ToadWorks

ToadWorks USA

Industry	Musical instruments
Founded	Mountain View, California 2001
Headquarters	Spokane, WA
Key people	Ryan Dunn, Doug Harrison founders
Products	Guitar Effects
Website	www.ToadWorksUSA.com

ToadWorks is a guitar effect brand owned by Ryan Dunn and Doug Harrison based in Spokane, Washington. ToadWorks is primarily known manufacturing the Mr. Ed distortion pedal, which has been incorrectly identified with Eddie Van Halen.

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, where in continued to manufacture products. In 2003 the company was moved back up to San Francisco, where it occupied the top floor of the famous Hobart Building on Market St. In 2005, the company moved operations to Spokane, WA, where it continues to manufacture it's increasingly diverse product line.

Controversy

The first product offered by ToadWorks was a distortion effect named Mr. Ed. The online community, specifically the Harmony Central effect forum, reacted with enthusiasm, describing the sound of the effect as being similar to the guitar tone on the first Van Halen record. Although the company denied any attempt to emulate the Van Halen sound, rumors persisted.

in 2005, the Mr. Ed effect was demonstrated to be a clone of the Fuzz Face guitar effect.