Gearslutz "Pimp My Gear"

[piotr]

Hi,

Here is the thread premise:

1. You have a piece of gear.
2. You don't like the way it looks.
3. You decide to "improve it" by making cosmetic adjustments.

That's the scoop.

Now, maybe your experiment was successful, and now you can use the piece without feeling esthetically assaulted by the hideous design. OR, let's just say, things did not work out the way you planned, and now you have even more reasons to feel bad about it. Either way: it might be amusing to see what other gearslutz think, no?
Not a place to post pictures of fantastic looking gear to begin with, but rather a DIY improvements... A little custom job you might have done on a piece of gear.

My personal experience. Some years ago, in a sudden pinch for two extra pres i decided to buy the cheapest stereo 1U unit I could find in the store. That turned out to be art preamp. Not a stellar piece of gear, but I got it anyway. I used it from time to time. Then I tried to sell it to make room in my rack, and to generate some cash for something else. Then I THOUGHT I sold it, but the sale fell through. I still have it, and i still think it is ugly as hell. Truly: I could hardly stand that awful purple face plate design. So, it occurred to me that if I am going to keep it, might as well try to minimize the visual aggravation.

So: I took it out of the rack.



Popped the face plate off (bunch of screws, nothing too complicated)




Went at it with some sand paper, followed it up with a finer grain sand paper). Put it the plate back on the box. And realized that I had some extra black chicken beak knobs from an old project, so replaced the two front knobs.




It took about an hour, and now, I feel better about it.
In fact, from looking like a cheap piece of crap (which, let's face it, it really is), it's looking kind of "vintage"...



Anyway. That's my story, and I am sticking to it.
This could be interesting, if you guys contribute your "creative adjustments"... ;-)

Yer pal,
p.

[vintagelove]

i tried taking the horrid orange face off of the eleven rack, they make it purposely difficult. Thats mine

[piotr]

Originally Posted by charlesaustin

i tried taking the horrid orange face off of the eleven rack, they make it purposely difficult. Thats mine

So did it work? Or did you give up?

p.

[jansens]

Lol, awesome Dude.
Does really look like some fancy piece of gear now!

And, does it sound any better

[piotr]

Originally Posted by jansens

And, does it sound any better

I was expecting this question!...;-)

Short answer: nope.

Long answer: It's interesting that after erasing all the markings from the face plate, I find myself actually using it differently. I LISTEN to it rather than try to interpret the stupid settings names. In all seriousness: it made me wonder how I would approach all my gear if I had no visual information on it. So, no: it is still very much the same lame box, but it did turn out to be sort of an interesting studio experiment.

p.

[Gajdzin]

Great job, Piotr! Makes me want grab some sandpaper and attack my FMR RNC... Except I'm afraid its faceplate is made of plastic, not metal...

Funklogic makes some nice replacement faceplates for the FMR family of products, but unfortunately they are all full rack width, for 2 devices, and I like my RNC just as it is - in a little box. If it only wasn't so cheap and plasticky looking...

Marcin Bruczkowski
www.marcin.bruczkowski.com

[piotr]

Originally Posted by Gajdzin

Great job, Piotr! Makes me want grab some sandpaper and attack my FMR RNC... Except I'm afraid its faceplate is made of plastic, not metal...

Funklogic makes some nice replacement faceplates for the FMR family of products, but unfortunately they are all full rack width, for 2 devices, and I like my RNC just as it is - in a little box. If it only wasn't so cheap and plasticky looking...

Marcin Bruczkowski
www.marcin.bruczkowski.com

Hi Marcin,

I know what you mean!
I do like the design of the Funklogic plate: certainly an upgrade from the RNC. Are you sure the front is plastic? I was considering some of the FMR pieces a while ago, but never got any of them. If I did, I probably would have pimped it by now! ;-)

p.

[Gajdzin]

Originally Posted by piotr

Are you sure the front is plastic?

You know what? I'm not sure. I'll examine it more closely tomorrow.

In the meantime, THIS is certainly in the spirit of your new thread: Orange SM57

Dobranoc!

Marcin Bruczkowski

[piotr]

Originally Posted by Gajdzin

THIS is certainly in the spirit of your new thread: Orange SM57

That's very true!
Here is the picture of ableton123's "pimped" SM57:



p.

