Jess Oliver

Bill Hughes is a hero among musical gearheads for his innovative amplifier designs throughout his career.  He was hired into the industry by Jess Oliver (interview class of 2005) at the Ampeg Company.  A year after joining the company in 1964, Bill worked on the SB12 bass amp, which led to a series...
Jess Oliver was the inventor of the Ampeg Baby Bass, the first electronic upright bass instrument. The fiberglass body and unique design was key to projecting the sound of a double bass into an electric amplifier. His idea was one of the many used by the Ampeg Company. When the Baby Bass was...