Product Engineers
Scott Peterson is the President of Peterson Electro-Musical Products, which his father, Richard, established in the pursuit of his passion for audio electronics and pipe organs. Among Richard’s many innovations was the Peterson Tuner in 1952 (beginning with Model 70), the world’s first transistor...
David Gage is a string-bass luthier who is known within the industry as the man who listens not only to music but to the musicians, to produce the instrument that bests works for each player. His devotion to his customers pushed him into wanting to do the best he could in design and in craftwork...
Dave Biro became fascinated with electronic music the second he watched Rick Wakeman perform in the late 1960s. He soon set off on an odyssey to create his own instrument. Dave worked to develop a synthesizer that would respond faster than those available at the time and increase the...
San Pao Chen is the General Manager for Taye Drums in Taiwan. Mr. Chen was interviewed during the NAMM Show in 2013 and provided great insight into how the company was formed and his views on the growth of the product lines, as well as his friendships throughout the industry. His passion for...
Martin Kobza is an instrument designer for the Petrof Piano Company, located in the Czech Republic. His unique skills as a piano designer and his knowledge of the strong company history, provides a great background for him to call on when he is working on new products and new innovations. The...
Charles Traeger had an impressive reputation in the world of bass making and bass restoration. His long career began when he was a musician in the big band era looking for someone who could help with his own instrument. He learned all he could and noticed there was a real need for literature for...
Lucien Hut dedicated his entire career to teaching, selling, restoring and designing the piano! As a retailer he established Pianos International in Colorado. He later moved to Montana where he taught at the university for several years. His interest and involvement in music began when he...
Bob Rissi was the founder of Risson Amplifier Company, which produces Made-in-America products based on Bob’s own designs. He began designing amplifiers in 1960 when he was hired by Leo Fender himself. He later worked at Rickenbacker before forming his own company in 1971. In addition to his...
Bob Hackett worked for Ampeg on the company’s amplifiers. As a professional bass player, Bob was able to provide vital feedback in the design and sound of the bass amps for Ampeg. During his time at the company he worked with several other key engineers and employees including Roger Cox. Bob...
Elmer Reeder and his brother purchased a sawmill outside of Lansing, Michigan, right after World War II. It was during that time that Elmer became an expert in wood, an important part of his career years later. When his son, Jim, opened a piano shop and retail store called James Reeder Piano,...