Southeast Portland’s Retro Mechanical
Labs builds dirt boxes that look as
unique as they sound, often housing
its creations in re-purposed vintage
electronic test equipment enclosures,
and outfitting them with working VU
meters and vintage knobs. It also builds
some custom enclosures by hand,
distressing them to look like old test
devices and tricking them out with
vintage knobs and components. As
such, many RML effects often look more
at home in a recording studio or sitting
atop a handsome antique wooden
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TONE TALK //
desk than on a pedalboard (though
the company does offer some designs
in standard stompbox enclosures, as
well). Beyond the one-of-a-kind look,
these pedals conjure up a wide range
of tones that typically go from sweet
and musical to totally insane, and back
again. RML’s Electron Fuzz is a standout,
looking gorgeous and producing
everything from warm, dynamic sustain
to absolutely molten sonic doom.
8 Pedal Makers that Rule Portland, Oregon