Chapter one of “What Makes a Boogie” kickstarts an exclusive new series about the amplifiers that changed the way we hear music forever
MESA/Boogie® has released the first chapter in a new four-part series entitled “What makes a Boogie,” charting how Randall Smith’s work repairing amplifiers at a small Bay Area guitar shop was the launch pad for one of the most iconic and influential amplifier companies in rock history.
This new series is much more than a brief history of MESA/Boogie—it’s an in-depth look at the “why” behind the build and design of electric guitar and bass amplifiers that changed the world, and a chance to meet the people who bring these amplifiers to life at this still very small boutique company.
In chapter one, Tone Lab Director Doug West shares the incredible story behind MESA/Boogie and Mesa Engineering. Beginning with the early days when Randall Smith’s modified amplifiers famously caught the attention of Carlos Santana, Doug reveals how the company went on to creating some of the most iconic guitar amps ever made, including the Mark™ Series and the legendary Dual Rectifier™.
We learn how Doug got the job working at MESA/Boogie by testing amplifiers and how proud he is of the team that helped shape the evolution of high-gain guitar amplification, defining generations of music from rock and metal to grunge, nu-metal and beyond. And if you’ve ever wondered where the MESA/Boogie brand name came from, spoiler alert: Carlos Santana inspired the name after plugging into one of Randall Smith’s early modified amplifiers and declaring, “That thing really boogies!”
The MESA/Boogie Mark IIC+ HRG features classic Boogie cosmetics
How MESA/Boogie changed the way we hear music forever
It’s no secret that the sound emanating from cranked MESA/Boogie amplifiers changed the way we hear music forever, helping bands like Metallica, Korn, Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park dial in their era-defining rock guitar sounds.
Music history buffs will love hearing Doug explain how the Mark IIC+ became one of the most legendary guitar amplifiers of all time, how the Dual Rectifier changed the sound of heavy music in the 1990s, and how MESA/Boogie still works directly with artists to push amplifier design forward. He also discusses the difference between the classic Boogie identity and the heavier Mesa Engineering era associated with nu-metal, and why the Mark VII represents the culmination of decades of MESA/Boogie innovation.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn about the history of MESA/Boogie amplifiers as told by the people who were actually there, this video series is for you. It isn’t just the story of how MESA/Boogie amplifiers are made; it’s the story of the innovation, passion, and the essential ingredients that helped make MESA/Boogie one of the most respected amplifier companies in the world. It’s real people, making real amplifiers, in a small, boutique factory, and you can watch it now right here by hitting the play button on the video above.
Shop the full range of MESA/Boogie amplifiers today.
