The Big Muff Showdown
Effector. "Uh, vacation's only got a few days left..." Hyeona's mutter. At those words, Myeongjeon realized high school winter break was shorter than he'd thought. The kids he usually dealt with were college students, with breaks stretching over two months. But high schoolers? Just about a month...
"When you put it like that, yeah, the schedule's kinda packed. I somehow thought February had a break too."
"That's what college kids get. I wanna get to college so bad. We could have so much fun..."
Well. Myeongjeon recalled the college students he'd given lessons to. They had their own gripes too... But saying that wouldn't land with these girls. Ha Suyeon was a high schooler, after all. Anyway, it was clear the schedule needed tweaking. Original songs would lean heavy on guitar, and since the girls were helping compose, they'd be easier to rehearse as a band than covers... But that didn't mean they were a freebie. Practice was non-negotiable.
"Alright, let's aim for two originals and one cover. If we can squeeze in another, great—adjust the schedule accordingly. We'll start original practice once the arrangements are done... I'll handle most of the arranging upfront, and you can chime in at the end. Take a few days off, then back to practice. Live club auditions aren't that strict, so we can take it easy-ish. Some spots are brutal, sure, but plenty aren't..."
The girls let out sighs of relief at Myeongjeon's words. Was he pushing these kids too hard? ...Nah. It was their choice. He'd given them the option. They chose it. Like that MZ trend talk—no one held a knife to their throats. But yeah, it was a tough schedule. He had the advantage of knowing how it all played out from his first life, while the other three didn't have that foresight or experience.
It's right for me to cut them some slack. And that's probably how they'd have the most fun. So what if they missed deadlines for grants or auditions? Rejected? Big deal. Skills don't vanish—apply elsewhere, try again. As long as he led this band, success was locked in.
Iseo climbed the subway stairs. At the station entrance stood a familiar face from recent days. Guitar case slung over her shoulder, slightly oversized black belted coat, trademark blank expression—Suyeon, staring blankly into the distance.
"I'm here."
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Suyeon immediately turned toward Nakwon Arcade. In the awkward silence, Iseo scrambled for a topic.
"How's it been lately?"
"...How's what?"
"Uh... the apologies and stuff?"
Crap, why'd I say that? Iseo regretted it instantly.
"Eh... could say it's going okay, or not. Depends."
But Suyeon just muttered it without a hint of annoyance.
"People actually accepting them?"
"Plenty took it fine—said it was no big deal. But ultimately, it's the victim's feelings that matter most... Anyway, enough on that."
Suyeon twirled her hair as she spoke. The mood grew a tad heavier, and Iseo desperately racked her brain for something else.
"Oh, right—you're buying that effector today! Full 2 million won, no haggling?"
"Hm..."
Myeongjeon pondered. He did plan to haggle. 2 million was steep no matter how you sliced it. He'd figured 1.8 million tops, but Iseo's words shifted that. Time to really negotiate.
A Civil War Big Muff went for about a grand in reverb. Even as his old gear, it wasn't worth 2 million... The shop owner knew that too, probably.
"Gotta haggle."
Myeongjeon sank into thought. Come to think of it, the guy was shady. It was his gear—likely pawned for peanuts originally, then flipped until it landed there. Selling someone else's heirloom for 2 million? Shady as hell.
"How much you think you can knock off?"
"Hm..."
Myeongjeon recalled the pedal's history. He'd bought that Big Muff and modded the capacitors and transistors himself.
"Could knock off a good chunk."
"Still available?"
"Of course~ Lots of inquiries, but I told 'em it was reserved. Said someone was coming for it."
Iseo glanced at Suyeon. The shop from months ago—well, technically their first real meeting. There, Suyeon had taken the effector from the owner.
"Hard to find one like this. Vintage ain't vintage for nothin'. Only someone like me can snag it."
The owner rambled on, but Suyeon ignored him, inspecting the pedal.
"Can I open it?"
"What? No way! How do you know you won't break it?"
"Then how do you know the lid's Civil War but it's just a regular Big Muff inside?"
The owner went silent. Staring him down coldly, Suyeon prompted Iseo's thought:
Can you really tell by opening it?
