Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Guitar Center dumping Mesa or new models?
- Thread starter Britbonic
- Start date
I would imagine that the W/A sells circles around the suitcase. But, Phil Jones does have his rabid cult following... 
I'm not refuting that it sounds very nice, I've just never been into the price point. Then again, I'm poor and uncivilized...
I can't say that I'd ever buy one new either, I got mine for $500. It's certainly worth much more than that though...
Okay, for $500, you done scored admirably!
Maybe I should clarify...if I found a good deal on used Mesa gear, I'd be on it like stink on poo
Maybe I should clarify...if I found a good deal on used Mesa gear, I'd be on it like stink on poo
Just out of curiosity, what Mesa gear have you played thru???
Although there is no denying that Mesa gear is a bit pricey, but I wouldn't say it's "stupidly expensive for what you get" - when you consider that it's US made, comes with a fully transferrable warranty, some of the best customer service in the biz, is extremely reliable and durable, and is on par with top names like Aguilar, Bergantino, EBS, etc... Consider how much the US made Ampeg Heritage line costs, for another example... If you want pro-level gear that's made in the USA, it's going to cost - that's all there is to it...
- georgestrings
I can vouch for the Mesa customer service. I am fortunate enough to live a 30 min drive from the Mesa Boogie retail store in Hollywood, CA. This is right across the street from one of the largest GC stores in their chain.
The feel, experience, knowledge, and care between the sales guys and the customer at each of these two locations is NIGHT and DAY.
The feel, experience, knowledge, and care between the sales guys and the customer at each of these two locations is NIGHT and DAY.
Maybe I spoke too loosely, I'm crabby when I wake up. I played a W/A 12 combo. The tone was there, for sure. But, I just walked away feeling like a custom "super-15" plus a 7PRO would be more MY way of spending that kind of scratch. To each their own, though! I won't be disparaging anyone for using what makes them happy.
If this was a "boutique bass" thread, I would have already been flamed out of the thread...."those" guys get so incensed when you even imply that even a single penny of their $6k fanned-fret 7 string single cut ultra-rare tonewood bass wasn't the best investment ever known to humanity
If this was a "boutique bass" thread, I would have already been flamed out of the thread...."those" guys get so incensed when you even imply that even a single penny of their $6k fanned-fret 7 string single cut ultra-rare tonewood bass wasn't the best investment ever known to humanity
Yes Mesa is USA made and of good quality. But compared to fender USA or Peavey USA etc I think it's just easier to sell those type of brands than Mesa
These are the things that "try men's souls"......
I remember what? 5 or 6 years ago that Rickenbacker issued a near word-for-word Press Release stating the same reasons for dropping GC from their lists of dealers. Now, they are back once again.
Sometimes I just throw my hands up and say "beats me"!!!!
I have to say, I always thought Mesa gear seemed a little out of place in a GC.
GC is not as trashy as Wal-Mart and from what I can tell, treat their employees better... but in terms of how they do business with their suppliers (and locally owned competitors), there are definite parallels.
The only way I would ever be able to afford Mesa gear is used anyway so this whole thing is pretty much a meh to me.
GC is not as trashy as Wal-Mart and from what I can tell, treat their employees better... but in terms of how they do business with their suppliers (and locally owned competitors), there are definite parallels.
The only way I would ever be able to afford Mesa gear is used anyway so this whole thing is pretty much a meh to me.
An article I just read on GC says they don't pay very well at all, as low as WalMart, even for dept. managers. While I don't consider GC as the biggest evil on the planet and do shop there sometimes, it's Bain Capital, and their leveraged buyout business model is out there for all to see.
I'm not really sure what the deal with GC is - other than Bain Capital is propping them up now. They have been in dire straits (financially) for several years. At some point the return on the investment isn't worth allowing them to continue.
They really aren't that much different from any other entity that is slowly dying. Failure to meet invoices, slow-pay for vendors, etc, etc. It is the same story.
Remember MARS??
Unfortunately, they have left a wake of closed Mom and Pop stores who were doing relatively well before GC came "barging in"......but such is life....
The big difference is Bain made their money from leveraging it with other people's money that they won't have to pay back, and they really don't care one way or another whether it succeeds or fails because they're all still getting paid.
I drove to the MARS in San Antonio a long time with my band. Upon walking out to the parking lot, the drummer remarked, "this is a beginner's wet dream."
My local GC is not that far off now. The only overpriced stuff is the wall of Gibson by the CS desk to attract the local military buyers with excess bonus $$.
For the record, I've never seen one piece of Mesa gear come through here, used or otherwise.
Exactly. However, when "leveraged money" ceases to return a profit - it is gone. There WILL come a point in time (probably sooner, rather than later) when Bain has had enough.
Nor have I. I see you're from Killeen. I could tell you a funny assed story that happened to the band I was in back in the late 70s about that town on a Friday night......I've never seen so many hookers in all my life!..
