Randall, you are a fascinating man! I love your stories. It doesn’t matter if it’s architecture fighting with the local city officials, building amps or building race cars. It’s all magic to me. Do an excellent job, but there is no surprise here. Everything you do is based in creativity and perseverance, with an end result of excellence.
Yeah the Race stories are Fun. Those Crazy 60's and 70's Formula,Le Mans,Indy and endurance race cars and their "cutting edge" engineering were just amazing in every detail. Thanks for Sharing. My favorite car as Spectator not a driver would be the early 70's ELF Team Tyrrell models with the Signature Blue. Although there were plenty of other spectacular Vehicles as well.
Hello Randy ,I love these videos you're posting. I just wanted to share with you that the Boogie you made for me back in June of 1979 has been with me all of my life since then. My name is Francisco Ruia and I have a 100 watt Mark IIA combo with a 15" EV speaker. After 45 years the Fetron Device started sounding funny so I replaced it with a 12AX7. It's my belief that since that circuitry has never been used it makes my amp sound brand new. I've learned to efortlessly switch between the 2 modes and the amp sounds wonderful, Thank you for making my life better.
I love those videos... Imagine if we could have videos of Leo Fender or Jim Marshall talking about their amps stories, their hobbies, etc... It's not everyday we can get stories directly from the founder and designer, regardless if it's for guitars or amps. That's why I love videos from Randall Smith, Paul Smith, Mike Zaire, Peter Diezel, Mike Soldano, etc..; so many names that marked the history of electric guitar and music...
Randy, thank you for all of this. I began my Boogie journey reading back issues of Guitar World from the library in my highschool in the 1990s. I was able to buy a triple and a traditional 4x12 in the very early 2000s which I still own today. I always loved reading the Mesa story in the catalogs you put out and this definitely feels like a continuation of those. Regardless of how it ended, I wish you a comfortable and fulfilling retirement and keep this RUclips journey going as long as you want because it's so awesome to hear you tell all these stories, be it about amps, racing, or about cool experiences you've had dealing with all the oddball rockers and rollers you've crossed paths with. Cheers from Maine!
Great world of outlaws story! My cousin was Tim Green who raced for world of outlaws out of Knoxville Tennessee. He got his start with go carts as teenager
I don’t know how I got this way, but I saw the intro to Mesa Boogie and I’ve made it through every last video in less than 24 hours. I’ve been in music, performing and later production for 40 years. I knew Mesa Boogie and would request them when I provided backline for bands and festivals. I knew nothing about the company before now. I just knew what great amps they were. I hope you’re enjoying sharing all of these stories, because they’re priceless. Now that I know the provenance, I’m even more invested. Thanks for sharing them. I hope to hear more
WELP, now I can say I know what a bug eyed sprite is! ( I had to look one up! to realize, i think i''ve seen maybe two of those my whole life! ) man this was great.
I have owned the best blues amp ever made for almost 30 years, thanks to Mr Smith. My Blue Angel had a hard life for its first 5 years gigging weekly - much slower the last 24. Works like a champ and has only ever had to have a resistor replaced and is just now going through a recap.
Thanks. Got to know Sir Fitzroy McLean when in Scotland and will (likely) recount a few of HIS great stories in WW II. Amazing man - - and the model for 007 by his friend Ian Fleming.
Mr. Smith!! Greetigs from Nevada City! Mitch(y) and Doug(y), Charlie were the first band i was in. The Washington Dogtones. I worked in cab assembly with Chumley around 92-95. Good days. Great to hear the "inside baseball" stories. Glad you're well. Keep em coming! Peace.
Fantastic - greatly enjoyed this session with a cup of coffee after milling about the house and fixing stuff today. On another note, there has always been a voice in my head saying “Randall Smith never dicked around with these overwhelming enterprise PCB layout software packages with all the insidious pricing models….and he built Mesa/Boogie, therefore my free little layout software will be just fine for me…” 😂
Love the stories! I was floored when you started talking about Gil Nichol. If it's the same Gil Nichol that founded Far Niente Winery up in the Napa Valley, it turns out there's a six degrees of separation thing going on. My mom was a cousin of his first wife, so he's a shirt tail relative, as the saying goes. Also turns out that in my restaurant days back in the mid 80's, I hung out with the contractor that did all the restoration for the interior of the winery. I met Gil once or twice, along with who I think is his second wife (or GF?). Anyway both were very charming, very nice. I'd love to know more about him. Thanks again for the great stories!
Small World! Very cool - - Beth was second wife, I didn't know first one but know the Winery and you did a helluva job on that jewell!! Stay tuned: There are LOTS of stories about racing with Gil!! He WAS a legend!
