Gibson Acquires Mesa/Boogie

[AlexanderB]

Gibson also owned Cerwin-Vega! for a number of years, which seemed to do exactly nothing good for the brand. Home audio stuff became cheaper and worse, while the Pro Audio portfolio was greatly reduced.

I am not too hopeful about Mesa...

 

[Jim C]

I'm sticking with @agedhorse (Andy). He's proven time after time that he can keep innovating in a way that satisfies the needs of working bass players. I'm assuming he'll be fine right where he is. (Mainly because he says he will, and I trust him.) Probably nothing to see here. But even if the worst happens, Andy will land on his feet. And I'll probably buy whatever he has up his sleeve when he gets there.

Funny, I've been thinking about the employees and culture more than ownership.
I believe that quality products can be built in China assuming good design, parts specs, and project management.
Who knows if Gibson's interest is to lower Mesa pricing? Surely Mesa has never let prices affect manufacturing or features.
OTOH, I am afraid that some of the creative energy and/or nearly unlimited number of products from Mesa may be limited in the future.

What if every post on TB by Andy had to be approved first?
Ever work for a big stodgy company?

 

[p12bassnut]

IDK. I guess time will tell the tale.......

 

[baileyboy]

I can't see any company objecting to doing something that is good for both the players and the industry as a whole, as all of these companies really are customer service oriented at their core.

Theoretically speaking, true. In practice? Time will tell...

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I can only see Gibson forcing production over seas and cutting budget, quality and parts. This is not gonna happen over night but it is almost inevitable based on their prior business practices. The only positives I can see potentially coming from this merger are short term for things being more available at big box and european markets but this is gonna only bring the quality down in the long term.

 

[Phlipper]

Sad to hear this. I gigged F100 half stacks and F50 combos for years. Just sold my last my pair of F50s when I retired two years ago. Like the old Peavey Classics, you could mistreat the hellouta them and they were bullet proof. Five years from now they'll shut Mesa down cuz quality will be so bad you can't ask big money for them anymore. And the older models will inflate in price exponentially.

The beginning of the end of a once-great amp mfr.

 

[Topkat13]

When acquisitions like this occur the acquiring party typically looks to capitalize on the name of the company acquired. But unfortunately what typically follows is an effort to take cost out of the product itself...usually labor and or components. We’ve all seen it happen and I hope this isn’t the case with M.B. and Aguilar. If I owned gear by either I would hold on to it.

 

[five7]

I have owned more Mesa amps than any other brand, love them. Feel like I just got sucker punched, damn.

 

[_Obra_]

Just please don't make the Mesa amps from Richlite...please

 

[4stringmf]

Will Mesa be leaving Petaluma?

 

[Phlipper]

I have owned more Mesa amps than any other brand, love them. Feel like I just got sucker punched, damn.

I've owned and regularly gigged prolly 7 Mesa F series amps and at least 10 Peavey Classics over the years. This is similar to Hartley moving the tube amps to China. It won't end well.

I understand the economics. I get it. I was a Mfg Engineer my first five years out of college. But dayum.

Hadn't heard about Aguilar.

 

[jdthebassman]

Once again another brand gibson will run into the ground

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Heres my big concern how many large amp company are made in America anymore? If they do move production theres only a handful of smaller builders in comparison left and most are no where close to affordable enough for your average musician to buy. If mesa do move production eventually our us made option is gonna be even smaller wich scares me

 

[mmbongo]

In other news you may have missed:

Ibanez has purchased Wal. Wal basses will now start at $269.
Fender has acquired AudioKinesis. Get em while you can.
And Behringer now owns Bergantino! Get ready for Behrintino!





I kid! I kid!

 

[edro]

Well, maybe if the head shed of Gib stays out of the head shed of Mesa, it'll work...

Maybe with Levi running Gib now, it might be the end of the Great Gib Kiss of Death.....

I still have my Legend A30 cane and oak amp. I think they got the GGKoD back in the 80's....

 

[wmhill]

Well, there goes a perfectly good amp down the crapper

 

[edro]

Maybe not... Levi ain't HankieJ..... Thank the lort....

 

[DJ Bebop]

Id bet he doesnt really have much to add to the conversation as of yet, and is likely bound to radio silence for the time being. It's a tough spot to be in, I'm sure. Let's hope for his sake, and ours, this isn't deja vu.

I am curious as to if this affects his ability to maintain such amazing service for GB products... My logic being that it is technically a major competitor's property and supply chain?

Official Mesa Boogie Subway Series Club

 

[_Obra_]

The Richlite Empire

 

[Matt Dean]

Curious... was a selling price ever disclosed?