We want you to be happy with our modules. If something isn't quite right for you, we may be able to make adjustments to it. This is outside the limits of our Warranty or Guarantee processes. Adjustments are an additional service we offer, which may or may not be applicable to your particular situation.
We know there are lots of configuration choices, options, and mods available for new builds. And we've all bought effects that we liked, but after a while they no longer met our (probably changing) needs or tastes. If your new build doesn’t end up like you expected for some reason, or you need a "refresh" of an older module, there may be options. The challenge is that once everything is soldered together it is difficult to make changes. Unsoldering and changing out parts is a risky endeavor that can cause as many problems as it fixes. However, not all changes involve unsoldering. Or perhaps an entire board can be replaced. It just depends on the module and the issue.
Below are a few guidelines about adjustments to keep in mind:
Options offered will be modifications to your module, not returns, refunds, or exchanges. Adjustments are under the same Warranty and Guarantee policies. Any adjustment options offered are at our discretion. We may not be able to offer any reasonable options that meet your needs.
We test each module before we ship it to make certain that everything is working properly and it sounds like it is intended to sound. If we have concerns about anything, we will address it before it ships. That may include contacting you if we think something about the configuration of the module results in performance that differs from what we expect, or differs from what we think you might expect. It’s much better to prevent problems than to correct them later.
If the adjustment involves us making changes to the module, you will be responsible for shipping charges both ways. If there are charges for parts or labor, we’ll provide that information in advance.
It may be that guitars, pickups, other modules, pedals, amps, or other devices in your signal path are causing or contributing to the problem. Simplify your setup to the minimum required to produce the problem so we can be more certain that our options will actually address the issue. We may ask you to do this or try other configurations to help gather information helpful to solving the problem.
We can only provide adjustments that are within the design of the module. There are limits to what is possible or practical with particular designs. Most adjustments will have side effects. For example, we won’t be able to turn an overdrive into a fuzz. We might be able to increase the gain that is available, but that may also impact the tone response. We’ll provide information as best we can about each option.
Adjustments must have specific, achievable goals. We can’t make adjustments based on “it just doesn’t sound right to me” or other vague comments. We need to figure out specific changes to address specific problems. If the problem is an overall characteristic of the sound, keep in mind that characteristic is probably part of the design for that module, and is what is expected of that circuit. Some mods and options can change the character of circuit's sound, but in many cases that characteristic sound is produced by the many parts interacting together as designed and may be impractical or impossible to change.
Our modules often “compare to” specific brands and models of guitar pedals, or they may not. Check our “Compares To” discussion, and also read the module descriptions for details. Parts substitutions and other mods and options you choose may result in a module that doesn’t sound like a “compares to” pedal, and likely isn’t meant to. Original pedals, especially older vintage units, often have a wide variability in tone from one unit to another. It is common to have potentially significant differences in sound from one “identical” pedal to another, including our modules that “compare to” those pedals. We compare our modules to original pedals to make sure they are in the range of normal variability in sound for that pedal, often providing information about differences in the module description. Matching the exact performance of a specific, individual, original pedal would require us to make a detailed analysis of the original, perhaps including the destruction of the original pedal in the process. Obviously, that’s not something we’re likely to do. But if you can quantify the difference in sound in some way, we may be able to tweak it to make it more similar.
With the exception of certain parts that are meant to be replaced over time, such as jacks, switches, and potentiometers, the parts in our modules are soldered in place. It is difficult to unsolder and replace most parts without risking damage to the board, the parts, or other parts. Modifications that involve unsoldering multiple parts are risky and unlikely to be offered.
Any modifications must meet our quality standards. We won’t offer modifications that are unsupportable, likely to fail in the future, or unlikely to fix the problem.
Depending on the nature of the problem and options for addressing it, the only feasible options may involve replacing entire boards and/or changing out controls and connections. Costs for such extensive changes may make them unattractive. In such cases, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a different module.
When we design our modules, we look at circuit tweaks that we think are worth offering as options. In the end, probably half or less of the ones we try are deemed worthwhile. As a result, a good starting point for adjustments is to consider the mods and options we offer for the module. Those represent tweaks that we are familiar with. If they don’t do what you need, there may still be other options, but they may require building test boards and other experiments, running up costs and time, and would have to be evaluated. At that point we're crossing over from building a custom configuration of a circuit to designing a new circuit, a different type of activity and product offering.
We are unlikely to make adjustments to a module more than once. The technical risk of damage becomes too high, and the need for multiple modifications likely represents a situation where the goals aren’t clear or a different module is probably the solution.
Most players know this, but it is always worth keeping in mind. Your favorite artist may have used a particular pedal to get killer tone on their albums. But that artist also used his fingers, his guitar, his cables, maybe other effects, his amps, a recording studio with particular acoustics, post-production engineering, and a host of other tone-influencing experience, skill, equipment, and technology to produce the recording that you are listening to on your equipment for playing back that recording. And there is often as much inaccurate mis-information as there is accurate information about exactly how that sound was achieved. “That tone” may not exist, at least not in the form of a pedal/module, and no amount of tweaking or adjustment can get you there. Or you may get lucky, plug in, and get it right away.
Whatever the case may be, we will do our best to provide reasonable and cost-effective options to address your needs. If you aren’t happy, neither are we. As much as we appreciate your purchase, we appreciate even more your next purchase and your recommendation to your friends!