Electro-Harmonix logo
Founded in 1968 by Mike Matthews, Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors and sells rebranded vacuum tubes. It is best known for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s. [Wikipedia]
The “Ram’s Head” has been with Electro-Harmonix since the early 1970s when Mike Matthews, EHX founder and president, decided to use it as the company logo graphic. It has appeared on countless products and marketing materials throughout the company’s storied history.
“I liked it so I just used it as a logo, something to attract attention to the ad. It didn’t have any special meaning other than I thought it was distinctive.”
It’s unclear when exactly the wordmark in all-lowercase Skjald was introduced. Chances are it was around 1973, when the second version of the Big Muff (dubbed “The Ram’s Head”) came out.
Skjald was first issued as metal type in c. 1890 by the Dickinson Type Foundery in Boston, shortly before it merged into American Type Founders (ATF) in 1892. In the 1960s, it was revived for phototype, as one of the many ornate faces from the Victorian and Art Nouveau periods that found new use in counterculture and its commercialization. Skjald is included in the 1965 catalog of Photo-Lettering, Inc. This company was also located in NYC and hence is a possible and likely source.
Early version of the Ram’s Head, used without wordmark in a c. 1971 ad
Black/white version of the Ram’s Head as reimagined in 2015. This 2018 logo variant adds the company’s location in caps from Century Gothic.
“… for years people have raved about our logo. We figured since EHX has an iconic logo why not put it on apparel? Now everyone can enjoy the insignia that musicians have loved for years.” — EHX merch store
Special version with bat, skull, ghost, jack-o’-lantern, and spiderweb, used for Halloween 2017.
