Electro-Harmonix

Electro-Harmonix, founded in 1968 by Mike Matthews in New York City, emerged from the psychedelic rock era with a modest $1,000 investment. Matthews, a former IBM employee with a passion for guitar effects, debuted the LPB-1 Linear Power Booster at that year's NAMM Show, kickstarting a legacy of innovation. Building on his earlier Foxey Lady fuzz sold to Guild Guitars, the company quickly pioneered affordable pedals that shaped electric guitar tones during the late 1960s and 1970s.

The brand focuses exclusively on effects pedals for electric guitar and bass, eschewing traditional hi-fi categories like amplifiers, speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables. Iconic models such as the Big Muff Pi fuzz, Small Stone phaser, Electric Mistress flanger, and Deluxe Memory Man delay defined its output, with reissues maintaining relevance today. After a hiatus producing vacuum tubes in Russia under Sovtek, Electro-Harmonix revived its core pedal lineup in the 1990s.

Electro-Harmonix holds a niche, mid-tier position in the guitar effects market, revered by musicians and collectors for its vintage-inspired, high-value stompboxes rather than high-end audiophile gear. Pedals like the Big Muff remain staples for artists from Jimi Hendrix to modern players, blending accessibility with tonal influence that punches above its price point.