My Issue with the JHS NOTAKLÖN
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- čas přidán 2. 12. 2023
- JHS have released a new pedal, the NOTAKLÖN. A new DIY pedal. It's been a massive success and sold over 12,000 units in a week.
Unfortunately I have some reservations, some concerns about what you gain and what you loose when going down this new semi DIY pedal.
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It’s just supposed to be a fun project. I don’t think 99 dollars is a lot to ask. I love this channel but I don’t think these points really matter for this product. And given many USA pedals are simply assembled in the US now and not even soldered in house I don’t think there’s any really trickery on their part. Even Walrus boxes say “assembled” not “built” in the USA. It’s cheaper to have parts surface mounted and not thru hole soldered.
I don't think you should see it as "trickery" per say. Rather just think about how influential JHS is (Bad Monkey fiasco) and how well this product is doing. People need to be at least a bit skeptical or else every other company will start doing it.
Plus no return policy for something that can be just as easily disassembled as it was assembled doesn't sit right with me.
@PuttinOnTheRiffs, You didn't even mention KDHs' main issue with this, which was the non return policy, and likely lesser warranty protection for the same price as a 3 series pedal.
KDH and fun don't go together.
@@castleanthrax1833 idk about this being really an issue and more of an observation and a comparison. If you buy any other build your own you cannot return it unless it’s missing parts. How would the return policy work on a product like this and how would jhs be able to resell this product after the fact? As “returned and assembled?” Would it even be work $100 at that point? There’s really no way to do it that I can think of. Given the overhead of a company like jhs, the number of employees, they probably offer insurances to all of them, the already finished enclosure and the unique design idea I was shocked it wasn’t $120+ and personally I’d buy it at that price. Yes, it’s a simple finish but it’s still a cost to powder coat white and print on them. It’s positioned well in the market in the grand scheme.
@@CoolGuyAtlas I feel that. But it’s just a project and all other companies (BYOC, pedalparts, stew Mac) have similar policies on their builds. It’s very standard.
I think this actually goes back to Josh and Bill Finnegan. Bill didn’t like Josh making a clone of his pedal and at the time Bill wasn’t making any. Josh told Bill that when Bill started making Klons again, Josh would stop making his clone. A promise he kept. Fast forward ten years and now there are hundreds of klones by different brands. People have asked JHS for years to bring back their klone, but as Josh mentioned in a Q&A a few years ago, Bill won’t respond to tell him if he’s ok with Josh making a klone again. So my first thought when I saw the video for the release was ‘haha, technically he’s not making it.’ That’s my honest guess on why they did it this way.
And I don’t disagree with KDHs assessment that they probably could have released this fully built, with a warranty, for the same price. But Josh did mention cheaper and equally priced alternatives in his video if you aren’t interested in ‘building’ one of your own.
I have never met Josh and only know him from his videos but the impression I get form his videos is that you could be 100% correct and if you are it would be hilarious and give us yet another reason to love JHS. KDH overlooks the fact that this concept is fun and allows one to learn something new even if it is of limited application. We live in a world where less and less of us ever do something with our hands besides type on a keyboard and something like this would be go for a lot of us. In a Capitalist country Josh gets to charge whatever he wants for his pedals and make and sell them however he wises. It is the consumer who decides if it what Josh did was a good move. The consumer has spoken. I enjoy the videos of KDH but think he is wrong on this one.
We can't blame manufacturers wanting to profit from the almost limitless stupidity of guitar players...can we?😂
Exactly correct. He promised to not build a klon. So he lets the customer "build" a "notaklön" in the easiest way possible to keep his promise in this way of argument.
Not only in that marketing video, but if look in the JHS archive, they did a live-stream (1h30m or so??) devoted to Klon clones, down to almost the cheapest of the cheap ($35, I think, for the cheapest they did in *that* video). The message being that they ALL could be made to sound indistinguishable from the original. Meanwhile, KDH's points stand, of course. :)
That's just taking advantage of a technicality to make money though. Just a shrewd business move and a disregard for the spirit of the verbal agreement. End of the day I really don't care but if what you say is true that's all it is. Like KDH says the entire pedal market is derivative of itself. Nearly every pedal has at least 15 clones aside from some of the super esoteric ones.
Yeah, I gotta agree with the others. The price is incredibly reasonable for the pedal even with having to assemble it. The ikea schtick is hilariously clever and the end result is a great klon clone.
Also, who needs warranty for a guitar pedal. These devices don’t die on you in less than 20 years if you use the right voltage to power it
@@rethardotv5874in my experience JHS have great customer service. I don’t see them hanging anyone out to dry, they’ve never operated like that. The Op just has whinge as a default mode.
and its super easy to assemble, so not sure why anyone would complain.
They have a video of kids literally building these pedals.
Nope, it's not reasonable price, maybe the box costs could make it more reasonable but in general whole guitar gear industry is overpriced solely because people are willing to pay way too much. Btw. It is the same case for other instruments too, though with acoustic ones the build quality somewhat matters
I think it’s a fun gimmick that gets you a little more involved with your pedal without needing any skill. It’s cheaper than any other Klon kit out there as well. For a Klone that’s exactly like the real thing sound wise, it’s priced really well.
I really dont care for JHS or this specific pedal but we have to recognize that there’s a significant added cost to JHS when they decide to have all the extra packaging needed to sell this kit. Extra large box, anti-static bag, more complex pcb with special tools precut in it. Etc etc. I find the 99 price tag to be reasonable
Just so. And NOBODY here has mentioned the Goop. How much is the Goop!?
I couldn’t imagine making a whole video about this subject and not even mentioning this. Or the fact that Korg have also released solderless pedal kits. JHS even did a video about it this year. My honest guess is he liked that idea and also did it. I think this video is a little bit just making a video to make a video territory. He didn’t really make any solid points, just a lot of speculation.
