Robert Gallien started his company, then named GMT, from his garage in 1968 in San Jose, California, while working as an engineer for Hewlett-Packard.

[2] In the early 1970s, Bob Gallien teamed up with fellow HP engineer Rich Krueger and the company was renamed from GMT (Gallien-Martin-Taylor) to Gallien-Krueger.

[3] The GK sound is defined by a dry "growl" and a quick reaction from the class H power amplifier.

In November 2013, the company paid a fine to the FCC for producing non-compliant digital radio products.

[4] Artists using GK equipment include Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Velvet Revolver's Duff McKagan, Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, and Ted Dwane of Mumford & Sons.