It all began in his living room in 1965, when Jim Dunlop — a machinist by profession — created his first innovative capo design. This was a natural progression for Jim, who'd already begun making custom products for guitarists in his spare time, and when a local music store owner mentioned the need for a well-made 12-string capo, Jim rose to the challenge. The result was the 1200 Series Guitar Capo, and its success launched the Dunlop brand, which has thrived ever since, branching out into picks, strings, slides, electronics, and more.
Once established, Dunlop turned their attention to guitar picks. Many of us here at Sweetwater swear by Tortex picks, which were instrumental in establishing the standards by which all modern picks are made. Today, there are dozens of varieties of Dunlop picks to choose from, covering many sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. Other products followed, and a series of slides, strings, straps, and many additional accessories such as pick holders and peg winders have made Dunlop a household name in practical guitar gear.
Guitar accessories are only one area in which Dunlop is widely respected. In addition to Dunlop's other brands, which include MXR and Way Huge, the company itself produces many popular pedals. They're probably best known for their series of Cry Baby wah pedals, which many guitarists consider an essential part of their kit, right along with a solid overdrive and delay.
Speaking of other effects, Jim Dunlop is responsible for keeping some of the all-time most popular pedal designs alive and even improving on the originals. For example, in the '70s, long after several of the '60s tone-defining classics had left the market, Dunlop began reproducing and modding the famous Arbiter Electronics Fuzz Face distortion used by Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Pete Townshend, among others. They also revived the sounds of Mike Battle's Echoplex delay and the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe phaser/chorus, both of which have been often found in famous pedal rigs alongside Fuzz Faces.
Every year, Dunlop comes out with more great guitar products, and every year, new Sweetwater customers learn to appreciate their many contributions to the history of guitar technology. As players themselves, Dunlop's team of creative engineers are always on the lookout for the next great way to serve their fellow guitarists. Whether you're after a specific classic rock sound, a great way to polish up your favorite axe, or a satisfying pick that accommodates the way you play, you'll find what you need under the Dunlop name.