Great point
at that quantity, i think thats alot less than you think it is.
Not to mention the hours of R&D required to make it a kit. The design approach would be much different from a standard JHS product, and that costs money too.
Stew Mac DIY pedals cost more than these..... $99 is pretty dang cheap. I specifically wanted to build a pedal myself, so this looks perfect. I'm digging it man. Zero complaints from a pretty picky guy as far as knowing what I bought and being happy for what they are asking. Haven't even gotten it in yet.
I like your videos and like your opinions on most all things guitar related. But I'm not sure about your take on this one. I build my own pedals and have even built quite a few amplifiers from scratch. I have also built several Klon clone pedals. However I really like and applaud what JHS are doing here. Offering a DIY introductory product like is brilliant, and I think will only increase the number of DIYers out there. JHS are doing a great job of offering a product that is both a great sounding pedal and also a gateway into the DIY community.
I think this is awesome. Some kid will buy this pedal kit , become inspired, and will eventually go on to become the next Leo Fender or Jim Marshall, etc. Please don't hate on this. The notaklon is a fantastic idea and props to JHS for understanding this and taking full advantage of it.
Agreed - the whole subtext from JHS of the DIY element of this pedal is to emphasise that there is no great "magic or "mystery" to guitar pedals, by getting consumers to really engage with what's inside their pedals. Let's face it, 95% of the appeal of effects pedals are kooky names, fun graphics and some twisty knobs and switches, rather than their tonal characteristics....which most of us get bored with after a short while anyway (hence massive used market). If this demystifies and encourages people to have a go at building or modding their own, then that's a great thing. I ordered a notaklon last night (wont get it until April!) purely to show my support to JHS (we need more authentic companies like them with something to say).
Yep! This is just a bit of fun. The minimal assembly really is just part of the joke, and I agree it’s likely a gateway for more builders to emerge. We need more projects like this.
I ordered 3 of them for my sons and I to assemble as a fun project. I don’t buy many expensive pedals but if I did Josh and the good folks at JHS would get my money. He is the one guy who makes more videos praising the competition than his own products.
Well said! I will support and continue to support JHS. The 3-series pedals are quality sounding and reliable. A way better value at $99 than the noisy, low QC (and sometimes horrible sounding) $30 mini pedals you get from Amazon Basics or Donner.
I own and use (and love) the Bad Monkey pedal as my main OD. I have been meaning for a couple of years to pick another one up because they are so good and so inexpensive. Then Josh does his video about them and they shot up to $500! 🤯🤬
I don’t blame Josh though. I’ll just wait till they are forgotten again by the lemmings of the guitar world.
true!!!
It's a novelty, I thought that was widely understood. The whole thing is a PR exercise - it's very clever marketing!
I don’t think it’s just a PR exercise. It’s more than that. It’s fun, it’s getting people into pedals in a new way and gave people the JHS Klon what they wanted.
Spit on!!! We are about to wake up. Like in the 70’s looking back at 50’s TV marketing. 🙈It’s marketing. Making people feel
Good about buying stuff. That’s all it is.
It’s not a PR exercise. It’s a product. So far, it’s been a very successful product. The most successful thing JHS has ever produced, in fact.
Putting it together is part of the fun. Plus the whole goop thing adds a novelty to it. I think it’s a good way to introduce people to DIY pedal making. It’s like saying you shouldn’t get a Lego car cuz you can get a normal toy car for cheaper. My only problem has nothing to do with JHS or the kit itself, I’m just annoyed people are already trying to scalp these for more than double the price. If you’re scalping a solderless diy pedal kit you’re what’s wrong with the guitar market.
The soldering is what makes a DIY a DIY. Did you watch the video?
You aren't making shit you put a couple nuts on an already assembled PCB
@@MiamiVisor Yes. It's a dumb video.
Yeah, I agree. I have the StewMac Ghost Drive, and it was fun to put together. It also gives you a little kick of pride that you made the thing. But that's my skill level and the amount of time I'm willing to put in it. Others might think that's pointless, and the only way to actually feel like you made the pedal is to design and etch the PCB and make the enclosure from scratch. And for others, soldering itself is out of the question, so a kit like this one from JHS is enough to give them that kick. It's nice that we have options, because, yes, the feeling of making the thing yourself, no matter your skill level or the amount of effort you're willing to spend, does matter a lot.
Scalper are literally cancer cell in any market
Marketing genius. I bought one just to support JHS. They do great videos and are entertaining. I agree it’s not much diy but now I have a $99 Klon.
I have a 5 year old who loves to do everything I do. He lacks the soldering skills and patience to complete pedals,so I try to simplify them for him. This is someone else’s version of what I do for my son. I ordered one for him immediately and am excited for him to build it. Kids (of all ages) love projects and having more immediate gratification.
Other companies can try, but part of JHS’ success is their marketing ability, not many companies can replicate that. Also, feels a bit odd to assume that this pedal would have been 99 even if it came fully assembled
Yeah he isn't familiar with touch time and the downstream interactions that happen with something that IS assembled - QA, for example.
@@CyberneticArgumentCreator Agree. His schtick is contrarian-take-on-popular-or-topical-theme-of-the-day, and his take on this pedal is pretty ignorant.
@@CyberneticArgumentCreator Bollocks - assembly of this product in the US would cost about $3 per unit and in the far east $1 a unit, including overheads. If it wasn't designed for self assembly, it would cost about $10 less anyway, wouldn't be as large, and would use less resources and materials.
I don't really get your point. It's more of a gimmick than an actual "cheaper because you build it yourself" item. Hence the IKEA inspired name. ALL pedals cost insanely more than their build price, especially the boutique ones. So.... What ?
