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/45a8b81003f34c602740c0a87f9c0701/Product/View/H2233
I'm using these lately: Jaycar "Economy Die-cast Aluminum Boxes - 119 x 93.5 x 34mm".  Very cool low-profile appearance.
cheers

[grapefruit]

What's the part number of the boxes you use?
I use the HB5067 like brett, and the smaller HB5062, but haven't bought any for a while. I have a stockpile.

I noticed when I used a HB5064 at work the other day that it had the dimensions imprinted inside. I didn't notice the logo. It's a pain when you're mounting a PCB with 3 X 6 way RCA sockets onto it because they dont sit flush. Next time the Electus rep comes in I'll talk to him about it. I don't know if it will do any good though.

Stew.

[darron]

The size is labeled the same as the aluminium 111x60x30mm enclosure. CAT. NO. HB5062

I used to dislike Dick Smith and went to Jaycar, but Altronics is definitely becoming the new Jaycar! Not that I have anything against Hammond at all, but I like the MXR style because it's that little bit smaller but perfect to house the battery, foot switch and audio jacks. The battery and sockets fit snugly. Maybe I'll get over my little tiff. The finish is nicer on these new ones, so maybe I'm judging the quality too harshly. I'm glad I got some supporting feedback. I didn't notice how the bottom plate doesn't sit flush, a bit ticked off now!

i'd like it if we all either made an effort to support the original or moved on to this new model. But I want people to help me decide. I won't move to Hammond though since I just ordered a screen printing apparatus and for my reason above.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

I too use these enclosures. So far I have only used 2 of them and haven't had much of a problem yet... I did have to change where I would usually put the LED (courtesy of the logo) but the end result wasn't too bad.

Pretty soon I will be making my own enclosures and I am currently looking into the how's and why's of it... I will have a rather unique range of pedals if things go to plan. I may be able to help you guys out eventually too as I think there would be enough of a market in Australia to warrant turning it into a business!!!

[darron]

I too use these enclosures. So far I have only used 2 of them and haven't had much of a problem yet... I did have to change where I would usually put the LED (courtesy of the logo) but the end result wasn't too bad.

Pretty soon I will be making my own enclosures and I am currently looking into the how's and why's of it... I will have a rather unique range of pedals if things go to plan. I may be able to help you guys out eventually too as I think there would be enough of a market in Australia to warrant turning it into a business!!!

As in folded steel? How much do you think they would cost?

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

I too use these enclosures. So far I have only used 2 of them and haven't had much of a problem yet... I did have to change where I would usually put the LED (courtesy of the logo) but the end result wasn't too bad.

Pretty soon I will be making my own enclosures and I am currently looking into the how's and why's of it... I will have a rather unique range of pedals if things go to plan. I may be able to help you guys out eventually too as I think there would be enough of a market in Australia to warrant turning it into a business!!!

As in folded steel? How much do you think they would cost?

Not steel... I don't want to give away my secrets yet, but they shouldn't be too expensive, although I am looking at making some rather unique designs. That's one of the how's and why's that I am looking into. I will eventually post a pic of one when I get it done and work out the costs. It's going to be a very "boutique" thing whereby you will be able to request shapes and sizes of enclosures... imagine having a star-shaped effects pedal!!!!