ToadWorks is a
guitar effect
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in el ...
brand owned by Ryan Dunn and Doug Harrison based in
Spokane
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Ca ...
, Washington. ToadWorks is primarily known for manufacturing the Mr. Ed distortion pedal, the Barracuda flanger, and the Texas Flood overdrive.
History
ToadWorks was formed in 2001 in
Mountain View, CA. During the first year of ToadWorks' existence, operations were located in Ryan Dunn's garage. By 2002 the company had moved to
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...
, where it continued to manufacture products. In 2003 the company was moved back up to
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
, where it occupied the top floor of the famous
Hobart Building __NOTOC__
The Hobart Building is an office high rise located at 582–592 Market Street, near Montgomery and 2nd Streets, in the financial district of San Francisco, California. It was completed in 1914. It was at the time the second tallest buil ...
on Market St. In 2005, the company moved operations to Spokane, WA, where it continues to manufacture its increasingly diverse product line.
In January 2008, ToadWorks announced plans to release a
flanger
Flanging is an audio signal processing, audio effect produced by mixing two identical audio signal, signals together, one signal delayed by a small and (usually) gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a s ...
effect pedal
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in ele ...
called Barracuda. This new effect is intended to emulate the distinctive flanger effect heard on the
Heart
The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide t ...
song of the
same name. Using a custom-made flanger effect given to them by
Howard Leese
Howard M. Leese (born June 13, 1951, in Hollywood, California, United States) is an American guitarist, record producer, and musical director who played with Heart as guitarist and keyboardist for 23 years (1975 through 1998). He continues to rec ...
, ToadWorks initially attempted to reverse-engineer the circuit, but concluded the original circuit contained design elements that could not be duplicated using modern components, so a new circuit was designed. ToadWorks refers to this new circuit as the "Howard Leese Signature Model", although the true history regarding the effect from the actual recording is disputed.
TheGearPage.net A new release date for this product has been set for January 2009.
On April 13, 2013, ToadWorks USA released a press release announcing the re-branding of the product line to 'TEN Effects'.
Toadworks in Australia
Toadworks are currently solely distributed in
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Australia by
Powerhouse Music and Technology and in
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
by
TYM Guitars
TYM Guitars is a manufacturer of custom guitars and bass guitar based in Brisbane, Australia, as well as custom instruments the company also repairs, restores, refinishes vintage instruments. The line of custom guitars and basses built by TYM G ...
as well as in Melbourne by RockLogic Melbourne.
Toadworks Australian Dealer List
/ref>
References
External links
Toadworks Global Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toadworks
Music equipment manufacturers
Guitar effects manufacturing companies