Dallas Arbiter

Also known as: Dallas, Dallas-Arbiter, Arbiter, Dallas Music

Dallas Arbiter was a British musical instrument company formed in 1967 through the merger of Arbiter Electronics — run by London music retailer Ivor Arbiter of Drum City on Shaftesbury Avenue — and the much older Dallas Music Ltd, whose lineage traced back to John E. Dallas & Sons, founded in 1875. Based in London, the combined firm became one of England's most prominent manufacturers and distr...

7 Products · Used by 33 Artists

Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face Fuzz Effects Pedals

$141.00 - $1,599.99

2 available stores

4.0 (6)

28 artists using

Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face (Germanium) Fuzz Effects Pedals

$1,599.99

1 available store

1 artist using

Dallas Arbiter Silicon Fuzz Face Fuzz Effects Pedals

$1,369.20

1 available store

Dallas Tuxedo Electric Basses

4 artists using

Dallas Arbiter Ringo Starr Model Drumsticks, Mallets & Brushes

2 artists using

Dallas Arbiter Treble & Bass Face Boost Effects Pedals

Dallas Arbiter Trem Face Tremolo Effects Pedals

The company is best known for the Fuzz Face, a round, smile-shaped germanium fuzz pedal originally released by Arbiter in 1966 and later branded 'Dallas-Arbiter England' after the merger. Early units used NKT275 germanium transistors, with later versions switching to silicon (BC108/BC183) transistors. The pedal was famously used by Jimi Hendrix and remains one of the most influential fuzz circuits ever produced. Dallas Arbiter discontinued the Fuzz Face in 1975, and the rights were eventually acquired by Dunlop Manufacturing in 1993.

Beyond the Fuzz Face, Dallas Arbiter built amplifiers sold under the Dallas, Shaftesbury, Sound City, and Rangemaster names, and produced Vox AC30 amps during 1974–1975. The company also marketed guitars and basses under the Hayman and Shergold brands, and sold the Dallas Rangemaster treble booster, another unit prized by British rock players of the era.

Dallas Arbiter has 7 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Fuzz Effects Pedals, Electric Basses, and Drumsticks, Mallets & Brushes. Their gear is featured by 33 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Blues. Notable users include David Gilmour, John Lennon, and Kevin Parker.