(L-R) Doug West, Carlos Santana and Randy Smith in the Tone Lounge at MESA/Boogie (click to enlarge)
Our dear friend and original Artist Endorsee Carlos Santana recently visited the Home Of Tone and we captured some pictures to share and an inside look on the day.
The Tone Lounge with Snakeskin Mark Is, TransAtlantic, TA-30, Royal Atlantic RA-100 and Carlos’ fabled PRS (click to enlarge)
After watching a video of one of his 1973 Japanese concerts at Budokan, Carlos was inspired to play all his original Snakeskin Mark I’s and revisit the tone from them. While he’s never wandered far from Mark I’s with the re-issue’s he’s been using, he heard a sound on the video that struck a fond and familiar chord. He brought them to the factory to get them looked at before a tour and also to listen to the differences between them, Mark I Re-issues and some newer MESA amps. It was amazing to see the first five guitar amps (3 of his,2 of ours) built back in 1970 under the Boogie badge IN ONE ROOM and still sounding GREAT 43 years later! We were proud.
Carlos plays while Randy tweaks the controls and critical listening takes place (click to enlarge)
After a few great stories, conversation between Carlos, Randy and Doug West turned to the possible differences he heard in one Snakeskin (the one from the Budokan show) he liked slightly better than others. Carlos also had a blast playing through a few amps like the TA-30 & Royal Atlantic that he hadn’t played before. Lots of great A/B comparisons between his Snakeskin Mark I’s, Randy’s Snakeskin Mark I’s, Carlos’ main Mark I Re-issue and other amps in the Tone Lounge at the MESA Factory in Petaluma, CA. Carlos rocked the Royal Atlantic, but really connected with the TA-30 and insisted on taking it home for more experimentation. We’ve even heard a rumor it might be going on tour with him! Stay tuned for confirmation!
Randall Smith pondering the tones as Carlos trys out the Royal Atlantic (click to enlarge)
Randy explaining some of the differences between Carlos’ favorite Snakeskin Mark I and the TransAtlantic TA-30 (click to enlarge)
Randy keeps an eye on HOW Carlos is playing to achieve the tone he loves with his Snakeskin Mark I (click to enlarge)
Carlos explaining to Randy how the tone ‘feels’ when it’s right! (click to enlarge)
All in all, a great day filled with classic Tone and a great reunion hang with one of the true guitar greats – who just happens to hold a VERY special place in the MESA/Boogie story and in our hearts. Thanks Carlos – for the inspiration and for keeping it real all these years!
Randall Smith and Mike Bendinelli inspecting Carlos’ #1 Snakeskin Mark I (click to enlarge)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I bought my first Boogie in 1979. It was a lightly used cream 1977 Mark I with a 15″ Altec. I was a huge Carlos Santana fan and that Boogie tone with never-ending sustain was my dream come true.
I sold that old Mark I in 2012 for almost three times what I originally paid for it, and it was worth the price I asked and more. In 34 years it never failed or even hiccuped and was working as new when I sadly said goodbye to it.
My Boogie story has ended but my Mesa story is just beginning. I’m older now and wanted a lighter and more versatile amp so I replaced my Mark I with a 5:25 Express + and couldn’t be happier.
I have to say that just the simple fact that you include a high-quality cover and foot switch with each amp when all others charge extra for them should tell anyone paying attention what I know…that Mesa (ALL YOU GREAT PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE!) really cares about it’s customers and the quality of it’s products. Thank you SO much for that and for making my guitars over the years sound so amazing!
Your fan for life,
J.Tomisser
The Mark 1 was an essential part of Carlos’ amazing tone in 1973, but
the BIG missing piece in this equation is that he was playing a 1971 Gibson Les Paul with Bill Lawrence “Super Humbucking” Pickups, that were the same model pickups that Bill installed in the stock Gibson L6-S that Carlos went to later in 1974.
I saw Carlos many times over that period and he got the same great tone everywhere that you hear in the Budokan DVD and Lotus LP’s from 1973.
His tone at Winterland, with the acoustics assisted by the cavernous resin soaked walls and ceiling had to be the best I have ever heard him.
Why he stays with the synthetic, nasally sound of the PRS is beyond me. The SG was good, the Les Paul was supreme, the L6-S was excellent, the Yamaha SG 2000 was OK on the clean setting, his current setup sounds over done, over processed, mid heavy and bland. In the humble opionon of a mere peasant of course….that’s IMHOOAMPOC.
I’ll never forget my first Mark I (with 15″ Altec Lansing!), that my bassplayer brought back from a trip to California, way back in 1978. It was a dream come true. Since, I’ve stuck to Mesa, now playing a Lonestar Classic and loving the tone and feel of it.
I want MESA to be always in my life. Don’t want to play anything but BOOGIE. Thank You!
From Russia with respect.
Cheers from New Zealand!
I grew up as a kid in the 70s absolutely in awe of Carlos’ playing and tone.
It took me a long time to realize my dream of getting a Mesa, but, now approaching 50, I finally did a few months ago with the purchase of a Mini Rec. While it’s not a Mark series – and I am not a metal player – I find the Mini very versatile, and, call me crazy, but I’m able to coax a Mark I-like tone from it. One thing that is undeniably constant is the quality throughout the Mesa line.
I too finally have mesa gear! A Triaxis and a 2:90. I love that it is hand built here in the USA and the gear is plain awesome.
Thank you Mesa!
Thanks, Billy. Great rig and we appreciate the kind comment. We are proud to be able to continue building every product we make here in the one-and-only Mesa factory in Petaluma, CA.
Cheers,
Boogie
I just bought the walk about scoout and an awsume amp keep up the good work love it for a small amp you guys rock like me just different keep up the good work don’t ever stop love mesa
As a young player, I always dreamed of the day when I could afford a Mesa Boogie rig after having played on a couple that belonged to some friends who were better off financially. Finally, sometime around 1996 at the age of 25, I was finally financially stable enough to achieve this goal. You are proudly hand made in the U.S.A., the reigning king of tone, and your durability stands the test of time. Like Carlos, I too will never leave you Mesa Boogie.
Hi Andre -
Wow – so awesome! Thank you so much for this tremendous and kind comment.
Truly touching and we very much appreciate everyone in the Mesa family who finds their tone with the products we build.
Thank YOU!
Boogie