Various Mark I amps circa 1978 in the original Lagunitas shop (click to enlarge)
MESA/Boogie Founder, Designer and President, Randall Smith, explains some of the more technical details behind the birth of all-tube, analog, cascading high-gain as created in the, now classic, Mesa/Boogie Mark I.
With the birth of cascading preamp gain in the Mark I in 1970… and with help of an up-and-coming guitarist at the time by the name of Carlos Santana (who finally found his signature tone in that amp), and a groundbreaking album called Abraxas, a great phenomenon was born. The story behind cascading preamp gain is just one of the many innovations brought to the table of amplified rock-n-roll history introduced by Mesa. It’s also a story shared by the man who actually started the ’boutique amp’ concept. Randall Smith continues, to this day, proudly designing some of the world’s most articulate, wide-ranging, inspiring and reliable vacuum-tube electric instrument amplifiers.
From Randall and all of us at Mesa to all of you who make up the worldwide family of Boogie players – thank you for your trust in us as a company and with something as important as your music and your tone. We wish you all the best in your musical pursuits.
Randall Smith tech’ing a Mark I Super Sixty with Reverb back in the day circa early 70s (click to enlarge)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What is the difference between open back and closed back combo amps?
Hi Jack –
Open back cabs and combos offer a more balanced range of lows, mids and highs and because of the open back, especially in clean sounds, they produce more sparkle, shimmer and presence frequencies.
Closed-back cabinets and combos generate more bass response and punch than open back cabs. It’s still an overall balanced sound but the greater punch and bass frequencies cancels out some of the high end sparkle due to the bass frequencies ‘standing out’ more than other frequencies.
People playing heavier rock, metal and distorted styles of music usually lean toward closed back cabs. Players who play mostly clean sounds, traditional blues, roots or other styles not involving tons of gain tend to prefer open back sounds.
That all said, open back cabs have plenty of low end and closed back cabs have plenty of brightness, the two just emphasize certain things.
Hope this helps and great question.
Boogie
I would like to see an episode dedicated to Mesa Bass Amps, something which I don’t think gets anywhere near the attention they deserve. Love my 400 Plus and it is a glorious thing at volume.
Thanks, Tom.
There will be some new bass amp material coming down the ramp very soon. Not 400+ specific but something just as good as your 400+. Glad you dig it and thanks for the kind words.
Cheers,
Boogie
My Son of Boogie that I bought in 1981 is still crankin’ today.
Traded my SOB for an Express when they first came out a few years ago. I freakin’ love it!