The making of
"The GasPedal is the result of many ideas that have evolved over a period of years: I started building my first effects pedalboard in 1976. At that time there was no stage tape so I had to figure out a way to mount my gear in a solid way.
Soon the idea was born to put everything together in a box and the result was my first little effects board ever."
"During the next period I started using 19" racks which must have been around 1979. At that time I was playing at larger stages (nice time, sex, drugs & bubblegum 
) where I saw the multicores, like the ones that are used in the army. So a remote controlled board was my next idea.
While playing in several bands and performing live, I used some old (new at that time) TC stuff like the boosters and two Marshalls. I thought it would be nice to be able to switch them separately and the two tops at once!"
"Around that time I injured my hand by doing too much guitar playing, practicing and teaching and I was not able to play for 4 whole months, what a disaster! Fortunately this proved to be an opportunity to start working out more ideas...
It resulted in my first remote (non midi at that time ) footcontroller board for my effectsrack where I built my own effects in different 19" boxes."
"In 1980 I was in the army to serve my time and during that time I worked as a driver on a DAF YA126 military ambulance truck and later on a real ambulance.
There was a litte switch on the ground, that was called the Deadman's Switch. At that time I only knew that it actually should be used in musical gear but didn't know what the future would bring. Later on, they moved it to the dashoard because it was easier to operate for my captain.
It was this inspiration that, 25 years later, resulted in the design of the PaulSwitch.
As I continued working and playing I never found a remote midi board that suited my expectations so the idea arised of developing one myself.
This appeared to be easier said than done... In the meanwhile, I had gained a lot of info on midi racks and gear and I was designing pedalboards and Guitarsystems for a lot of guys.
Around 2000, I decided to start my own business offering service maintenance, effectboards-, racks- and cab building. The midi board was still on my mind as well."
"My own business proved to be successful, so much so that there was too little time left to learn skills like programming chips, which would be necessary for the development of the midi board."
When I was talking about this with a friend of mine, (Leon Pennings) he mentioned a guy that might be able to help me out.
This is how I met Fred Peek around november 2003 and since then he has helped me to realize my ideas.
"Finally, it has been worth it all. I wish you lots of fun on stage with the GasPedal."
Paul Lenders, Guitar Systems
