Founded in 2006 by Salvadoran musician and designer Bautista D. Pérez, Fabesis Corporation develops and builds electronic musical instruments shaped specifically around the sounds and performance traditions of Latin American music. Based in Louisville, the company’s synthesizers use its Direct Bit Synthesis approach to preserve the character of acoustic instruments, while its EDM-1 grew from a drummer’s practical need to combine two electronic drum modules without complex MIDI programming. Fabesis also makes its instruments in the United States, using metal construction for studio and stage use.
SuperlativeCambridge, Massachusetts design studio Superlative builds electronic musical instruments, including the rechargeable SB01 analog synthesizer. Drawing on the golden age of analog design, the company pairs classic circuitry with unusually portable hardware: the SB01 is machined from a single aluminum block, offers 24-hour battery life, and is designed to be repairable. Superlative says its synthesizers are engineered and built in the United States for musicians who need durable instruments for performance and studio work.CAMBRIDGE, MA
Physical SynthesisFounded in 2019, Brooklyn- and Portland-based Physical Synthesis makes electronic musical instruments and develops sound and haptic hardware that turns digital signals into physical experiences. Its signature Cicada acoustic synthesizer uses controlled mechanical vibration and touch to create playable, modular sound, while the company also guides commercial product teams from concept through manufacturing. The team brings more than 30 years of combined engineering experience to projects spanning consumer and industrial products.BROOKLYN, NY
C. F. Martin & Co., IncFounded in 1833, C. F. Martin & Co. is a family-owned and operated musical-instrument maker that has remained under family ownership for six generations. The company builds acoustic guitars and ukuleles, and has also manufactured its own strings since acquiring Darco Strings in 1970. Its instruments are handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, while Martin strings are made at the company’s facility in Navojoa, Mexico.NAZARETH, PA
EarthQuaker DevicesEarthQuaker Devices is an Akron, Ohio maker of guitar effects pedals and related electronic music devices, which it builds by hand. Founded in 2004 by musician Jamie Stillman, the company grew from his basement-built pedals into a 15,000-square-foot facility; its in-house research and development designs effects for musicians.AKRON, OH