Well, Mesa Boogie isn't completely dead.   Gibson bought them ... they're just in Purgatory!

May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home

Bill, tgo

Wow! And here I just sold my 2 vintage MKIII's.

Isn't a chance to stay alive a good thing?

Our pre Gibson collection :-)

Quote from: StefanieJones on January 06, 2021, 05:53:21 PM
Isn't a chance to stay alive a good thing?

Not when you consider the fate - quality-wise and longevity-wise - of once-great names that have "joined the Gibson family of brands."  Epiphone was once Gibson's biggest competitor, and lost that standing not because their instruments were inferior to Gibson's (they most certainly were not), but because when Epaminondas "Epi" Stathopoulos died, it turned out his brothers lacked his business acumen.  Now Epiphone mostly makes cheaper versions of Gibson models - and of all the brands Gibson has acquired, they've fared the best.

Peter

Gibson took over Trace Elliot, ruined the product then sold them over to Peavey. They did the same to Tobias, churning out inferior instruments then turning them over to epiphone.  Nothing good will come of this. I'm lucky I already have more Mesa Boogie kit than I'll ever need.

Graeme

I got myself a Mark III Combo when I graduated law school.  Imbuya cab with the cane grill.  Weighed a ton.  I later added a matching Thiele cab.   I played it for years.  Also had the "holy grail" Mark IIC+ head.   But when I started playing Alembics, it seemed they just didn't get along with the Boogies.  My Electrum, then Series I, just seemed to sound better through a Fender voiced amp.   Eventually sold all my Boogies, including a TA-15.

Bill, tgo

Gibson messed up Steinberger too.  However the recent Gibson brand Epiphone made (Korea) Spirits have been very nice.

Quote from: FC Bass on January 06, 2021, 07:42:09 PM
Our pre Gibson collection :-)

Nice!!!

The 400+ is one of the most pleasant amps that I've ever got a chance to use, that's sad.

I believe Fender dabbled with GenzBenz but thankfully Jeff Genzler started up again with Genzler.  I have GB and G products and also Bergantino and had a lovely reply from Jeff Genzler about a question only this week.  Also had a great reply from Holly Bergantino about something this week - Jim Bergantino was similar some months ago.  The so called "smaller companies" are still offering a personal service which gives me great hope and a nice feeling.
Glynn

Wow, that's one impressive den of low end FC! 

Fender's been doing the same thing and destroying good brands, although they somehow didn't ruin Gretsch...

QuoteIsn't a chance to stay alive a good thing?Isn't a chance to stay alive a good thing?

I suppose, but without your dangly bits, what's the point?

FWIW my last rack setup was a stereo all-tube rig i built to accommodate my series basses with an F2-B on top and a mesa-boogie stereo tube power amp at the bottom to give it some ooomph.  Heavy as heck but even the guitar players noticed how good it sounded 😎

Quote from: peoplechipper on January 08, 2021, 12:38:38 AM
Fender's been doing the same thing and destroying good brands, although they somehow didn't ruin Gretsch...

They killed Hamer, which seemed incredibly stupid. They own the company that made better "Gibsons" than Gibson - their biggest competitor - and they kill it off. Genius!