The Five: Heavy Electronics’ Sayer Payne
The Five returns to WTDP? this week with a conversation with Sayer Payne, the pedal guru behind Minnesota-based Heavy Electronics – makers of such sweet stomps as the Ascend clean boost and the Grind Fuzz. Sayer started Heavy in 2007 with a goal to make high quality guitar pedals that delivered the goods without breaking the bank. Consistently judge to be some of the most rugged pedals in the business, Heavy has enjoyed good success that continues in 2009. We checked in with Sayer recently to see how he was faring in the snowy Minnesota winter. He’s keeping warm, and answering our questions, after the jump!
WTDP?: When and why did you start making effects pedals?
Sayer: I repaired a lot of pedals as a regular task for years while working at a vintage store, here in Minneapolis. That became a really formative era for how I construct my pedals now. The owner, he really helped me conceive products from a design perspective. It really insured that I could avoid falling into so many weak concepts and appreciate what really makes something work right. On the other side, I sometimes wonder if that has led me to be a control freak about the production process. It’s why I try to do everything myself. I designed all the circuits one at a time 8 hours a day for two months. I do my own web page and graphic design, as well as circuit board printing, populating and wiring. That type of obsession is pretty unheard of in the industry.
WTDP?: At what point did you realize ‘Hey, I might be able to make a little money doing this.’?
Sayer: I liked the idea of doing the pedal thing because I felt like I was ready to be a business owner and I felt that I could flip my experience into manufacturing side and use it to my advantage. Coming out of Minneapolis, I had great role models. I remember being totally blown away the first time I saw the Z-Vex stuff and Lauren of Blackbox is a really nice guy. I started selling pedals branded as Heavy Electronics in October 2007. So much has changed since then. A little over a year ago I was painting pedals on my front deck. Now I have a multi point production line capable of providing hundreds of pedals monthly. I added 16 dealers in the first year and took Modern Builder in the effects edition for Premier Guitar. I feel so lucky.
WTDP?: Is there a stomp out there you wish you had made?
Sayer: I kind of have a rogue’s gallery. I’m always impressed by the quality of the Lehle stuff. I can still remember opening one and being totally shocked to see a Lundahl transformer in there. I love the creativity of the old EH stuff although reliability is so-so. The Roland Jet Phaser is a pretty cool pedal, cooler than the Bee Baa in my opinion. The Ibanez AD-80 is a favorite for delay although I rarely use delay in my own playing.
WTDP?: What’s on your workbench right now?
Sayer: Nothing, I’m sold out of pedals and waiting for more materials to come in. It’s a great feeling. In my dining room I have a breadboard with a ring mod and a repeat percussion on it. Maybe thats what you’re more interested in. I’ve been working pretty hard on modulation circuits and those two are pretty close. I’ll be releasing both of them soon but its in the background of updating the production line to fit the demand I deal with.
WTDP?: You’ve got free reign to assemble your dream trio. If you’re on guitar, who’s playing bass and drums (alive or dead)?
Sayer: I think Tchaikovsky would have been a great bass player, really, think about it. Todd Trainer on Drums. It’s just a personal loyalty.
Thanks, Sayer!
