Gibson Acquires Mesa/Boogie

[nutdog]

 

[Horseflesh]

A buyout of a beloved brand always makes for mixed feelings.

I am TRULY happy for the success of the founders and I hope they and the staff make a ton of money. How can I blame anyone for selling out? I'd take the payday too. You don't start a company to avoid success.

Simultaneously, as soon as a little company I like becomes part of a big company, it loses something. I like supporting small shops that make awesome stuff. Once they are part of a giant company the charm is gone. Even if the products remain the same, I'd like to support a smaller competitor if they met my needs--and help them on their way up.

Anyway, sincere congrats to all the recent buyout folks. I hope you can keep doing things how you like to do 'em.

 

[Madhouse27]

Epiphone seems to be firing on all cylinders lately. Lots of cool new editions and colors, the “ inspired by Gibson” line and (after a ten year drought) really starting to show some dedication to the left-handed crowd. From what I see, the parent company seems to have gotten themselves on a better track.

 

[Element Zero]

Man... y’all waaaaay too pessimistic.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I'll wait and see... Mesa makes great stuff, has a huge following, and as far as I know is profitable. Gibson may simply increase distribution of a good thing. Gibson is in the music biz, so I see it as different from CBS buying Fender or AMF buying Harley Davidson.

Stanley Tools bought DeWalt, Craftsman, and Porter Cable a few years ago and positioned DeWalt as their premium tool line. Maybe Mesa will be positioned as Gibson's premium amplifier?

FWIW, I purchased an Epiphone 335 style guitar last year that knocked my socks off.

Time will tell...

 

[Geri O]

Nothing I read will ever change the reality of what Gibson is and how they operate.
Facts are facts.

Sure they are. Just totally disregard and disrespect the insight of one of the inside players that posts regularly here. Glad you came forward with the facts.....

 

[Geri O]

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.

Loving the adult responses such as this. Thanx, @two fingers ...

 

[Geri O]

I've noticed a major decline in Mesa over the past 20 years. As such, I don't really care what happens to them. They were already well on their way to the crapper.

Elaborate. Or get off the pot....

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I don't use Gibson or Mesa/Boogie.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I remember how pre-CBS Fender gear was prized; I hope we needn't worry about post-Gibson Mesa/Boogie products.

 

[sonic 7]

Sadowsky, Spector, Aguilar, Mesa. All had one thing in common. They were relatively small companies owned and run by their original founders. I’m not sure about Dave Boonshoft but these guys are all over 70 years old and can’t really do it anymore. It was only a matter of time for the torch to be passed.

 

[slagheap]

I'm very glad to see some of the folks in Petaluma make bank - it's well earned! Disaster for the rest of us and let's not kid ourselves otherwise. Life goes, on however. I wonder if old bandmate John Solomon still has that Prune Special he used to bring to our Berkeley rehearsals?

 

[agedhorse]

Man... y’all waaaaay too pessimistic.

Agreed, or there's a serious inability to comprehend what I posted earlier.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I don't use Gibson or Mesa/Boogie.

Good thing to share...

 

[12BitSlab]

I’m retired now. Earlier in my career I was involved with 210 acquisitions over a 10 period. The vast majority of them turned out very good for both sides and for the customers.

Wasn’t it Mark Twain who said, “The reports of my early demise are greatly exaggerated!”?

 

[SirMjac28]

I have posted a little more info on the "Subway" thread, let's read through this before assuming that the sky is indeed falling and that we all need to start crying in our cornflakes prematurely.

Too late Sir I just know Gibson is going to fud this up and move some production offshore I expect a Mesa budget line in the near future how come they couldn't buy Bugera?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I remember how pre-CBS Fender gear was prized; I hope we needn't worry about post-Gibson Mesa/Boogie products.

As a guy who started playing in 1976, a lot of that was fiction and nostalgia.

It was great if you owned a pre-CBS instrument, but a lot of it was hype. I would happily sell a pre-CBS instrument for a premium price, but I would also play a post-CBS instrument if it played well.

 

[ole Jason]

Too late Sir I just know Gibson is going to fud this up and move some production offshore I expect a Mesa budget line in the near future how come they couldn't buy Bugera?

Has Gibson ever made Gibson-branded guitars or amps in Asia? I thought they stuck with Epiphone branding for any Asian gear, outside of accessories, but haven't followed too closely.

 

[Smooth Operator]

I'm staying optimistic about this deal. Mesa is my favorite Amp company. As a kid I dreamed of owning a Mesa amp after trying out a Walkabout Russo's Music shop in NJ but I couldn't afford one(come from a poor family). I took a few yrs off from bass in my early 20s after losing my passion for it and falling into years of depression. I joined TB couple yrs ago and after reading about the WD800 on the forums here and seeing how involved Andy is in the community, I had to try it out and hear it for myself. Back to Russo's I went. Getting a WD800 and Subway 15 made me fall in love with playing bass again. Started 2 music projects last yr, Pop/Rock cover band and an original project. Excited to get back into gigging. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford their new Subway amps and cabs and they've never let me down.
Anyway I hope they retain their talented employees and continue to be one of the best Amp manufacturers the world.

 

[SirMjac28]

Has Gibson ever made Gibson-branded guitars or amps in Asia? I thought they stuck with Epiphone branding for any Asian gear, outside of accessories, but haven't followed too closely.

I don't think they've made guitar or bass amps for decades but I'm telling you there is no way they don't stick their noses in and ruin Mesa taking it from boutique to mass-produced junk then dump the company after making it a dumpster fire.