May 22, 2026 I Appointments
Guitar Center Names Reverb Founder David Kalt to Board
David Kalt
Guitar Center has named David Kalt as an independent member of its board of directors. Kalt is the founder of Reverb, the platform that transformed how musicians buy and sell new, used, and vintage gear online. He also previously acquired and helped grow Chicago Music Exchange into one of the country’s most recognized destinations for vintage and collectible instruments. His appointment comes as Guitar Center enters its next phase of growth.
“We went from eight consecutive quarters of decline to nine consecutive quarters of growth,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “We’ve got the company on a good trajectory and now we’re playing offense. David built Reverb from scratch and fundamentally changed how musicians buy and sell gear. That kind of experience matters as we think about what comes next for this company.”
Kalt’s experience spans music retail, digital marketplaces and technology-enabled businesses. After acquiring Chicago Music Exchange, he identified gaps in how musicians buy and sell gear online, which led to the creation of Reverb.com. The platform changed the used and vintage gear market and was acquired by Etsy for $275 million. Prior to Reverb, Kalt co-founded optionsXpress, which went public and was later acquired by Charles Schwab for $1 billion.
Beyond Reverb and Chicago Music Exchange, Kalt has founded and led several technology companies, including ClientBASE, an early CRM platform. He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal and Forbes and began his career as a recording engineer and producer. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in computer science from DePaul University.
“Guitar Center has played an iconic role in the lives of musicians for generations,” Kalt said. “I’m excited to join the Board and support the company as it continues to innovate across stores, digital, services, and community. Music retail is at its best when it inspires creativity, builds trust, and helps people find the right gear for their sound. Guitar Center is uniquely positioned to do that at scale.”
