New Trapezoid and Octagon Hammond Enclosures

[Joe Hart]

Has anyone used either of these? They look quite cool!
-Joe Hart

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I have a few of the Trapezoid enclosures. Have not "used" them yet as I have not found the perfect project for them 

BTW. The NEW Zinc Diecast series from Hammond are the EXACT same as the old style MXR boxes 

[Taylor]

Link for those like me who had not seen them yet:

http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg_OctTrap.htm

[wavley]

I have real mixed feelings about odd shaped pedals.  On the one hand, they look really awesome and I like odd things, on the other it makes my pedalboard even more of a jigsaw puzzle than it already is.  I guess that's part of the fun, if they are reasonably priced I might order a few.

[Mark Hammer]

neat!  Are those trapezoid ones what Carl Martin uses, or are those rounder than what I remember?

I find it interesting that the Hammond page actually says: "Our most popular application is "stomp box" usage "  You wuold NOT have seen any reference to music gear applications anywhere in Hammond literature 20 years ago.  You might conceivably have seen a reference to broadcast studios when mentioning rack units, or mixers and control surfaces when discussing sloped front boxes.  But "stomp boxes"?  Not on your life!

Quite the industry change, eh?

I have real mixed feelings about odd shaped pedals.  On the one hand, they look really awesome and I like odd things, on the other it makes my pedalboard even more of a jigsaw puzzle than it already is.

What appeals to me about the trapezoid shape is that I've had plenty of things where the board was juuuuuuuuusssst a little too big  for the box.  These let you pick the wide or slender end.  For instance, that 1590TRPC is big enough that you could make the narrower end the rear skirt and stick the controls and board, back there, with room for three stompswitches along the front skirt.  Alternatively, flipping the box the other way allows for two stompswitches along the front and more controls and toggles along the rear.

Buckle up.  I have a feeling we're going to see some interesting boutique pedals in the next few years!

[MikeH]

I got really excited when I saw those... until I realized they'll probably cost twice as much as regular Hammond die-cast enclosures, which are already at the 'luxury price point' as far as enclosures go.

[Mark Hammer]

Perhaps, but in some respects one of those trapezoidal boxes may do exactly what you need that a 1590BB can't do and that a 1590DD is just too damn big and expensive for.

But yeah, I certainly wouldn't use them just because they "look cool".

The octagon box could be useful for junction or distribution boxes of varying types.  For instance, it seems aptly suited to a headphone distribution amplifier, with an output jack, and volume pot along 6 or 7 of the edges.  Also great for making your own mic snake.  Pop an XLR jack along a half-dozen sides, and run a big cable from there to your mixer.

[tiges_ tendres]

The prices aren't too bad.

Trapezoid ones are $8 and $9 at Digikey and the Octagons are $10

[John Lyons]

But yeah, I certainly wouldn't use them just because they "look cool".

I think that is the only reason I would use/buy them. 

[Mark Hammer]

It's not the boxes that "look cool".  It's the kind of overall package they permit.

Ever tried to stick 3 of those MXR-style fluted knobs on a 1590B?  MXR couldn't do it, and neither can you.  But you can stick more than 2 of them on one of those trapezoidal boxes.

[Pigyboy]

I have a few of the Trapezoid enclosures. Have not "used" them yet as I have not found the perfect project for them 

BTW. The NEW Zinc Diecast series from Hammond are the EXACT same as the old style MXR boxes 

got any of the octagons?

[Strategy]

Octagon definitely appeals given the lack of consistent round/dome enclosure availability for "--face" pedals (or any round pedals..).

I still think if any enterprising enclosure/pedal stuff company thought to tool up for something that's not available, it would be a round enclosure! Someone could corner that market pretty quickly.

Strategy

[iccaros]

This one looks perfect for a Dual Rebot....

[Derringer]

I'm holding out for the "tessellation package" that's designed to be connected with those coupled plug-to-plugs

like these

[Taylor]

I'm holding out for the "tessellation package" that's designed to be connected with those coupled plug-to-plugs

I like the way you think.

[EATyourGuitar]

dont forget the 1590LB

put it all together

[Joe Hart]

dont forget the 1590LB

put it all together

AWESOME!
-Joe Hart

[Ronsonic]

Has anyone used either of these? They look quite cool!
-Joe Hart

I'll be on it shortly.

Thanks for the heads up on these. A lot of possibilities.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

got any of the octagons?

I can work on it! 

[Joe Hart]

Trapezoid ones are $8 and $9 at Digikey and the Octagons are $10

How's Digikey for shipping? It seems that I can get things cheaper elsewhere, so it's not like I would be ordering a lot of stuff to help offset the shipping costs.
-Joe Hart