Thing are really slow at work today, so I shot this and now I will rant...
This weekend I wanted to make a quick non-guitar-effect foot pedal for a colleague to use at work. He likes the 1590b enclosure. Due to where I am, orders from ManMeth usually come in 1 day if I order early enough, so I ordered it from them.The enclosure was to be etched, so when I got it I started sanding the top and that's when I saw all the problems....
1. On the top, two distinct casting flaw lines became more and more prominent as I sanded. Since these are density flaws (not flatness) they will not sand out, so the enclosure is useless for etching.
2. The manufacturer didn't tap one of the screw holes, so I would only be able to put 3 screws in the enclosure.
3. The lid is so badly bent and ill-fitting that I can snap it into place ( yep, it actually "snaps") and then turn the enclosure over and the lid will stay in place without any screws.
4. The screw holes have not been adequately countersunk. Even when the screws are tightened down, they stick out significantly.
5. The metal quality is inferior to any enclosure I have seen before.
In short, this enclosure is a piece of junk. Yes, I can spend time and money shipping it back for a replacement, but it will cost more in time and money than it is worth, and they will just give me yet another crappy replacement enclosure. Tomorrow I will drive way over to the nearest Fry's and get a Hammond 1590b, so at least i can build the pedal tomorrow...
I know these are all "1st world problems" but I think there is no excuse for ManMeth selling something this shoddy. I won't go so far as to say i will never order anything from them ever again, but I cannot see myself ever ordering another enclosure from them. I am posting this to maybe give others pause.
Thanks for letting me vent. End of rant. Have a nice day.