True industry pioneers are rare, but Larry Fishman is truly a pioneer in the music gear industry. Founded in 1981, Fishman Transducers, Inc. was one of the first after-market acoustic pickup companies that allowed players to install pickups in their favorite guitars rather than be forced to use a guitar with a pickup built in. Companies such as Washburn, Martin, Gibson, and Fender all offer factory-equipped Fishman pickups in several acoustic guitar models.
Of course, Fishman makes more than just pickups. The company has delved into the acoustic instrument amplification market, and their amplifiers have been a huge success. The Loudbox series (including the Loudbox Mini, Loudbox Performer, and Loudbox 100) have been well-received by professional guitarists who need quality acoustic amplification at a fair price.