MESA/Boogie Ltd., the Original Boutique Amplifier Company, celebrates 50 Years in Business here with Founder, Designer and President Randall Smith and many of the Guitar Legends that have relied on, and in some cases, who’s trademark Tone has become synonymous with his designs and the Boogie Sound.
In this series of short videos, Randall and iconic guitarists look back and touch on the things that first drew them to the “Family” and share what the amplifiers have done for their playing and their music. From the early inspiration and beginnings in the late ’60s and early ‘70s, through the “Big 80s” and Guitar-Culture sea change of the 90s, up through the new Millennium and today, Randall and his team of fiercely passionate “band mates” as he calls them, have contributed every major feature found on modern amplifiers and a universe of iconic Tone to the sound of the electric guitar, changing it forever more.
In this first Chapter, we hear from Founder Randy Smith and Icon Carlos Santana about the early inspiration for the Mark I, Carlos’ reaction to the newfound possibilities of limitless sustain separated from volume, and how Carlos’ involvement in this early Tone Revolution spread the news about this pivotal development in electric guitar sounds among the World’s top Touring Artists like the Rolling Stones and other Guitar Greats from the Bay Area and beyond.
From inventing the pivotal High Gain Preamp in the first Mark i’s, to Footswitchable Modes and Effects Loops in the Mark II’s, to Multi-Channel/Multi-Mode Preamps in the Mark III’s, IV’s and V’s and Dual Rectifiers, to the several patented tunable Tube power, wiring and operating class configurations found throughout, the innovation and pioneering spirit has remained at the forefront of the small Northern California Company’s ethic.
Enjoy this up close and personal look into the history of MESA/Boogie with Randall and company highlighting points along a 50-year journey that would lead to MESA’s cult status leaving an indelible mark on the sound of amplified guitar and modern music.
