I Flew to Japan To Make a Fuzz Pedal (Germanium, Fuzz Face, Circuit Design)
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- In this week's episode, Josh and the JHS crew traveled 6,300 miles to build a vintage-style Japanese fuzz in-- wait for it --Japan. To say Josh was excited is the understatement of the freaking century. Pro tip: watch the episode all the way to the end for a sweet surprise!
Japanese Fuzz Schematic: drive.google.com/file/d/1gYhK...
0:00 Intro
0:03 Japan Fuzz Teaser
0:21 Japanese Fuzzes Inspiration
1:41 The Japanese Fuzz
2:00 The Rules for the Build
3:35 Chapter 1: Go to Japan
5:12 Chapter 2: Resistors
5:29 Chapter 3: Capacitors
6:33 Chapter 4: Amplifiers/Transistors
7:21 Chapter 5: NPN vs. PNP
7:59 Chapter 6: The Switch
8:11 Chapter 7: Potentiometers
8:23 Chapter 8: Platform for Build
9:00 Chapter 9: Knobs
9:09 Chapter 10: What did This Turn Into?
9:37 He Has the Bag????
9:44 Chapter 11: Craig's Basement
11:31 Japanese Fuzz Jam
13:38 Japanese Fuzz Demo
16:52 After Japan
17:51 GIVEAWAY
18:45 Japanese Fuzz Schematic/Simular Pedals
20:33 Credits/Outtakes
www.thejhsshow.com/
www.jhspedals.info/
JHS Fresh Clips: / @jhsfreshclips7880
#jhs #thejhsshow - Hudba
Hello all. We've picked a winner. We're not taking more suggestions, thanks!
I'm still calling it the BANF. It sounds Big, BadAss, Bombastic, And Nasty. I like it! Bombastic And Nasty Fuzz! BANF there you go I'm sure you've already picked a name. But I know what I'm calling it! Hahaha
@jhspedals Akihabara is a whole neighbourhood. Could you name the shop or building? Would really like to visit next time I'm in Tokyo. Thanks.
Do you guys announce the winner somewhere? I am really curious to know which name gets selected out of so many awesome suggestions!
Any updates?
I am Asian-American and once had the honor of meeting Josh many years ago at NAMM in Anaheim, California. He was (to me) a giant in the pedal world. Having never seen him in person, little did I know that he was also (to me) a giant of a man. When I met him, I proudly showed him a nerdy guitar photo of one of my JHS pedals--complete with little Godzilla figures--I took back home before coming to NAMM. After seeing the photo, he smiled, looked at one of his colleagues, pointed at me, and calmly said, "he's one of us," while nodding. So I can imagine him visiting the sometimes cramped shops in Japan and smiling at the shopkeepers as they marveled at the "kyojin" that came into their tiny store for parts to build what would end up being a colossal-sounding fuzz pedal. And so, I humbly suggest the name of "Kyojin" (巨人), which means giant or colossus for his creation.
Great story and great suggestion! Plus the Japanese characters for it are super aesthetically pleasing. Would look awesome on the pedal.
Thank you, @@ross302ci! It would definitely be cool to have a JHS pedal with both English and Japanese on it, i.e., "Kyojin Fuzz" and "巨人"
You sir, have my vote!
Thank you, @@T.G1G!
That’s beautiful ❤️
I was an anti-pedal/effects player for decades. I was too broke to buy pedals when I first started, so that turned into me just being an amp-distortion guy. Then, the pandemic happened and I found myself locked in my home, watching CZcams all day. That’s when I found this show.
Now, I have 28 pedals & I’m writing the best music of my life.
Thanks, Josh! ☮️
I couldn't imagine that. I need pedals to recreate my favorite tones. It helps one get inspired. The 1st amp I bought has a bunch of FX built in so that I could experiment without having to waste money on pedals I didn't like.
Samesies!
One of us! One of us!
Woah! Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad we could be part of your journey!
@@jhspedals Me too! Thank you so much. I look forward to getting a JHS Klon when it’s released & absolutely love my pulp n peel. ☮️
I literally got obsessed with the idea of building this fuzz after watching this video for like 4 times! Already bought almost all of the required parts, some of them didn't come from Aliexpress yet (enclosure to be specific)! Thanks!)
oh nice!!!l let us know how it goes when you finish!
