Sentimental Bob: Everything comes from an obsession
Is it difficult to make guitar pedals in Ukraine and who uses them? Know about this from interview with the manufacturer of such boutique devices – Sentimental Bob Electronics.
The history of portable guitar devices dates back to the 60s of the last century. Emergence of Electro-Harmonix becomes a landmark event in the industry. It is the first company to introduce, manufacture and market affordable "stomp boxes" for guitarists and bassists, such as the first flanger (Electric Mistress), the first analogue echo/delay without the use of tape (Memory Man), the first guitar synthesizer of a pedal form (Micro Synthesizer) and the first tube-amp distortion (Hot Tubes), which changed the perception of guitar sound forever and paved the way for new experiments with the sound and the birth of new genres.
Nowadays, there are many conveyor manufacturers of guitar pedals on the market, such as Boss, EHX, Korg, Ibanez, etc., but there are also manufacturers of boutique devices (ed. are produced in small series and assembled by hand from the best electronic components). One of them is Volodymyr, whose pedals and synthesizers are known under the brand Sentimental Bob. Today we will talk with him about the features of such business in Ukraine and his approach to production process.
In the past he was the Vinnytsia musician, guitarist of indie band The Sideburns Party. For now he is currently engaged in the production of boutique guitar pedals, which are used by musicians around the world. Volodymyr's other hobbies include astrophotography, rare species of Chilean and Mexican cacti, quadcopters and 3D printing.
— When and how did the idea of creating Sentimental Bob Electronics appeared? How much time has passed since the moment of the idea's origin to its realization?
— I’ve started playing electric guitar in 2007 and realized that I can't always buy what I need, and the things I can buy doesn't always suit me. I have been studying radio engineering since the first classes. In 9th class, I made a subwoofer, which is still under the bed in working condition. First there was the implementation, and then the idea.
— Where did it all start? Which device was the first?
— First I made Rat for myself. And the first device I made to order was a delay. My friend welded a sheet metal case, which I covered with red lamina. My Vinnytsia friends / musicians became my first customers. Then people from other cities of Ukraine got to know us. When I only started doing this, I was warmly received by G.A.S. Club on VK. Probably, thanks to this public, I did not leave this business and started to move on.
— What difficulties in production did you face with?
— At the stage of design the main difficulty was to find a balance between what you want and what you can. Projecting takes a lot of time so that future installation was fast and reliable. At the stage of production you always face the lack components. Some parts end, then others, then cases, then boards. It was difficult to find responsible dyers. If there is any fail with the paint on the corps, I perceive it as a personal insult) The same thing is with UV printing.
Regarding sales. The difficulty is that Paypal is still not fully operational in Ukraine. Apparently, it will be possible to receive payments earlier on Mars than here. If I had access to it 5-7 years ago, Sentimental Bob Electronics would look completely different now.
— The first pedals and synths you played on by yourself? And what are your favorite pedals and synths from other companies?
— My first pedal is Boss SD-1. I still have very warm memories of it. The first (and last) synth is Korg Microkorg.
I really like Strymon products from the engineering point of view and Walrus Audio in terms of appearance. Death By Audio make a challenge by its both experimental sound and bombastic vintage-brutal style.
I have a 1986 ProCo RAT and also had a Boss OD-1. I focused on delays and phasers. At different times I had EHX MM with Hazarai, EHX DMM, TC Nova Delay, Boss DSD-2, Vox DelayLab, Strymon TimeLine. I had a Boss PH-3, MRX Phase 90, Ross Phaser, EHX Flanger Hoax.
At the end of my music career, I made a "block" (ed. effects processor) that included a screamer, a rat, a green muff, a Ross Phaser, my echo delay, and my reverb. It had a loop to which I connected a timeline.
— Favorite devices created by you?
— I love Echo Delay for the fact that this is my oldest pedal, which is still popular. And as for Tacana Tremolo – it is in the greatest demand now. I love Screaming Bat because I designed it for myself. As for me, this is the gold standard. If I return to guitar playing, the issue of drives is resolved for the long time already.
I love Beat Dictator for implementing this project. I had this idea before the same Disaster Area Smartclock appeared. I love my Glyba for its compactness, low weight, functionality and appearance, but I don't like to build them.
