Bruce Zinky
Encyclopedia
Bruce Zinky is an American
Electronic Engineer
based in Flagstaff, Arizona
After graduating from Chico State University, he headed the Fender amplifier "custom shop" in the early 1990s, helping to return Fender to the forefront of quality professional instrument amplifier
manufacturers. After leaving Fender, he began marketing the Smokey Amp - a tiny, but powerful amplifier so called because it was made to fit in a cigarette
pack. With this success, he went on to market a line of amplifiers under his own name.
He revealed a new line called Supro, based on a 1960s trademark, at the 2005 NAMM Show
in Anaheim, California
. Bruce was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History Program in 2010 in which he spoke about the early days of his career in the music industry.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Electronic Engineer
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
based in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
After graduating from Chico State University, he headed the Fender amplifier "custom shop" in the early 1990s, helping to return Fender to the forefront of quality professional instrument amplifier
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
manufacturers. After leaving Fender, he began marketing the Smokey Amp - a tiny, but powerful amplifier so called because it was made to fit in a cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
pack. With this success, he went on to market a line of amplifiers under his own name.
He revealed a new line called Supro, based on a 1960s trademark, at the 2005 NAMM Show
NAMM Show
The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. Bruce was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History Program in 2010 in which he spoke about the early days of his career in the music industry.