Aaron Newman and Mike Beigel founded musitronics and launched the popular Mu-Tron pedal series in 1972. In 1976-1977 musicians Lol Creme and Kevin Godley from 10CC developed a guitar sustainer, the Gizmotron. Musitronics became the Gizmotron manufacturer. The Gizmotron proved difficult to make and was temporamental in use.

Watkins Electric Music (WEM) is a British company founded in 1949 by Charlie Watkins and his brother Reg. WEM started as a record shop in Tooting Market, London, later moving to a small shop in Balham where the brothers began selling guitars and accordions.

In the early 1960s the Unicord Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic transformers purchased the Amplifier Corporation of America of Westbury, New York. They began marketing a line of amplifiers under the brand name of Univox. The company was purchased by Gulf + Western in 1967. Guitar making operations moved to Japan in 1975 where they continued making guitars until 1982.

Tremolo has a number of meanings for the guitarist. Tremolo bridges (like in a Fender strat.) allow you to wobble the pitch of a note. In some amplifiiers (and effects pedals) you also have a tremolo effect which varies the volume to give you a wobbly noise reminiscent of 50's and 60's guitar instrumental music (think of the guitar at the start of the Twin Peaks theme).

Build Your Own Clone sells a good range of guitar DIY guitar effects pedal kits, which are great for the inexperienced maker. Each kit is based on a famous effects pedal and comes with absolutely everything you need to build the pedal. Step by step instructions should make assembly a breeze.

Effects pedals are a great introduction to the world of DIY guitar gear, because:

BOSS is the division of Roland Corporation most easily recognized for its line of colorful guitar and bass effects pedals.

For over 25 years BOSS has also developed innovative multi-effects, rhythm machines, personal digital studios and other easy-to-use instruments for musicians of all types.

Z.Vex is the brandname for effects and amplifiers made by Zachary Vex. His effects have the hand-made boutique look about them, and he is the guy responsible for the world's smallest tube amp. Watch out though there are some Z.Vex fakes out there .

This is another video guide from Gary Schutt, about the basics of reverb. Reverb effects create a copy of the incoming signal slightly time-delays it, making it sound like you are in an echoing room.

Two brothers Kim and John Rishøj founded TC Electronic in 1976 in Risskov, Denmark. For several years they made guitar effects pedals before moving into the rack-mounted product area. They currently produce a wide range of guitar effects.