I think the point is more about the loss of warranty protection than anyone spending $99 and you put it together. In the end, the DIY aspect is just fun, but, because YOU are responsible for the assembly and if you make a mess of it, you're on your own. It's a small risk, one that I would take with no worries. I don't even think the biggest issue was with the warranty, but that copy-cats will start doing this more often.
did you graduate grade one ? A grade one would understand what he said AND he was correct.
Is this how you talk to people in real life?@@montyrayza7220
@montyrayza7220 no need to be an ass. Get back to your eat the rich wankery now. I've literally NEVER had to use a warranty on a pedal in 20+ years of playing. You guys are really reaching here to find anything dramatic, and I'm starting to think it's more just to get hits and clicks off the coattails of a trending item, rather than a genuine warning.
@@Eric_01 There's no loss of warranty protection. Only loss of return policy, which makes sense since the build process involves steps that can't be undone.
I think you missed a point here. To make the pedal easy to put together for the consumer, JHS would have constructed this pedal differently to say the 3 series. There is still labour involved from JHS to print the circuit board and attach the quick connect ribbon parts, which I doubt would be in other pedals. Like you said, the majority of the pedal is already built, plus there's the extra parts added so the customer can construct it, specifically the ribbon attachment.
I dig your videos but... the real masterclass in marketing is finding a nit to pick with this pedal. He did it DIY to straddle the moral conundrum he encountered with Bill Finnegan.
I don't mind the Notaklon being 99 dollars as I assumed that the price was because of the fun IKEA branding and all of the design work that went into it, and to your point about more clones coming out and mimicking the Notaklon, I seriously don't think that will be a problem, because once again the key selling point of the Notaklon, the IKEA aesthetic which will get old fast.. People will stop buying it, and JHS as a brand, which is something literally no other pedal company has.
Agreed, right or wrong its hard to criticize the notaklon without mentioning the whole ikea model that was very deliberate and kitsch.
When i heard it was no-solder my first thought was "has he developed a 2-pack solder paste?" Because honestly building a klon from a box of parts and a pcb is so unbelievably piss easy the only issue i could see is access to a soldering iron.
I was very disapointed to see it was just two boards that clip together because it could have been a great opportunity to show people how simple these devices are and how they dont really need to be spending their money on stuff like clean boosts, overdrives, fuzz, simple delay lines etc etc.
@@mrrootytooty5797 while I agree in principle with your argument, yes making these pedals yourself is easy and cheep, I work as a computer engineer and the first thing I learned is that people just don’t care and will spend asinine amounts in order to not have to learn anything or do anything themselves. The notaklon serves this exact purpose it’s a fun well designed “diy” pedal that makes people think they are crafty without actually alienating anyone or making them work
@@mrrootytooty5797I think many people have money and like spending it. While those that want to cheap out will certainly find all these CZcams videos about cheap pedals. So I think the only buyers of expensive pedals these days are those that just want to buy something expensive.
@@FalconiusIt's amazing how much money people will spend just to remain ignorant. I say this as someone who is smart enough to realize how stupid they are 😀
Mine's being delivered tomorrow. Im not fussed about the warranty and frankly i dont really need another Klon clone, but the marketing was great, as is the ikea design concept. Its a bit of fun and i'm happy to support companies I like that make great products. It was only $99, which is only the same price as a cup of coffee. My only regret is that i didnt buy two.
Companies sure love guys like you ... one is born every minute ..
@@montyrayza7220 haha yeah they bought a recreation of a legendary pedal for under $100 that they will enjoy assembling that will give them a long time of satisfaction, and it will sound great, what a sucker! /s
@@montyrayza7220 Damn, because of your comment, now I feel like a sucker because I bought a product that I liked with money I can afford. For the record, 21 babies are born every minute and you need to lighten up.
...mmm .you need to change coffee shop mate!
@montyrayza7220 I’d would much rather be a sucker than a miserable, cynical asshole, but that’s just me…
He takes issue that the return policy is different than that of a normal pre-assembled pedal and feels you’re essentially being duped into doing something “tedious” in building it.
There.
Saved you 9 minutes and 45 seconds.
He's a good guy, but bad takes on this all around. I loved building it for the fifteen minutes it took (I took my time) and it's a really great pedal.
Running out of "gotcha" topics? Don't worry KDH, someone will screw up again soon. This is just a fun pedal. You're definitely looking to hard at this.
sounded almost angry that someone is making millions out of a good idea while he's not
I bought one because I like the idea of it. Building your own pedal (simple as it is), is akin to building your own lightsaber when you visit Disney. There’s a bit more of a connection to something you put together yourself, and you’re more likely to be more creative when you have more of a connection to your gear (at least I do).
When I made my lightsabe I made it purple thinking I was so cool and unique only to realize all the other kids in the line also were clutching their purple custom sabres!
You paid to build a light saber lol enough said!
Not unlike doing a parts guitar build, or even modding the hell out of a guitar. There's just a thing to it even if you didn't shape the neck yourself.
Build a real pedal. It isn't difficult. There's plenty of REAL kits out there that are super easy to make and come with instructions even a chimp could understand. They're not even expensive, maybe $20 and that's for ALL the parts; enclosure, jacks, footswitch. Not just a PCB and components.
It's incredibly fun and 10000000x more satisfying knowing you've actually built something, not just done up a few nuts.
Better yet, look up Vero board/strip board layouts and watch a video or two on how to solder.
Exactly. I doubt they plan on making it a permanant 'in stock' item. It's meant as a kind of novelty for people to experience pedal building but have no training in electronics.
