Gibson Acquires Mesa/Boogie

[4andnomore]

They got into pedals and preamps.

I was thinking more along the lines of an affordable amp.

 

[4andnomore]

They never replaced the Subway combo which was puzzling.. that was such a great amp.

It sure was.

 

[4andnomore]

Sad. Gibson destroys everything they touch.

You mean like the Les Paul, Firebird, Thunderbird< and SG?

 

[4stringmf]

Baloney! More affordable Mesa gear? Many of our bass amps went for well over a grand 20 years ago! Given inflation as one example, what is available UNDER or at a grand now, is affordable in my opinion.

 

[4andnomore]

I believe Gibson's intentions with Mesa are good.

FWIW it's common practice for large companies to acquire and kill of small disruptive brands, or kill of products that prove to be unprofitable (how much demand is there for headless basses, really?). Its just business.

 

[sleepingEB0]

Actually it’s on my to do list, still a great track car, if you can find one that wasn’t already someone else’s track car!

A friend picked up a mint one, very cool.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Ampeg exists now because of be acquired buy larger companies.

If they were not (and they have been passed around quite a bit) the last 30+ years of Ampeg would not exist, as well as the parts supplied that keep the old SVT's and V4B's going.
The ability to purchase new versions of these great amps with a warranty is also only possible because they are still around as well as great new amps and cabs.

Like them or not, Ampeg is one of the biggest bass amp companies around and they owe that to being bought out buy "Larger Companies".

Likewise, anyone with an Ampeg product that says, Magnavox, SLM, Loud, or Yamaha on the back has an acquisition to thank.

 

[Bent77]

Ampeg exists now because of be acquired buy larger companies.

If they were not (and they have been passed around quite a bit) the last 30+ years of Ampeg would not exist, as well as the parts supplied that keep the old SVT's and V4B's going.
The ability to purchase new versions of these great amps with a warranty is also only possible because they are still around as well as great new amps and cabs.

Like them or not, Ampeg is one of the biggest bass amp companies around and they owe that to being bought out buy "Larger Companies".

Likewise, anyone with an Ampeg product that says, Magnavox, SLM, Loud, or Yamaha on the back has an acquisition to thank.

Yep, and while their road wasn’t always perfect, they’re in a really good place right now

Nothing wrong with hoping the new management at Gibson sees Yamaha buying Ampeg as an example

 

[Element Zero]

Well I’ve had enough of this thread. It’s been, enlightening to say the least.

 

[steelbed45]

Well I’ve had enough of this thread. It’s been, enlightening to say the least.

Makes sense, since we really won't see the outcome of all of this for years.

Me too!

 

[Jeff Scott]

...with naming referring to Mesa history (Boogie Engineering? Petaluma Rectifier?).

I'm thinking a bass specific line of amps called Outstanding in his Field.

 

[DAcat]

I guess I was reading this, because I love my Mesa Amps and cabs and was hoping to learn something but after reading 17 pages I think I’ll go back to living in the moment and hope for the best and not lose sleep over it. I wish the new owners the best and that they continue to make and repair Mesa Boogie as long as possible.
Peace,
DAcat

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Gibson is under new management, one that seems to be less greedy...

Anyone remember the Mark Agnesi "Play Authentic" dealio?

I'm embarrassed to mention my 924... a VW in most air-cooled Porsche owners' eyes.

Anyone remember the 914?

 

[Matt Dean]

Ampeg exists now because of be acquired buy larger companies.

If they were not (and they have been passed around quite a bit) the last 30+ years of Ampeg would not exist, as well as the parts supplied that keep the old SVT's and V4B's going.
The ability to purchase new versions of these great amps with a warranty is also only possible because they are still around as well as great new amps and cabs.

Like them or not, Ampeg is one of the biggest bass amp companies around and they owe that to being bought out buy "Larger Companies".

Likewise, anyone with an Ampeg product that says, Magnavox, SLM, Loud, or Yamaha on the back has an acquisition to thank.

Cross posting: this post is helping me warm up to the sale of Mesa/Boogie to Gibson.

 

[CosmicRay]

Original series Star Trek reference from Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk.

I had a hunch it might have been that. I do recall McCoy making that statement more than once. One would think future medicine to have better outcomes.

 

[ihixulu]

Anyone remember the Mark Agnesi "Play Authentic" dealio?

Wow, I didn't know about that, thank you for bringing that to my attention. After doing some research on it, it seems Curleigh muzzled Agnesi (the debacle led them to take down their entire YouTube presence for a bit) and backed off on litigation to a large degree. So yeah, missteps, not angels, and so on, but apparently responsive to criticism. And I'm not sure that protecting trademark rights in and of itself is an act of greed.

That Agnesi guy seems quite a something...

 

[Passinwind]

Anyone remember the Mark Agnesi "Play Authentic" dealio?
Anyone remember the 914?

Yep, I had a friend with one of the crazoid 6 cylinder ones.

 

[mikeswals]

(how much demand is there for headless basses, really?). Its just business.

Really?
Considering Status Graphite has always sold well and is still around. Kubicki existed until Phil died, and is now continuing. Carvin/Keisel has headless available. Ibanez offers headless in both std fret and fanned fret models. And now Yamaha is going to make a headless.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I'm not sure that protecting trademark rights in and of itself is an act of greed.

They were going after designs they never trademarked, or didn't do so until the horses had long left the barn many decades before. And, long (decades is many cases) after those companies had been producing product with no one caring. Not until after Henry was out of there (the new guys smelling blood).

 

[getBAK]

Ampeg exists now because of be acquired buy larger companies.

Here's the difference:
1) Yamaha doesn't have a long track record of destroying acquisitions
2) Yamaha, across all of its product lines, has (probably) the best QC of any large company in the world