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GKers - some info from Gallien himself

#6
Cristo said:
Some interview stuff you may find interesting about GK: history, amp features, etc., straight from the guy himself.

One thing I'd like to know - who's Krueger?

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Sweet. Thanks.


Have no Krueger clue but a blind bet would be 1) a partner who handles the business end or less likely 2) investor(s) who put up funds to get and keep the ball rolling.
 
#7
Krueger= Richard Krueger, a mechanical engineer who worked in Bob Gallien's design group at Hewlett Packard. Gallien, while working at HP back in 1971, started building amplifiers as a money-making sideline in his garage. As the story goes, one day Krueger showed up at the garage unexpectedly and became very interested in Gallien's sideline. Gallien had never discussed his sideline with his co-workers because he was afraid he might get fired. However, Krueger finally convinced Gallien to take him on as a partner. Gallien and Krueger left HP in 1972, rented space in San Jose, and began calling their company Gallien-Krueger Inc.

Richard Krueger left the company in 1997 to take a job at Guitar Center [!!??]. Bob Gallien is now the company's sole owner.

Thus endeth today's history lesson.
 
#9
Cool article, thanks. I remember their guitar amps. Back when I first took up guitar in the mid-80s, I was VERY impressed by the GK 250ML, I just couldn't afford it at the time. But those old things still command a pretty good price on eBay.
 
#13
in response to the above about Rich Krueger:

I used to work for Rich Krueger at GK many years ago. He was to this day, the best boss I've ever had. I'm not sure about the engineering background because he was more sales oriented and I worked under him in that area of the company. From what I remember he had no real experience as a musician but could play the drums a little. I remember Bob Gallien played guitar though. The last I heard was that Rich Krueger took a higher up position with Guitar Center.
There was this one time (years ago) I remember Rich, a sales manager and myself backstage at the REM concert to give Mike Mills a prototype (1200 SEB) to try out. We approached Mike Mills backstage and Rich said that he heard Mike was using our bass gear and that we would like him to try the new prototype.....Mike Mills responded with "I have been using Mesa Boogie"... So, we just hung out and watched the show, he did take the prototype but I remember him sending it back shortly after..
 
#17
I found this article to be very interesting and I learned some things, for sure. The NEO speakers not being real great for rock music was something I never really thought of. The Backline series being made the same way with the same parts as the RB's.

It kind of seems to me that MarkBass has taken what GK has done and offered it in even smaller and lighter packages which is why it so hyped right now.
 
#20
Maybe I missed it but one thing that struck me odd in an article that long covering from day one, he didn't mention Krueger once.

Sort of wonder what an electrical engineer would do for Guitar Center but a lot of engineers work sales in technical fields.
 

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