As for guitarists being 'stupid' for paying a lot of money for a Klon, it's no different than someone paying $20K + for a 50's Gibson or someone paying hundreds of dollars for a baseball/hockey card, it's an 'exclusivity' thing so people can show off how much money they have. Personally, I have no interest in the pedal but I don't t think JHS is 'scamming' people by charging the same as their other pedals, it could very well be that their normal manufacturer couldn't make the kits, so they had to source it out somewhere else and their prices could have been more, etc.... Sometimes I think KDH just doesn't want anyone to just have fun with something... lol..
Like others have said, people have been begging for this re-release for years. Especially because it isn't just a klon copy, it also has the fantastic mod they used to do. When I saw I could get that pedal, for 99 bucks, I was psyched and hopped on it. Also, it's just a really fun idea. Gooping the magic circuits lol, c'mon that's great.
I straight up bought this pedal to build it without learning to solder, im not even gonna put it on my pedalboard. Just feels really fun 😊
Id like to add im a wierd snob and won't put jhs on my board and i still bought it 😂
I think the perceived value is twofold: 1. You build it. You might learn something. It feels good to look down at it and think 'yeah, I remember the fun I had with that', 2. They can simply crank out the kits a lot _faster_ than building them, so no backorders.The IKEA motif is hilarious.
You won't learn anything except how to use a screwdriver and spanner. Cranking out built kits would be a lot faster. Assembly would take about 5 minutes absolute max in a factory environment, there would be less paperwork and it could be much better designed and much smaller using less materials. And, yes, I have watched the assembly video. And yes, I did used to work in electronic equipment supply and installation. Nearly all guitar pedals are overpriced by about 50%.
@@edeledeledel5490 Keyword: 'perceived'. So if it takes less time to build it than to put all the parts in a box, then that value is negative. Maybe the architecture of the thing lends itself to quick mods and circuit bending. Maybe it's just fun. Buy a built one.
This is obviously not for you.
Will I buy one? No. But I do get why a lot of people would. He'll sell a ton, no matter how irrational or overpriced they are 'perceived' to be. Good marketing.
@@johnmcevoy3598 I won't buy any pedal for $99. That price is taking the piss, as they all do, except the cheap clones. Nothing to do with the design and production cost, it's what guitarists imagine they have to pay, and what manufacturers have been getting away with.
And it doesn't lend itself to quick mods and circuit bending; it's just two integrated circuit boards connected by plug in cables.
It's just slick marketing to gullible people, and a way to save money on guarantees, and possibly quality.
@@edeledeledel5490 So be angry and cheap. Great.
@@johnmcevoy3598 Just perceptive. F*ckwits paying $1000 dollars for an ancient piece of crap just annoys me. Let alone £99 for modern equivalent that should be priced at about $40. Idiots paying over the top makes it MORE EXPENSIVE FOR EVERYONE ELSE Not everyone is as rich as you obviously are. I could afford to buy 100 of them, and not notice it. But I'm lucky. And one reason I'm lucky, is I don't pay over the odds.
For a first step into the world of pedal building it could be the spark that some people needed to go down the rabbit hole. This is a gimmick but I think it is more intentional than just pocket the profits. In case it hasn't clicked yet, it's brilliant marketing.
@@PeaceWatcher-ek7zl Yes my point is the things he's complaining about is part of the marketing. I feel like he's really reaching for this one.
@@PeaceWatcher-ek7zl I agree with you. I prefer to buy a pedal that will last me a lifetime if I choose to keep it for that long. Marketing isn't necessarily something you have to pay for as the consumer. Businesses typically will pay to market a product. There is a lot of bad marketing. This didn't cost JHS much to market but they got a huge return by playing off if the IKEA buying and assembling experience. Doesn't cost the buyer anything extra. The only thing they lose is the warranty. For these pcb board pedals that's not a big risk honestly. The thing that got me in the video was breaking the wrenches off of the PCB. I cringed when they did it lol.
You actually think the people who love the idea for this pedal and have launched them into pre order status are simpletons? I'd tend to think that the folks who don't get the idea of this pedal are the simpletons but to each his own.
@@PeaceWatcher-ek7zlNo one loves you and that's why you're so angry.
If this pedal had been manufactured normally (no PCB snapping, etc.), I think build time for JHS's line workers would be ~5 minutes. When you factor in the atypical engineering and packaging compared to all their other products, they're not saving any money on assembly labor versus this presentation's bells and whistles. The warranty issue is something to be aware of, but the DIY thing is just a fun gimmick, not a back door cost cut. I don't think this is going to be a new trend among the "big indie" brands, as it's a whole lot more work than just making regular pedals.
It’s just a little interactive project that can teach the inner workings of a pedal.
Just seems like a fun little kit to me. I like diy stuff becasue I like to put stuff together. I feel like some if the changes needed to be able to bundle this as a diy kit wouldn't be free for Jhs either. I'm not sure how it would compare with labor costs
it really is a masterclass in marketing.
Its wild how it doesnt work on everyone. They turn me off but Im willing to be they make good products. I cant stand the guy that does their youtube channel.
@@sole__doubt”The guy that does their CZcams channel”?😅 you mean Josh Heath Scott aka JHS
@@deluxeg Now I know what JHS stands for thanks brother.
Yeeesh, I don't know who manages the closest McDonald's but I won't let that keep me from buying a burger there every now and then.
I enjoy your channel kdh but this was a massive stretch of a video and it felt like it too, felt like a lot of yatta yatta for a weak argument in the end. I'm not a jhs fan boy, I think this is a cute product, I don't think the price or the lack of warranty is a big deal at all. In fact I'd be willing to bet money that if you had a problem with a notaklon they would be very helpful, that's been my experience with several American pedal brands, they don't have to be as helpful as they are
What is the warranty on a full blown DIY solder yourself pedal?
