Ken Fischer was truly a silent hero among guitar amplifier builders and pro players. Knowing his nature, I’m not sure if he will ever receive the full credit he deserves for his contribution to amplified guitar tone. Our friendship dates back to the ’80s and I cannot recall a time where Ken drew any attention to himself. I admired him for being a modest person with a kind and generous heart and having an old-school sense of ethics. He was indeed a treasure-trove of amp circuit information which he freely shared with me and yet he seemed to constantly apologize before (as he put it) “picking your brain about transformers and their effect on my tone.”
Sadly, for as long as I knew Ken, he struggled with his health and finances while always maintaining a positive spirit. Few people know that he did not directly benefit from the sharp increase in the market value of his original first run of Trainwreck amps.
My only regret was that I never saw him prosper. However, his impact on the boutique amp world is enormous. As long as players and listeners experience the joy of Ken Fischer’s vision for better tone, he will not be forgotten.