— What inspires you to create new devices?
— It happens differently. Sometimes you need to occupy a certain niche. Sometimes a good idea can be thrown by customers and then turns into a cool project. But more often than not, it all stems from the obsession that gradually becomes overgrown with details and constantly hovers in my head, looking for a way out. And that's why I just cannot ignore it, because there is no calm for me.
— Who are your customers? Do you have more orders from Ukraine or from abroad?
— People make orders quite often in Ukraine. Now the most buyers are from the United States. Many devices were ordered from the UK and Canada last month. Periodically they are ordered from Germany, France, Italy, Russia. In general, there were orders from around the world – from Ireland to Australia.
— Which famous artists use SBE pedals in the setup?
— I don’t follow who does exactly, or where and what the ones play now. But I can name the musicians who used my devices. These are Konstantin Chalykh (Мои Ракеты Вверх/7раса), Olexander Bulyuk (Vivienne Mort), Alexey Zatserkovny (Space of Variations, Sun Eclipse), Olexiy Yuriev (Крихітка), Olexander Nechiporenko (O.Torvald), Serhiy Asafatov (Jazzforacat/Martovi Orchestra), Max Tovsty (The Heavy Crawls), Edward Organ (Shadazz), Kiron Jhass (The Dungarees), Dowi McGee (Hibagon), etc.
— Do you have any unrealized ideas and what are your plans for the future?
— Yes. There are more unrealized / preserved ideas than embodied ones. I will not tell all the plans. I plan to release a line of overdrives in a format like the Tacana Tremolo. I am interested in modular synthesizers. Now I spend a lot of time on them.
— Are there any friends in DIY production (and is it possible to label Sentimental Bob like that at all)?
— I communicate with Deaftone FX from Tel Aviv and Shift Line from St. Petersburg. We have mutual friends with the latter ones, together we can discuss the products of Shift and vice versa. I’ve communicated with Oliver Ackerman (Death by Audio) for several times on Facebook and with Dr. Scientists on Instagram. Also someone from the official Strymon Instagram account once wished me all the best with Beat Dictator in private)
Regarding DIY. If you take Do It Yourself literally, then yes, because I do by myself the most of everything. If you take this as a level of amateurism, then no, because I use professional soldering and measuring equipment for a long time already, printed circuit boards are made at the same factory where Asus products are, and chemistry together with the workbench and frames for silkscreen occupy almost half the pantry). Therefore, my answer is "yes and no".
— Do you perform all work yourself or you have a team? Who creates device designs?
— The design was created by Kateryna Didyk. She has studied at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture and is a book illustrator. Me and her played in the same band.
Some cases are made at the enterprise, Ivan Shcherban helps me to prepare drawings for production. We’ve met 20 years ago when while visiting the aircraft modeling club together. Now he is one of the best experts in engine fuel equipment in Vinnytsia.
The code for Beat Dictator was written by a very cool programmer Serhiy Vakulenko. We have known each other from the Astropolis Astronomy Club since we projected the astrophotography camera. The last time we talked, he developed a device for diabetics that monitors sugar level in blood and, if necessary, automatically injects a dose of insulin.
— And please tell us a little about yourself. In what bands do you play, what instruments? What music do you like?
— Occasionally I do astrophotography. There is a lot to play with: mechanics/electronics/optics. For me, this is a real joy. I grow rare species of Chilean and Mexican cacti. I am interested in quadcopters and 3D printing.
I was a guitarist in The Sideburns Party. Not into music right now, but when I would have something to say in music industry again, I'll definitely come back.
Lately I've been listening to our music: Onuka, TseSho, Luna, Kurnosaya Dura, Latexfauna. From not ours: Shortparis, Ic3Peak, Musya Totibadze. From English: Say Yes Dog, Fever333, Little Dragon, The Weeknd, Leon Bridges.
Bands that shaped my vision of what a guitar sound should be: The Kills, Foals, Мои Ракеты Вверх, At the Drive-In, And So I Watch You From Afar, Radiohead (the best band of all time).
Sentimental Bob in social networks:
https://www.instagram.com/sentimentalbob/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sentimentalbob
Foto Sentimental Bob