As a person who designs printed circuit boards, and builds original guitar pedals and amplifiers, I must say that the notaklon is an awesome product, it opens the doors for people that may have never considered building electronic devices. I'd imagine this will inspire a new generation of builders, which is really cool to think about
oh what bollocks, its like saying paint by numbers will inspire the next Picasso.
that's true, people with that point of view simply don't have the temperament for electronics engineering @@steveshadforth8792
@@pixelguitardude blah blah I’m a qualified electronic technician so Wind your neck in boy
hey man, you got a lot of nerve saying I'm qualified, also I find the antiquated saying charming, I've never heard that before, not sure what it means, but man I will use that one! Thanks man!@@steveshadforth8792
Actually similar things have been done in the synth space for quite some time by big brands like Korg with their NTS-1 and also some smaller brands, mainly in the DIY space. It didnt really take off, but synths are also way more complex and often more original than guitar pedals.
I put together a moog werkstat diy kit that's basically the same. Pcb you snap in place and tighten washers and nuts, and screws.
@@tigmil8116 yes totally forgot that one. Perfect example for a bigger company doing it.
NTS = not the synth.... I see what Josh has done here
1. It's very reasonably priced
2. Assembly is part of the fun
3. The design and packaging for this kit almost certainly costs more than the labor savings of assembly
I think you need to also include that the amount of parts used to make this pedal is by far more than the typical 3 Series, therefore if they were to have built it for you it would have been more like $150. I applaud JHS as this is so far away from what everyone else offers. And it was fun to put together and paint. Yes it has so many pluses for JHS, good for them. keep 'em coming!
One thing you said that I have to call out is yeah, many people get into electronics by taking things apart and putting them back together. I’m a licensed electrician, and I got my start literally by taking things part, looking at the parts, then just putting it back together and not touching a thing. When I started collecting guitar pedals, I did the same thing. The more pedals I took apart to check out, the more I desired to mess with them myself. So yeah, there’s definitely value in a pack like this. The skills aren’t 1-1, but if you can’t stand putting this kit together, you probably won’t stand putting together a real kit that’s more involved. It’s like I wasn’t truly interested in fully learning an instrument, till I saw one of my teachers playing bass one day at school. It was the first time I saw slap bass being done. Yeah I loved music, but you bet i went home after school and begged my parents for a bass guitar after seeing that. I wouldn’t be so dismissive of this. People, especially kids, become obsessed with stuff by doing things like this all the time.
I took apart a dozen things before I was 16 years old.
It only makes sense that Josh, having kids, would want to create something that his kid could put together.
Swing and a miss on this one. I don’t own any JHS pedals(I do own a klon klone), but I’m getting one of these. Love the idea, the packaging and the snap-tite and turn some screws assembly. It’s fun and funny. No one is pretending that they’re a real pedal builder. If you don’t want one, just don’t get one. Love your reporting on actual issues. But this just looks like you needed some views this week.
$100 and I have to build it myself? I personally agree with the video. Sounds like some GOOD JHS kool aid.
Not an issue. the JHS NOTAKLON is a brilliant idea and I can't wait to get mine. $99 is cheap for this neat package that is supposed to be fun.
absolutely
I was initially planning on buying a Wampler Tumnus when JHS launched the Notaklön. I ended up ordering the JHS, it should arrive in April. My idea is to have my 10yo son help me build it as a father-son project and just have fun. I know I'll be so proud to have something special we have both done sitting on my pedalboard. And apparently the sound is no compromise at all so that's double win for me.
I like a lot of your other videos criticizing internet guitar brands, but I think you're nitpicking this pretty hard.
Well I think you might be missing the point. When I saw the video, the first thing that came to my mind is that it would be a fun project to do with my daughter. And I’m pretty sure that most of these pedals sold were purchased simply for that reason. It’s a great activity to do with your kids. Especially if they are too young to use a soldering iron. And at least in the end, compared to model projects that you assemble like planes, cars, or wathever useless things you can do, you get a pedal!
Exactly
@@FilinMXr there’s literally nothing that says fun activity to do with your kids than the words « put goop here »! 😂😂
An Aliexpress medium sized-box Klon kit resembling the Notaklon that requires soldering seems to cost about 42 USD without shipping. The big full-sized enclosure ones seem to cost more than the JHS. 99 USD for a JHS kit that does not require soldering, has the whole JHS cutesy Ikea branding, seems to make a lot of sense. Production for this pedal is different from the other 3 series pedals: they don't use the same size enclosure, the PCB is very different, fancy box, yada yada. If JHS priced this higher, and used the mystique and collectability of the original JHS klones as a selling point, then yeah that would be a bit crass. But this is 99USD for what is still a boutique, USA brand. And I'm not even someone who is especially enticed by "boutique, USA" - I don't own very many pedals. If you want to outline what the pedal industry is doing wrong as a whole: high prices, unoriginality, bad warranty options for buyers - then it would be helpful to point out at least a few other examples where this is the case. Fixating on JHS and insinuating that most players are parasocial dupes is a lazy overgeneralisation. I appreciate this channel's desire to advocate for consumers. However, the content here is also sometimes contrarian for the sake of being contrarian. It makes use of the same clickbait, influencer style tropes that it purports to despise.
This is a total misfire. Buyers know what they're getting and how much is costs before they buy. And these are adults. And the solderless aspect is marketed as a feature. If you don't want to build it, there are well over a dozen low cost options. Is the pedal more profitable for jhs? I don't know, don't care, and if it is, great for them because the pedal is still seen as great value. It almost sounds like you're trying to argue that a slippery slope, which is a logical fallacy, is a sound argument. This video, in my opinion, actually just demonstrates poor judgement on your part.