I was gonna ask this question to jut everyone but saw that you're making this pedal, therefore you must obtain the knowledge I need lol. Josh mentioned he used PNP transistors and doing so requires a battery. Im just wondering if I was to change them out for NPN what else would I need to change. Im guessing I can just swap them as then the ground would be completly wrong. I understand a bit about this and have a vague idea of what every part does but when it comes to how they work tpgether in a circuit I get a bit lost.
Update?
I would call it “巡礼” which is pronounced “Junrei” which translates to “The Pilgrimage”.
Great episode. What a fun trip! Can’t wait for more from Japan!
Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) Fuzz. Translates to "one time, one meeting" in Japanese it means being present at all times because every moment is unique even if it is something routine. It's related to tea ceremonies where you're paying attention to everything. I really liked how you really paid attention and listened to the unique characteristics of each component so it made me think of this.
This thing should be called “Josh Dreams of Fuzz”. The focus on the how of building it and the journey (plus being in Japan) reminds me so much of Jiro Dreams of Sushi and it’s such a great demonstration of the craft of pedal making. Well done!
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Fuzz?" ... Something bladerunner-esque... or philip k dick... but not "mood organ" :) ... though I think the #1 comment guy nailed it.
Wow, what a great video. It helps to understand the development process and also to capture the regional aspect of the area and era. I am impressed. The song you wrote is also very catchy. Thanks for sharing this journey.
Fuzzilla. Destroyer of tones! Seriously fun sounding pedal, LOVE that clean up. Josh was like a Jedi building a lightsaber in that shop. I am one with the Fuzz. The fuzz is with me.
I have a feeling you just won.
Damn it, no way I can win now.
@@DeformedDevicesI just saw this video and came to post that same name. I'm a day late, and a fuzz pedal short.
The fact that a place like this store still exists shows how dedicated the Japanese are to music and the making of all things related to it.
If I’m correct, I was in the same alley of vendors pictured in the video, just the other day (there’s a number of those alleys in Akihabara, so I might be wrong). Those alleys are not just one store; there are buildings like that that are just floors and floors of individual vendors with stalls. It’s awesome. I went to one vendor where they sold nothing but vintage tubes for amps and radios, and another that sold amp building kits. I need to learn pedal design so I can take advantage living close to there. Places like that aren’t just for guitarists. If there’s an obsolete piece of tech you own that’s broken down, that could potentially be the only place in the world that has replacement part. I don’t know of any place like it
And ham radio kit building too
@@Aaron-zh4kj pretty cool. If I were you I’d be taking advantage of that.
This vidéo is amazing ! It's really inspiring ! I'm a long time musical instrument inventor and now I started making weird pedals and THIS is the video I needed to see ! So thank you Josh !!!
Thank you very much for this video! Otherwise I never would have known about this market. When I will go to Japan, I will denfinetly visit it. You made me really excited about this market and the sound of that fuzz is also AMAZING! Keep on, you are great!
What a nasty little beasty. I love him!
I’d call it The Enso.
The Enso is a circle painted in one brush stroke, making each one unique, as you can see all the imperfections from the brush as it loses paint.
This can be seen as a reflection of the imperfections and uniqueness of our lives.
I think this reflects this pedal well. It’s a one off, oozing with beautiful imperfections.
🌴🙏🏼🌴
You aced it. Perfect name. Visually too, with the one knob 👌
@@Pepeleshhthank you! That’s so kind. You’re right, the one knob too!
As much as I'd like to throw my hat in the ring to name it, I'd rather just vote for yours. Very well thought out.
@@cactoidpinata thank you so much. i'm genuinely touched. i'm sure someone deserving is going to win.
I think yours will be the winner. Killer name. U perfectly represented the pedal. Great job!
This journey reminded me so much of Yoshi Ikegami and his reverence for the pre-compact Roland-Boss effectors. I feel that a name that harkens that era both of Roland and effects in general fits, as well as serves as a tribute to his semi-recent retirement. To that end, it's defintely the Chummy Tanuki (狸 - which has an obsolete translation referring to a cat, reminding me of the Funny Cat).
