Limited Ed. Eau Claire Thunder: Shiny and Chrome

Earlier this year, we launched a short run of an Eau Claire Thunder variant called the Gold Standard. We used some NOS transistors (2n5133), germanium diodes, top mounted jacks, and in a smaller enclosure. The Gold Thunder caught the attention of one Alex LeVeque at Chicago Music Exchange. Like everyone, we love the crew at CME, so when he proposed another Limited Edition Eau Claire Thunder we were down like a clown.
When developing alternate Thunders, one has to test quite a few transistors, so we had a few alternates around the shop.  We settled on some NOS SE4010 for the Chromes.  These transistors have a bit higher gain than what we used for the Gold Standard, but still a lot lower than the 2N5188s that are in the original Eau Claire Thunder. The 4010 Chrome is the version that will be on my board from now on (thank goodness for b stock).

The next task was to come up with a clever name. A name that could be marketed! One that evoked feelings! This was proving difficult for Your Old Pal Aen. Sometimes when I’m stuck creatively the only thing to do is build pedals with a movie on. So I piled up some circuit boards, fired up my barely-functional laptop, and perused my options. I was met with the faces of two old friends, Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa.  To say that Mad Max: Fury Road had a large impact on me would be an understatement. Suddenly there was no choice to be made, only the singular desire to make the Eau Claire Thunder: Shiny and Chrome.

Our next call was to our enclosure printing/drilling service, All-Pedal in Kentucky.  They told us that though a chrome finish was possible, it wouldn’t be easy.  The chrome finish and UV printing process has a tendency to create ghosting effects, among other difficulties. 

“BUT YOU MUST DO THIS FOR DWARFCRAFT.” I shouted into the phone. “YOU MUST DO THIS FOR THE FREE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.”  Soon they saw my point of view. (This is a joke, obviously. My wife talked to them and asked very nicely.)

As it turns out, we got two “ghosty” enclosures (for meeeeeeeee!) and 25 beautiful chromed thunder enclosures. Now they can be yours.

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/listing/dwarfcraft-devices-eau-claire-thunder-shiny-and-chrome-ltd-edition/26590904

We’re all so happy to bring you the Eau Claire Thunder: Shiny and Chrome. Enjoy.