I think JHS is taking the piss - by involving the customer in the DIY process of “building” and “gooping” they’re mocking the Klon market. I love it. And I think they’re uniquely positioned as a brand to pull something like this off…. Can’t wait to see what’s next from them. (I don’t own any JHS pedals)
Yeah, I get your point, but ultimately it's a (presumedly) good pedal for £100. the novelty of building it is just a bit of fun. I think I would have an issue if it was a £300 pedal and I was assembling it myself. The Ikea self assembly vibe is just a very JHS style of gimmick, I think companies who copy it (and I'm sure there will be a few) will fall flat as it doesn't come with that JHS comedy brand. I know they are saving in production costs but it's not an extortionate item so I don"t feel ripped off or that they are being unduly greedy. Full disclosure I have bought one and I am looking forward to building it, You should market your DS1/Klon btw.
Keep up the good work KDH and love your videos.
p.s - Guitar players are stupid, I just agreed to wait three months for a £100 pedal I have to build myself.
Yes, this is the big point IMO. This pedal sounds fantastic and if assembling it myself to keep the price to $100 is what it takes to get a pretty much identical sounding Klone, while supporting an independent pedal maker who has given a lot of knowledge for free, I'm totally fine with it. If it was a subpar pedal, it would be totally different.
And honestly they probably are not saving anything now with how the blew through the initial 3k kits they had on hand ready to go and had like 20k more preorders after that. They are hiring new people and paying overtime and now are probably paying rush shipping on components too at this point per the video the released like maybe a week later.
Great video as usual! I'm going to feel free to disagree about a certain aspect of your concerns though. "All you get is the ability to say you did it yourself." To a great many people, if this is your first pedal kit, you will actually learn about the components of a pedal and how they interact during the process of putting it together. That learning process without having to solder anything is going to be quite valuable to anyone curious who has never done it before. From little kids all the way up to 40-50 year olds who have only ever bought pedals. For $100, that is really what this kit is for. It is not only an entry to pedals, but an entry to engineering! IMO there is great value there and I would be SUPER stoked to get one of these for Christmas or something.
The video of the kids building the kits is the best pedal industry video i have ever seen!
I agree with certain points, BUT I bought a JHS reverb and there was a level boost when active. I sent them a mail (from Belgium) and they said, we will send a new one and dump the old one. It arrived free of charge of any kind a week later from the USA. I doubt they will be awkward about issues with the Notaklön.
It’s a stocking stuffer. Nice for someone on X-mas morning that wanted a Klon.
Love KDH, JHS is cool, love all your videos. The price point. I have to wonder (having minimal experience, but some, in design) how long it took to DESIGN it in a way that COULD be assembled by someone. $99 for a robot made, person assembled pedal, or $99 for a robot made, person designed to be made by people, then person assembled. To me it’s sixes, especially with the packaging. Much love KDH, from Utah ✌️✌️👊👊
Really enjoy your channel, I was on the fence but after watching this, went and bought one, well preorder :)
Regarding the price; this has a bigger enclosure and more expensive knobs compared to the other $99 pedals. I bet this would have been something like $119 if it was completely assembled. If they wanted to hit the $99 price point while still meeting their profit margin, this is a cool, fun way to do it. I think you're right, though. This might turn into more companies doing this and it could be bad, long term.
It would only become a thing long term if people would continue to buy more semi-diy kits, which I highly doubt. JHS took advantage and played into a meme, when another company does it most people will feel like that's a lame try-hard attempt to be quirky and cool, so I don't see this catching up long term.
Did KDH mess up his notaklon build ???
it sounds like he actually would be able to do that lol
I think this one flew over your head.
This was a fun interactive joke.
A lot of effort went into to designing the kit to be buildable sans soldering iron
It's the fun factor and feeling like you did something yourself. I'd almost be willing to bet if they released it as a pre built pedal for 99-129 they would sell almost as many, but not as fast. Making it a fun project sold it for them. They almost got me and I don't really even like the Klon sound, but I've been wanting to build a pedal and am lazy.
I was wondering where you were going with this, and I think you have a valid point regarding the warranty dilemma. On the other hand, I think that the success of this pedal will not translate to other manufacturers following suit. Josh Scott, unlike most everyone else in this business, has an interesting sense of humor and lighthearted nature that suits this style of marketing a pedal, and I think that ultimately, this was meant more as a "fun" way to put out a new product. Personally, I believe that they will eventually offer this pedal assembled with a warranty if there are a significant number of defective units that aren't due to end-user incompetence.
Again, your point is absolutely correct specifically about the warranty, however, as someone once said to me, "pick your battles". I'm not sure this one has any real merit, unless of course, these pedals turn to shit! Then, have at it!
Yeah, no other pedal company is going to copy selling a Klon or any other DIY pedal because they do not want to sell mass pedals like JHS You are right Einstein!
JHS isn't even the first to do it. KORG did an Overdrive pedal.
@@fj5144 They say the difference between genius and stupid is that genius has limits.
@@iainjohnston4070😂and a few synthesizers.
@fj5144 I live for replies like yours. People like you, feigning intelligence, while also demonstrating a major lack of reading comprehension will never not be funny. Keep it up lmfao
Pedal would have been $200 if they assembled this one. Regarding this could have been in the 3 Series, sure it could have been - and just like the $200 morning glory, superbolt, crayon, etc. The warranty issue isn't a big deal - it is a $99 pedal and also done PCB, I'm sure if there is some major issue they will sort it out. Part of being this big is actually having some customer support. Unlike Bill and his original klons
Have you actually used JHS customer support? I assumed it would be great until I contacted them. My experiences were awful.
It's fun. The price is fine. Peering into the future, I don't think this is going to trend. I think it's fair to point out the difference in warranty, but I suspect buyers of this item won't worry as the failure rate will be very low. I guess we'll see :)
I could see this as a gateway into serious pedal making. Someone could try it, enjoy it, and go deeper down the rabbit hole.