I'll tell you, these are fascinating and wonderful stories and reminiscences on your extraordinary career. Thank you so much for sharing. Now this might be a bit of a departure from your focus on your music industry products successes and history but I was wondering, where did your developing the Mesa Baron Stereo Amplifier come in to the picture? I happened to pick one of these units up from a guy wo had overdriven the uint, smoked it to a degree and when I was trying to get this thing repaired was advised by one of the local service guys here in Sacramento to call Mesa in Petaluma. Did so and talked to a couple of folks who were more than happy to troubleshoot and was able to get the amp repaired and back in service. Not only do I get to enjoy a great stereo amp but I can keep the living/music room warm in the winter... But I am certainly interested in the history of how the development of that beast fit in to your larger business model.
Thanks for sharing. I'm not a race guy but sounds fun. I've owned and own many Mesa amps. For me my favourite is the HeartBreaker and MK V. Would love to hear any stories about the HeartBreaker because I haven't heard too much about it compared to Mark and recto. Thanks for sharing again, love your DIY attitude. 73 from Australia
I've really enjoyed these videos Randall, very interesting tales and well told - I quite like the digressions! Two of my favourite guitarists used some of your amps; Mick Jones from The Clash and Porl Thompson from The Cure both used some Mark series (and I think Porl used some Blue Angels at some point as well). I look forward to the next installments.
Great video's your putting out here on YT,Randall.Great stories and annectdotes about the early days of Mesa Boogie. I've owned different Boogies,like a 400+ and 2 Buster 210M amps,one of the best bass tube amps,ever designed and builded,but the fixed bias is a kind of problem: to retube these amps with new powertubes is a hard time,cause the matched sets of Boogie 6L6 tubes,are very hard to get and quite expensive. So,my Buster amps,were modified by a tech,to bias each powertube seperatly to put in here,what ever i liked to. To guitar tube amps,i'm hooked to Rivera Amps,especially the M and TBR Series,but also the Bonehead and Knucklehead Series.
@RandallSmith2G but you haven't heard an Aguilar DB 680 with a Rivera TBR 5 stereo poweramp in bi-amp use.Used cabs 2 Ampeg SVT 50 DL,or Urei 813B,both with Isovent installed 15" woofers.Sounds better than a sportscar.
Hi Randall I love your amps. I own a tremoverb which I bought new in Monterey many years ago. I’m too old now to gig with (too heavy) so it sits in my music room patiently waiting for me to crank it up. My question is why was it discontinued?
Hi Randall I have earlier Boogie and was wondering how to use the slave jack on the back. Don’t want to ruin my amp by using it the wrong way!! Thank you!!
These videos are so great. If you ever have the chance, I would love hear the story of John McLaughlin switching to Boogies after he & Carlos did LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER - wasn't there some famous incident where the chassis of McLaughlin's Marshall fell apart during a Mahavishnu Orchestra gig?
Yes - - unfortunately true. That was one of the first chassis I had made by a "professional company - - Tornberg Metal Products, and when I told Don Tornberg about that failure, he took them all back and re-welleded them super strong. Never happened again.
@@RandallSmith2G It's wild even to hear an answer, thank you! God, it must've been crazy to hear players like Carlos and Mahavishnu John through your amps and realize you were really changing the sound of electric music. VISIONS OF THE EMERALD BEYOND and CARAVANSERAI, good lord! I'd love to hear anything about Allan Holdsworth, too - it was Holdsy who put me on the Mesa/Boogie path at age 13 or 14, when my guitar teacher played me one of his records and I thought, "THAT is what I want to sound like." (... Still working on that part.)
My original Mark III blue stripe sounded really chewy and warm with the red dirt naturally accumulated in its chassis, having for years been against a window facing the grassless backyard. I took it in for servicing once, and the tech cleaned out all the red dirt. Never sounded the same...
Like I wrote earlier: "Down and Dirty". We once found an old prototype with a Great Unique sound - - caused by mouse piss working as an actually measurable capacitance!! Get the light just right and I could see some sparkly residue on the circuit board. Don't try this at home.
