Duesenberg - a history of Dieter Goelsdorf from 1978 to 2004

1978 The right product at the right time! Amazing success with the »Rockinger Guitars«, the world's first electric guitar kits, plus a range of replacement parts at sensible prices.

1980 Input from new partners and friends, especially from Mathias Jabs (Scorpions, Hannover) led to the development of the first fine-tuning tremolo in the world, the ROCKINGER TRU TUNE TREMOLO. Introduced shortly afterwards by Kramer Guitars onto the US market as "THE EDDIE VAN HALEN TREMOLO".

1981 Set up own US distribution company - ROCKINGER-USA - in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Provocative ads in GP (Guitar Player magazine) lead to worldwide furor. More tremolos follow, like the "TELLYBRATOR" and the "LESTREM".
Not forgetting: P-90 - the all-time favorite pickup! Established a large collection of old American P-90 guitars, which were minutely analyzed. Set up own production of P-90 pickups in authentic design and also special "humbucker" dimensions to fit in standard humbucker rings!

1982 First real celluloid mint green pick guard reproductions, export of tremolos, pickups and pick guards even to South Africa and New Zealand.

1983 Full scale production of guitar bodies and necks including paintshop. Workforce grows to 16 people at Rockinger.

1986 Introduction of the first Duesenberg name guitar with very futuristic designs. Guitar magazine columns under the "Atze Rockinger" byline.

1987 Established FORMENTERA GUITARS. Build your own guitar under the Balearic sun!

1991 Crash Bang! Internal differences lead to sale of Formentera shares and change of ownership at Rockinger

1991 Formation of g ö l d o - no more direct customer contacts. Company focuses on wholesale, production and import. Distribution and export of own and outsourced components to dealers and guitar manufacturers.

1995 Development of the new Duesenberg Starplayer retro line. Immediate attention gained with German and international artists like Carl Carlton and Keb Mo.

1996 Dieter's group "Rollinger" supports B. B. King for the third time!

1997 Introduction of the Diego brand - high-quality vintage reproduction instruments.

1998 Publication of Dieter´s book Fear and Loathing on Formentera.

1999 Registering the free brand "KLUSON" as göldo-trademark in Europe. Developing new tremolo products and Duesenberg models. Diego as new Trade Mark. So far, so good...

2000 Dramatic Duesenberg sales increase, especially to Japan (almost 1000 instruments), because Sheena Ringo (girl singer) top 5 hit in Japan.

2001 Finally, after inexorable exertions - the new catalog by MAC! Sitarizer saddles, Super Tremola etc..

2002 Duesenberg Ron Wood Signature Guitar and John Platania, Robbie McIntosh, Larry Garner and Chris Spedding among the famous Duesenberg Users. Diego Deluxe Tremolo. AEQ Piezo bridge system.

2003 DSP Guitar Of The Year in England! ZZ-Top and Chris Whitley as new Users, Dieter's second Book "Formentera Fever"

2004 Duesenberg lands in America, beginning a new chapter with Duesenberg *USA, L.A., with Nathan Fawley, Duesenberg Imperial, Rocket and Double Cat, new pickup rings with adjustable angle, new Tunómatic Bridge, Colin Hay (Men At Work), Grönemeier, Laurie Wisefield (Toto), Alan Darby

2005 A lot more development in Dieter's design workshop.
An all NEW tremolo, patent applied, which works butter smooth for great stability. Coming out soon! Also a new design nut along with our new tuners making guitarists life a little bit easier. New Artists playing Duesenberg, Elvis Costello, Slash & Duff (Velvet Revolver), Taj Mahal, Jedd Hughes, Blind Boys of Alambma, Pat McGee Band to name a few..

2006 Duesenberg announces the NEW 49er solid body guitar along with the new Rocket 2. Keith Richards has hooked up with Ronnie Wood with a couple Doozy of guitars. (see in artist section) Eric Burdon's new CD "Sole of a Man" rocks with the sounds of Duesenberg, thanks to Johnny Lee Schell and Carl Carlton.