Thanks for the schematic!
oooh I'm gonna build it! it's going to be the perfect project for my channel 😁😁 thank you! 😀😀
Hello! I've been making my own pedals for a little over a month now, so this video really excites me. The name I submit is "The Agenabe Fuzz" or just "Agenabe"( 揚げ鍋) (I like how few Japanese characters this name has so it can easily fit on the outside of the enclosure) Which literally just translates to deep fryer. Fingers cross you like the name enough for me to get one of these bad boys, but i'll absolutely be building the circuit soon anyways!
I don't have a suggestion as good as this one, so +1 🤷♂️
^^chicken dinner
Stop scrolling, you've found the name of this pedal!
Kizuna Fuzz - “Kizuna” is a Japanese word signifies bonds and connections between people. It is fitting given the people who helped you along this journey, provided the space to build the pedal, and goes back to the common mantra that “Companies don’t build pedals. People do.”
Ha! I recorded an album in Japan in 2019. We called it Kizuna!
Kizuna Music by Popipa playing in my head right now lol
this is it. this should be the name, and you should win it 😊
Great video and idea! I love that you have posted the schematic for builders to experiment with.
It may have already been named and given away but I would name it the Obake fuzz, like a shapeshifter because it changes with your guitar volume know
I really liked the video...as all you record. Really fun minutes in a day and learning always something. And most important, giving me the enough energy to take my guitar and experiment with my pedalboard...pedalboard that I have been configuring almost 2 years from scratch...so...thanks for all the instructive videos of your channel.
So then, for the name...Dragon's Breath!!!
It has that thing like a flame in your face when all volume is up and the feeling of the fire burning slowly with that creeping sound of the barbecue just going off...
Thanks!!
I would call this pedal the “For Fuzz Sake”
What an awesome journey!
Lol brilliant name!
That‘s brilliant. Love the double meaning of Sake here
@@mark-hollis Thanks! I was wondering if someone would catch that lol
awesome!
It’s the "JHS ICHIMAN“.
Ichiman is Japanese and means "10.000“, and according to Google, Tokyo is almost exactly 10.000 kilometers away from Kansas City.
Cool to think it took 10.000 (or ichiman) kilometers for Josh to come up with something that was a combination of his entire life experience growing up in the US and the Japanese creations of guitar pedals he was so influenced by.
He basically had to travel ichiman kilometers to make it happen. That was all that was needed. 😊
I'm sure Josh read that like "WHAT THE HECK IS A KILOMETEEEEER??? 🦅🏈 🇺🇸"
that's pretty good tbh, I hope you win :)
@@segueoyuri rightfully so haha, but outside of the US, it's all kilometers, and he flew out of the US to do it! ;-)
Great story and video, I want that pedal with those exact knobs.
I allways love the way you document those things and share your knowledge with the world. In this way everyone can endotherme what you enjoy. It can be such an inspiration to watch your videos. I would call it an J-Fuzz. That could have multiple meanings like Japanese Fuzz or Josh Fuzz or the Fuzz that came after the I-Fuzz. Thanks for sharing.
Name: Mt. FuzzGe
Explanation: built in Japan near Mt. Fuji. Josh “Mounted” all of the components himself. It’s a fuzz made with Germanium, hence FuzzGe
Very, very cool fuzz! If I win I vow to not resell it on reverb. In fact, I’ll use it on my next album!
:)
Genius
Wabi-Sabi Fuzz(侘寂)
In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) - is the acceptance of transience and imperfection.
The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature.
It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art.
Weird, my feedback is gone... Well I made a wabisabi fuzz already more than a year ago 'RuttenFX'. (link is removed as well).
Great vid Josh n team 👏 🎉
It's not a build
It's an experience ❤
Great video guys! I love that that Nick and Addison were able to go on the trip with Josh. Great to see you guys all jamming together again. Name for the fuzz: 手から Te Kara Fuzz which means “From the hand”. Because the fuzz is controlled and played by the hand / dynamics and volume control and was built “from the hand”.
This was killer! More Japan footage! More Japan footage! ✌️😃🎸
What a fun episode, I would love more in that genre. Build challenges between Josh and others would be fun too. For the fuzz name I suggest : GIGANTOR FUZZ. (It's a 60's mech themed manga/anime)
That was the US name
Very stoked to see you guys went to Japan recently-love seeing your trip, your shopping, your cultural exchange..
