Our Photography Methods:

We've photographed every single pedal that we've ever built. Part of the reason for this if a customer writes and wants mods or whathaveyou, I have photographic reference to go to for answers on how the pedal was originally configured. It also protects us in any fraudulent warranty claims. I get asked a lot about how I take the pictures of our pedals that we post on the internet. Actually, it's a very simple process. I use a relatively cheapo camera (I think it was like $125 bucks at WalMart or something). I simply clear my workbench of everything but the three worklights I use to build pedals with. I take about two or three dozen shots of each pedal, all taken at different angles and such. Every single picture I have EVER published of my pedals has been photographed in exactly this fashion each and every time. What you see is taken straight out of the camera.

Absolutely no "photoshopping" at all:

I shoot each pedal then either post it or archive it. What you see posted on my website is taken straight out of the camera. I use zero "photoshopping" efforts, zero retouching, zero "redetailing" in any way or form what so ever. The pics you see of my pedals that I have shot are absolute "WYSIWYG" in every way. I don't use any retouching at all, period.

ALBUM #6: Posted 052312 (updated 091412).

081512 - A reminder about the "recent completion" pictures: The orders pictured in these albums aren't all of the orders I've shipped out, there are any number of them inbetween these. Keep in mind these are the more noteworthy and/or interesting ones. There are other orders that go out to various customers all the tine around here. The situation varies.

082812 - Another VERY CUSTOM X6 done. These X6s start off as very modest little modules. Outfitted with our most basic compressor and our most basic overdrive, the X6 is basically a CARMA and an X married together in a single enclosure. Then the fun starts - I work long and hard with the customer to design something that really suits them. We discuss the ideas back and forth over the course of any number of emails and phonecalls. I make drawings, and silly mocked-up representations to properly exchange ideas. The idea becomes finalized, and then is manifested into a tangible reality in our shop, and on my bench. The end result this time around? Holy Radioactive Coyotes, Batman!!! ... this thing is Thuh Bawlz. (more text below the pics)...

This particular X6 is outfitted with an INPUT attenuator for the compressor stage, a full-on 3 knob Dyna-Q that is completely tied in with a Phase 2 Tone Plug port. It's sportin' a footswitchable FX Loop, and an internal secret weapon that is a first for any of the X6s I have built --- it has a full blown Early Days of Fire pcb powering this polished aluminum box o'dynamite! Yup, that is the same PCB that I use in the MODEL9 and MEGA9. I rearranged the signal path of the EDOF pcb in this X6 and placed the first gain stage of the EDOF after the Dyna-Q dynamic EQ system, effectively making the Dyna-Q an "active" EQ system. This customer wanted a lot of ouput gain, so by installing the Early Day of Fire circuit (instead of using a LittleJoe and an AMP-1 circuit which is what the X6 normally uses as it's engine) he got plenty of output gain. Especially with the way I set up the signal chain. This is one HOT ASS little module! And with the Phase 2 Tone Plug port tied into the Dyna-Q EQ system, he has a mind blowing number of total choices. By simply changing Tone Plugs, he changes the distortion sound, the feel of the headroom, as well as totally revoicing the Dyna-Q EQ system! All by just changing Tone Plugs. It took a lot of time, R&D, untold numbers of emails (30+?) and a lot of patience on my part, as well as the customer's part to get this module designed and built. But it got done. Man, did it ever!

082012 - Here's a GRINDHAUS system custom made for a Hammond B3/Leslie 122 owner. It uses an off the shelf mic preamp to convert the signal to a balanced output to accomodate the Leslie 122's needs. I'm really happy with this rig, it sounds excellent with my own 1962 Hammond A102 console. I'm able to achieve every overdrive tone I can think of with it, and with the way I set it up there is no chance that overdriving the Leslie will happen since monitoring the ensemble's output is easily done be keeping watch on the mic preamp's VU meter.

081412 - Four backlog orders shipped out today (a JOE, CARMA, CARMA2 and a TREMA). Trying to get back some of the time we lost over last week while we tended to a personal issue away from the shop from Sunday 080512 until Saturday 081112. While I produced these orders the shop was murdurously hot exceding 130f at times, but I gutted it out. Frequent breaks and LOTS of water keep things from getting out of hand. I feel very tired and pretty beat today for it though. Ironically it's "only" 102f (1:30pm) today. Wouldn't you know it! Moving right along and getting the prepaid backlog chipped away. Of the four orders shipped out on Tuesday 081412 one of which was the new CARMA two knob compressor (which replaced the BURGS compressor as part of our 2012 reboot). So the triad is complete with all three CARMA comps produced and shipped out. Check their pages ... CARMA - CARMA2 - CARMA4. Here's some gratuitous pics of the sweet little CARMA that went out yesterday.

It is powered by our LITTLEJOE pcb, the little compressor engine that I derived from the JOE boostercomp that we've been using since 2007 in many many of our compressor based modules.

080412 - Our new LittleJoe Compressor PCBs. Here's a few, we got in a boatload of them but I couldn't get any more to stack like that for the picture! (scroll down, there's even more new stuff!)

080312 - Here's another backlog order, this is something I don't get to build too often these days. It's a Model9 Standard. Just your meat-n-taters basic Model9 with no mods or options. Clean, simple, powerful, highly effective. I sure enjoy building these, they go together so well.

