Yes, I know we’re already well into June. The article just took a bit longer than planned and I couldn’t think of a clever title for this month, and anyway, I started this article in April, so on balance its cosmic centre is still somewhere in May technically.

If you wanted to jump all the rambling for something a bit more exciting and pedally, head to the heading What’s coming next! ahead (below).

Since the last article in February I’ve been working on getting Champion Leccy back on its feet. It has been a bit up and down, but things are looking canny. The back pain is manageable. It’ll be an ongoing challenge, but I’m confident about the future. So that’s a nice positive start.

It’s still taking a bit of experimentation to find a good balanced routine, but I’ve been keeping decent pace with the plans and expectations I laid out last time. I’m able to build regularly, the store has been restocked, I have renewed enough mental energy to get back out there on instagram, sales have started to pick up again and I’m even working on some new designs!

Not going to lie though, I wrote a huge article that I thought was jam-packed with revelations, then looked back at the February update article and realised that I’d already included most of it in there, it way also written way more betterly too. I have since deleted several paragraphs from this article in shame.

But basically, the last few months have gone well, progress is steady, so I’m feeling good about talking about plans with more certainty. A handful of things have changed since last time, and there is some new news to report. So, here is what’s what.

Where I am now

This section is about what is happening now. If that’s boring please skip to the future.

Building Stock

I’m still currently trying to restock the store. It’s been like spinning plates, but I’m almost there. Swan Hunters keep selling out and a few things are getting low again, but everything is either in stock or returning soon (Swan Hunters returning soon!). The plan is to keep chipping away at the builds, so nothing is out of stock for long. I’ll be looking to restock retailers shortly too!

Tariffs

The thing no-one wants to be talking about, but that also can’t be ignored! The long and short of it is, the situation keeps changing, so it’s impossible to plan. No-one has any information they can put any faith in.

Tariffs, in case you don’t know but want to know, are a tax that the importer pays. So everything costs more now. I intend to keep prices as low as possible for as long as possible. I can’t offer any predictions at this point. Fingers crossed.

I’ve given up worrying about it and I’ve stopped trying to follow the news, because my nervous system prefers to not feel like it’s under attack constantly. I will deal with things as and when they happen. Again, fingers crossed. All of them. All fingers crossed.

The Evil Twin

It’s out there! It’s direct sales only and it’s a limited run.

Unless you know what this is, you probably don’t know what this is, so, what’s the craic!?

Well, in terms of what it does, it’s an early original design that oscillates and creates mayhem and is fun, but also unusably loud.

Both sides are “Fettle Boosts” of some description that can be used independently. They are pretty close to the V1 Fettles. The left hand (or sinister) side has an evil switch that makes it into an oscillator (depending on the settings), at which point everything interacts. It does drones, chirping sounds, suboctave synthy nonsense, all sorts of nonsense. In fact it was this design that led to the tagline ‘Electronic Nonsense’, because of all the nonsense it enjoys.

For the original run, I only made 25, and it’s such an oddball design that I decided to limit this run to a similar number (25 to 30 I think). I’m adding stock as often as I can, but they keep selling. I’m about half way through and there will only be about 10 or 15 more listed. It is definitely only for a handful of weirdos. If you’re a weirdo, please check it out, it might be for you.

Here’s the listing. It includes a video of the original from the olden days.

This version just has a couple of tiny tweaks including an improved power section and one of the original trims is now an external pot. It’s also portrait rather than landscape and has new art. It does all the same stuff though. If you have an original, you don’t need this at all.

They may sell out before I get to do an up-to-date video for them. If there is enough demand, I will make more. I’m not a jerk.

What’s coming next!

I’m slowly but surely getting back to designs (and redesigns) that I’ve had to put on the back burner for the last few years. Adding more lines to the catalogue means carrying more stock, and I have limited space and budget, so I don’t know what to do. Maybe…

RIP the Fettle Boost and Dunsh?

I have to face the very feelings-hurting fact that it looks like I’m not known for dirt. Even though I know many of you swear by the Dunsh and Fettle Boost, I sell way more of them at trade shows when people try them out in person than I do from the online store. People seem more familiar with my lofi and weirder designs and that’s the kind of stuff that is easier to showcase in demos. Dirt pedals – especially the Fettle Boost – like amps are often about the feel and response, and that’s something that doesn’t translate from videos.

Which is all to say I am quite possibly looking at discontinuing the Dunsh and Fettle Boost. I’m not 100% on that decision as I’m writing this, and I still have a load of enclosures and PCBs on hand for each, so I don’t want people to feel all FOMOed. It’s just a forewarning.

I do like designing dirt pedals though, and I have at least three concepts floating round my brain that I would love to get out there. So I am considering having a rotating slot for a limited run of dirt pedals, probably between 30 and 50 of each design. So, I would theoretically build a batch, put them up, and once they’re gone, move on to the next design. That way I don’t have a bunch of shelf space taken up with several designs that trickle out slowly. If something really takes off and the demand is there, I can swing back for a second batch, but they won’t be permanent lines.

For the same budgetary and limited space reasons I likely won’t be able to carry as many colour options as I expand the product range.

The Baltimore Pedal Show

Saturday June 28th! 11AM – 5PM! Even bigger than last year! Loads of vendors! Come hang out! Try pedals! Buy pedals! Chat with the builders! I will be there! I may even be doing cash discounts!

New Pedals!

So, the first “new” thing is…

The Kilter V2

Finally coming on July 11th! Thank you for your patience! Demos are on their way! Here’s the listing if you want to sign up for a stock notification.

The Skitter V3

The next in line for a reintroduction is the Skitter! I have a redesign I’m happy with and I have started to work on the prototype PCB lay out. All things being equal, we’re probably looking at late this year, or maybe early 2026.

The Ne’ermind

The Ne’ermind will (surprisingly) be my first dedicated echo. The echo from the Swan Hunter was the starting point, so it will include the same ducking/ gating and lofi character. But it will also go well beyond what the Swan Hunter echo does, whilst retaining the appropriate Champion Leccy character and feel. It covers all the lofi ground that you’re imagining, and should be nicely interactive.

I’m working on this and the Skitter currently. I don’t know which will be first, it will depend entirely on how the prototypes do. Hopefully one of them will be coming before the end of the year.

Stuff that is NOT on the horizon

Well, I’m shelving the Dunce and the Hand Samwich for the time being. If you have no idea what either of these is, don’t worry about it! I dropped hints about them last update, but I don’t think they are going to fit into the current plan. I could be wrong though! Life is what happens when you’re making flans and all that. Never say never. Maybe 2026?

Stuff that IS on the horizon

B Stock and Blems

Earlier this year I started sorting through the basement. I have a few odds and ends that I will start listing with some discount. This includes a handful of blemished enclosures, some old models that have been lying around for a bit and a couple of old demo units.

It also includes a few Skitter V2s! I found a handful of enclosures that were used for prototypes, demo boards or had blems. The V3 IS still coming, but a couple of V2 units will be available later in the year.

Here is the listing for future reference.

New Retailers!

Later this year, I’ll be looking to start expanding operations and supplying a couple of new retailers who have been waiting patiently in the wings. No hints yet.

Away in the UK for “summer”! – store closed

The store will be closed between July 29th and August 20th (or thereabouts). If you’re after a Champion Leccy pedal in that window please hit up one of our retailers.

Beyond all that? Who knows! Who even knows if any of this was real.

I hope you, whoever you are and wherever you are, are doing okay in the interesting times we live in. are.

And thank you for reading this far! The good news is it is the end of the article. If you have any questions you can hit me up here. Or in the discord here!