Dean Markley Strings is an American company that manufactures musical instrument-related products, primarily
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
for
acoustic and
electric guitars,
classical guitar
The classical guitar (also known as the nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string instrument with strings made of gut or nylon, it is a precursor o ...
s, and
bass guitars. The company also produces
pick ups,
amplifier
An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost the v ...
s, and
tuners, with
instrument strings being their feature product.
History
Before starting the company, Dean Markley was a
music store owner in
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara (; Spanish for " Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 census, making it the eighth-most populous city in the Bay Area. Located in the southern Bay Area, the cit ...
. In 1972 he began selling string designs he came up with himself through experimentation. His first breakthrough into success was when he created the
Voice Box effects pedal used by
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton (born 22 April 1950) is an English musician and songwriter who was a member of the rock bands Humble Pie and the Herd. As a solo artist, he has released several albums, including his major breakthrough album, the live ...
in his smash hit "
Show Me the Way".
Blue Steel guitar strings
One of Dean Markley's recent notable innovations are "Blue Steel"
guitar and bass strings, which are
cryogenically
In physics, cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures.
The 13th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration (held in Washington DC in 1971) endorsed a universal definition of “cryogenics” and “cr ...
frozen with liquid nitrogen to make them last longer.
[Dean Markley bronze hits 2]
thefreelibrary.com
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References
{{reflist
External links
Dean Markley
Interview for NAMM Oral History Program (2007)
Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States
Companies based in Arizona