In brief, here is what is going to happen over the next few months.
1- Some manufacturing will now be done through iTead.
Some of the smaller boards (1590A and B variety) will be transitioning over to iTead from my regular manufacturer over the next 6 months. There are two reasons: it is a bit cheaper and I can get different color soldermask MUCH cheaper. This means I will be able to order about twice as many boards when I restock so the store stays full up more regularly.
2 - The website will be re-designed.
To coincide with the 5th anniversary of madbeanpedals as a DIY resource, the website is going to get an overhaul. Some of the dusty pages will go away and lots of new features will be added. We'll have a DIY section and a store section. There will be member-submitted tutorials. There will be a media page for video and audio demos. I'd like to add member profiles on the main site for those that want one. Not sure how to do this, though.
3 - The "etcher's paradise" will launch with the site re-design.
The numbers keep creeping up, but I will definitely cut it off at 175 etching projects. I'm pretty close to that number now. I'm hoping the site re-design/etching projects will launch by late February. Ultimately, my goal is to put MBP at the forefront of DIY pedal building...not just as a place to buy PCBs. I think these projects will help accomplish that goal.
4 - There will be a chance for non-etchers to get their hands on the new etching projects.
Some will be available through OSH Park Shared Projects. Some will become regular store products. And some will be available from Haberdasher. We're working out those details.
5 - There will be lots of new store (fabbed) projects.
Priority #1 is the EHX stuff I've been working on, and esp. the Attack Decay. I know lots of peeps are waiting for that. I have about 15 fabbed projects nearly completed so there is plenty to choose from. We are still going to do sub-mini tube projects, too. I expect that will happen more toward the middle/2nd half of the year. I can't answer specific questions about what will be released when at this time....because I don't know yet. But, I am aware of which projects people are waiting on so I will be making those the priority.
6 - There may be other store products for customers besides PCBs in the future.
Not much to say on this yet, but it is something I'm considering.
7 - Contests are still going to happen, but differently.
The contests will no longer be every month. I haven't done a great job managing them and that is frustrating for everyone. Instead, we are going to do quarterly contests and there will be participation from some other devs on here. We're working out the details so I will have an announcement within another week or so.
As always, suggestions and feedback is welcome. Mostly, I am looking forward to another great year with the members here. Your enthusiasm and presence here is really rewarding to me, and I don't mean just financially. It is part of who I am, and I thank all of you for that!
All very good information. Thanks for the update Brian and as always if anything is needed from the members, count me in.
Looks like a lot of good improvements there. I'm definitely looking forward to the vintage EHX stuff.
That sounds amazing! Can't wait to get my hands on EHX projects, as well as maybe trying my first home-etched PCBs.
It goes without saying, but I'll do it anyways: Brian, you're doing an amazing job. Keep up the good work!
Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of money this year.....
Looking forward to it.
Happy 5th Anniversary to MBP. Brian, thanks so much for building such a wonderful community. These all sound like ambitious, but certainly achievable, goals.
This is just awesome. Madbeanpedals.com got me started into this addictive hobby and I owe everything to Brian for creating this repository of information, and also to the amazing people of the forum who are willing to share their knowledge regarding the subject. If there is anything I can assist to help give back, I would be glad to.
I think the approach of being not only just a store and a superb form, but a complete "one-stop-shop" for DIY pedals is a great step. Hardcore DIYers are content to go to other sites for schematic info, beginners seem most comfortable with a "kit in a box", intermediates may like just fabbed PCBs; By covering as many of these bases as possible, the amount of people (regardless of skill level) who can benefit from this site will increase and the community will grow as a whole.
Happy 5th Anniversary! Always some awesome stuff coming down the pipe here, and I am continually learning new things.
Really promising, can't wait.
Thank you for your hard work !
Mich P.
...tnx a lot Brian..happy 5th anniv...can't wait etcher's paradise to get launched!...
Is this what a 6-year old waiting on her glitter pony feels like?
The best, just keeps getting better, can't wait :)
Sounds great. Keep up the good work and count me in for a limited edition Madbean 5th Anniversary T-shirt.
