NAMM 2019: THE NEW CLASS THIS YEAR’S FIRST-TIMERS BRING INNOVATION AND PASSION TO THE SHOW FLOOR. BY AMANDA MULLEN AND ANTHONY VARGAS Each NAMM Show welcomes dozens of first-time exhibitors, from brand-new startups to passion projects for MI industry stalwarts to established brands looking to expand into new markets. Although the big-name manufacturers dominate the bulk of NAMM Show coverage, these smaller companies often have their own intriguing stories to go along with their groundbreaking products. That’s why, each year, The Retailer spotlights a handful of standouts among the NAMM Show’s new class. This year, we present eight more.
Pedal Pods
Website: mypedalpods.com Facebook: @pedalpods Those looking for a unique take on a well-known MI accessory should make a point of checking out Pedal Pods. Based out of Richmond, Va., Pedal Pods was created by Jerry Calder, a consumer electronics industry insider, and Rick Garrett, a musician who was frustrated with the limitations of the average pedalboard. “I was on the basement floor rewiring my pedalboard,” Garrett recounted. “I had a new effects pedal I wanted to add, and it just would not fit. I was sitting there, frustrated, then I noticed a bag of Legos nearby that my daughter had left on the floor. At that moment, the lightbulb went off. I thought, what if we built a pedalboard out of interconnected pieces? I then pitched the idea to Jerry, and he got started on the mechanics and design.” That’s the story behind the evolution of Pedal Pods, a modular, powered, locking pedalboard system. “Our system provides power and audio for each pedal location,” Garrett said. “Musicians now have the flexibility to make their pedalboards wider, deeper, smaller or taller in just minutes. There are two separate audio loops that you can combine with a switch for easy transitioning between different types of amplifiers. Each pod provides isolated power and selectable, regulated voltage — nine to 18 volts per location.” But what really makes Pedal Pods unique is that users can reshape their boards at any time. “You can make it smaller for a small stage or bigger for a larger venue using a Phillips screwdriver. Also, whenever you want to add additional pedals, you don’t have to rewire your board all over again or buy a bigger board. You just add a pod for each new pedal.” Thanks to the flexible cabling capabilities, Pedal Pods users can route the wiring/signal path in any direction they choose. “We employ Cat6
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cable inside the pods that takes the signal and power from pod to pod,” Garrett explained. “And through the routing channels, you can wire in any direction. For example, if you have a boost pedal and you want to add other pedals to that boost circuit, you can route in any direction to incorporate other pedals in that boost loop.” The wiring and power are housed inside the pods giving users a neat, decluttered layout. With that sort of convenience, it’s no surprise that Pedal Pods attracted positive attention at The NAMM Show. In fact, on day one of the show, the brand was listed in Adorama.com’s Top 10 most exciting announcements of the show — an impressive feat for a first-time exhibitor. “We are pleased with all of the positive feedback we’ve received,” Garrett said. “We’ve gotten some great suggestions too, which we will strongly consider going forward.” Calder and Garrett are aiming to have Pedal Pods available this April.
MARCH 2019