[piotr]

...

I am sure there are SOME slutz pimping their gear, no?

p.

[sameal]

i usually only do this when there's a functionality issue with the equipment that needs to be rendered.


when i get home I'll snap some shots.

[piotr]

Originally Posted by sameal

i usually only do this when there's a functionality issue with the equipment that needs to be rendered.


when i get home I'll snap some shots.

Excellent!

Can't wait to see!

I would say that in my case the "functionality issue" was there as well. By default. I would not even think of making changes to my APIs or Chandler or whatever... but in this case: obviously I was not very concerned with resale value. Or any kind of loss for that matter!

p.

[pan60]

sounds like this could be a fun thread!

[pan]

I saw a pimped Waldorf Pulse somewhere on here... georgeous!

[Teddy Ray]

Jules Verne Synth

[Teddy Ray]

and somewhat related.

Homebuilt Hi-Fi - A user submitted image showcase of high quality home built hi-fi components.

this guy tweaked the record player in his studio with a new slate plinth.

stunning.

[suedesound]

I'm gonna have to paint a 57 now, i'll see what else i can find that would be fun.

[PlugHead]

This has actually inspired me to do some facelifts to my olde and lowly cast items.

thx for the idea - tres cool!thumbsup

[piotr]

Hi Teddy,
Thanks for your posts:
These are fantastic looking pieces!
I love the detail on the synth, and it's great to see the step-by-step on the turntable.
p.

[sameal]

some usual radioslack knob replacements and a bridge plate i drilled. the holes didn't quite line up so i improvised. it's taken a beating over the years however.

[pan60]

one of only a few i did.

[midnightsun]

Originally Posted by pan60

one of only a few i did.

Hey.... that's the first piece of equipment I would grab if my studio caught fire. Mighty fine work of art that has tremendous utility.

[piotr]

Originally Posted by pan60

one of only a few i did.

Wow! Pan60, thanks for sharing this.
So lovely looking!
Very beautiful: is it metal or painted wood?
Looks like metal, but would be curious to hear a bit more about it. How did you sculpt/carve the frame?
Very nice work!
p.

[piotr]

Originally Posted by sameal

some usual radioslack knob replacements and a bridge plate i drilled. the holes didn't quite line up so i improvised. it's taken a beating over the years however.

Hi sameal!
Thanks for posting the pictures!
At first I couldn't tell (from the second picture) what it was, but I understand now that it's the bridge plate. Looks quite unique and organic. I can see how details like that can give a piece/instrument some personality!
p.

[Stitch333]

I like pimpin' meters...

[piotr]

Originally Posted by Stitch333

I like pimpin' meters...

That's super cool!
Subtle and great looking touch!
Very impressive work Stich!
p.

[mjrippe]

@sameal

Looks like you should pimp a faceplate for that second Gain Brain!

[sameal]

Originally Posted by mjrippe

@sameal

Looks like you should pimp a faceplate for that second Gain Brain!

that's actually a kepex,(i wish it was a gain brain) and i do have the faceplate. the pot just broke and i can't find a replacement! the face plate was busted after a crap packing job and i had to superglue all the little pieces back together. ms. allison is still missing half her face :(

but i am pimping a faceplate for the juice card for that rack. i just need to find a way to integrate the switch into it. that whole Allison rack is a fiasco. i had two units and ripped the best parts to form one good solid unit. but the l.e.d.s still don't work.

sigh. someday I'll get to finish it.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by midnightsun

Hey.... that's the first piece of equipment I would grab if my studio caught fire. Mighty fine work of art that has tremendous utility.

thanks you you are a saint!

Originally Posted by piotr

Wow! Pan60, thanks for sharing this.
So lovely looking!
Very beautiful: is it metal or painted wood?
Looks like metal, but would be curious to hear a bit more about it. How did you sculpt/carve the frame?
Very nice work!
p.

aluminum: )~

you can check out the production units at Filter SPL | Pete's Place Audio | Audio Products and Overview

or get with Tony Shepperd.

[piotr]

Originally Posted by pan60

aluminum: )~

So is the one you posted the picture of, a "one-of-a-kind" piece?
Did you carve the aluminum frame by hand or is it a cast?
Just curious of the process...

p.