Dunlop Manufacturing facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Benicia, California |
| Subsidiaries | MXR |
Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. makes awesome accessories for musicians. They are famous for their effects units, which are pedals that change how musical instruments sound. The company is located in Benicia, California, in the United States. Jim Dunlop Sr. started the company in 1965. It grew from a small business run from his home into a big company. Dunlop now owns several popular brands like Cry Baby, MXR, and Way Huge.
Contents
The Story of Dunlop
How It All Started
Jim Dunlop was from Scotland. He started his company in 1965. At first, it was a part-time job. He was also an engineer. His very first product was called the Vibra-Tuner. This small device helped guitarists tune their guitars. It stuck to the guitar with a suction cup. It showed if the guitar was in tune using a tiny reed.
Making Capos
While selling his tuner, Jim heard musicians needed a good capo. A capo helps change the pitch of a guitar. Musicians said a capo that worked well on a 12-string guitar would be very popular. Jim used his engineering skills to create a new kind of capo. He worked with a local shop to make the first ones. These capos became known as the "1100 series."
Growing the Business
Jim started making products in his living room. Then, he moved to his garage. Soon, he needed an even bigger space outside his home.
On March 19, 1972, Jim started making picks. He read Guitar Player magazine to learn what musicians liked. He made his first picks from nylon. Dunlop still makes these nylon picks today.
Later in 1972, Jim left his old job. He wanted to focus on his own company full-time. He moved his family to Benicia, California. He set up his shop in an industrial park there. After a few years, his company grew even more. He moved to a larger building on Industrial Way.
What Dunlop Makes Today
Today, Dunlop makes many different products. These include capos and picks. They also make slides for guitars. They produce strings and fret wire. Dunlop also makes strap retainers to keep guitar straps secure.
They are well-known for their electronic effects. These include the famous Cry Baby wah-wah pedal. They also make the Uni-Vibe phaser. Other cool products are the Heil Talk Box and the MXR and Way Huge lines of stompboxes.
Jim Dunlop Sr., the founder, passed away on February 6, 2019. He was 82 years old.
Way Huge Electronics
Jeorge Tripps started the Way Huge company in 1992. In late 1999, the company closed down. Tripps then went to work for Line 6. In 2008, Tripps and Way Huge joined Dunlop Manufacturing. They brought back the Way Huge line of pedals.
Some of these pedals include the Swollen Pickle (a fuzz pedal). There's also the Pork Loin (an overdrive pedal). The Fat Sandwich is a distortion pedal. The Green Rhino is another overdrive pedal. They also reissued the Red Llama overdrive. This pedal is known for boosting volume and creating a distorted sound. Way Huge has even worked with famous guitarist Joe Bonamassa on special pedals.
Tortex Picks
Tortex is a special brand of plectra from Dunlop. They were first made in 1981. These picks are made from a material called acetal. The goal was to make them feel like old tortoise shell picks. Real tortoise shell picks have been banned since 1973.