Dude that's the plot behind the movie Cars here in Enid we have a dirt track so I get you old horse racing track Randall you're a cool cat amps cars and airplanes are so cool
Any relation to Ferris? I'm a retired architect BTW.....really appreciate your stories about architecture...been playing guitar since I'm 16 still play today....57 years later....always wanted to get your Lone Star Special amp....missed my chance as they are not being made anymore and I have a 1973 Fender Twin with JBL D120s my original amp as well as a Supersonic 60...Hot Rod Deville 4x10.....Princeton and a Blue's Junior....keep them coming Randall
For those here who dont know, Mike Bloomfield's band Electric Flag was the first legit band that really got the San Francisco music scene going. The local bands like Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane were really just jam bands that played at Acid parties. It was also Bloomfield who backed up Dylan in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band at the infamous Newport Folk Festival where he blew everyone's ears off with his hard blues electric guitar. The Les Paul that Randall is referring to is his legendary 58 Les Paul. A highly valuable guitar just by the year it was made and Mike just left it at a gig because he had to watch this tv show (strange but true) and he never picked it up. The club owner held on to it as compensation for him flaking the gig. The ownership of that guitar is still under contention because Mike just left it there and never officially gave it to anyone.
When did Bloomfield release a National hit record? JA's 1st album was released August '66. The Beau Brummels had 2 album out in '65. The 1st peaked at #24 in the LP charts.
@@saint6563 I never said the Flag was a good band. Bloomfield himself admits they were a let down at the Monterey Pop Festival. But they were the first band in the bay area to make bay area bands to be taken more seriously. Mike Bloomfield was always ahead of his time, he did hard rock before hard rock was even a thing (before Clapton and Hendrix were known). Electric Flag influenced bands like Chicago and and Blood, Sweat & Tears to use a brass section. Bloomfield may never have been great, but he influenced others to be great.
@monkeyrater LOL You posted they were "the 1st legit band" & now you post they "weren't a good band". How does legit & not good coalesce? You posted they "started the San Francisco Scene"; yet it's obvious chronologically & successfully they didn't. Sure some bands "jammed", though there bands that had Pop influences as well. You went way overboard with your assessment & your backpeddling reply proves it. They were a part in creating the San Francisco Sound that fueled the San Francisco Scene. Leave it at that.
I raced for several years. I was autocrossing and built a dirt track mini stock out of a Fiat 128 so I know about throwing an underpowered car around. I later moved to asphalt oval tracks. I finished up in super late models. I enjoyed your racing story.
My first car was a 128, clear back in '77. I think the car was a '72. I eventually got rid of it, it lost the second gear synchro. On snow and ice, you could pull the brake, and it would spin a 180 (or more if you were going to fast) about in it's own length, and end up on the other side of the road. I was never a racer, just a young, reckless driver...
Of course I never minded smaller guys "infringing" . . . who cares? Life is short -- just didn't like GC flooding the market with copies. When Acoustic went broke at end of patent suit, I was told owner (Steve) took off in his yacht and sailed the world - - on the $$ from the copy.
I’m really enjoying all these great stories. Thanks for making so many fabulous amp designs. I bought many amps from the Boogie store in Hollywood over the years. I’m curious as to if you have any Howard Dumble stories and what you thought of his process of building amps and designing circuits with certain players in mind, I have heard stories of him using off the shelf components from Radio Shack, etc. I would be interested to know your thoughts on the keys to getting great tone.
So many stories that I even got lost, I like racing, I watched my grandfather repair his car since I was a child, I started playing racing games, I rode a go-kart in the park, I am interested in this topic. But I do not know English very well and sometimes I get lost when the story jumps from topic to topic and so I forgot how exactly you got into the world of racing. And I don’t remember whether you said it or not, but were you a participant in any racing competition and at what famous competitions did you attend as a spectator and what famous racers did you meet? Keep going, it's very interesting to listen to, even though it's difficult!
Gil Nickel... we worked on his Ferrari 340 many years ago. He was a folksy guy who opened a winery in Yountville. After we won a trophy at Pebble Beach with that car, he gave each of us a case of wine. I didn't believe that it might be good wine so I started giving bottles away. Later, when I had one bottle left, I went to a family party and put it on the counter. A guy who was dating my cousin came over from across the room and started asking about the wine, where I got it etc. It turns out, it was a stellar wine and quite expensive and hard to find.....A case of judging a book by its cover I guess.
At Pebble Beach Concours, Gil heard about the racing going on at Monterey Historics and thought it'd be more fun than "standing around". I was lucky to do both with him - - AND drink LOTS of his superb wine!! Stay Tuned for Gil stories!!
Randall … Please don’t stop relating your experiences. I don’t think anyone should call them stories. And buddy? … Take it easy on yourself … Your recall of your experiences is very easy to follow. Who gives a crap about “Stormy Monday” … We knew what you were talking about …
To anyone reading my last response … I wasn’t looking for trouble … Story tellers include a lot of fiction in their stories. Randal is a straight shooter. I was going to tell Randall that I loved his stories too … He is a great story teller but his recollections sound unembellished … and historical.
