“There’s lots of laws against me selling my invention”: Robert Keeley has made a drive pedal that doubles as a weed vape – but don’t get too excited
Robert Keeley – founder of Keeley Electronics – has apparently invented a drive pedal that doubles as a weed vape. Only trouble is, he’s not allowed to sell it online due to restrictions on vaping products and, of course, weed.
In a conversation in the new issue of Guitar World, Keeley details the cleverly named Vapor Drive, an overdrive stompbox which, somehow, also serves as a vape.
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“I have a pedal that you can smoke/vape weed/THC out of,” he explains. “It’s the first rechargeable pedal, and it produces the most amazing distortion.
“It charges at five volts through a USB or the standard nine-volt battery, but I can’t sell it on Amazon, eBay or Reverb because it’s a tobacco or vaping product. There’s lots of laws and barriers against me selling my invention.”
As a consequence, the Vapor Drive looks like it’ll be perpetually stuck in the prototype phase, but Keeley’s not losing any sleep over it: “I scratch my head and take a toke from my cordless Vapor Drive pedal!” he jokes.
So, unless the widespread easing of restrictions on weed and vaping products happens, don’t bet on your ability to get a Vapor Drive of your own any time soon.
Robert Keeley and Keeley Electronics have staked a huge claim in the effects pedal market, with highlights including the Keeley Compressor – used by Noel Gallagher, Matt Bellamy and John Mayer, to name a few – and the Katana Clean Boost, which also forms part of John Mayer’s pedalboard.
And it looks like there’s plenty more where that came from. “I don’t plan on selling my company,” Keeley tells Guitar World.
“There may have been a time in the past, but this is what I love doing. I like the idea of creating a manufacturing business that can sustain generations of employees. Martin, Gibson, Fender, Dunlop and Electro-Harmonix have done it; maybe Keeley can.”
View Keeley’s latest product lineup at Keeley Electronics.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
