Hey folks, Sukh here - hope you're all well.
It's been a while since I posted an update on how things are coming along as I prepare for launch with the latest, and greatest, generation of my KickTags labels. Although I've been posting updates on my Facebook page (which have generated the most discussion, contact and interaction I've had in the 5 years I've been tinkering with labels), I've had a bunch of you fine folk contact me for info, as you don't use FB, so I thought I'd post a summary of those updates here for you.
The great news is that I'm pretty much ready. I have a bunch of stock ready to go, my 'early testers' (including a chap you may have heard of, called Steve Vai) have been using the new labels and all feedback has been 100% positive. The last 2 things for me to do are to update the website (working on that now) and finalise pricing. Despite the fact these are an entirely different beast to anything else I've done and cost more than my previous labels, in terms of material cost and cost to assemble them (remember, I hand assemble EVERY label - with the most involved 'element' consisting of FOUR separate pieces!!), I've been working on the assembly process to speed things up as much as possible, so I can keep the price down as much as possible. These labels are rock solid, look the absolute dogs bollocks and, I have to say it, are actually fun to swap around!
Anyway... pricing, website and availability details within the week (barring any unforeseen issues), so in the meantime, here's a summary of the posts, pictures and videos I've had up on Facebook of when I labelled up my own board properly, together with some background to how I came up with the designs and details on their usability. Hope you dig 'em, and I'll be back real soon.
Cheers,
Sukh
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Ok - here we go! Got lots of pics for you of the new labels as I finally got round to labelling up my own board. I'll explain as much as I can among the porn as I go
First up, I cleaned up the MFC, ready for the new goodies. Love this controller!
Board cleaned, the first thing to add was the Control Labels. These are slightly smaller labels than the main Surrounds, due to the reduced space on the right of the board.
I wanted these to be extremely minimal - no fuss whatsoever and I didn't want them to distract from the main labels. For this reason, only simple designs, right down to the 'Edit' label, which is completely blank! (I figured, if you know what the other 3 labels are, why would you need something on that one..)
Next up, Surrounds get put onto the board. I'm going to use the 'Tile' version of the Surrounds on all switches. Every Surround is 4mm thick (3mm top on a 1mm magnetic backing, which includes an embedded Neodymium magnet for better connection to the board) and consists of 3 separate pieces that are hand assembled (yes, hand assembled - individually!!!)
As with my last gen, I'm going for zero flannel or distraction. I don't even put my company logo on these as, well, why the hell would you want that competing with the texts you NEED to see?
Now the Surrounds are on, time to decide what Text Labels I need (this is for an upcoming gig). This is the cool thing about the modular label system - you can quickly and easily swap out texts as you need - you just pop them into the Surrounds (effectively, their 'container') whenever you want.
Here are the labels I'm considering for the setup for the next gig
Text labels are also made of the same material as the Surrounds; laser cut, 3mm thick acrylic with a very cool (special) low reflection finish. Each and EVERY text label has FOUR parts to it - and EVERY one of them is hand assembled!!!
Pop the Text label into slot in the Surround and....
Bottom row Text Labels in place
A quick check of the setlist and I realised I made a slight boob... need to swap a couple of Text Labels around, which is quick and easy to do... a quick swap and then onto the other Text Labels.
It's been a while since I posted an update on how things are coming along as I prepare for launch with the latest, and greatest, generation of my KickTags labels. Although I've been posting updates on my Facebook page (which have generated the most discussion, contact and interaction I've had in the 5 years I've been tinkering with labels), I've had a bunch of you fine folk contact me for info, as you don't use FB, so I thought I'd post a summary of those updates here for you.
The great news is that I'm pretty much ready. I have a bunch of stock ready to go, my 'early testers' (including a chap you may have heard of, called Steve Vai) have been using the new labels and all feedback has been 100% positive. The last 2 things for me to do are to update the website (working on that now) and finalise pricing. Despite the fact these are an entirely different beast to anything else I've done and cost more than my previous labels, in terms of material cost and cost to assemble them (remember, I hand assemble EVERY label - with the most involved 'element' consisting of FOUR separate pieces!!), I've been working on the assembly process to speed things up as much as possible, so I can keep the price down as much as possible. These labels are rock solid, look the absolute dogs bollocks and, I have to say it, are actually fun to swap around!
Anyway... pricing, website and availability details within the week (barring any unforeseen issues), so in the meantime, here's a summary of the posts, pictures and videos I've had up on Facebook of when I labelled up my own board properly, together with some background to how I came up with the designs and details on their usability. Hope you dig 'em, and I'll be back real soon.
Cheers,
Sukh
-----
Ok - here we go! Got lots of pics for you of the new labels as I finally got round to labelling up my own board. I'll explain as much as I can among the porn as I go
First up, I cleaned up the MFC, ready for the new goodies. Love this controller!
Board cleaned, the first thing to add was the Control Labels. These are slightly smaller labels than the main Surrounds, due to the reduced space on the right of the board.
I wanted these to be extremely minimal - no fuss whatsoever and I didn't want them to distract from the main labels. For this reason, only simple designs, right down to the 'Edit' label, which is completely blank! (I figured, if you know what the other 3 labels are, why would you need something on that one..)
Next up, Surrounds get put onto the board. I'm going to use the 'Tile' version of the Surrounds on all switches. Every Surround is 4mm thick (3mm top on a 1mm magnetic backing, which includes an embedded Neodymium magnet for better connection to the board) and consists of 3 separate pieces that are hand assembled (yes, hand assembled - individually!!!)
As with my last gen, I'm going for zero flannel or distraction. I don't even put my company logo on these as, well, why the hell would you want that competing with the texts you NEED to see?
Now the Surrounds are on, time to decide what Text Labels I need (this is for an upcoming gig). This is the cool thing about the modular label system - you can quickly and easily swap out texts as you need - you just pop them into the Surrounds (effectively, their 'container') whenever you want.
Here are the labels I'm considering for the setup for the next gig
Text labels are also made of the same material as the Surrounds; laser cut, 3mm thick acrylic with a very cool (special) low reflection finish. Each and EVERY text label has FOUR parts to it - and EVERY one of them is hand assembled!!!
Pop the Text label into slot in the Surround and....
Bottom row Text Labels in place
A quick check of the setlist and I realised I made a slight boob... need to swap a couple of Text Labels around, which is quick and easy to do... a quick swap and then onto the other Text Labels.
