Gallien-Krueger
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Audio equipment manufacturing |
| Predecessor | GMT |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Robert Gallien |
| Headquarters | Stockton , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Robert Gallien (founder), Rich Krueger (co-founder) |
| Products | Bass amplifiers, speaker cabinets |
| Website | www |
Gallien-Krueger, frequently referred to as 'GK', is a producer of bass amplifiers and speaker cabinets located in Stockton, California. Established in 1968, the firm has grown into a significant entity within the amplification sector.
History
The company was initiated by Robert Gallien, who started it under the name GMT in his garage in San Jose while employed as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard. His initial amplifier models, the GMT 226A and 226B, were pioneering for incorporating transistors rather than tubes. Among the earliest adopters was Carlos Santana.
During the early 1970s, Gallien collaborated with HP engineer Rich Krueger, leading to the company's rebranding as Gallien-Krueger. Although Krueger eventually departed, his surname continues to be associated with the brand. A milestone was reached in 1983 with the introduction of the 800RB bass amplifier, renowned for its unique dry "growl" and rapid response enabled by its class H power amplifier design. GK also launched several industry innovations, including the 200MB—the lightest and most compact 200W bass amplifier available at the time—and the channel-switching 250BL.
By the early 1990s, the company discontinued production of electric guitar amplifiers to concentrate solely on bass amplification products. In 2013, Gallien-Krueger resolved an FCC penalty concerning digital radio devices that did not meet regulatory standards.
Notable musicians who utilize GK gear include Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver, Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, and Ted Dwane from Mumford & Sons. Additionally, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour employed GK amplifiers on recordings such as Sorrow and Learning to Fly.