Open Source

NAMM: A Mad Professor of the Stompbox Goes Open Source

(WIRED) - Zachary Vex, the mastermind behind the handcrafted and hand-painted Z.Vex line of boutique guitar effect pedals, has decided to release his designs to the public. His newest device, a new pedal called the Inventobox, allows anyone to hack his creations however they choose.

Z.Vex pedals are coveted by collectors for their mystique and funky vibe and as much as their squealing, crunchy and sometimes alien-sounding tones. They run the gamut from fuzz and distortion to wah-wahs and ring modulators. The pedals, with their sparkling, brightly painted cases and bizarre names, are considered high-end curios — they cost between $250 and $500 each. They are

Even though Vex’s pedal designs win accolades from guitar gods like Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis and My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, some customers aren’t totally satisfied with what they get.

“Some people who buy the Fuzz Factory find it too bright,” Vex says, referring to his most popular model, a fuzz pedal for the guitar. “So, I wanted to give them an opportunity to open it up and do whatever they want to it.”

Vex is debuting the hacker-friendly Inventobox here at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show, the industry’s premiere tradeshow where all the latest gear is trotted out.