072012 - Here's a CARMA4 I shipped off to a backlog customer in New Zealand yesterday. It was equipped with an optional Near Zero (aka "boost mode") switch. It is also one of our modules built to our new 9vdc-to-18vdc protocols. The externally stamped serial number is indicative of this, so anytime you see one of our pedals with an externally stamped serial number you immediately know it's ok to operate it anywhere from 9vdc up to 18vdc. We use some of the finest capacitors made (Nichicon) that have minimum load ratings of two thousand hours at 105c. At normal ambient temps this translates to may tens of thousands of use-hours (basically an adult lifetime of use). The wiring came out pretty nice on this module as well. This one sounded amazingly good, too. While using an o-scope for final testing is all well and good, I test each single pedal I make using my guitar and my full-on rig to test it. I usually play each pedal for at least thirty minutes just prior to boxing it up to ship it tout to you to verify it's operation and sound, and also to properly burn-in the components during actual use.

Anytime you see the serial number externally stamped into the lower chassis and visible without having to open up the module, you automatically know it's one of our new 9vdc-18vdc units with Nichicon capacitors installed. If you ever have any doubts (for instance if you're buying a used Farndurk unit) simply write to us with the serial number and we can verify it for you. We keep ridiculously meticulous sales records of every single thing we sell, so I can tell you everything I did to a particular unit. We can also tell you right away if someone has "faked" a serial number as well. Every single thing must match up to our records, if it doesn't, it's a fraud. Our detailed records system has derailed several fraud attempts of different types over the last five years (we've been keeping mega-detailed records since 2007).

Super-long day in 117f+ heat again ... I'm beat ... time to crash.

061112 - Another epic custom. This is a fully featured X6 for a very patient backlog customer named Mark. The trials I went through to get this thing going! This is an X6 with a DYNA-Q eq system, a Phase 2 Tone Plug port, an EZ-Q rolloff, full-on CARMA4 compression upgrade, FX loop with true bypass and FX-mix control. And it will be paired with the first ever MODULA4P that will have FOUR Phase 2 Tone Plug ports! Absolutely friggin epic. 2012 has been a landmark year here ... I've changed my building methods and without any doubt this year has produced my best work ever.

060612 - Here's two more from the backlog, been bustin' hump bigtime around here (it's been around 112f to 115f out in the metalshop the last few days, even so I've still been getting orders filled pretty well). Here's a CARMA4 with an optional NEAR ZERO minitoggle powered by our workhorse "LittleJoe" compression pcb, and a new small pedal called the MICRO VALVEN which I label the uV ("Micro V") which is powered by our super-versatile "AMP-2" pcb. The 3-way toggles on the MicroV are to change modes ("3") and to revoice the mids ("M"). I'll amend the info pages and post much better pictures of both units soon. For tonight I'm working on getting an X6 done for someone that's been quite patient with me. It's 2:11am, best get busy!

052312: Here's a gut shot of one of the new WFOs for 2012. Wiring is a little tricky on that one. But it's a "must do" to keep noise and crosstalk to a minimum (as always).

STAINLESS STEEL AND ALUMINUM, CAPTURED: Now and then the camera eye captures the metallic beauty that these pedals exude. It doesn't always happen, most of the time it slips right past the lens. For whatever reasons this pair of pedals done in BLUENUKE (clear-blue LED and blue Nuke Switch) that I spent all night getting done somehow caught the eye of the camera. There's nothing like the look of aluminum and stainless steel combined with a bit of blue (I'll add that there's nothing like the sound of an X2 in full flight, as well!). If you're one of the fortunate one's that is having us build you a pedal lately, we've never put out work of any higher caliber. The units we've been building this year have reached new levels, we're in a period of excellence that has produced some of the best work I've ever put out. I no longer place expedience in front of me as a lens took look through, my only goal has been to do my best work each time I sit at the workbench. And I'm just diggin on it! The *Farndurk* that we are now is the *Farndurk* that we'd always tried to become. Yea, we still have some *old Farndurk* to clean up after but each day is a bit brighter, each device a bit better, and each new idea just *that much* more fun. This is what we've always wanted out of owning our own business. I actually love doing what I do. How can a person ask for anything more out of a career?

The Farndurk Trim4

050112: The all new Farndurk TRIM4 UPCB utilitarian printed circuit board.

042712: Got a few MEGA9s back from the powercoater's.

I had a few of them done up for pending backlogger's that upgraded their orders from Model9s to MEGA9s (holy cats we've had a lot of those!). This one is what I'm calling "Black RedEye". Go to this all new album for pics of nothing but Blacked Out variations of the MEGA9 ... MEGA9 BLACKOUT ALBUM.

042712: The return of the WFO, now as a FOUR KNOB!

Talk about a POWER PAIR!!! (pic below).

MEGA-9 MAIN INFORMATION PAGE and here's some BASIC SETUPS AND CONTROL SETTINGS and a kickin' MEGA9 PHOTO ALBUM.

I refined the wiring layout on the Mega9 a bit. Cleaner, easier to do, more efficient. If you'll go to the MEGA9 photo album, I've already posted pics (three) of the new layout in there .. you can compare this new layout with the layout I used on the previous MEGA9s that went out before.

Price

To be announced.