@ Thanks for clarifying ... I got a chance to use a Mesa Boogie extensively in 1980 at a studio where I wasted a ton of money. I didn’t give up my day job. I just started watching Randal Smith’s videos … I was infatuated with the Mesa Boogie after I ran out of studio time. I never knew who the inventor was. This guy slays me. What a humble no nonsense genius. That is why he was so successful … A very clear headed mechanical thinker …
Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder, Buddy Miles, Cactus, Rockets) and his Son Dylan are dear friends of mine. Jim has great stories from back in the day. Jimi Hendrix loved him. They recorded a song together the Jimi/Jimmy Jam. Did you ever meet Jim? He recently won a Grammy from writing 69 Freedom Special with Buddy. Les Paul recorded it and won a Grammy.. 😁
ok, poll time folks how many of you have looked at reverb for that long ago sold or lusted for boogie since 2nd gear smith started his channel ? i have about every other episode. : ) outlaws on 1/4 mile dirt track is a heck of a show, highly recommended
Do you have a front porch with a Rock-in Chair..? Start doing these there in the rocking Chair on the Porch, and if ya don't have it , get a contractor and put one on the front of the house and keep going ! 🤪 From a young one across the Street, over yonder.....
Sooo question, 12 years ago you made this video... ruclips.net/video/oZ_UiTIBNw4/видео.htmlsi=8tznRjgU_aRQOa0X In it you say that you can't really discuss some of the secrets in your designs. Now that you're no longer affiliated, any chance you would be willing to share this info with us up and coming amp builders? Either way, thanks for making this series, it's been a pleasure listening to your stories. J.
To anyone reading my last response … I wasn’t looking for trouble … Story tellers include a lot of fiction in their stories. Randal is a straight shooter. I was going to tell Randall that I loved his stories too … He is a great story teller but his recollections sound unembellished … and historical.
If you read the Bible you'd know Eve, with your idol watching, by listening to a talking snake created Original Sin. So it's the invisible guy in the sky, who being all-powerful could have stopped it, is the reason he had to sacrifice his only son (even though we're all his children) by crucifixion. That's the actual story & you actually believe it. Congrats! LOL
love your stories - please keep them coming!
Sports cars, Frank Lloyd Wright, amps, music, life……all these stories are AMAZING! I look for new ones everyday!
I could listen to these stories all day. Keep em coming!
Randall, you are a fascinating man! I love your stories. It doesn’t matter if it’s architecture fighting with the local city officials, building amps or building race cars. It’s all magic to me. Do an excellent job, but there is no surprise here. Everything you do is based in creativity and perseverance, with an end result of excellence.
All the stories regardless of the topic are fantastic, keep em coming🎸🎸🎸
Spellbinding stories. Gracias Randall. Peace Brother~
Informative & amusing! Thanks, Randall!
Randall sent my 150.00 MO in to you guys in 1978!! Waited 3 months and received the most magical amp ever !!! Thank YOU!!!
Thank YOU for your trust and support back then!!
Yeah the Race stories are Fun. Those Crazy 60's and 70's Formula,Le Mans,Indy and endurance race cars and their "cutting edge" engineering were just amazing in every detail. Thanks for Sharing. My favorite car as Spectator not a driver would be the early 70's ELF Team Tyrrell models with the Signature Blue. Although there were plenty of other spectacular Vehicles as well.
Love listening to all of your stories. Thank you sir for all the years of making some of the best amps on the planet.
This is just fantastic the spirit of that era. I’m sure it was just magical.
Hello Randy ,I love these videos you're posting. I just wanted to share with you that the Boogie you made for me back in June of 1979 has been with me all of my life since then. My name is Francisco Ruia and I have a 100 watt Mark IIA combo with a 15" EV speaker. After 45 years the Fetron Device started sounding funny so I replaced it with a 12AX7. It's my belief that since that circuitry has never been used it makes my amp sound brand new. I've learned to efortlessly switch between the 2 modes and the amp sounds wonderful, Thank you for making my life better.
Very rare amp and I do recall building it for you!
I like this guy, He’s down to Earth and has great stories… on Top of being the Mesiah Boogie!! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..!!!
I love those videos... Imagine if we could have videos of Leo Fender or Jim Marshall talking about their amps stories, their hobbies, etc... It's not everyday we can get stories directly from the founder and designer, regardless if it's for guitars or amps. That's why I love videos from Randall Smith, Paul Smith, Mike Zaire, Peter Diezel, Mike Soldano, etc..; so many names that marked the history of electric guitar and music...