Not sure I can think of a good name for that sweet crafted box but here I go: Shiba’s Brave Little Toaster.
TT
Aw I want you to keep it! I think the schematic is enough for us lol
I bike through Osaka every day going to work, and kept my eye open for a JHS sighting while you were here... Maybe next time!
I would call it "Miminari", which is Japanese for tinnitus, or ringing of the ears. 🔊
Sounds Great!!!
The last 3 examples are 🔥
This is definitely The Tiny Kaiju. A paradox, an enigma, but still undeniably a monster.
The name should be Kamifazu. You mentioned in the video at one point that if it worked it would be an "act of god", and that's pretty much what Kami means, and fazu is fuzz in Japanese. Seems fitting to me.
There you go. ☝
JHS 'E-Town Fuzz'
I feel like the name of the device HAS to give homage to the historic Akihabara Electric Town, which has spawned it and so many of Japan's great music electronics.
Great video, thanks!! Name suggestion:
Nomi - one-off, one and only, sole
Umami Fuzz - because it adds that indescribable something to your tone that you never knew you can’t live without.
BTW - loved this. More of these off-the-cuff builds with the team playing around with parts from markets, old pawn shop electronics and such - that would be ace. Also Joshua reading the rules made me LOL in public transport. ‘Oh! You caught me reading…’. Very good.
I love you sharing the process and the circuit. I've been slowly playing with the idea of diy and this really is an inspiration.
For a name, I like the Yoshi Fuzz.
Great video. I would called it ‘Ambrosio’. Sounds great!
Title for- Vol 1. Thanks for all your hard work.
As much as I’d love to win this pedal, there’s gotta be that “one” person out here that just deserves it! Cool story Josh and Co.!!!
You really are living the dream Josh! Congratulations. Hope to keep seeing more inspiring content like this- pedals bring me life
AB-Fuzz: akihabara basement fuzz!
Great video, love the fact you did it in one sitting and it sounded that good!
Really liked the song!
This is a fantastic video! I like how you encourage us to create and provide the schematic! Thank you!
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Name: Hikeshi
That’s the name of Japanese firefighters from the Edo Period who essentially had the job of preventing fires from spreading by destroying buildings surrounding the fires. They were loved as local working class heroes and also feared for being loud and coarse. That last part really fits I think.
Track is awesome. ❤
Please record an album! I love your jams.
Yikes! The jam has HIT!!!-potential. Love it. Release pleeeeeease!
Band lab?
Great video! I feel like the "Ikigai Fuzz" would be a great name. An intersection between what the world needs, what you love to do, what you can be paid for, and what you're good at. Pretty sure you meet this criteria, Josh.
The "R-10 Microfuzz"
~ Sharp developed the R-10, Japan's first microwave oven in 1961. The following year, "1962", Sharp became the first company to mass produce microwave ovens. The first fuzz pedal was the Maestro "FZ-1" Fuzz-Tone, which was introduced in "1962". To glue this all together, this Fuzz pedal, or should I recommend the "R-10 MicroFuzz" resembles the first mass produced microwave oven! From the shape, knobs and color, all the way down to some serious cooking inside both products. The R-10 spins off FZ-1 which has a tasty touch. Micro describing the small compact structure of the pedal and gives a hat tilt to the oven. Lastly we have fuzz, which describes what the pedal is designed for, AND the sound I would imagine this 1962 microwave oven would/should sound like.
I am unsure of anything that would fit this pedal better. Great video! Keep up the great content!
I cannot even begin to explain the hype I felt when you mentioned there's a building in Tokyo filled with electronic parts to buy... I'm going to Tokyo this summer thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been looking forward to this for ten months or so! Josh building a fuzz in Japan with the old masters is like me jamming with Homme and Shields in Abbey Road only I'm terrible at jamming but Josh is gonna ace that fuzz .....
Awesome video and killing tone!!Next time you could try to come to Osaka and look for building parts in NIHONBASHI, which is the local version of Akihabara. I'd be glad to be your guide here!!
