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.

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.

Bob Luly built the first sound system for the Rolling Stones that they used in the United States. The system was created for the Orange Show in the 1960s and led Bill to build systems for the likes of Three Dog Night and Frank Zappa (whom Bill played electric bass for on stage in the early part of Zappa’s career). Bob worked to improve the sound and electronics for live shows and found he had a great interest in designing amplifiers.

Jim Marshall was in a full body cast as a 12-year-old boy due to polio. He managed to overcome the incredible odds to not only walk again, but also became a trained tap dancer. He has since founded a charity to help crippled children and tap danced at charity events to raise money for the cause. Of course along the way Jim designed and produced the revolutionary guitar amplifiers with his name that forever changed the way rock and roll was heard.

Hartley Peavey was like most kids his age in Mississippi during the mid 1950s--he wanted to be a rock and roll star! In a very real way he did became a rock star, not as a performer but as a manufacturer of musical instruments–beginning with his pioneering guitar amplifier. Equal to a performer’s impact on music, Hartley created unique sounds that revolutionized ROCK AND ROLL! By providing reasonably-priced gear, he allowed a larger and different customer base to become music makers.