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Indonesian-made guitar pedals make noise abroad
It’s said in the music industry that exporting is key to gaining fame at home, and this also seems to be the case for locally made effects pedals that are making (sound) waves in other countries.
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'Payback' innovation: Sylvanus "Ivan" Hardiyanto, the founder of FM Pedals, initially started making his own effects pedals to "get back" at the high-priced commercial pedals he couldn't afford. (JP/Courtesy of FM Pedals)
E
ffects pedals are devices that allow guitar players to expand the sound of their instruments. Just like its name, the box-shaped equipment is pressed with the foot while playing to modify or enhance the sound of an electronic guitar into a distorted buzz, an atmospheric echo, a warbling hum and many other audio effects.
Also called “effectors”, at least two Indonesian companies that produce these devices are making a name for themselves abroad, despite their limited popularity at home. These companies produce “boutique pedals’, so called because they’re produced in limited numbers and are sold at relatively higher prices than mass-produced pedals. Those that buy them are looking for especially unique soundscapes and strong esthetics, and many collect these boutique pedals.
Sylvanus “Ivan” Hardiyanto is the founder of FM Pedals, whose products are used by established guitarists such as Andra Ramadhan from the popular Indonesian band Dewa. Ivan, now 44, lives in Bekasi, West Java, and has been making his own effect pedals since 2016.
He says he began producing them as “revenge” because he couldn’t afford the ones sold commercially. He uses imported high-quality components to achieve the sounds he deems “right”.
Over its young history, FM Pedals has launched several pedals, all named after a mythological Indonesian character or in a nod to the country, like the Barong High-Gain Distortion, the Arjuna Overdrive and the Arwana Fuzz Distortion, as well as the Papua Distortion, named after the country’s easternmost province.
“In naming our pedals, we use the names of Indonesian icons to remember and respect Indonesia’s rich culture and narrative to [promote] nationalism among today’s younger generation,” Ivan explained.