As for the pedal name , I'd choose "シオヤ秘伝"(Shioya Hiden: Shioya secret) as a homage to the シオヤ無線(Shioya wireless) store that appears in the video a couple of times and that closed down at the end of August this year, where the SECRET was hidden, without which this pedal wouldn't be possible.
I am big fan of JHS pedals and have 11(including an Astro Mess Fuzz) of them distributed among 3 pedalboards and still have the Double Barrel waiting to get back sometime soon.
I love how this fuzz cleans up with the volume knob.
Very Cool sounds amazing thanks for sharing the video ! Great Scotts “The Fuzz-en One” 🤘
Great episode! Thanks Josh and everyone in the team for making this! How about calling it "Big In Japan"? As a massive Tom Waits fan, that song popped up to my head straight away as I was watching this. A strange and quirky song with a lot of grit! Check it out if you don't know it. The title also fits the footage of you walking around the small corridors (Tall in Japan would be more accurate but it might not be as catchy?). Anyway, thanks again! P
I would call it the 'Hitotsu', which in certain circumstances means 'one' or 'one of' in Japanese.
One-of-one, one-knob pedal, designed in Japan 👌
But it’s got two switches
@@quikstiks4781 good job I was on about the knob then 😮💨
Wow this video blew my mind. Epic props to you man for creatively following your gut instincts on this build. I suggest the name “Quest” in Japanese which sounds like “Questo”. It was a quest for unique tone, and as its possibilities are seemingly endless, it’s about the journey not the destination. Questo Fuzz is my suggestion.
Just seeing the 2SC prefix on those transistors took me back to my youth. Some kids poured over baseball cards. Me? Product specification sheets and example circuits. I need to dig all those old parts out, fire up the good ol' 20 MHz analog scope and start playing again. This was such an awesome time trip.
Next time that I'm going to Japan, I will surely visit that building and build a pedal.
this is the right move
Awesome episode! I would call it the “Kanagawa Fuzz” after the famous Japanese art piece the ‘Great wave of Kanagawa’. It’s been used and reused in art designs so many times, just like the topology of this fuzz circuit.
The block print is of the sea off of Kanagawa-ken (神奈川県), a prefecture facing the open Pacific, not Kanazawa-shi (金沢市), which is a coastal city on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu well away from Mount Fuji.
@@robertlewis5439 I stand corrected. Thank you for the help!
The Little Green "Fazu" that could. Because it could do a lot more than the one knob suggests.(Fazu is Fuzz in Japanese). Fazutōn is also cool it just means Fuzztones in Japanese. I tried my best 🤷♂️ 😊
this is the coolest episode! wicked interesting and hits all the major JHS points: pedal history, design considerations, circuit components 101, tasty jam, gratitude, and a give-a-way.
This pedal should be named "Tonkatsu" (Tone-katsu?) bc everyone loves sandwiches... & guitar pedals.
My suggestion for a name: "Rising Sun" (since it's from Japanese parts and it's namewise kinda similar to "Morning Glory")
Awesome build and awesome sound!
Name - "Wabi-Sabi Fuzz" . It's an ancient and deeply held philosophy closely tied to Japanese culture. Wabi-Sabi sees the beauty in imperfection, appreciates simplicity, and accepts that change is inevitable. This fuzz is ever changing and unpredictable in it's tone. Works for me. :)
Damn it!!! But thank you for the other recommendations of pedals. I love your stuff and channel. Keep on keeping on, y'all. Would it be safe to say that all your pedals are Bass friendly?
“Tone Ninja” Easily jumping back and forth with the slightest of effort.
This was cool, Josh. Love getting a glimpse into the design process.
I would call it " The Mosh Mosh pedal". Akin to "もしもし" ie. "moshi moshi". It´s a phrase that´s used when picking up the phone in Japan but here it would refer to a mosh pit :D
Hope ya like it!
Fingers crossed. Pedal Names: The Akihabara Special, The Chiyoda Fuzz or Kyū Fazu [Kyū is 9 (volume knob) and Fazu is fuzz in Japanese]
I would call it "Kamikaze".
Great show, I look forward to digging into this circuit!
I'd call it Made in Japan. Simple, true and very retro. Used to see it everywhere, that phrase.