2014 marks a new career path for me that ties together the last nearly 3 decades (seriously???...I'm THAT old?). I'm helping manage a data center, having been pulling cable/fiber optics and managing projects the bulk of my life. That said, I look forward to coming home at night and checking in to the site to see what's happening and what my next build is gonna be. It's a great diversion to the real life stuff, and real life is GOOD.
Quote from: madbean on January 08, 2014, 09:13:36 AM
Ultimately, my goal is to put MBP at the forefront of DIY pedal building...not just as a place to buy PCBs.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MM73OSzsi-s/TBP1Dq9_X_I/AAAAAAAAAns/1ssI8Zoh4JA/s1600/sweep%2Bthe%2Bleg.jpg)
5 years is outstanding! Congrats on that! All your points sound fantastic..15 new designs to choose from..geez! What about some MBP t shirts?
Already the best DIY pedal stop on the 'Net as far as I'm concerned. Plan sounds outstanding, though. Great direction.
I also love that it continues the trend that this is becoming more and more a 'maker' type community with people designing their own effects and layouts and supporting and encouraging each other.
honestly this forum feels the friendliest im not as scared to to try to participate and share ...and mostly ask questions
it already is the center of my education in this hobby
many thanks
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on January 10, 2014, 12:36:35 PM
5 years is outstanding! Congrats on that! All your points sound fantastic..15 new designs to choose from..geez! What about some MBP t shirts?
I think a Madbean T-shirt would be most excellent. It would be an honor to wear it.
I could be picking my guitar with my Madbean pick, playing through my Madbean pedal while wearing my Madbean t-shirt. Get a Madbean coffee cup and life will be sweet. :)
Quote from: billstein on January 10, 2014, 01:58:47 PM
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on January 10, 2014, 12:36:35 PM
5 years is outstanding! Congrats on that! All your points sound fantastic..15 new designs to choose from..geez! What about some MBP t shirts?
I think a Madbean T-shirt would be most excellent. It would be an honor to wear it.
I could be picking my guitar with my Madbean pick, playing through my Madbean pedal while wearing my Madbean t-shirt. Get a Madbean coffee cup and life will be sweet. :)
I'm in for a T-Shirt but only if it has been cryogenically treated.
Now you're talking as long as it's not $25.00. If it is, I need guarantees.
1. Wife will be naked 24 / 7
2. No more debugging
3. 2 words....Rock god
Quote from: jimilee on January 10, 2014, 04:37:10 PM
Now you're talking as long as it's not $25.00. If it is, I need guarantees.
1. Wife will be naked 24 / 7
2. No more debugging
3. 2 words....Rock god
None of those things can be ruled out as a possibility. For sure, none of those will happen if you don't get the shirt. (maybe rock god, just for a little while).
Shirt?
Yes!
How about a cryogenically treated madbean beer koozie?
Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2
I'm okay with a 5th anniversary shirt. Not something I would normally do, but why not for the occasion? I'll look into it.
Quote from: madbean on January 08, 2014, 09:13:36 AMUltimately, my goal is to put MBP at the forefront of DIY pedal building...not just as a place to buy PCBs. I think these projects will help accomplish that goal.
It already is for me. I participate far more in this site than any other (even though I do read them all daily). It has a friendly community of like-minded people, but most importantly manages to remain accessible. This I feel is a problem with some of the other DIY sites that can be a bit cliquey at times and occasionally borderline hostile. People here seem to be very level headed, I like that.
Quote from: madbean on January 11, 2014, 10:49:29 AMI'm okay with a 5th anniversary shirt. Not something I would normally do, but why not for the occasion? I'll look into it.
I'm up for a 'bean shirt. Most of my shirts have holes in these days and I'm not going to enough gigs to replace them fast enough ;)
I'm gonna jump on the tshirt wagon just for the push.
