Discontinued product? I think it's rare. Made in Japan. It's a well-known, shall we say, *that* kind of effector (buffer/clean booster). Apparently, the internals are a clone of the Super Hard On, so it surprisingly (or perhaps not?) produces a thick, powerful, and generally good sound. Although it's labeled for bass, it sounds great with a guitar too. A booster that hits all three marks: cost-performance, sound quality, and novelty. Why not give it a try? *There may be some scratchiness when turning the knob, but this is not a defect; it's part of the design.* Clean Booster Z.VEX