I'm a special case here in the sense that i plan to powdercoat the casing of my nötaklon and paint my own stuff on it. The pedal being sent unbuilt means i can do all that pre-assembly (which the instructional video states to do any aesthetic changes before assembly to avoid issues.) And i dont have to take the pedal apart beforehand. Im very lazy so i can appreciate that.
I like the 3 series pedals i own, but i cant stand the bland white enclosures and I hope they dont abandon their more creative pedal aesthetic in favor of this all the way.
Your mutilated pedal will will LOSE resale value. This is why joss suggested you do it.
@@F1083 cool.
Don't worry the plain white ones seem to be the signature aesthetic of the 99 dollar pedals
@@F1083 Might be a surprise to you, some people can afford to spend $99 on a fun project and not lose sleep worrying about "resale value".
@F1083 If you’re worried about resale value on a 100 dollar pedal, you may already be priced out of any guitar equipment.
This convinced me to buy a notaklon.
The way I see it he took the fun of putting together lego bricks and cool parts of being a gear nerd and made a really cool product. I don't mind the price either to be honest.
Damn. Not gona lie im probably gonna buy one of those pedals. I like the diy aspect especially the solderless aspect.
Kits are good. If they are a stepping stone to learning electrical skills, that's all good. My childhood interest in electronics led to a lifetime and career in electronics. Worrying about a warrantee is one way to think yourself out of finding a deep and rewarding skill.
How does the warranty work? Normally warranty is voided when we open up products? This is already "voided" in that sense
I think this take is fair. I’m a JHS fan, in large part because they support the idea that a more expensive pedal often isn’t better. I like the Notaklon concept, but I’m sure that many buyers are ignoring the warranty implications.
"Guitarists are stupid."
KDH
If you ever watch Glenn Fricker’s tone tests and the followup videos, going over replies, you’ll understand how true that shirt is.
Maybe someone will put it together and get interested in pedal building. Josh wants more pedal builders for the future.
Or, here's a totally out there idea, they don't need babbys first pretendabuild pedal to get into it.
And frankly, I don't think we need more people with jhs sensibilities in the community. We don't need that toxic shite.
I don’t see how more is worse especially since you decide what you will buy.
@@immy4104Frankly I don't think we need more people like you in the world because you sound miserable.
Bah Humbug! It’s fun to put it together with a young kid or guitar student. They get to see the insides and maybe get excited about playing. I’d pay extra for a boss pedal that does this for the same reason.
I like JHS and have been watching his CZcams channel for years. I own a lot of pedals used and new but have never owned a JHS pedal. I’m not to sure his influence is that powerful. I did however order a notaklon #17530. I was a radio technician and can solder very well also modding many pedals. I thought this idea was terrific though and relatively cheap and got one really to say thanks for the terrific content I’ve been enjoying for years from them. I also now have access to the Klon Centaur sound in a pedal that will be the most scrutinized pedal in history by the best! I know you will get one KDH, IT IS YOUR DESTINY.
I think it’s a cute idea. Your criticisms are merited but I still think for $100 given the components and the fun of putting it together is reasonable. Just look how much Legos go for.
The selling point for me was that it sounds great. For only $99 I couldn’t care less about the rest.
Where are the components sourced and where were the pcb’s assembled?
i think there is a larger point missing here. By giving guitar players the experience of putting together the enclosure, examining and holding the actual board, and even the novelty of the goop; all serves as individual user immersion while also demystifying the original klon. By forcing even the smallest bit of interaction and labor, it creates a story for owners and pushes an individual self involved narrative that replaces the hype of the original with the next best thing
I’m a bassist and agree in general that when it comes to their pedals guitarists can be a bit crazy. I’m an ofd LA studio guy and remember some of the players using the Klon, but it was never a big deal compared to the tube screamer or the Rat, nor that in demand by top session players. When I buy a pedal, which is rare, I’ll go to EHX. You’ll get the exact sound you want at a very reasonable price. They’re also built like tanks and hold up on the road. Gimmicks like the Notaklon are clever and Josh knows his consumers! Good for him. But it’s a gimmick and you can buy the Soul Food already assembled and proven with a warranty for the same price. This said its up to the market to decide and there is no deceit in the selling of the product so I have no issue with it. Obviously the market likes it so again - good for Josh!
DIY jus part of the meme. People have been asking Josh to 'Build a Klon Clone' for decades, so now he's saying "No. Do it yourself!", and then made it extremely easy to do so. It's just for marketing, and it worked.
I also don't think it would cost much more to assemble the pedal and ship it contra packaging the DIY kit, as it is pretty much done, save for a few nuts, screws and a cable.
It's all just for fun.
In speaking about the warranty, I know someone who purchased one and they had dropped it and knocked off a capacitor, they emailed JHS and they got overnighted a new PCB. So not sure how long they would do this for, but thought that was cool.
I definetly agree about the warranty issue, but of course with a DIY pedal it's hard to prove what's user error and what's an actual flaw.
Everyone lusting over Klon clones when i just want an affordable Black Hole Symmetry clone.
I think with your argument about other companies potentially doing the same thing with the DIY kit to skirt warranties etc, you have to put the nexus of the notaklon into context. Josh has in recent months started a video series around encouraging people to get into pedal building. He’s bought actual pedal kits that you have to solder and live-streamed himself building them, etc. he’s stated he’s always wanted to have a bit of his journey go this direction - not just selling pedals but getting people into the same passion that inspired him to start JHS to begin with. To me this pedal is just simply a springboard to that end. Giving people who haven’t otherwise built pedals a way to begin to get into it, a foolproof way of ensuring they have a usable product at the end, and probably offering progressively more difficult but more authentic build kits after this one. You’re right, guitar players are stupid. Other companies may try to exploit this particular business model for their own financial gain. But just like it wasn’t Josh’s fault that people took the exact wrong message from the Klon/bad monkey comparison (the price of the Klon should’ve nosedived, and the bad monkey shouldn’t have skyrocketed in price in the second hand market), it isn’t Josh’s responsibility to ensure other companies don’t exploit consumers by way of bastardizing this idea with the notaklon to get out of warranties etc. Nor is it Josh’s fault if that indeed ends up happening. As far as the price being the same as his other 3 series pedals, like you said it is basically zero actual build by the consumer and there is more raw material on this than his other 3 series pedals so I would venture to say if this was sold in his 3 series line as a finished product, my guess is that it would end up being a bit more than 100 dollars just due to having a bigger chassis. That simply will cost more than the other pedals which are smaller.