I'm liking these little chats way better than your interviews where you had to be on your best behavior.
Love your stories Randall….keep them coming…!
Randy, thank you for all of this. I began my Boogie journey reading back issues of Guitar World from the library in my highschool in the 1990s. I was able to buy a triple and a traditional 4x12 in the very early 2000s which I still own today. I always loved reading the Mesa story in the catalogs you put out and this definitely feels like a continuation of those. Regardless of how it ended, I wish you a comfortable and fulfilling retirement and keep this RUclips journey going as long as you want because it's so awesome to hear you tell all these stories, be it about amps, racing, or about cool experiences you've had dealing with all the oddball rockers and rollers you've crossed paths with. Cheers from Maine!
Great picture of your favorite race car!
Great world of outlaws story! My cousin was Tim Green who raced for world of outlaws out of Knoxville Tennessee. He got his start with go carts as teenager
I don’t know how I got this way, but I saw the intro to Mesa Boogie and I’ve made it through every last video in less than 24 hours. I’ve been in music, performing and later production for 40 years. I knew Mesa Boogie and would request them when I provided backline for bands and festivals. I knew nothing about the company before now. I just knew what great amps they were. I hope you’re enjoying sharing all of these stories, because they’re priceless. Now that I know the provenance, I’m even more invested.
Thanks for sharing them. I hope to hear more
Thanks TONS !! Lot's more ramblin' to come.
WELP, now I can say I know what a bug eyed sprite is! ( I had to look one up! to realize, i think i''ve seen maybe two of those my whole life! ) man this was great.
Sitting on my couch here in Sweden enjoying your fascinating stories. Also a really talented story teller. Thanks Randall
I race to view each one of these. Great stuff as always. I’m all in on what ever you share. Thanks for doing these.
I have owned the best blues amp ever made for almost 30 years, thanks to Mr Smith. My Blue Angel had a hard life for its first 5 years gigging weekly - much slower the last 24. Works like a champ and has only ever had to have a resistor replaced and is just now going through a recap.
just want to say thanks. im a proud owner of a 2x12 roadster that i bought new in 2012 and it f-ing rips. love the videos, youre a legend
so love these Randy, brighten the day up no end here in the UK!!! God speed on your story
Thank you Randy!
Loving your stories sir, best wishes from Scotland.
Thanks. Got to know Sir Fitzroy McLean when in Scotland and will (likely) recount a few of HIS great stories in WW II. Amazing man - - and the model for 007 by his friend Ian Fleming.
Mr. Smith!! Greetigs from Nevada City! Mitch(y) and Doug(y), Charlie were the first band i was in. The Washington Dogtones. I worked in cab assembly with Chumley around 92-95. Good days. Great to hear the "inside baseball" stories. Glad you're well. Keep em coming! Peace.
Yeah Dogtones!! and Yeah Chummy!! Loved Mitchie: RIP
Fantastic - greatly enjoyed this session with a cup of coffee after milling about the house and fixing stuff today. On another note, there has always been a voice in my head saying “Randall Smith never dicked around with these overwhelming enterprise PCB layout software packages with all the insidious pricing models….and he built Mesa/Boogie, therefore my free little layout software will be just fine for me…” 😂
Love the stories! I was floored when you started talking about Gil Nichol. If it's the same Gil Nichol that founded Far Niente Winery up in the Napa Valley, it turns out there's a six degrees of separation thing going on. My mom was a cousin of his first wife, so he's a shirt tail relative, as the saying goes. Also turns out that in my restaurant days back in the mid 80's, I hung out with the contractor that did all the restoration for the interior of the winery. I met Gil once or twice, along with who I think is his second wife (or GF?). Anyway both were very charming, very nice. I'd love to know more about him. Thanks again for the great stories!
Small World! Very cool - - Beth was second wife, I didn't know first one but know the Winery and you did a helluva job on that jewell!! Stay tuned: There are LOTS of stories about racing with Gil!! He WAS a legend!
Fabulously entertaining videos, Randall.
Love the stories, you make me feel like im not crazy.
Love the amp/musician stories. Thanks!
I'll tell you, these are fascinating and wonderful stories and reminiscences on your extraordinary career. Thank you so much for sharing. Now this might be a bit of a departure from your focus on your music industry products successes and history but I was wondering, where did your developing the Mesa Baron Stereo Amplifier come in to the picture? I happened to pick one of these units up from a guy wo had overdriven the uint, smoked it to a degree and when I was trying to get this thing repaired was advised by one of the local service guys here in Sacramento to call Mesa in Petaluma. Did so and talked to a couple of folks who were more than happy to troubleshoot and was able to get the amp repaired and back in service. Not only do I get to enjoy a great stereo amp but I can keep the living/music room warm in the winter... But I am certainly interested in the history of how the development of that beast fit in to your larger business model.
