Ampeg is a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington. Although the company specializes in the production of electric bass guitar amplification, Ampeg also manufactures electric guitar and double bass amplifiers. Ampeg first existed under the name 'Michaels-Hull Electronic Labs', as a partnership between Everett Hull, an accomplished pianist and bassist, and Stanley Michaels. The original goal of the company was to produce both a new microphone pickup that Hull designed, and to produce instrument amplifiers with a minimum of output distortion. In general, tube amplifiers will break up into a distorted sound when overdriven, an effect that Hull, a jazz musician, disliked. The pickup was intended to fit onto the end of an upright bass, and was dubbed the 'Amplified Peg' or 'Ampeg' for short. After gaining sole proprietorship of the company, Hull changed the company’s name to 'Ampeg Bassamp Company'.
