Interview with Devi Ever of Devi Ever : FX
What: Devi Ever : FX
When: June 2008
Website/Contact Information: deviever.com : devi AT deviever DOT com
1- When did you get started with electronics?
About five years ago, about a month before I started Effector 13, my first fx company.
2- Where did the name of your company come from?
My current pedal company name is devi ever : fx, and my name is Devi Ever, so it’s kind of self explanatory.
I named my first pedal company Effector 13, because I wanted to eventually sell in Japan, and I had heard “effector” was the english term they used for guitar pedals. The 13 came into play due to multiple reasons.
- It looked good in a logo with E13 where the E and 3 mirror each other (very Pink Floyd Division Bell)
- It had a sound that was very much “Plan Nine from Outerspace”. Kind of gave the name an air of mystery and drama.
- 13 gets such a bad wrap as being an unlucky number.
3- What’s your favorite effect made by someone else?
It was the green Sovtek Big Muff PI, but the switches fail so easily on those pedals. Eventually Electro Harmonix got the Big Muff design right for a second time (imho) with the Little Big Muff PI. That’s my go to fuzz when I’m laying down fuzzed guitar tracks.
4- What’s the favorite effect you make?
Bit Mangler, hands down. You don’t even need a guitar to have fun with that pedal.
4.5- Favorite Fuzz
Ha ha. All I make is fuzz and dirty pedals. If I had to name my favorite general purpose fuzz in the devi ever : fx arsenal, it’d definitely have to be the Aenima.
5- What instruments do you play? Skill level at each?
I’m relatively proficient at guitar and keyboard / synth / piano. I sing, but I can’t say that I’m a great singer, or a bad singer. That’s all in the eye of the beholder. I’m definitely pleased with what I am capable of with my voice, and people seem to like it.
6- Is making effect pedals your primary gig? If not, what is?
Yes. Very much so. All the time. It is my life… for now.
7- Do you think about bass players before or after you prepare a circuit?
Ha ha. I usually don’t think about anyone when I design a circuit. It’s always just been me, a guitar, and chance and circumstance. Though, actually, the Dark Boost was one that I had originally intended for bass, now that I think about it. Of course, there is also the Bass Fuzz, which was designed by Mountainking Electronics to be a specific bass fuzz. In the end, although I generally design with nothing in particular in mind other than creating something useful and interesting, I am always keeping in mind the possibilities of my pedals being used for everything from vocals, to synth, to drums, to bass, etc. etc.
8- How many pedals do you sell a month?
As many as my love Kimberly and I can build.
This year we’ve been selling around 110 a month on average, though we are set up to build 180 a month, and have honestly been slacking a little recently.
9- Triplet :
- E-bay: Savior or Curse?
Savior. Totally. For a while there I was pumping out the Soda Meiser’s (now sold through Effector 13 and Ooh La La Manufacturing) every day and putting them on ebay with penny starting bids. They’d end up selling anywhere between $65 and $110, and I was getting a lot of new pedal users in on the Effector 13 game. Also, being able to clear out a Soda Meiser a day pretty much guaranteed word of mouth advertising spread like wild fire, and the Soda Meiser end up being a guitar player favorite for a long time!- Bassplayers: Foreground or Background?
It depends on what kind of music.Some of my favorite bands have always had bass players who’s contribution was mixed, but always unique : Radiohead, Tool, 311, Pink Floyd, Rancid
I definitely tend to have more respect for bands who know how to balance out all the sound and style of all contributing members. Ultimately it leads to a much more enjoyable listening experience than having songs be simply guitar-centric.
- Color: Chartreuse or Magenta?
These days… definitely Chartreuse.
10- Any cool products in the pipeline you want to share?
Two words : Improbability Drive.
It’s the pedal Jimi Hendrix would have loved, and I hope Jack White will give a try someday.
11- Anything else you want to add?
I think it’s really great you started this website! The gear whore community has long needed an informative place to go for complete, detailed reviews of gear, and the bass community definitely needs a stronger voice when it comes to effects pedals! So yeah… thanks again and I look forward to seeing more of your reviews and interviews in the future!
