Randall Smith fired from Mesa?

[youngthrasher9]

I don’t think at this point his input on designs is what will keep the Mesa legacy afloat.

They could release tweaked versions of the rectifier and mark series for the rest of time and people will still bite.

Let the guy retire, FFS.

 

[narad]

But otoh I know Fluff loves his drama so I wouldn't be surprised if he's blowing shit out or proportion lol

Well ladies and gentleman, until next time, you've been cautiously trying to fact-check claims before posting them, I've been Fluff.

 

[Demiurge]

Sure he sold the company and was looking to get out eventually, but I presume that the plan was for an exit more graceful than one heralded by rumors of being "fired".

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Sure he sold the company and was looking to get out eventually, but I presume that the plan was for an exit more graceful than one heralded by rumors of being "fired".

I guess it depends on what "fired" really means.

The word conjures up images of security escorting poor Randy to his car with a bank box of knick knacks from his desk. A sort of unceremonious and embarrassing ordeal, often blindsided.

But it could mean that his contract was up and it just wasn't renewed, or at least not on terms he wanted.

Though, it's all speculation. Literally no one who would know has said anything. Just the sort of second and third hand assumptions that come with this flavor of internet drama.

Maybe it just wasn't working out. It's often hard going from numero uno to just a number, which is why a lot of former owners turned employees don't stick around too long.

 

[Shask]

Nah they were pretty damn consistent. The only thing you can PROBABLY consider a "flop era" is maybe the MkIIA-MKIIB era in 1982 but that's pretty brief and from what I can tell people still liked those amps atthe time for the most part

Those Mesa Nomads are pretty much universally hated, lol.

 

[narad]

Good quote from another discussion thread on this topic:

This situation needs to be rectified.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Those Mesa Nomads are pretty much universally hated, lol.

At least the Nomad wasn't considered a flagship amp lol. They still had the Mark IV, Rectifier, etc.

With the Mark IIA and IIB, that's all they had. If you didn't like it, tough shit. They didn't even have the OG MKI or even the Son of Boogie iirc.

 

[MatrixClaw]

Dude is 80, I don't even know why he was with Mesa this long in the first place. Sucks he's leaving and Mesa will likely never be the same, especially once Mike B retires as well... But not much you can do when the creative mind behind a legendary amp company leaves. He can train some new guys, but they'll never have his philosophy for building amps and creating new circuits.

It'll be interesting to see what Mesa does going forward. I assume, much like Gibson, they will start reissuing classic amps. We might finally get to buy a IIC+ or a Rev C/F Recto again. Though, probably at very laughable prices.

 

[crushingpetal]

Those Mesa Nomads are pretty much universally hated, lol.

Fair. Personally, I was always puzzled by the Express line. Obviously the heartbreaker was controversial.

But I don't remember anyone saying those amps weren't well built.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Fair. Personally, I was always puzzled by the Express line. Obviously the heartbreaker was controversial.

But I don't remember anyone saying those amps weren't well built.

....I actually like the Heartbreaker lol. It's a great rock amp, which makes sense because it was meant to be a "modernized" Mark I.

 

[Screamingdaisy]

Honest question to that point, because I don't actually know: did Mesa ever really have a shit period like Fender or Gibson?

Not really. You'll see nerds fight over details like chassis mounted tube sockets and ribbon cables, but from a user perspective they've been pretty consistent. The only "problem era" was mid-2000s, and that was because New Sensor changed their tube specs and never told anyone. The amps were fine, but the preamp tubes would burn out.

(Edit - also, the LDR issues in Tremoverbs, which they would repair under warranty, even after the 5 year period if I remember correctly. Basically, Mesa didn't have shit periods, but sometimes their part suppliers did.)

That said... Fender and Gibson went through shit periods after they were sold by their founder to a corporate interest.... so, wait and see?

That said...... Fender and Gibson's real shit period was in the 60s/70s when US manufacturing was obsessed with producing the shittiest products possible that they could still convince people to pay for. I don't think Gibson is going to engage in a race to the bottom, and being stupid with the brand legacy is why the shareholders pushed their last CEO out the door.

 

[Werecow]

Good quote from another discussion thread on this topic:

This situation needs to be rectified.

He saw the designs for the forthcoming Mesa Boogie fridge, and instantly destroyed the whole R&D workshop. Then, a Gibson rep entered the room, and Randall threw him through a sheet glass window, calmly lit a cigar, and walked out of the building.

