Before we dive in, let’s get one thing straight: this post isn’t political. We’re not here to support or criticize any party, policy, or ideology. Our goal is simply to be transparent about a topic that’s affecting both us and our customers - why the BF discounts offered by Fortin and other companies are not as they once were...

Fortin has always been - and continues to be - proudly built in the USA. Our pedals are manufactured in Kentucky by a team with a deep legacy in guitar pedal manufacturing. Every step of the process, from concept to final product, happens right here in the United States (and before anyone says anything, Mike spends a lot of time in the U.S., especially at the design stage).

We are absolutely committed to keeping it that way.

But here’s the catch: even though our pedals are built in the U.S., the parts we need to build them often aren’t. The truth is, the guitar pedal industry is too small to support mass production of the specific components we use. So, we rely on high-quality parts sourced from a variety of industries - HiFi, audio, automotive, computer tech, and more.

Many of those parts come from overseas, particularly from countries in the Far East. Not because we want to outsource, but because those are the only places that make what we need - at the scale and quality we require. Unfortunately, those imports are now subject to tariffs, and those added costs are hitting us hard.

To help illustrate this further, we recommend checking out this article from companies like ours, and the video from our friends at EarthQuaker Devices (EQD) - one of the most, coolest, innovative and respected companies - not just in guitar pedals, but in any industry. Their experience mirrors ours, and what they explain applies to every U.S. pedal manufacturer.