Gallien-Krueger
Encyclopedia
Gallien-Krueger, also referred to as 'GK' (as in their logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...

), is an instrument amplifier
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...

 manufacturer. The company is based in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...

, and was founded in 1968.


Robert Gallien started his company, then named GMT, from his garage in San Jose, California while working as an engineer for Hewlett-Packard. His first amps were the GMT 226A and 226B (named after their power output) and were unconventional in their design because they were built around transistors instead of tubes. Carlos Santana was one of the first to buy a GMT 226A (serial #6) and it can be clearly seen in the Woodstock movie. In the early 70's Bob Gallien teamed up with fellow HP engineer Rich Krueger and the company was renamed Gallien-Krueger, although Rich Krueger is no longer involved in the company it has retained it's name.

In 1983 Gallien-Krueger launched the bass amplifier that would define the future of the company, namely the 800RB. The 800RB set the standard for modern bass amp design and
construction, and this influence is still vital today. The GK sound is defined by a dry "growl" and a quick reaction from the class H power amplifier.

The guitar line died out, but the company became a powerhouse in bass amplification. Its products are used by many professional bassists including: Dave Dreiwitz
Dave Dreiwitz
-Biography:Dave Dreiwitz was born on January 2, 1966 in New York City, New York to traditional jazz musician parents, Richard and Barbara Dreiwitz. In 1985 at the age of nineteen, Dave joined the Hoboken, NJ based psych rock band Tiny Lights, his first professional band out of high school...

, Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...

, Dave Holland
Dave Holland
Dave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....

, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...

, Joe Lally
Joe Lally
Joe Lally is a bass guitar player, vocalist and label owner, best known for his work with Fugazi.-Fugazi:...

, Rick Johnson
Rick Johnson
Rick Johnson may refer to:* Rick Johnson , American actor and director, and former CFL quarterback* Ricky Johnson , American motocross, NASCAR and off-road racer* Rick Johnson , American musician and bass player...

, Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal is an English musician, record producer and songwriter. Kanal is the bassist for the American rock band No Doubt...

, Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...

, Duff McKagan
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...

, Justin Chancellor
Justin Chancellor
Justin Gunnar Walter Chancellor is an English musician formerly in the band Peach but best known as the bass player for Grammy Award-winning rock band Tool. Chancellor is of Norwegian and English descent...

, Fabio Meridiani
Fabio meridiani
Fabio Meridiani is an Italian musician personality who made his debut as a bass player in 1985.He played like bass player with many international artist, including Robert Neville & The Bolear, JM Quartet, Billy Branch, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Ivan Graziani, Walter Salis, Lucio Turco, Pino Palladino,...

 and Colin Greenwood
Colin Greenwood
Colin Charles Greenwood , is an English musician and composer, best known as the bassist of the rock band Radiohead. Apart from bass, Colin plays keyboards, synthesizers and works on sampling on the electronic side of Radiohead...

.

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