Anyway, this was aimed specifically at the “wants to get into diy pedals” crowd who were intimidated by full on build kits. Sure some other companies may jump on the bandwagon to grab some profit, but Josh isn’t the chief of the guitar gear ethics police department, and it’s unfair that he should be expected to assume that role because he has a successful product line and brand.
Limited warranty still means manufacturer defects are covered, just means anything YOU break isn’t covered
I think it's a fair priced product, it looks fun to assemble and the tone sculpting capability it provides is a plus too, I take your added point that it can reduce the need for employees etc, but it has to be delivered via mail so that creates the employee thing nicely for all involved in getting it packed, addressed, sent and delivered in my estimate.
You sound like a real fun guy
a 10 minute nothing burger
I’m really excited to buy a Notaklon for a few reasons. 1: I can always use another OD pedal. 2: when I first got into pedals, JHS was the channel that I used as a guide, I’m happy to pay them back for all the free education. 3: the way Josh talks about designing and building pedals is infectious, he makes me want to take the time to learn boards and circuitry and maybe design my own one day, and the Notaklon seems like a brilliant entry point for me, due to not needing solder. I’m excited to build a pedal, even if it’s so simple. Also, I think the price is reasonable. It’s true they Tom Sawyered the labor aspect a bit through the marketing, but I think it’s neat.
Built most of my own own pedals from veroboard layouts and hammond enclosures, TS, delays, chorus etc. They work great and cost very little. Made some for friends for presents in the past as well. Much more rewarding.
Same here, although I do feel these days, many Chinese pedals sell for less than what it would cost to build them myself.
But there is a great sense of pride in building pedals, along with skills acquired in soldering, assembling & troubleshooting.
this is the issue with being cynical for a living
Wussy.
@@JackNance22hey dude are you having a little blast commenting the same old vintage gotchas on everybody’s comments? Getting super giddy every time you remember one from your youth?
@@crowbarmode Are you working as an attack dog for Josh for free?
@@JackNance22 who is Josh
@@crowbarmodeDrake's brother.
I'll admit i didnt have any real concerns about the notaklon, but your criticism is extremely fair. I looked at the diy aspect as a pure gimmick so i didnt even think about those implications any further. Good work, as always, man.
it is a gimmick, that's kinda the point, it's just a fun little project or gift for someone who isn't necessarily interested in pedal making. I don't know if the videos point was to imply jhs is outsourcing labour onto customers to cut cost or time? Because that seems like a massive reach, considering this was probably more time-consuming than making it a white series peda.
@@lainiw4kura LOW IQ
Definitely a good point, but to KDH's credit, i had no idea the Notaklon had a different warranty. Thats not a deal breaker for me, i probably wasn't going to buy one. But there are people that may benefit from knowing that. Any notion of JHS doing this for nefarious intent would be a reach to me, too.
The Notaklon case is much larger than the Series 3 case, and the packaging/manual/extra-large PCB (accommodating tools built into as well), so there's extra costs compared to a Series 3. I think Josh did this at least in large part because he WANTED people to see the insides of a pedal. He has a video where he teaches people about breadboarding pedal designs, and I think the whole Notaklon thing is about getting people curious about how analog pedals are created.
That's called good marketing. Good for them and I think their main income source is on the more boutique pedals. Also Josh is the only one I know on CZcams that talks more about the products from the rivals than his.
While I love KDH, this seems to be an attempt to attach a controversy to a product getting an enormous amount of attention just for the sake of making a video and garnering some views. The price is in line with other kits, but the JHS pedal is likely better quality and will ACTUALLY retain some resale value. Ultimately, Josh created a *narrative* with this product launch is compelling: "I'm not making a klone; you're making it." Also, there is cost associated with the packaging, goop, design of pcb-included tools, and solderless ribbon connectors. And the market has already spoken about whether or not the price is fair - just look at the sales.
JHS did all those videos on pedal brands as a way to associate themselves with established companies, I've always seen through Josh, not a fan at all. I believe he looks down on musicians and takes them for fools.
I had a problem with my Notaklon, they fixed it without question. They are awesome!!!
I tend to agree with you about most things, but I think what you're leaving out here is how *fun* the whole thing is.
I say this as someone who does build and mod ("proper", soldered) pedals myself. You get an excellent pedal at a great price, and you get to participate in the *fun* of it all. That seems like a pretty good deal.
(also, afaik, the limited liability issue is only to do with gooping (*fun*!) the wrong parts. i could be wrong, though, ianal)
You are the Ralph Nader of Guitar CZcams! Well done.
Ha ha
And he is so needed in the world of guitar gear.
a subtly delivered, back-handed compliment
Except Nader turned into a self-important asshole.
@@goodwill559 Nah, I do mean it in the best way possible.
Chillax dude.
I will never get the time from watching this video back.
Maybe they're saving on labor cost but they're not saving money on logistics, because it comes in a large box. 2-3 times larger than an average pedal box.
Sorry pal, i'll be joining the others on this. Guess this'll be just your own issue on this one.
my man you really are splitting hairs here