Shirt would definitely be cool. All the work is appreciated and your perspective on "fair use" is more than fair in my humble opinion. OK I'll return to lurk status, just wanted to come out of the cave to say thank you. But yeah a shirt would be cool as it gets cold in here :)
I'll have my dead unicorn shirt, and my Mr Bean shirt as well :) Good stuff
I'll wear my Madbean shirt instead of my LA Lakers shirt for obvious reasons. :(
I was looking at my t-shirt drawer tonight and thinking about donating most of what's in there to Goodwill. Only thing I keep wearing right now is an Austin City Limits Live tee (sent my wife's folks to see Keb Mo and got the shirt in return, pretty awesome!) and a tour shirt from my buddy Daren's band I got when they came through this summer. The rest is bunk. I need a MBP 5th anni tee to up the count of keepers.
Quote from: alanp on January 11, 2014, 02:30:43 PM
I'll have my dead unicorn shirt, and my Mr Bean shirt as well :) Good stuff
A dead unicorn with rainbow blood would be fun. But, I think Rej already coined the "killing unicorns" thing...?
I think a picture showing the paramount "bean" (like in Brian's avatar) with it's back to a breadboard on the front....
On the back are the words "Debugging for 24 hours straight.... AND I LOVE IT!"
Its a MAD-bean ;)
I dunno what the T-Shirt should say, but I'm getting one.
Jacob
chalk another one up, i'll be buying a tee
black, XL
I'm in for one. Black, with the bean character and Badaboom would be awesome.
Quote from: Haberdasher on January 12, 2014, 11:57:07 AM
chalk another one up, i'll be buying a tee
black, XL
What's an XL in US measurements. Ours continues to expand, i've got shirts that are labeled 40-42" chest and also marked with everything from M thru XL, the more recent the shirt the smaller the designator. Also stores with slimming mirrors in the change rooms.
I'd be interested in a shirt as well, size M-XL?, American Apparel made in the US of A!
dave
For #6 I think there should be chocolates. This way I can say "Well honey I was buying you some chocolates and I figured... why not a few more pcbs while I'm here"
Quote from: aballen on January 13, 2014, 12:43:35 PM
For #6 I think there should be chocolates. This way I can say "Well honey I was buying you some chocolates and I figured... why not a few more pcbs while I'm here"
All joking aside.. you are a genius.
Quote from: davent on January 12, 2014, 12:56:41 PM
Quote from: Haberdasher on January 12, 2014, 11:57:07 AM
chalk another one up, i'll be buying a tee
black, XL
What's an XL in US measurements. Ours continues to expand, i've got shirts that are labeled 40-42" chest and also marked with everything from M thru XL, the more recent the shirt the smaller the designator. Also stores with slimming mirrors in the change rooms.
I'd be interested in a shirt as well, size M-XL?, American Apparel made in the US of A!
dave
I'll get a 2XL and if it's too big I'll just have to grow into it ;)
Another 2XL here too, thanks, probably won't have to grow into mine ;)
I'm in for a pair, maybe L and M (just to choose the one that suits me better). The other T-shirt is for my gf... the best lingerie has nothing to do against a women dressed with a man's shirt.. far less if it is a MB one!! :)
In for an xl
2XL for my ever growing middle section.
Look now you gotta do it! :P
I'm in for an xl
Quote from: billstein on January 10, 2014, 01:58:47 PM
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on January 10, 2014, 12:36:35 PM
5 years is outstanding! Congrats on that! All your points sound fantastic..15 new designs to choose from..geez! What about some MBP t shirts?
I think a Madbean T-shirt would be most excellent. It would be an honor to wear it.
I could be picking my guitar with my Madbean pick, playing through my Madbean pedal while wearing my Madbean t-shirt. Get a Madbean coffee cup and life will be sweet. :)
And we could be wearing a Madbean hat/skullcap , Madbean socks, and using a Madbean sweatband for muting our strings. Seriously though - I'd buy the Tshirt, skullcap/toboggan, and the sweatband (wrist size).
Maybe we could buy Magic Mad Beans that would boost starship hyperdrives by 42%, tested to 1776 proof :)
I'm in for the toboggan.
