amplifiers

Andrew Barta was born in Hungary and came to the United States with a dream of working in the music industry. Having been in rock bands in Europe, Andrew formed a band in America and worked as a technician repairing instruments in New York music stores. Along the way, he began designing a project based on his own ideas as a player. Andrew formed Tech 21 and introduced a line of innovative products including the SansAmp, and the Trademark series and the Power Engine series of guitar amps. 

Clifford Cooper has always liked the color orange. So, when it was time to market his amplifiers, which he created mostly for his own use and for friends, he decided to use his favorite color. The Orange amplifier products are not only unique in looks, but are also known by musicians for the clear and consistent sound. Mr. Cooper is not often interviewed, making it a special honor to have gathered his inspirational stories for our collection.

Michel Doidic always enjoyed the technology behind electronic musical instruments. When he was younger he built his own guitar and other equipment before meeting Marcus Ryle while they both worked for Tom Oberheim. They later form a consulting company called Fast Forward Designs. The success of the company gave Michel and Marcus the idea to create their own products and so they created a new company called Line 6 to focus on guitar gear. The many product categories include their innovative POD products (such as the HD500), recording equipment, amplifiers (including the Spider Valve MkII), software (like GearBox), digital wireless, stompbox pedals, and the MIDI mobilizer among others.

Ritchie Fliegler has come to be known throughout the music products industry as “the Amp guy.” He wrote several articles and two popular books on amplifiers. He has been in the forefront of the technology what helped advance the amp, particularly when he was working with Fender Musical Instrument Corp. in the 1990s and early 2000's. Ritchie’s passion as a musician served the company well as he sought to not only produce top selling products, but to create advances in the function of each amp to focus on the needs of the customers, both pro and first time players. Ritchie is also well known for his passion for the industry and the many friends he has made along the way. When Ritchie walks into a room at the NAMM Show everyone seems to gravitate his way! 

Bob Gallien has been an innovator in bass guitar amplification for some 30 years! Inspired as a young guitar player in the 1960s by bands like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, Bob loved the role the bass guitar had in rock music, although it was clear the sound needed improving. As co-founder of Gallien-Krueger, he has helped establish a niche within the industry dedicated to the improvement of amplification.

Richard Harrison owns and operates several music retail stores in the United Kingdom including well-known stores on Denmark Street. The street in London is often called the English Tin Pan Alley with shop after shop offering guitars, basses, drums, saxophones, sheet music and so much more. The best known of his shops is Rockers Music. Richard is also the president of Hiwatt Amplification in the UK.

George Hauer established Madison Music Center in 1998 in the small Connecticut town of the same name. His main focus is sheet music and band instruments, but if you ask him he may admit the store was opened in his retirement to keep him active. George was active in music retail for a very long time. He worked for Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center beginning in the late 1960s. Chuck was a real inspiration and mentor to George, who fondly recalls the days working in the store. He later was the sales rep for Sunn Amplifiers.

Bill Kirchen is a well known rockabilly guitarist known by his tag, The Titan of The Telecaster! During much of his career Bill could be seen and heard playing his 1959 Sunburst finished Fender Telecaster. His driving playing style has been an influence on rock and country players alike, but Bill always seemed to be most comfortable playing Rockabilly. Bill was the original guitarist for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Bill has been associated with several musical instrument companies especially Talos Amps and Fender Guitars.
 

Michael Kropp loved folk music for as far back as he can remember. As he grew up and played in various bands in the 1960s and 70s he also became involved with the music industry. After owning his own music store for several years in New England, Mike became friends with Stewart Spector, Hap Kuffner and Ned Steinberger early on in their careers in the industry, teaming up to become a force of introducing, marketing and selling innovative musical products around the world.
 

Lyndon Laney built his first amplifier in his father’s garden shed with little thought of turning his craft into a business. That was the case until his friends began requesting his amps. His creative side fueled his passion for manufacturing and the Laney Amplification Company was born. Since the early 1970s the company, based in the United Kingdom, has enjoyed distribution channels around the world and a steady growing reputation for innovative solid state as well as tube amps. His pride for the company and products is only surpassed by the pride he has in handing the business over to his son James.