Gene Haugh

Gene Haugh began his career as a factory worker for the Baldwin Piano Company in Arkansas making parts for the electric organ. Gene was hired by the DH Baldwin Company in 1966 and in just two years was promoted to the plant’s supervisor. He left Baldwin in 1981 and soon began building Sho-Bud pedal steel guitars (which he also played as a musician). When Fred Gretsch purchased Sho-Bud, the long relationship between Gene and Fred began. His attention to detail was one of the many reasons why Gene was asked eight times to establish production facilities within the music products industry. These factories included the Slingerland drum plant in Illinois and several factories for Gretsch including those in Conway, Arkansas and South Carolina. Along the way, Gene developed into a well-know and well-sought out luthier who built pedal steel, electric and acoustic guitars for the likes of Buddy Emmons, Roy Clark and Chet Atkins.