Thanks for sharing. I'm not a race guy but sounds fun. I've owned and own many Mesa amps. For me my favourite is the HeartBreaker and MK V. Would love to hear any stories about the HeartBreaker because I haven't heard too much about it compared to Mark and recto. Thanks for sharing again, love your DIY attitude. 73 from Australia
Thank You !!! Really enjoying this !!!
Love the racing stories!
Thank you !
I've really enjoyed these videos Randall, very interesting tales and well told - I quite like the digressions!
Two of my favourite guitarists used some of your amps; Mick Jones from The Clash and Porl Thompson from The Cure both used some Mark series (and I think Porl used some Blue Angels at some point as well).
I look forward to the next installments.
Great video's your putting out here on YT,Randall.Great stories and annectdotes about the early days of Mesa Boogie.
I've owned different Boogies,like a 400+ and 2 Buster 210M amps,one of the best bass tube amps,ever designed and builded,but the fixed bias is a kind of problem: to retube these amps with new powertubes is a hard time,cause the matched sets of Boogie 6L6 tubes,are very hard to get and quite expensive. So,my Buster amps,were modified by a tech,to bias each powertube seperatly to put in here,what ever i liked to.
To guitar tube amps,i'm hooked to Rivera Amps,especially the M and TBR Series,but also the Bonehead and Knucklehead Series.
Love It! Bass 400+ still kills!
@RandallSmith2G but you haven't heard an Aguilar DB 680 with a Rivera TBR 5 stereo poweramp in bi-amp use.Used cabs 2 Ampeg SVT 50 DL,or Urei 813B,both with Isovent installed 15" woofers.Sounds better than a sportscar.
Really can't wait for the stories of the Mark IIC+ and Rectifier.
Hi Randall I love your amps. I own a tremoverb which I bought new in Monterey many years ago. I’m too old now to gig with (too heavy) so it sits in my music room patiently waiting for me to crank it up. My question is why was it discontinued?
Amazing stuff! Would love to hear some Petrucci stories if you have any!
Hi Randall I have earlier Boogie and was wondering how to use the slave jack on the back. Don’t want to ruin my amp by using it the wrong way!! Thank you!!
These videos are so great. If you ever have the chance, I would love hear the story of John McLaughlin switching to Boogies after he & Carlos did LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER - wasn't there some famous incident where the chassis of McLaughlin's Marshall fell apart during a Mahavishnu Orchestra gig?
Yes - - unfortunately true. That was one of the first chassis I had made by a "professional company - - Tornberg Metal Products, and when I told Don Tornberg about that failure, he took them all back and re-welleded them super strong. Never happened again.
@@RandallSmith2G It's wild even to hear an answer, thank you! God, it must've been crazy to hear players like Carlos and Mahavishnu John through your amps and realize you were really changing the sound of electric music. VISIONS OF THE EMERALD BEYOND and CARAVANSERAI, good lord!
I'd love to hear anything about Allan Holdsworth, too - it was Holdsy who put me on the Mesa/Boogie path at age 13 or 14, when my guitar teacher played me one of his records and I thought, "THAT is what I want to sound like." (... Still working on that part.)
Hi Randall, love the videos! Have a great weekend.
Looking forward to The Baron amp & the Tigris integrated spiel.
Worked at Soundscape in Santa Rosa & thoroughly enjoyed engaging with both.
Thanks! That high-end stereo was "an interesting digression"!
That would also be my favorite race car...lordy ; ))))
My original Mark III blue stripe sounded really chewy and warm with the red dirt naturally accumulated in its chassis, having for years been against a window facing the grassless backyard. I took it in for servicing once, and the tech cleaned out all the red dirt. Never sounded the same...
Like I wrote earlier: "Down and Dirty". We once found an old prototype with a Great Unique sound - - caused by mouse piss working as an actually measurable capacitance!! Get the light just right and I could see some sparkly residue on the circuit board. Don't try this at home.
@RandallSmith2G Preach it, Sir!! 😂
Dude that's the plot behind the movie Cars here in Enid we have a dirt track so I get you old horse racing track Randall you're a cool cat amps cars and airplanes are so cool
❤❤
Any relation to Ferris?
