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Gibson Acquires Mesa/Boogie

#222
4andnomore said:
A few random thoughts: One of Mesa's challenges is no gateway products in sub 1,000 price range. Affordable amps are getting better these days so I imagine it's hard to compete as what amounts to a luxury brand. I always thought killing off the original walkabout was a bad move though I'm sure Mesa had their reasons.
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They never replaced the Subway combo which was puzzling.. that was such a great amp.
 
#226
My Mesa amps are all pre Solid State.

Mark VI combo
Blue Angel Head
Studio 22 combo
400 Bass
Baron Stereo Amp

Owned:
D-180
Tremoverb Head
D200 Monoblock
Rocket 44 combo
Mark III Green stripe
Mark IIB
Heartbreaker combo

Prodigy 4:88 Bass

All Hecho en Petaluma

Mike Bendinelli - awesome man. I think he was the perfect example of On Job Training turned master craftsman.
 
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#229
I sold all my Mesa gear in the summer of 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer and having to retire from my job.

I think I’m going to have to rebuy some Mess gear that’s in stock now just in case this turns out bad.
 
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#232
I have dug every Mesa I have ever owned and their latest guitar amps have been fire too. I have a Tremoverb and a Bass 400. I am good, will never outgrow 'em.

Sorry guys I just don't trust Gibson. Their whole existence has been based on one or two good guitar designs, mostly the one. My Agile LP copy was nicer and better quality (also ebony fretboard) than the last Gibson I tried out (granted "just" an $800 one). I thought Gibson was way on decline. Where's Korg when you need em!
 
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#235
Looking at the prices currently, Gibson is rebranding itself clearly as a high end guitar company with only a handful of entry models - getting a high end amp company to complement this is pretty logical. It might be that there is a budget line based on Mesa designs in the future, with naming referring to Mesa history (Boogie Engineering? Petaluma Rectifier?). I think Mesa amps themselves will stay as they are, US made high end amps, which still are ridiculously priced here in Europe. :D

Good for Randall Smith, he got a payday from his life's work and still gets to work on amp design without the business hassle.

I got no issue with Gibson (I've always liked the guitars), the new management seems to have a more firmer grip on business than the previous one. Haven't had the opportunity to handle any "new" Gibsons yet, so I can't comment on the current quality. That short scale tribute bass still tickles my fancy, though..
 
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#236
I have great admiration and respect for @agedhorse and the valuable contribution he makes on TB. I hope they treat him well and allow him to do what he loves. As far as Gibson goes, the last great bass they made that I loved was the Ripper. Only because it was so weird to me at the time. When Gibson buys a company it almost seems the kiss of death. Their alter-ego is Fender. How many more Strats or Les Paul signature models can they put out in the future? Or Jazz basses, P-basses, and Thunderbird signature models?

I wish the very best for Mesa, and I hope Gibson has enough brain cells left to leave them alone, or back them in their continued evolution in the amp world. The biggest thing I regret is not buying a rare one-off prototype Mesa Boogie D-350 on Reverb when I had a chance. That would have been a perfect jewel for my 112 bass cab! Good luck Andy on the future of Mesa. I hope you continue to advance forward in your visions.
 
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#238
DrMole said:
Gibson can now be a player in the amp business, I guess?
Trying to be optimistic.
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coreyfyfe said:
They have been in the past. Gibson owned the Orange brand for a time in the 90s and had something to do with Trace Elliot for a while on the aughts before selling it off again. Neither seemed to last long, maybe this time around will be different.
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Does anyone remember Lab Series Amps?



Thought so. :bored:
 
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#239
murph7489 said:
I have a 2013 Les paul custom (black) with the richlite fretboard and I gotta be honest..at first I was skeptical but I love it...
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Does it look like this, like the current one on their web page?
Richlite.jpg

I believe that the sound is not so bad, but IMHO to charge for a mix of glue and wooden remains that looks like that, at such huge prices, is a shame.
Not to be misled, I love Gibson and also own a Les Paul Custom but from an earlier period, and luckily, mine is made of a real wood. The things they’ve been doing in recent years I really can’t understand
 
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