Pre Boogie Amps

[majorbytes]

I have a couple of what I think are Pre Boogie amps and I am trying to get some info on them.
Here is a link to the photos of a Fender Bassman 5E6
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3083
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3086
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3077
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3089
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3093
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3080
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3072
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3096
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3099

I also have a Fender Princeton with a 12" speaker and similar mods..

 

[D2dark]

It's look like this thing had some hard time in a wet basement.

 

[McBarry]

Wow, quite something..
I'll bet it howls like a banshee!!
Imagining a Tele - should come with a health warning...

Any pics of the other amp?
Have U run them past Randall - I imagine he'd remember, even though many yrs ago..

Keep 'em coming.. thoroughly interesting stuff!!
DB

 

[majorbytes]

It would be cool to see if Randall did remember these amps. I have neen told that they were used by Hot Tuna in the 70's. Does he have an email. I sent a message to Mesa..
Here are some photos of the other amp. It is a Mesa Boogie.
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3132
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3136
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3119
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3124
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3128

 

[JOEY B.]

Piss on "11", that Bassman can be turned up to "12". That's like one louder than Nigel Tuffnels' Marshall. Great score!

 

[majorbytes]

Piss on "11", that Bassman can be turned up to "12". That's like one louder than Nigel Tuffnels' Marshall. Great score!

8)
I have always been a fan of amps that will go up to 12. I have a Fender Blues Deville and a Fender Blues Deluxe and both have 12 on the speedometer...

 

[cho]

Wow! If that is an authentic, pre-Boogie Randall Smith amp, you may have a part of history there...

How does it sound?

 

[majorbytes]

I have not jammed with the Bassman yet, but the 1 x 12 Mesa Boogie rocks hard and LOUD..

 

[McBarry]

That 1x12 Boogie has a lot in common with a IIA..

be interested to see what the innards reveal..
Really enjoying ur pics though.. thanks for sharing,
Dave

 

[majorbytes]

Update! Update!

Just got this from the Mesa Boogie folks...

Hello there,

I passed this to our tech Mike Bendinelli that is more familiar with these older versions, here was his response:
"It looks familiar, I think it was here about 20(?) years ago and I would say it was a Randy mod."
That's about all of the info we could provide. Hope that helps!

Best Regards,
Marcus Daniel | Customer Service

Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING
1317 Ross Street | Petaluma, CA 94954 | USA
Phone | 707.778.6565
Hours | Monday-Thursday 9-5 PST
http://www.MesaBoogie.com

 

[Boogiebabies]

Update! Update!

Just got this from the Mesa Boogie folks...

Hello there,

I passed this to our tech Mike Bendinelli that is more familiar with these older versions, here was his response:
"It looks familiar, I think it was here about 20(?) years ago and I would say it was a Randy mod."
That's about all of the info we could provide. Hope that helps!

Best Regards,
Marcus Daniel | Customer Service

Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING
1317 Ross Street | Petaluma, CA 94954 | USA
Phone | 707.778.6565
Hours | Monday-Thursday 9-5 PST
http://www.MesaBoogie.com

Not very helpful are they ?

Get some gut shots of the Fender up and let's take a look.

 

[McBarry]

Agreed Ed, I was thinking exactly the same thing..
I mean, here's a potential piece of history, and a few lines is the reply..
I was expecting even "we passed this on the Randy and he'll get back"..

Without being too cynical, I wonder if it was owned by (insert any super-famous muso name here) the response would be rather different..

Love some more pics..
DB

 

[RR]

Update! Update!

Just got this from the Mesa Boogie folks...

Hello there,

I passed this to our tech Mike Bendinelli that is more familiar with these older versions, here was his response:
"It looks familiar, I think it was here about 20(?) years ago and I would say it was a Randy mod."
That's about all of the info we could provide. Hope that helps!

Best Regards,
Marcus Daniel | Customer Service...

Nope, didn't help. :lol:

Mike Bendinelli, I talked with him during my Mark IIB mod ('82). He's a bit off the wall if you ask me. Nice guy.

20 years ago(?), that would be 1992, can't imagine Randall Smith doing amp mods.

A modded Bassman must have been done in 70's I would think. I know someone who had an Ampeg who he claimed was modded by Randall Smith but that was in the early 80's and his Ampeg was a 70 model.

But nevertheless, you do have a piece of history. Now if could find pictures of pre-Boogie Princeton.