I’d say WTF, but I wasn’t really surprised when I stumbled across this today…
Sad.
Sad.
Randall Smith Told To Boogie Off By Gibson?…
- Thread starter Thatbastarddon
- Start date
GrumpySquatch
Well-Known Member
Inevitable. The Gibson acquisition was destined to change Boogie for the worse.
An article with Randall and Rayven Smith from 1979. I have several pages of documentation from that era I scanned recently.
An article with Randall and Rayven Smith from 1979. I have several pages of documentation from that era I scanned recently.
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GrumpySquatch
Well-Known Member
The 1981 Mark II-B I have was likely worked on by Randall. Custom ordered factory direct. There were only two music stores in the US who had a limited stock of their amps at that time; Manny's in NYC and Prune Music in San Francisco iirc.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
My analysis indicates industry is shifting from tube amps to digital amplifiers.
Now everybody has to buy a digital amplifier, or that's what they are thinking. Those units are obviously manufactured in China.
If there "was" a guy, who designs fresh new tube amps everybody would buy, this wouldn't be happening.
a. it's unfortunate because USA needs more manufacturers; not less.
b. Mesa Boogie will move to China....or it will never make enough to stay in business.
c. Is Gibson Name Badge now in place of Boogie name badge? Are Mesa amplifiers morphing into Gibson amplifiers?
The innovator of cascading gain, a staple for modern music, has been put out to pasture...
It's a sign of the times, I reckon...
It's a sign of the times, I reckon...
BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
Send all the Recto's, 5150's & JCM 800's right on over to my place.
CoyotesGator
Ambassador of Reptilian Rum Bar Affairs
By early 1984 Rockin' Robin' in Houston had them. I almost bought a wicker grill.
Seamus OReally
Well-Known Member
This is probably the truth, or closer to it. When your company gets bought out, management is usually contracted to stay, for two years or so, during the transition. Most owners are happy to let go of the reins at the end of that contract. If Smith was making retirement noises when Gibson bought Mesa, then that’s probably what he’s doing.Gots to wait for the truth to filter through the crap! I was under the impression that Randall Smith was contemplating retirement 3 to 4 years after the buy out when the deal went down in '21...
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
eclecticsynergy
Ambassador of Electric Synergy
Let's not forget, Randy also invented channel switching. Separate master for a high gain mode was his idea.The innovator of cascading gain, a staple for modern music, has been put out to pasture...
It's a sign of the times, I reckon...
GrumpySquatch
Well-Known Member
Ahyup.
BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
So my dream amp would be called
Bassman JTM Superlead 800 SLO Recto 5150
Bassman JTM Superlead 800 SLO Recto 5150
ibmorjamn
Ambassador of Moar Jammin
Yeah, not surprised either.
Many builders before suffered the same thing and started other companies. Hopefully he got enough money out of selling his company to not worry about it.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
Channel switch was invented by Acoustic.
Foot switch and separate boost control.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
Well actually cascading comes from tube phonograph preamps.The innovator of cascading gain, a staple for modern music, has been put out to pasture...
It's a sign of the times, I reckon...
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
I still don’t think that Randall Smith was fired. I’m wondering who the lucky one will be to get a one on one interview with Mr Smith, and how much would he disclose?
www.guitarworld.com
“Randy has completed his time with Gibson as Master Designer and Pioneer of Mesa/Boogie”: Gibson confirms the departure of legendary amp designer and Mesa/Boogie founder Randall Smith
The influential boutique amp builder joined the Gibson family of brands following the firm's acquisition of Mesa/Boogie in 2021