ABOUT

Rob Chapman devised the idea for a line of guitar effects pedals that parody ridiculous claims of some instruments, claims that suggest they will improve playing! 'Snake Oil' was the perfect antidote with a tongue-in-cheek character based on turn of the century quacks or fraudulent salesmen.

Rob's concept was fun and eclectic, with some humorous copy lines and a cheeky slant. Our design approach was to bring a feel of an old medicine cabinet or label with the feel of an industrial cast iron or Bakelite machine - a bit of a steam-punk style.

We broke the mould for pedal design by harnessing a technique more at home on premium drinks bottles, embossing graphics directly into a flexible aluminium plate that was mounted on the surface of each unit to create a distinct and unique proposition in the market, and giving the pedal and authentic aged feel with a tactile nature. The metal plate is soft so will accept damage and enhance the aged feel the more it is used.