Can you order customs capes ::) ??
You could wear it while soldering and any passerby can read whatever message is on your back.
Quote from: Peteyboy on February 06, 2014, 12:48:48 PM
Can you order customs capes ::) ??
You could wear it while soldering and any passerby can read whatever message is on your back.
REQUEST OF THE CENTURY.Man after my heart that.
Jacob
Where do you guys have your card tables that you get passersby?
I'd be interested in a t-shirt. *Hangs head* 3X
Not knowing how sizes equate UK vs US, I got a 2XL Grind shirt. I could probably camp in it ;) Still, it gives me something to aim for /grabs pies.
So, I think the idea of a silk-screened "soldering cape" is pretty damn genius and I would totally put that in the store. But, I have not had much luck finding anyone doing custom screen capes. Mostly, it's just kid superhero stuff.
If it had a hoodie mask too all the better. What a way to embarrass the wives and girlfriends (hopefully not at the same time).
Quote from: madbean on February 10, 2014, 06:43:36 PM
So, I think the idea of a silk-screened "soldering cape" is pretty damn genius and I would totally put that in the store. But, I have not had much luck finding anyone doing custom screen capes. Mostly, it's just kid superhero stuff.
Look harder. I want one.
Isn't anything possible in China?
Jacob
Quote from: madbean on February 10, 2014, 06:44:37 PM
If it had a hoodie mask too all the better. What a way to embarrass the wives and girlfriends (hopefully not at the same time).
Pretty sure I'd need a divorce attorney or a shrink the day that order arrived, Bon puts up with a lot, but pretty sure that would push her over the edge.
Fantastic Brian. Glad to see you pushing bigger and forward! I went away for a year and came back to the friendliest forum on the net.
Cheers!
We need a utility belt and matching over-pants to go with the cape.
Divorce?
Tish. You won't care when you are rocking full Bean Man regalia ;)
Beans, beans, the musical fruit...
I know what I'm going out as for Halloween this year...
Jacob
Quote from: jkokura on February 10, 2014, 07:08:34 PM
Look harder. I want one.
Isn't anything possible in China?
Jacob
Well played sir.
You could just stock iron-ons.
I could iron them on the capes I already own.
I wont lie guys, I may have lost some sleep recently in excitement for the impending etchpocalypse.
Quote from: ggarms on March 18, 2014, 04:19:28 PM
I wont lie guys, I may have lost some sleep recently in excitement for the impending etchpocalypse.
Yeah, I'm itching for some etching. ;D
I'm dyin' ova heah. Chompin' at the bit to order some boards, but want to wait until everything's in so I can save $2. ;D
On the short list are a couple Krakens, 2 Pork Barrels, a few Roadrages, Fatpants, Cave Dweller and a Stage Fright. Of course, I guess I have enough to keep me busy until then, but I'm impatient and I can't wait to add to the PCB stack!
I can promise now that the next two to three months is going to have an intense release schedule. I'm wrapping up many many projects. Of course, I've said that before, but now things are coming together in a more focused way. Stuff that I've been picking at for months (or years) is pretty much in the can. I'm excited to get this stuff out to you guys.
I'll be ordering the Dirtbag 2014 the second it comes out. I've got the 3005s waiting patiently, have been waiting for a home since their arrival in October. :)
Quote from: madbean on March 26, 2014, 11:08:27 AM
I can promise now that the next two to three months is going to have an intense release schedule. I'm wrapping up many many projects. Of course, I've said that before, but now things are coming together in a more focused way. Stuff that I've been picking at for months (or years) is pretty much in the can. I'm excited to get this stuff out to you guys.
Crossing my fingers for the Dig Dug2! Hoping that it will be released is what keeps me alive.
Wow. I may have to find a way to dive back into the building sickness, err, I mean, hobby.
So many great things going on here lately (not that there wasn't before....)
Curt.
Happy anniversary madbean forum. Just discovered this place and i think i am going to love it as a guitarist and as a DIY maker ad well. Greetings from Italy, andre
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