This pedal by Steel Panther was banned on Reverb – now they’ve launched an updated version
A controversial stompbox launched by hair metal parody band Steel Panther has been re-released as a mini version.
The original, which launched in 2018, was a limited-edition distortion pedal called the ‘Pussy Melter’. The pedal was criticised for misogyny, and was even banned from gear marketplace Reverb. Now, this newly revived smaller version has kept its original name and theme, and has been titled as the ‘Platinum Pocket Pussy Melter’.
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For a little bit of a history, the original pedal actually borrowed its name from a TonePrint that guitarist Satchel had created in collaboration with TC Electronic. After backlash from musicians over the marketing copy, the brand apologised and discontinued the effect before re-releasing it under the name Repeat Offender. However, Satchel went ahead and released a physical version of the distortion with its first name.
Reverb decided to ban the pedal not just for its explicit name, but also because it “promoted violence”. At the time, Steel Panther responded by calling the decision “ridiculous” due to other similarly explicitly named pedals remaining up for sale on the platform. Given Steel Panther’s tongue-in-cheek vibe, it’s not their only pedal with a rather colourful name either – they also sell the Butthole Burner, which features some phallic-shaped chillies on its cover.
In another statement amid the backlash, the band said, “We respect and love the freedom of speech afforded to all citizens in the US. We support the right for all people to express themselves no matter where they are in the world. We welcome all races, genders and sexual orientations at our shows – shows that celebrate everyone’s individuality through partying, and of course a love of heavy metal.”
The original unit had four knobs labelled Dirty, Booty, Load, and Sizzle. The first knob was likened to “having a dirty channel on an amp”, while Booty was said to provide more low end, and Sizzle delivering high end. Load simply tweaked the volume. There were also two switchable gain modes, “Moist” and “Gushing”.
The new mini version features just three dials, with some difference in spelling this time – Loads, Sizzle and Bootie – plus one single switch. It’s priced at £139.99, and is currently available for pre-order through the official Steel Panther website, with shipping expected for early June.
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“Oh, you thought we were done? It’s back! And this time, it’s pocket sized,” reads a description of the product. “The first 1,000 of this limited edition distortion pedal come with a hand numbered certificate of authenticity. Just like its older brother, this is an 80’s sunset strip overdriven full stack in a box.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
