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. Production under the Univox name was halted after a fire at the Matsumoku factory. After this time instruments were made in Korea under the name Westbury. The Unicord Corporation was purchased by Korg in 1985, effectively ending the line for good.

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.

Source: Zvex website (23 March 2017)

Guyatone was founded by Mitsuo Matsuki in 1930s Japan and was initially as the Matsuki Seisakujo company. The first products were Hawaiian lap steel guitars. In the early 1950s Matsuki started using the Guyatone brandname and also diversified in making amplifiers and audio gear. Production levels took off in 1956, as Guyatone began making OEM instruments for distribution under other brand names including Star, Ibanez, Antoria, Futurama and Kent.

Zoom was founded in 1983 in Tokyo, Japan. Zoom initially developed sound generator LSI, rhythm machines and MIDI synchronizer systems for other brands.

In 1989, the first Zoom branded product was unveiled: the 9002, an ultra-compact multi-effects processor designed to be attached to a guitar strap. This was followed by the rack-mountable 9010, which featured the world's first 4-In/4-Out individual signal processing. In 1992, the high-end 9200 came to market and soon became a fixture in studios everywhere.

The popular Zoom Player series of guitar effects was launched in 1994, along with the Zoom Studio series, which continue to be found in the racks of many musicians today.

The following year, the Zoom 500 series of footpedals was introduced, including the 506 bass pedal and the popular 505 guitar pedal, the best-selling multi-effects pedal ever.

Ikutaro Kakehashi founded Roland in Osaka in 1972. Roland's first product was the TR-77 drum machine. In 1973 they introduced a compact synth - the SH-1000. Guitar effects were added to the line-up in 1974 and in 1975 they began making amplifiers including the legendary Jazz Chorus model. In 1977 Roland introduced the GR-500 guitar synth (by 1980 they also had the 303 and 808 guitar synth models). Roland also owns the Boss brand name known for its effects pedals.