I'm a retired architect BTW.....really appreciate your stories about architecture...been playing guitar since I'm 16 still play today....57 years later....always wanted to get your Lone Star Special amp....missed my chance as they are not being made anymore and I have a 1973 Fender Twin with JBL D120s my original amp as well as a Supersonic 60...Hot Rod Deville 4x10.....Princeton and a Blue's Junior....keep them coming Randall
Down and Dirty, Baby!!
Sorry -- that reply meant for the guy above! I love architecture . . . and you sound well equipped with amps!
For those here who dont know, Mike Bloomfield's band Electric Flag was the first legit band that really got the San Francisco music scene going. The local bands like Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane were really just jam bands that played at Acid parties. It was also Bloomfield who backed up Dylan in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band at the infamous Newport Folk Festival where he blew everyone's ears off with his hard blues electric guitar. The Les Paul that Randall is referring to is his legendary 58 Les Paul. A highly valuable guitar just by the year it was made and Mike just left it at a gig because he had to watch this tv show (strange but true) and he never picked it up. The club owner held on to it as compensation for him flaking the gig. The ownership of that guitar is still under contention because Mike just left it there and never officially gave it to anyone.
When did Bloomfield release a National hit record?
JA's 1st album was released August '66. The Beau Brummels had 2 album out in '65. The 1st peaked at #24 in the LP charts.
@@saint6563 I never said the Flag was a good band. Bloomfield himself admits they were a let down at the Monterey Pop Festival. But they were the first band in the bay area to make bay area bands to be taken more seriously. Mike Bloomfield was always ahead of his time, he did hard rock before hard rock was even a thing (before Clapton and Hendrix were known). Electric Flag influenced bands like Chicago and and Blood, Sweat & Tears to use a brass section. Bloomfield may never have been great, but he influenced others to be great.
@monkeyrater
LOL
You posted they were "the 1st legit band" & now you post they "weren't a good band". How does legit & not good coalesce? You posted they "started the San Francisco Scene"; yet it's obvious chronologically & successfully they didn't. Sure some bands "jammed", though there bands that had Pop influences as well. You went way overboard with your assessment & your backpeddling reply proves it. They were a part in creating the San Francisco Sound that fueled the San Francisco Scene.
Leave it at that.
All True. And I know you're a big fan of The Sons of Champlin as another killer band (same time and place) . . . that never received due recognition.
I raced for several years. I was autocrossing and built a dirt track mini stock out of a Fiat 128 so I know about throwing an underpowered car around. I later moved to asphalt oval tracks. I finished up in super late models. I enjoyed your racing story.
Same, except 131 Mirafiori - you know the skill required
My "mechanician" Thomas grew up with a 128 and still has engines and project car shit galore. He was a VITAL part of the racing we enjoyed.
My first car was a 128, clear back in '77. I think the car was a '72. I eventually got rid of it, it lost the second gear synchro. On snow and ice, you could pull the brake, and it would spin a 180 (or more if you were going to fast) about in it's own length, and end up on the other side of the road. I was never a racer, just a young, reckless driver...
@@NorthBayRepublic yours probably had more power than my 128 2-door sedan and 128SL. I had to drive it as hard as possible and keep it revved.
I took Bruce Egnater’s amp building class. And Mesa was always talked about lol. Other builders are still salty about the patents lol.
Of course I never minded smaller guys "infringing" . . . who cares? Life is short -- just didn't like GC flooding the market with copies. When Acoustic went broke at end of patent suit, I was told owner (Steve) took off in his yacht and sailed the world - - on the $$ from the copy.
I’m really enjoying all these great stories. Thanks for making so many fabulous amp designs. I bought many amps from the Boogie store in Hollywood over the years. I’m curious as to if you have any Howard Dumble stories and what you thought of his process of building amps and designing circuits with certain players in mind, I have heard stories of him using off the shelf components from Radio Shack, etc. I would be interested to know your thoughts on the keys to getting great tone.
So many stories that I even got lost, I like racing, I watched my grandfather repair his car since I was a child, I started playing racing games, I rode a go-kart in the park, I am interested in this topic. But I do not know English very well and sometimes I get lost when the story jumps from topic to topic and so I forgot how exactly you got into the world of racing. And I don’t remember whether you said it or not, but were you a participant in any racing competition and at what famous competitions did you attend as a spectator and what famous racers did you meet? Keep going, it's very interesting to listen to, even though it's difficult!
Gil Nickel... we worked on his Ferrari 340 many years ago. He was a folksy guy who opened a winery in Yountville. After we won a trophy at Pebble Beach with that car, he gave each of us a case of wine. I didn't believe that it might be good wine so I started giving bottles away. Later, when I had one bottle left, I went to a family party and put it on the counter. A guy who was dating my cousin came over from across the room and started asking about the wine, where I got it etc. It turns out, it was a stellar wine and quite expensive and hard to find.....A case of judging a book by its cover I guess.
