So. You know that little distraction. It became a big distraction. You could probably tell by the lack of posts and additions to the playlist. Don't get me wrong I was also getting a few extra jobs around the house done also before I go back to work next week. The pergola is 99% cleared out, the skip is booked to clear the rubbish, the outside furniture has been washed, and B has given it a coat of oil to refresh it. However, many countless hours have also been spent researching and designing what turned into my new obsession.
For the non-guitarists, often the mass of effects pedals (or 'stomp boxes') and the amps and the way we put it all together get referred to as our 'rigs'. When a guitarist puts together a 'new rig', they're usually pretty chuffed with themselves, and they like to show off pictures of them like the proud parents they are. There are countless Facebook groups and forums dedicated to such celebrations, and some that provide the designer the opportunity to have their baby be 'roasted' by the wider community. In the metal community, a leaf was taken from the 'will it blend' philosophy, and the 'Rig of Doom' was born and the rhetorical question of 'but does it doom?' being asked.
I've now spent a week designing and planning what I'm affectionately referring to as my 'Racks of Doom' - yes - there are two of them in the 'end game' design. This isn't my first rodeo however. There are three other 'Rigs of Doom' at various stages of completion floating about in my collection. But this one will be special as it will allow me to make copious amounts of noise in complete silence, yet it will sound like a dimed high gain amplifier should! It will also let me begin to explore the home recording process which I'm hoping will prompt me to 'practice' a bit more often, so I don't sound so crap.
It took a while, but I'm now happy with the Racks-of-Doom's design flexibility, usability, patchability - heck any of the 'bilities that you could think of - I'm probably happy with them. I have to thank B for listening to me crap on about it all this week with minimal eye rolling; and for being the muse who challenged me to think differently about the time/value equation which ultimately unlocked my 'tight-arseness' just enough to reach a design that 'just works'.
My prediction that such an endeavour would likely burn a sizable hole in my skyrocket was also bang on. There will need to be some 'custom' built parts that I'll have to outsource as no-one in the world seems to sell pre-built what I want exactly. As such this will definitely need to be a long term 'phased' delivery. Phase 1 will aim to not hurt the skyrocket too much, and to achieve Minimum Viable Product usability for rocking out in pure silence for the rest of the family.
So. Now all that distraction is out of the way, I suppose I better make up for lost time and get posting. Immerse yourself in this collection that echoes the last weeks journey!