 

[Crungy]

Also I would ask "Who the fuck is Guitar Bomb?" but the last time I questioned the credibility of a website... they were right re: the Dean fiasco last year lol

But otoh I know Fluff loves his drama so I wouldn't be surprised if he's blowing shit out or proportion lol

Gotta get them views and subs

 

[technomancer]

He saw the designs for the forthcoming Mesa Boogie fridge, and instantly destroyed the whole R&D workshop. Then, a Gibson rep entered the room, and Randall threw him through a sheet glass window, calmly lit a cigar, and walked out of the building.

That's as reliable as any other information on this so far

I heard from a "reliable source" (my cousin's sister's ex roommate works at at a tube supplier for Mesa) that he was working on gamma ray tubes and hulked out and had to be subdued and is being held at a undisclosed location.

 

[prlgmnr]

The word conjures up images of security escorting poor Randy to his car with a bank box of knick knacks from his desk. A sort of unceremonious and embarrassing ordeal, often blindsided.

"Hand over your prototype"

and he opens his jacket to reveal a fully loaded amp chassis

".....and the other one"

he rolls his eyes and pulls a smaller amp chassis out of his left sock

 

[G_3_3_k_]

Not really. You'll see nerds fight over details like chassis mounted tube sockets and ribbon cables, but from a user perspective they've been pretty consistent. The only "problem era" was mid-2000s, and that was because New Sensor changed their tube specs and never told anyone. The amps were fine, but the preamp tubes would burn out.

(Edit - also, the LDR issues in Tremoverbs, which they would repair under warranty, even after the 5 year period if I remember correctly. Basically, Mesa didn't have shit periods, but sometimes their part suppliers did.)

That said... Fender and Gibson went through shit periods after they were sold by their founder to a corporate interest.... so, wait and see?

That said...... Fender and Gibson's real shit period was in the 60s/70s when US manufacturing was obsessed with producing the shittiest products possible that they could still convince people to pay for. I don't think Gibson is going to engage in a race to the bottom, and being stupid with the brand legacy is why the shareholders pushed their last CEO out the door.

I find it incredibly hard to take anything a corporate conglomerate says about keeping things the same when they buy a smaller company as anything but disingenuous. They have plans for that brand. And in most cases, those plans always are willing to wait for the person who made the deal to keep things the same to leave or be fired. I especially have issues with companies like Gibson who say they make the best guitars in the world when they aren’t even close. Have ridiculous reasons for holding to proven iffy design concepts for reasons of tradition and tone. ESP and PRS have been making better Les Pauls than Gibson for 40-50 years, without the iffy design elements. Then get a bunch of old dudes to sign endorsement deals and spout off about how they always dreamed about owning a Gibson 60 years ago, then got one and it was this amazing thing. And back then it likely was one of the best things you could buy in the US if not the world. Ignore nearly all the copycats for decades, then bring lawsuits. They buy Mesa…. A brand that still has real credibility to bolster their own and include it as a nostalgia brand. I absolutely have bias and distrust. I’ve never liked Gibson’s blind adherence to traditional building philosophies. Probably no surprise since I have Onis. But even guys like John Suhr talk about the design problems. And then they attack literally anyone building a single cut for TM infringement. When no one would ever confuse them. So, while my reasons for disliking and distrusting Gibson may not be related to Mesa directly, they aren’t without merit, though I will absolutely admit bias. I hate and distrust corporations as a general rule. Is there a possibility that Gibson will leave the company as is? Yes. Of course there is. I just have very little reason to believe they don’t have their own agenda that is different from Randall Smith’s. I’m glad he’s getting retirement though. Dude has put in years and changed the landscape of amp making. I have less concern about how he left than I do what the plans are after his exit, because most situations like this don’t play out well for the smaller company.

 

[crushingpetal]

I'm not on the socials and whatnot, but I also find it odd / weird that no official statement has been made by anyone. That, to me, suggests it went down as was claimed.

If he still works there, Gibson can just say "he's still here folks". If he really retired, Randy can say "I've retired".

 

[technomancer]

I'm not on the socials and whatnot, but I also find it odd / weird that no official statement has been made by anyone. That, to me, suggests it went down as was claimed.

If he still works there, Gibson can just say "he's still here folks". If he really retired, Randy can say "I've retired".

Unless an NDA was part of his contract... which isn't unusual for high level employees.