The beloved pedal company behind the Eau Claire Thunder, Grazer Granular Repeater, Witch Shifter, and many others—is closing, at least for the time being.
Husband-and-wife team Ben and Louise Hinz have been bringing Dwarfcraft Devices to the world for over a dozen years. Today, they've announced they'll be slowly shutting down operations while taking time to assess their next move.
While the timing lines up with coronavirus-related business closures, the move is something the couple has been planning for a while and is the result of positive news in their lives. On the Dwarfcraft website, they explained their decision:
"We have some big news. Both Ben and I (Louise) have had some incredible opportunities come up in the last few weeks/months. Ben is back in school for art and I just landed my dream job. We have been doing the pedal thing for so many years but it is time to take a break to try something new. This happens to be good timing due to the pandemic but it is something we have been working on for over six months."
"We want to thank you all for the last 13 years. It has been a dream. We have met some of our musical heroes and some of our very favorite people (YOU GUYS KNOW WHO YOU ARE!). We need a break and some new perspective. Between our creative projects, our teenagers, and our new opportunities, we are so excited for the next stage."
Dwarfcraft are going out with a bang, with a special-edition Eau Claire Thunder made in collaboration with Boris (which have already sold out) and one more batch of Grazers. In the next few months, they'll still be repairing any pedals under warranty that need fixing, and they have a bit more inventory to sell before they're closed completely.
They are, however, leaving open the possibility of a return, saying, "We aren’t even sure this will be permanent. For now, it is a hiatus for the next several months."
For more info on their plans, visit the Dwarfcraft website.