TC Electronic and Steel Panther’s Satchel face backlash over “obviously sexist” TonePrint

By Michael Astley-Brown
published

TC responds to criticism over ‘Pussy Melter’ effect

(Image credit: Neil Lupin/Redferns/Getty)

UPDATE: TC Electronic has issued an official response to the controversy surrounding its Satchel TonePrint.

"It’s become clear that a number of people have been offended by the title and description of a delay TonePrint that we created over a year ago with Steel Panther’s Satchel.

"Steel Panther is an American comedic glam metal band from Los Angeles, California, mostly known for their profane and humorous lyrics, as well as their exaggerated on-stage personae that reenact the stereotypical 1980s "glam metal" lifestyle (from Wikipedia).

"It has never been our intention to offend anyone but simply to provide fans of Steel Panther with guitar presets made by Satchel. We recognize that the material was inappropriate and we have removed the TonePrint in question from the app and we will take it down from our website as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize."

ORIGINAL STORY: A number of musicians have criticised TC Electronic for its description of a new artist TonePrint designed in conjunction with Steel Panther guitarist Satchel (aka Russ Parrish), entitled ‘Pussy Melter’.

The description of the TonePrint, which is available to download for the company’s best-selling Flashback Delay, begins, “When we met up with Steel Panther’s oh-so-humble guitarist, he had only one condition: that the tone be as wet as the ladies on the front row!”

Braids’ Raphaelle Standell-Preston and Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner have objected to the name and description of the Danish company’s preset, and a petition to remove the product has received over 450 signatures so far.

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The petition, raised by US guitarist Jessica Fennelly, states, “As a female guitarist, I'm shocked by the poor marketing decisions found on TC Electronic’s website.

“I can't imagine why a well-known company such as TC Electronic would feel that it’s okay to use such an offensive, obviously sexist, and outdated marketing technique to sell a product.”

Steel Panther are known for their outlandish parodies of ’80s hair-metal, and their no-holds-barred attitude continues to interviews, including Satchel’s top 5 tips for guitarists, which he revealed to us last year.

MusicRadar has reached out to TC Electronic for comment, although it appears the company has since removed the TonePrint from its website.

Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.