About - Iron Ether

So that we can continue to make innovative products, details are subject to change without notice.

Iron Ether pedals are built and finished by hand, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Shipping information:

. We ship using USPS Priority mail, which includes a tracking number, both for US and international orders. Shipping times within the US are generally 2 to 3 mail days (Monday through Saturday). For international orders, shipping times are generally 6 to 10 mail days.

Q. What is your warranty?

A. We warrant our products to be free of defects in parts or manufacturing for one year to the original owner. After one year, we will fix anything for a small fee. The warranty is void if you take the pedal apart, attempt to modify it, or operate it in a way that goes against warnings in the manual.

Q. Can I use a battery to power my Iron Ether pedal?

A. No. None of our effects have room inside for a battery. Our designs are relatively complex, and we strive to get them as small as possible so as to not take up too much pedalboard real estate. If we added battery snaps we’d have to make all of our effects larger. Besides that, batteries are bad news all around. Here is an excellent explanation of why batteries are no good.

Q. Do the expression jacks on Iron Ether pedals accept control voltage (CV) signals?

A. No, they do not. They are meant to be used with passive expression pedals.

Q. What expression pedal(s) do you recommend for use with expression-equipped IE pedals?

A. The Moog EP-2 is an affordable choice, that works well. It includes a range knob that is especially useful for tailoring the sweep. If you’re looking for a more rugged solution, Mission Engineering makes a series of sturdy metal expression pedals. A device called the Expressionator is a very useful tool for controlling multiple expression jacks at once, so you can control your FrantaBit and Xerograph Deluxe simultaneously with one foot, for example.

Q. What is an “etched” finish?

A. This is a process in which the surface of the metal is chemically engraved with a graphic and text. This gives the graphic a 3-dimensional, “carved” look, as the text is set back into the face of the pedal. Because of this process, no two etched pedals will look quite the same – each one is an individual, numbered work.

Q. What is “relay-based true bypass”? Is it really true bypass?

A. Yes, it is absolutely true bypass. This means that when the pedal is bypassed, the signal goes directly from the input jack to the output jack via a mechanical switch and does not go through any buffers, electronic switching or any other circuitry that could affect tone. What makes it different from the true bypass found on most boutique pedals is that instead of the standard 3PDT switch, we use a mechanical relay meant specifically for audio-type signals. It is a more expensive and complex solution, but we use it because it provides several advantages: no build up of static electricity and thus no loud pops, a quieter & smoother switch, greater reliability, and the ability to automatically go into true bypass if power is ever lost to the pedal, which can be a life-saver on stage.

Q. Do you ship outside the US?

A. Yes, we are happy to ship to any country in the world. Once you have added to your cart the pedal(s) you’d like to purchase, click on “View cart.” Here you can add the international shipping item to your order and the proper shipping price will be calculated.