Richard,
In the early 90's, a nationally acclaimed electronics co. called Digitech began a major advertising campaign for a new product designed for singers, and musicians alike. It was a multieffects unit which would, as they said, have the capability to utilize several effects in any combination you desired, from a single unit.
The standard practice at the time was to buy each effect unit seperately, and string them along the stage floor, in a series, designed by the particular player, to produce his unique sound. If you consider that most musicians were utilizing analog, and digital delays, chorus, flange, compression, distortion, wah-wahs, volume pedals, reverb units, octave, and harmonics, as well as aural exciters, and presence manipulators, equalizers, and split signals, you can see that quite a mess could be eliminated on stage, as well as all the cords used to link these items together, not to mention the ac/dc converters needed to power each item, unless batteries were used.
The advance advertising of these units, called the DSP-7, GSP-5, and GSP-21 had many musicians running to the nearest dealer, to place orders, thereby hoping to be some of the first owners of these tremendously sought after units. Guess what? I was one of the first. I happily paid the entire balance for my unit upfront, and was told by the dealer that I would receive one of the first units, since my order was one of the early ones. I was sure in for a surprise!
After waiting 3 months, many phone calls, and visits to this dealer, I decided I had better call Digitech, and see if there was a problem. The dealer's hands were obviously tied. He, and I called the area Distributor several times, who, in turn, was calling the co., and relaying the info back to us. He explained that they were unindated with orders far beyond what had been expected. I said, But my unit was paid for in full, and had been for months, and considering this, I wanted delivery of this item, and quick.
After returning home, I received a call directly from Digitech management, explaining that the problem was not solely distribution, but, in fact, was short supply of the newly created chip, which made these functions possible. They had advertised, taken orders, and money for something they were not yet able to deliver. If you think I was disgusted when I went and fetched my cash back, imagine how I felt several weeks later, when everybody, and their brother was finally receiving their units, and I attempted to place my new order, being told that there were backorders for several months, if that soon. Hmmm?
If you build it, they will come, eventuallyd. Blackied |
