Dwarfcraft Devices closes indefinitely

(Image credit: Dwarfcraft Devices)

Dwarfcraft Devices, the boutique effects pedal company operated by the husband and wife team of Ben and Louise Hinz, has announced it is shutting its doors indefinitely after 13 years in operation.

In a message posted to the company’s website, Louise Hinz wrote:

“Both Ben and I 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.” 

She continued, “This happens to be good timing due to the pandemic but it is something we have been working on for over six months. “

While the news is bittersweet, Dwarfcraft won’t be leaving us empty-handed. The company has announced a special-edition (and from the looks of it, already sold-out) Eau Claire Thunder produced in collaboration with Japanese experimental unit Boris and emblazoned with screen-printed art from the group’s Love and Evol albums, as well as a final batch of Grazer pedals.

“We aren’t even sure this will be permanent,” Louise wrote. “For now, it is a hiatus for the next several months.”

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.