The AT-222 is a signature pedal by Akira Takasaki of LOUDNESS, made by the handmade brand Cat's Factory, which produces guitar and bass effectors in Hiroshima Prefecture. This is a clean booster that Mr. Takasaki has trusted and installed on his board for 10 years. This unit is an early model with the numbers 81-14 printed on the lower left of the surface, representing the last two digits of LOUDNESS's debut year, 1981, and the year AT-222 was born, 2014. Scratch noise occurs when the GAIN knob is turned, but this is a characteristic of the circuit. It gives the sound thickness and sharpness, increases the sound pressure, creates a powerful sound image that doesn't get buried in a band sound, and adds a slight compression effect, resulting in excellent natural sound clarity. It's an extremely excellent clean booster. It has been used only a few times and is in near-mint condition, almost unused. Operation confirmed. No problems. Original box and instruction manual included. Type...Electric Guitar Manufacturer...CAT'S FACTORY