The Line6 Story

So a couple months ago a customer pings me and asks if I can make a power supply for his brand new HX Effects. I figure it’s an average, run of the mill pedal so I say of course....then I did some research. To my surprise it turned out Line 6 claimed it required 3 Amps on their web site. They also listed a few power supplies that worked which raised questions as I knew the ones mentioned didn’t put out 3 Amps.

So naturally I try to contact Line 6. I knew it was a million to one shot for a small dog like me but I figured if they listed other manufacturers why not Sweet Foot Pedals. The only contact I could find remotely close to what I was looking for was a potential dealer contact. I figured I’d send them a note and even if Line 6 responded they’d blow me off as soon as they found out I wasn’t going to place a multi-million dollar order.  

To my amazement the guy who responded actually passed me onto another guy when I told him about my power supplies, who passed me onto another guy who hooked me up with the right guy. I was somewhat gobsmacked that a multi-zillion dollar company like Yamaha/Line 6 would bother with someone like me. But it turns out - and here’s the key take away: THE GUYS AT LINE 6 ARE GREAT GUYS!

I bought the old school Line 6 stand alone pedals back in the day but kind of turned my nose up at their computerized effects, preferring to support boutique brands and old school companies like Moog. Based on my experience with Line 6 I will have them near the top of the list in any future music purchases.

Anyway, to get back to my story, I sent them one of my prototype power supplies - with fingers doubly and triply crossed. According to the engineer their HX’s would be happy with 1.5A, still a LOT (considering an old school distortion pedal takes 6mA that’s 0.006 Amps. They also gave me a few other insights to what the HX’s were looking for in terms of power which I’ll keep confidential.  

Bottom line (so soon ??) - my power supply powered both the HX Effects and the HX Stomp fully and completely. In fact my power supply powered the HX Stomp at only 500mA. I guess when you have the best power supply in the world....

They said they would add my power supply to their web site but I’m not sure how often they update so I didn’t wait. 

At about this same time a customer sent me a very cool graphic they wanted on a custom power supply. It was so cool I modified it a bit to serve as my graphic for my new line of Line 6 HX (and other high current devices) power supplies.