Randall Smith Gone From Mesa Boogie/Gibson?

[laxu]

One man’s features is another man’s tone suckers.

I honestly haven't found a whole lot of truth to that with any amp I've owned.

A single channel on my Mesa Mark V isn't necessarily that much more complex as a circuit than say a Dumble, or whatever corksniffery amp people want to hold as their "pure tone" benchmark. The "pure tone" being an oxymoron in itself...

A lot of the complexity is in offering the user all the toggle options and whatnot that in any other amp would be just something that is set a particular way with fixed components. To be fair, that sort of curation can be useful as many amps out there have a particular "sounds best this way" arrangement for toggles like that.

I'd expect the Fillmore is about the same complexity as the clean channel with all its modes on the Mark V, but to the purist, the Fillmore just has to be more "pure" because it has less knobs and toggles on it.

 

[ejecta]

I honestly haven't found a whole lot of truth to that with any amp I've owned.

A single channel on my Mesa Mark V isn't necessarily that much more complex as a circuit than say a Dumble, or whatever corksniffery amp people want to hold as their "pure tone" benchmark. The "pure tone" being an oxymoron in itself...

A lot of the complexity is in offering the user all the toggle options and whatnot that in any other amp would be just something that is set a particular way with fixed components. To be fair, that sort of curation can be useful as many amps out there have a particular "sounds best this way" arrangement for toggles like that.

I'd expect the Fillmore is about the same complexity as the clean channel with all its modes on the Mark V, but to the purist, the Fillmore just has to be more "pure" because it has less knobs and toggles on it.

I have no issue with complexity as long as it’s not a barrier to dialing in a good tone or makes people want to turn knobs all day. Some amps definitely are in that realm for me and IME Mesa has made more than most that did that for me. YMMV for the overly sensitive. I own simple and complex amps so it’s not that complexity that keeps we away it’s how it’s implemented and how they effect the tone, which they definitely do, especially if they impede you getting good tone fast.

 

[The-Kid]

I came across that dude once.....




IMO he was a moron and was trying to explain how BBD chips were digital and not analog. He had some long ass pretty stupid explanation as to why even though non of it made any sense people senselessly nodded their heads and agreed..... non of it made sense but he was some "Guru" or something I guess......



I simply said it's not digital therefore it's analog and what the hell was he on about?




I had no idea who the hell he was but he sure made himself look like a complete idiot even back then.

 

[Frodebro]

I came across that dude once.....




IMO he was a moron and was trying to explain how BBD chips were digital and not analog. He had some long ass pretty stupid explanation as to why even though non of it made any sense people senselessly nodded their heads and agreed..... non of it made sense but he was some "Guru" or something I guess......



I simply said it's not digital therefore it's analog and what the hell was he on about?




I had no idea who the hell he was but he sure made himself look like a complete idiot even back then.

You could have easily stopped him in his tracks by telling him that the earth is round.

 

[FuzzyAce]

the earth is round.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Reminds me of that time Chelsea Handler said she didn't realize the sun and moon were different until the ago of 40.
I shit you not.

 

[Frodebro]

It’s known as the “Look! Squirrel!!!” Maneuver. When somebody is rambling on, interjecting a random and completely unrelated statement will make them pause, then wonder if you are more unhinged than they are.

 

[The-Kid]

You could have easily stopped him in his tracks by telling him that the earth is round.

Honestly the dude was a complete ass clown and I think People even told me "you know who that is rigth"......



I was like nah, Im I supposed to know or care? Doesnt take a lot of brain power to stick a 6-7 band EQ on a Princeton and say its something new and innovative or revolutionary either

 

[Frodebro]

Honestly the dude was a complete as clown and I think People even told me "you know who that is rigth"......



I was like nah, Im I supposed to know or care? Doesnt take a lot of brain power to stick a 6-7 band EQ on a Princeton and say its something new and innovative or revolutionary either

What’s really fascinating is that there are people out there who can summon that level of unbridled mental chaos without any pharmaceutical enhancements.

 

[The-Kid]

What’s really fascinating is that there are people out there who can summon that level of unbridled mental chaos without any pharmaceutical enhancements.

This that Randall Smith right.... the Mesa dude no?



I always thought he was the founder of Randall amps...... not sure but yeah. Same dude trying to explain how BBD chips are not analog and digital

 

[FuzzyAce]

It’s known as the “Look! Squirrel!!!” Maneuver. When somebody is rambling on, interjecting a random and completely unrelated statement will make them pause, then wonder if you are more unhinged than they are.

Bro, I'm still recovering from the knowledge that the earth is round.

 

[Frodebro]

This that Randall Smith right.... the Mesa dude no?



I always thought he was the founder of Randall amps...... not sure but yeah. Same dude trying to explain how BBD chips are not analog and digital

Randall got his start in late 1960s San Francisco. No way in hell he’s lived a pharmaceutical-free life. Maybe later on, but not back then.

 

[The-Kid]

Nvm the guy I was referring to was Roger Smith from SourceAudio...... I'm dumb

 

[laxu]

Nvm the guy I was referring to was Roger Smith from SourceAudio...... I'm dumb

Maybe he was referring to their digital emulation of bucket brigade delays in their gear?

 

[The-Kid]

Maybe he was referring to their digital emulation of bucket brigade delays in their gear?

Yeah hell actually going back to that thread even the dude from Source Audio agreed with me pretty much and he never did take the side that BBD was digital ........


It was pretty much a bunch of others there trying to make some other argument for no reason really.


It was a while back and yeah kind of mixed up names and who said what...... but yeah. Kind of dumb on my part

 

[Desertdweller]

One man’s features is another man’s tone suckers.

Explain why an amp with options sucks tone. The best Mesas I’ve played are the VII, JP2C, and the Road King 2. All of which have an insane array of options.

 

[la szum]

Explain why an amp with options sucks tone. The best Mesas I’ve played are the VII, JP2C, and the Road King 2. All of which have an insane array of options.

The irony is that Randall seemed to kind of agree with that notion when designing the Mark VII.
Pretty sure he is on record as saying it was a discovery for him and preserving a cleaner signal
path resulted in what, to him, was a superior tone.

Not agreeing or disagreeing. Just saying.

 

[EOengineer]

Explain why an amp with options sucks tone. The best Mesas I’ve played are the VII, JP2C, and the Road King 2. All of which have an insane array of options.

Not opinionated either which way on this as I find my Mesa Mark III just as toneful as my 5e3 or 1959 head, but I think there’s a notion amongst some that tonal purity requires the shortest possible signal path, highest quality transformers, and that flexibility is the enemy of purity.

 

[The-Kid]

Not opinionated either which way on this as I find my Mesa Mark III just as toneful as my 5e3 or 1959 head, but I think there’s a notion amongst some that tonal purity requires the shortest possible signal path, highest quality transformers, and that flexibility is the enemy of purity.

Must be a dude who owns a 52 Tele........

 

[EOengineer]

Must be a dude who owns a 52 Tele........

Does a 52 reissue count? Asking for a friend.