Mesa Boogie: The Short History, featuring John Cordy and Fluff

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The story of Mesa Boogie is both familiar and yet inspiring. Like many others, Randall Smith took his aptitude for electronics and mixed it with his love for music to create a company. The story took many turns he never imagined and many that I had never known before doing my research.
Thanks for watching.
Keith

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[dezyote]

I worked at Mesa/Boogie 1989-92. I was final check /quality control, head of packing . That little card comes with every Boogie, that's signed off by someone doing quality control on down the line, I was the last guy to sign before we boxed them up . I was there for the Mark 1 reissue, the Mark 4, and the Rectifier, these were all in heavy production when I was there . It was fun times . I was in a band called Colorfinger at the time (it later turned into Everclear, I was the drummer) this is how cool Boogie was, when we went on tour while I was working there they gave all the guys in the band free amps of their choice to use while we toured .

[aldito]

O.K. we are going way back. 1980-1981. Something like that. My older brother had just got a Mesa Boogie S.O.B. 1x12 combo. And he compared it to his Marshall stack. It was just as loud or louder than the Marshall stack. I was in the local stationary store a few days later and was reading a guitar and amp magazine. On the cover. "Interview with Randall Smith of Mesa Boogie". One of the first questions the interviewer asked him was "Why are your amps so loud?". Randall Smith answers "Because I don't lie on my specs". "If I tell you that you are getting 60 watts - you are getting a full 60 watts!"

[jimbeaux]

As a teenager, I bought several amps, and then returned them. In desperation, I saved up all my summer job money and sent it to Petaluma for a Mark 2B. It finally arrived, when I plugged in, my hair stood on end. I still have it. Recapped it during quarantine. It still sounds awesome.

[johnnathancordy]

They told me my addiction to Mesa Boogies was frivolous, unwise and also taking up too much space in the house, but now who is laughing?

[bigskyplanet]

Back in the early 70’s I aquired a boogie schematic but being broke I decided to build my own and started collecting parts . I bent my own chassis and bought a couple punches for the tube holes. My big problem was getting the output, power, and choke transformers !!! So I wrote boogie and told them what I was doing and would they sell me the transformers. They said they would and gave me a very reasonable price which I jumped on . I received the transformers and in a couple weeks had my own home built boogie in a small footprint open back enclosure I built out of plywood. It worked and sounded great . I never forgot the favor they gave me and now own a bunch of boogies as payback !!!! A great amp and a great company !!!

[christopherweise]

Never stop what you're doing Keith. I've learned so much from this channel. You're the best.

[RickBeato]

Excellent Hypes! There still one Mesa I need it get. I’m looking for it right now :)

[abitoutofsorts]

Any of the Mesa gear I’ve tried or owned could be summed up in a single word: stellar.

[RJRonquillo]

Excellent video Keith! My first real tube amp was a Mark IV, that I got when I was 13. It stayed with me well into my 30's - what a workhorse. A few years ago I got to tour the factory in Petaluma with some friends, and even got a peek into Randall's workshop. Twas a great experience.

[veergujral]

Many YouTubers garner the viewer’s attention whereas you sir, have garnered the viewer’s respect. Please keep up the fantastic work!

[heatnationwpb]

My Mesa Boogie "ha-ha!" moment was James Hetfield's MONSTER tone on the "And Justice for All" tour. It just ripped my young head off and I became obsessed with chasing that tone. So nasty on its own when "Blackened" began, but absolutely amazing in the mix when the rest of the band kicked in.

To this day the Dual Rec is still my all-time favorite amplifier. Ever.

[tcollacott]

I got a Mark V in 2010 and I’m still finding “sweet spots” in all the modes, amazing amp👌

[JoelBass]

As a bass player, the Mesa Boogie Subway line is absolutely outstanding.

[ryansnydercg]

Today, I’m going to be productive…

*YouTube notification of the Mesa Boogie Short History*

Annnndddd productivity is gone

[briansilcox]

My first guitar teacher had a Boogie in 1976, living in the bay area. I purchased a '68 Princeton Reverb/ JBL D-110 on his recommendation from the Prune Music shop in Mill Valley, where they had some amazing tech setting up the amps for a lot of local players.

[jamesduckworth]

Just wow! I knew nothing of these amps. Now I want 7 of them. Thanks Keith!

[buzzawuzza]

There are no videos as good as yours on vintage gear, nobody dives as deep into what you really need to know in only a half and hour. Well done as always.

[garrettboomerbender]

What I love about Mesa is the sheer versatility of tones you get from one amp.

[MiguelSantos-qmoz]

The Mesa Mark V has been my only amp for the past 11 years. It does everything really well. As we evolve as musicians, our tastes may shift and change, and it is an amazing feeling to be able to discover new tones from a single amp that has been a companion for so long. Thank you again for all of your great well-researched content. You love what you do and it shows.

[gersonalves]

One of the Best Five watt World....you should make a Marshall Edition like this one...