SOT. New circuit... How to capitalise on it?

[brett]

Hi
What the options are for getting a design manufactured in smallish quantities (e.g. 100).

I've have a design that I'm REALLY happy with.  It's an overdrive that makes any cheap clean amp sound like an overdriven class A amp.  For me, that's the holy grail of distortion, and this is quite close ().  So I'm assuming that people would pay good $$$ for one.
I have experience in making and selling pedals, but just a few at a time.

Has anyone commercialised a pedal on this scale?  I have a really busy (and well-paid) job, so I'd rather have it manufactured if possible.  Are there people out there who can make a batch of 100 pedals, or will I have to set up a workshop?

Thanks for any advice.

PS After making and selling some, I'll definately release the design.  Without the help of the forum, I could never have designed this.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Sure. But depending what they charge, will anything be left for you?
Duet Electronics in melbourne Australia have been doing this for years.
No harm in getting a quote.
At least 100 is an economic number for screen printing!
Action Circuit Boards in Keilor Park (Melbourne Australia) can do the PCBs and screenprint the boxes.

[markm]

Brett,
I'd like to see you have some success with this as you've helped me out quite a bit!
Maybe you should contact Andy about this, perhaps he could lend some advice?

[newbie builder]

Brett,
I'd like to see you have some success with this as you've helped me out quite a bit!
Maybe you should contact Andy about this, perhaps he could lend some advice?

+1
Doing something like what Andy did (licensing designs to a well respected business i.e. Tonefactor) gets pedals out there without you having to take lots of time to build/market them.

[QSQCaito]

Maybe it could be done more efficiently in parts.
You could send boxes to one guy. PCB to other. And pay some electroonic engineer students to do the rest of the job..

[zjokka]

Brett,
I'd like to see you have some success with this as you've helped me out quite a bit!
Maybe you should contact Andy about this, perhaps he could lend some advice?

+1
Doing something like what Andy did (licensing designs to a well respected business i.e. Tonefactor) gets pedals out there without you having to take lots of time to build/market them.

If he only dared to feedback us a bit on how that went...

I just don't understand -- Tone Factor could just have taken it and DF would, I strongly believe, have had no way of sueing them. Was there really ever a lawsuit over a stompbox design?  And what can they do if your design is still floating on the internet while you made an exclusive sale? whole different, much more common lawsuit.
Would he get $25/box?

I would consult a lawyer first if you go commercial (licensing and stuff).

[Dragonfly]

I'll start by saying that my deal with Tonefactor has gone perfectly. Brad is a honest guy, and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend him. Also, just as a side note, Kirk (pedal parts plus) is Brads brother in law...also a VERY cool, honest guy) I do know that Brads very busy these days...and I dont know if he's looking for new designs...but if you'd like, i'll be happy to ask him.

That being said, I'm not sure what you're looking to do Brett. Do you want to "license" the designs to another builder ? As I read it, you're just looking for somebody to build them *for you* and you'll sell/market them on your own.

Either way, if I can be of help, feel free to PM me.

BTW...i'm also working with another company that contacted me from here on the forum, and thus far has gone very well. Everything is still in the design stages, but things look good so far.

Best wishes,
  AC

[mac]

Dou you have to patent the circuit before licensing a desing?

mac

[$uperpuma]

I'll start by saying that my deal with Tonefactor has gone perfectly. Brad is a honest guy, and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend him. Also, just as a side note, Kirk (pedal parts plus) is Brads brother in law...also a VERY cool, honest guy) I do know that Brads very busy these days...and I dont know if he's looking for new designs...but if you'd like, i'll be happy to ask him.

That being said, I'm not sure what you're looking to do Brett. Do you want to "license" the designs to another builder ? As I read it, you're just looking for somebody to build them *for you* and you'll sell/market them on your own.

Either way, if I can be of help, feel free to PM me.

BTW...i'm also working with another company that contacted me from here on the forum, and thus far has gone very well. Everything is still in the design stages, but things look good so far.

Best wishes,
  AC

x2 Brad is a stand up guy thats always open to new ideas.

[markm]

Dou you have to patent the circuit before licensing a desing?

mac

Very good question.

[d95err]

Dou you have to patent the circuit before licensing a desing?

You never *have* to patent anything. In fact, unless you're a huge corporation, there is no sense in patenting anything.
If you want to get a patent, you need to consider: Do I have the financial means to hire lawyers to defend my patent in court for 10 years? If not, getting a patent is a waste of money.

The only function of patents these days is to enable big corporations to destroy any competition from small independent companies.

(Oups, I didn't mean to hijack this thread into a patent-rant. Sorry!)

[mattpocket]

Yeah, patenting also has a lot to do with the originality of the design, if there is nothing in the circuit that hasnt been done before, then you could get problems with that...

I work for BAE SYSTEMS and we built an arm rehabilition unit for someone who had suffered a stroke and lost the use of their arm, we tried to patent it (BAE has a company patenting department!) but they told us it was unpatentable because it didnt have any unique features... plus it costs thousands of pounds to put it through the process.

Matt

[zjokka]

Dou you have to patent the circuit before licensing a desing?

You never *have* to patent anything. In fact, unless you're a huge corporation, there is no sense in patenting anything.
If you want to get a patent, you need to consider: Do I have the financial means to hire lawyers to defend my patent in court for 10 years? If not, getting a patent is a waste of money.

The only function of patents these days is to enable big corporations to destroy any competition from small independent companies.

(Oups, I didn't mean to hijack this thread into a patent-rant. Sorry!)

That really is my point I was trying to make. This was in the case of Tonefactor something very specific, I tend to believe. They only pay out of courtesy and to be able to put it out under the quasi same name as it featured on the most popular pedal forum around.

Licensing means you would get money just because they use your design. If your investment is only a drawing, then you will have a hard time earning back new pencils.

If you most of it yourself and put your box in the serious price range (ie +$100), you could make more then $50 a box depending on the number of pots and box size. I think silk screening will be a big part of the expense, don't know.

I'm still waiting for somebody to show me a court case over a stompbox design.

zj

[mattpocket]

Has anyone looked how similar the boss and behinger pedals actually are?

Matt

[puretube]

yes...

BOSS did!

[O]

...PS After making and selling some, I'll definately release the design.  Without the help of the forum, I could never have designed this.

I think if you get it licensed, they (whoever licenses the product) might not let you release the schem. Whatever you do, remember to dump goop all over it 

[mattpocket]

yes...

BOSS did!

And what was the outcome? How similar are they?

What do people use for "goop"?

Matt

[zjokka]

yes...

BOSS did!

because Behringer blatantly copied every exterior feature and the whole pedal line. That's fooling people and making money in imitating A BRAND look that the company invested a lot of money in to build up. Additionally Behringer claimed they were licensed by Boss

http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile523.html

they're not sueing on the schematics or anything.

[mattpocket]

Mmm. Interesting.

[puretube]

Mmm. Interesting.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=28972.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=30507.0