The Seamoon name is active again today through Seamoon FX, a bass-focused pedal maker whose range includes the Grind Machine bass distortion/overdrive, the Octatron bass octave pedal, the Skye Machine, and the MORE! preamp pedal4567.
Experimental effects from Berkeley
Seamoon began as an innovative and experimental effects company in 1973 Berkeley2. Premier Guitar's Tom Hughes notes that the company "was best known for the Funk Machine (designed by well-known DIY author Craig Anderton)"3. Oakland-based ADA later designed several pedals for Seamoon8.
The modern Seamoon FX brand carries the name forward with a bass-first lineup, describing itself as "BY BASSISTS FOR BASSISTS"5:
| Pedal | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grind Machine | Bass Distortion/Overdrive Pedal | Made in the USA4 |
| Octatron | Bass Octave Pedal | 4910 |
| Skye Machine | Pedal | 6 |
| MORE! | Pedal | Developed with bassist Neil Jason11 |
| Funk Machine | Envelope filter recreation | Made in the USA7 |
The MORE! preamp pedal came out of conversations during the Roxy Music 50th Anniversary tour, developed by Seamoon with bassist Neil Jason11. At NAMM 2020, Seamoon announced a recreation of the legendary Funk Filter12.
Founders Craig Anderton and John Lang
Craig Anderton and John Lang launched Seamoon Inc. in 19731. Anderton, described by JHS Pedals as an "effects legend," was the inventor of the Funk Machine and the author of Electronic Projects for Musicians, the 1975 book that detailed DIY projects including the Tube Sound Fuzz circuit13. Guitar World calls that book "a seminal text" for home-build effects13.
"In 1973, effects legend Craig Anderton and John Lang launched Seamoon Inc., releasing their flagship fuzz pedal the same year."
After Seamoon folded, Anderton started Analog/Digital Associates in 19753.
The range (9)
Questions
Who founded Seamoon?
Seamoon Inc. was founded by Craig Anderton and John Lang. Anderton was the inventor of the Funk Machine and the author of Electronic Projects for Musicians, a widely read DIY effects book. The two launched the company together in 1973 and released its flagship fuzz pedal the same year.
When was Seamoon founded?
Seamoon Inc. was founded in 1973 in Berkeley, California. The company launched with its flagship fuzz pedal, the Fresh Fuzz, released the same year. The original company folded before 1975, when Craig Anderton started Analog/Digital Associates.
Where was Seamoon based?
The original Seamoon Inc. was based in Berkeley, California. The modern Seamoon FX brand builds its pedals in the USA and describes itself as made by bassists, for bassists.
Were Seamoon pedals hand-built?
Yes. The original Seamoon Inc. hand-built each individual unit, launching the brand with a single pedal, the Funk Machine. The modern Seamoon FX pedals are also made in the USA.
Sources (13)
- BERKELEY, JHS Pedals
- Seminal, Vintage Pedals: The Seamoon Fresh Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2016-07-08
- Stompbox Classics: A/DA Flanger, Premier Guitar, 2008-05-12
- Grind Machine, Seamoon FX, 2026-10-07
- Octatron, Seamoon FX, 2026-10-07
- Skye Machine, Seamoon FX, 2026-10-07
- Funk Machine, Seamoon FX, 2026-10-07
- Six Pioneering Effects Builders of the 1970s, GuitarPlayer, 2022-05-26
- Skye Machine, Seamoon FX
- MORE! - Seamoon FX Pedals, Seamoon FX
- We Demo the Seamoon FX More! Pedal (Watch), Bass Magazine, 2026-05-18
- New Pedals: Seamoon Funk Filter, Delicious Audio, 2020-10-19
- Catalinbread sees the JHS Pedals Notaklön and raises the Knight School Overdrive, Guitar World, 2023-11-28