But if she thought she could, she would. Iseo stayed quiet. She had her ways.
"You can play it, at least."
"Playing's basic. Say I buy it for 2 million, open it later, and it's not a Civil War Big Muff? I'd be scammed."
"Sheesh, picky girl. If the shop owner says it is, it is—why doubt me?"
"For 10-20k, sure. But 2 million?"
"Hah... trust me. I'm the expert selling instruments and effects. Been in Nakwon 30 years—no one's ever called me out for fakes. I inspect everything."
Iseo watched the escalating spat. Nearby shop owners were peeking. This might draw a crowd.
"You inspect and sell it?"
"Yeah, I checked it myself."
"Then what if you're wrong?"
The owner's face hardened at Suyeon's challenging tone. Undeterred, she pressed on.
"If you've inspected it, opening it shouldn't be an issue, right?"
"No... even if you open it, would you know? You don't even understand circuits."
"That's why I do. Sir, let me open it. If it's fine, I'll pay 2 million cash right here."
Muttering in disbelief, the owner watched as Suyeon pulled an envelope from her inner pocket and set it on the table.
"But if it's off, you take responsibility."
"...Responsibility how? I just won't sell."
"You said you inspected it. Own it—if it's wrong after your check, you cover it."
"She's right. Spot on."
Suddenly, voices from outside. Two guys looking like neighboring owners.
"Park boss, just pack it in."
"The girl's right. You said you inspected? Then man up."
The argument peaked after about five minutes. After bickering, they nodded—some deal struck—and the owner handed over a screwdriver.
"If it breaks, your fault, missy."
"Don't worry."
Suyeon applied the driver and started unscrewing.
"You can tell from that?"
"Obviously. That's why I'm opening it."
Suyeon replied confidently, but Iseo felt a twinge of nerves. Did she really know this stuff? Guitarists probably did.
The pedal opened. Suyeon peered intently, nodded with a slight smile, and turned to the owner.
"Yep, signs of mods. Not an original Big Muff."
"What? Baseless nonsense! It's fine inside—you're nitpicking!"
The owner's face flushed. But Suyeon pointed calmly at a circuit section.
"See this? Civil War Big Muff caps are 1000pF. This is 470pF."
"What?"
The owner squinted at the board. Suyeon continued.
"Transistor swap traces too. Not original—why charge 2 million? Scammy uncle?"
"Here, have one."
"Thanks~"
Myeongjeon handed Iseo a warm canned coffee. She cracked it open, blew on it, and sipped.
"You knew it was modded from the start?"
"Not exactly... Vintage stuff like that usually shows mod traces when opened. I spotted prior opening marks earlier."
Of course, those were his marks. He'd owned that Big Muff for 20 years post-purchase, modding it for tone himself.
Kinda pity him, but self-inflicted. Merchants always pull that "I checked it all" line. If he hadn't, no drama.
"Not posting about the shop online?"
"Nah, we had a deal."
Myeongjeon cracked his can and took a swig. With other owners watching, the guy couldn't push—just mumbled "Take it for free..." and begged no posting.
Selling his "heirloom" like loot pissed him off... but Myeongjeon had provoked knowing the flaw, so he let it slide. Lesson learned, hopefully.
"This story'd rack up YouTube views..."
But Iseo's murmur shook that resolve a bit.
Views, huh?
"...How many?"
"Huh?? Well... good timing, solid storytelling? Could hit big."
100-200k maybe? But Myeongjeon decided against it.
"If true, wait till the channel grows more."
"...Not skipping it?"
"Why skip? He's the one in the wrong. I didn't do shit."
Just omit the shop name. No issue, he figured.
"Speaking of, how's your YouTube channel these days, Suyeon?"
"My channel?"
Myeongjeon pulled up YouTube. Subs at 10k now, views up, monetization approved.
"Recent original blew up, so subs followed."
He showed Iseo. The second original stood out—views exploding unlike others. A bored-night improv, sloppy MIDI, no expectations.
Yet views were surging.
"Huh...? This song feels familiar..."
Iseo fiddled with her phone, then shoved the screen at Myeongjeon. A YouTube video:
"Isn't this song in here... yours, Suyeon?"