DigiTech, DOD to Return Following Acquisition by Cor-Tek Corporation

Cor-Tek Corporation – the maker of Cort electric and acoustic guitars – has acquired the DigiTech/DOD brand, the company announced today. 

According to a statement from Cor-Tek President Jun Park, the deal includes "all DigiTech/DOD intellectual property and assets." 

"Since 1973, DigiTech/DOD guitar effect pedals have been iconic in the guitar industry, and we have a deep admiration for the heritage and legacy of the DigiTech/DOD products," Park said. "We look forward to continuing the manufacturing and selling of the iconic products as well as investing in new features and products." 

Prior to their sale to Cor-Tek, DigiTech and DOD were owned by Harman International, which was in turn owned by Samsung. Shortly after the completion of its purchase of Harman in 2017, Samsung laid off DigiTech and DOD's entire design teams, leaving the brands and their in-the-pipeline products in limbo. 

Since the layoffs, neither brand has released any new pedals, and their recent removal from the Harman website provoked high-profile speculation that they had been discontinued entirely.

Prior to Harman's acquisition by Samsung, DigiTech and DOD's Marketing Manager, Tom Cram, indicated that he had a "roadmap" for future products from the companies.

Obviously, it's difficult to ascertain at this early stage whether or not that plan will be followed, or whether Cram – widely credited with rejuvenating the DigiTech brand in the 2010s – and other former employees of the firms will be involved in the companies' new products. 

The acquisition marks Cor-Tek's first expansion into the pedal market. Aside from the Cort brand, the company also makes electric guitars for the likes of PRS, Ibanez, and Squier.