Vertex Wah Rip-off Bbe Wah |
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Sep 9 2014, 12:51 PM
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Have people heard about the Vertex Wah & what's lately been going on?
Apparently they've ripped off the BBE Wah and sold it as the Vertex Wah, not only that, way more expensive as well. I saw a post regarding this on the thegearpage a while back, can't seem to find it again, but a quick google search on 'vertex wah rip off bbe wah' and you'll get some results. Besides that I'll quote this from a 'thegearpage' post, it's an open letter from Michael Landau. Source: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=1477017 QUOTE 9-6-2014 AN OPEN LETTER FROM MICHAEL LANDAU. This letter is in response to the recent events surrounding Mason Marangella and Vertex Effects. I first became aware of the drama concerning the Vertex Wah Wahs through Clif Jones on August 16th. I was late hearing the news because I had been on tour and I’m not a regular on the gear forums. The news was not good, this was exactly the type of drama that has kept me far away from guitar pedal endorsements for most of my life up until recently. Since I’ve never actually owned a production model Vertex Axis Wah, I anonymously purchased one 12 days ago so I could have it compared to the BBE Ben Wah by a reliable source whom I’ve known for many years, I wanted to have a first hand account of the results. The results show that the Vertex Axis Wah I recently purchased was identical to the BBE Ben Wah. Obviously I can’t be involved with a company or associated with a person who runs his company like this, so officially as of 9-6-2014, I no longer formally endorse any Vertex products. I would like to state the following facts for clarity: - I am not an electrical engineer, the only time I open up a pedal is to change the battery. - I have never used, nor have I ever endorsed any of the production model Vertex Wah Wahs. - The Wah Wah that has been on my pedalboard since January 2013 is an old Dunlop Cry Baby that was modified by Mason, I don’t know the specifics of the mods, it sounds good to me, it does have a Vertex sticker on it from when Mason worked on it a couple of years ago. - I do not use, nor have I ever endorsed the Vertex cables. - I use the Vertex Landau Boost because I love the EXP volume control function. - I use the Vertex Volume pedal only as an EXP pedal for the Landau Boost. As of 9-3-2014, I have instructed Mason to give all of the dealers and distributers a 30 day notice stating that the Vertex Landau Boost and the Vertex Landau Chorus will be discontinued. Out of respect to the entire guitar community: If anyone wants to return their Vertex Landau Boost or Vertex Landau Chorus and is having a problem doing so through Vertex or the dealer they purchased it from, please contact Clif @ L.A. Vintage Gear and I will personally provide a full refund. Michael Landau -------------------- Guitar
Suhr S4 Pro Series Bengal Burst |
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Sep 9 2014, 04:25 PM
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For the curious.
31 pages of 'commentary' ... http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=1477492 The owner does admit to everything. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 10 2014, 08:24 PM
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Seems a bit extreme doesn't it? Pedal companies copy each other all the time.
QUOTE (Qenzoz @ Sep 9 2014, 07:51 AM)  Have people heard about the Vertex Wah & what's lately been going on? Apparently they've ripped off the BBE Wah and sold it as the Vertex Wah, not only that, way more expensive as well. I saw a post regarding this on the thegearpage a while back, can't seem to find it again, but a quick google search on 'vertex wah rip off bbe wah' and you'll get some results. Besides that I'll quote this from a 'thegearpage' post, it's an open letter from Michael Landau. Source: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=1477017 |
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Sep 10 2014, 08:34 PM
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This one's a little different.
He re-branded existing BBE wah pedals. Changed the labels and markings, upped the price 150% and claimed they were an original design and made in the USA (he did the same with cables). He's also now having to deal with a few high profile endorsers - M. Landau, J. Bonamassa, S. Lukather, Scott Henderson and R. Ford's perceived credibility. It ain't pretty this one. This post has been edited by klasaine: Sep 12 2014, 02:39 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 12 2014, 10:37 AM
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Vertex does Tom Bukovac's pedal boards and some of his pedal mods, I wonder if he's going to go elsewhere
-------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Sep 13 2014, 04:44 PM
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True. There was one other high-profile incident of someone re-branding Joyo stuff as BOUTIQUE, custom made in USA, very expensive pedals ... and he got run out the biz in the same fashion.
Most of the Joyo/Biyang/Mooer/Nux/Moen/etc. gear is advertised and labeled as such, is super cheap and obviously known to be imports. ^^^ These pedals ^^^ cost between 40 and 80 bucks US ... not $300.00+ This post has been edited by klasaine: Sep 13 2014, 05:31 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 14 2014, 05:06 PM
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Large production gear, yes. But that's actually 'normal' and has been the operating model since the late 50s.
FugiGen Co. in Japan makes lots of brands guitars - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen Same with Matsumoku - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoku I'm not too concerned with most of the boutique stuff. The dishonest guys get called out pretty quickly these days and now - everything over $100 will get looked at VERY carefully. This post has been edited by klasaine: Sep 14 2014, 05:07 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 14 2014, 06:00 PM
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Good points
 The fugigen factory makes more brands of guitar than most would ever want to know come from the same factory. Same folks, same fabrication, mostly similar materials, just slightly different shapes and branding. Ibanez guitars have been made there for decades. Spot on for the pricey stuff too imho The pricier gear is almost self policing. You only get to fool those cats so often before the entire community won't buy gear from you anymore. QUOTE (klasaine @ Sep 14 2014, 12:06 PM) Large production gear, yes. But that's actually 'normal' and has been the operating model since the late 50s.
FugiGen Co. in Japan makes lots of brands guitars - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen Same with Matsumoku - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoku I'm not too concerned with most of the boutique stuff. The dishonest guys get called out pretty quickly these days and now - everything over $100 will get looked at VERY carefully. |
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