Nice tribute for this pedal and for their contribution to electronics, and guitars, and fuzz.
I miss Addison 😢
Yeah, these other guys suck!
did he leave jhs?
@@JotaJadehe left the show to go into making music. I am not sure if he is with jhs in any official capacity, but he is still local to them
Agreed... But Josh's enthusiasm, and attention to detail keep it interesting, as usual.
you are incorrect.
"Tokyo Facemaster" or "The Nines"
I like "the nines"👍
cool jamming! sound very similar to bodysnatchers. love it!
I know Germanium sounds like 60s moreso. But I have been messing with that Band of Gypsies Mini Fuzz Face and that thing sounds like whatever you need it to. It's incredible. Im hoping this one you make reminds me of it. The max fuzz setting sounds like that "wtf velcro sound" when my volume knob is maxed. And the cleanup blows me away. You made me love Fuzz, Josh. Thanks a lot. Hahaha
That would be a cool name for a pedal though.... The JHS Velco Pedal. Technically that would be a "trademark" but only as an adhesive device, you could used it for a pedal as long as you didn't copy their graphics or logo. Doesn't mean they wouldn't threaten you with lawyers though :)
The « Japanoize » seems like a great name for this Japanese Fuzz
I'd call it Ohsh'ii. It's means "Oh Sh*t, that's delicious, my soul is happy, fulfilled and cleansed." It's an homage to when you experience deliciousness.
Really nice fuzz"pedal" you made! Since I started listen to sparklehorse I wanted that broken fuzz sound. I would name it Fuzz-static, there is something static electric that I think of when I hear that lush broken fuzz sound.
Tatakau (戦う) Fuzz !!
Love the sound!
In honor of some of the Japanese greats, pedal should be named: Mieda's Bento Box
the Pearl Harbor
The "Perf-fect Nuke Switch Fuzz" Love this channel - Love your passion!!
"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb^H^H^H^H FUZZ".. sorry, you said "Nuke."
I would call it Okihabara Fuzz after the electronic market/village.
I love those quirky ideas.
More please!
Niiiiice!! Looks and sounds great. Congrats! You should call it Kureiji Fuzz. I think it means crazy (and if it doesn't sounds crazy enough)😊
Great video! Cant wait for more crazy trips to build pedals!
The name should be GENKAI-FUZZ, Genkai means limit or threshold in Japanese, this can refer to both physical and mental limits.
This can be associate to the sweetspot you can find between the 9 and 10 in the guitar volume even if you have all the way up (9) on the pedal knob
Blossom Face. As an homage to the cherry blossom season in Japan, but with a second meaning referring to the fuzz tone that continues to "blossom" as the volume increases.
Love the content you guys are putting out. Keep up the great work!
Akifuzz Electric Sakura . This name combines "Akihabara," the famous district of Tokyo known for electronics and geek culture, with "Fuzz" for the sound effect, and "Electric Sakura" to evoke the fusion of modern electronics and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Br Franck
Great video! I would call it the Ichi.
Wow those Royal Super Bunnies do look nice in that basement, was aware of the fuzzes but those look at those heads!
Man, that is super-cool .. It must have been quite the cool experience ..Reminds me of a time I got lost in Bangkok in their electronics district .. Just, like, everything was there ..
Love that jam ! I have never ever been a fuzz person , this video has turned me into a fuzz person .....thanks Josh
LOVE this video and the fuzz sounds amazing!! Here are some ideas:
- Oneknob-e m.i.j. (get it? it sounds like "wannabe" haha.. yeah.)
- M.I.J.H.S
- Sushi Roll back the volume-knob
- Tokyone Bender
- Joshpanese Fuzz
Given it's october, i have spooky on the brain. Seeing you go around to the different little shops, digging through the buckets, hunting for the perfect parts reminded me of Frankenstein, therefore my suggestion is FrankenFuzz
I would call the pedal Fuzzkushima as it can create great chaos and disaster. Great video as always, please post more content from Japan if you have it.
I have, in fact it's the only effect pedal I have, a JHS 3 series distortion, and I find it to be fuzz like if the switch is on the 'gain' mode and my guitar is on full volume. I really like it and I thank you for building such cool pedals. Have a good day.