At Pebble Beach Concours, Gil heard about the racing going on at Monterey Historics and thought it'd be more fun than "standing around". I was lucky to do both with him - - AND drink LOTS of his superb wine!! Stay Tuned for Gil stories!!
Randall … Please don’t stop relating your experiences. I don’t think anyone should call them stories. And buddy? … Take it easy on yourself … Your recall of your experiences is very easy to follow. Who gives a crap about “Stormy Monday” … We knew what you were talking about …
To anyone reading my last response … I wasn’t looking for trouble … Story tellers include a lot of fiction in their stories. Randal is a straight shooter. I was going to tell Randall that I loved his stories too … He is a great story teller but his recollections sound unembellished … and historical.
I'm not your buddy, pal.
@@brandonc2859
Sorry … That was inadvertently sent to you … I was hoping Randall Smith got that one …
@k9wyre you're all good you didn't send it to me I was making a south park joke, hoping other people would keep it going down the road
@ Thanks for clarifying ... I got a chance to use a Mesa Boogie extensively in 1980 at a studio where I wasted a ton of money. I didn’t give up my day job. I just started watching Randal Smith’s videos … I was infatuated with the Mesa Boogie after I ran out of studio time. I never knew who the inventor was. This guy slays me. What a humble no nonsense genius. That is why he was so successful … A very clear headed mechanical thinker …
Nick Gravenites "My Killing Floor".
Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder, Buddy Miles, Cactus, Rockets) and his Son Dylan are dear friends of mine. Jim has great stories from back in the day. Jimi Hendrix loved him. They recorded a song together the Jimi/Jimmy Jam. Did you ever meet Jim? He recently won a Grammy from writing 69 Freedom Special with Buddy. Les Paul recorded it and won a Grammy.. 😁
ok, poll time folks
how many of you have looked at reverb for that long ago sold or lusted for boogie since 2nd gear smith started his channel ?
i have about every other episode. : )
outlaws on 1/4 mile dirt track is a heck of a show, highly recommended
Les Paul or Less Paul...? Great one Randy 🤣
My buddy’s bands name is Les Paul😂
Has anyone talked about how good the JHS tidewater is as a clean boost?
It's a good thing that your racing bug was a money pit. Otherwise we might not have had any boogie amps to buy.
Do you have a front porch with a Rock-in Chair..? Start doing these there in the rocking Chair on the Porch, and if ya don't have it , get a contractor and put one on the front of the house and keep going ! 🤪 From a young one across the Street, over yonder.....
The Ferrari 312 T is the single greatest machine ever made by man.
I'm only good for 6-700 more racing stories - after that I'm out....
It used to take decades for a beat up old Les Paul to fetch $50k but Gibson came up with a much better way. Dinner with Kirk Hammet!
Metallica stories please!!
polite share of the great workshop ruclips.net/video/aOkP9URbzms/видео.htmlsi=tjUy3APfZP8PMOYt
Second gear Smith. Stay in it to win it. That's funny. IIRC, your Sprite had a chipped 2nd gear.
I never understood why some guitarists like having a bunch of disgusting dirt all over their guitars.
Down and Dirty, Baby. (whoops - - replied to wrong msg first!)
Sooo question,
12 years ago you made this video...
ruclips.net/video/oZ_UiTIBNw4/видео.htmlsi=8tznRjgU_aRQOa0X
In it you say that you can't really discuss some of the secrets in your designs. Now that you're no longer affiliated, any chance you would be willing to share this info with us up and coming amp builders?
Either way, thanks for making this series, it's been a pleasure listening to your stories.
J.
To anyone reading my last response … I wasn’t looking for trouble … Story tellers include a lot of fiction in their stories. Randal is a straight shooter. I was going to tell Randall that I loved his stories too … He is a great story teller but his recollections sound unembellished … and historical.
Nothin' but the Truth, Baby . . . as well as I can remember it.
Wait! Listen to the weakest guy, and then what?
support him
If you were insignificant in this universe Jesus would not have had to be crucified.
If you read the Bible you'd know Eve, with your idol watching, by listening to a talking snake created Original Sin. So it's the invisible guy in the sky, who being all-powerful could have stopped it, is the reason he had to sacrifice his only son (even though we're all his children) by crucifixion.
That's the actual story & you actually believe it.
Congrats!
LOL
@
Sin isn’t free.