Randall Smith and Mesa Boogie Parting Ways??

[Theresa]

Just read an article about Gibson releasing Randall Smith from Mesa Boogie. They claim he is retiring. Anyone hear otherwise?

End of an Era?

Above is the link to the source.

 

[bandit2013]

Randall Smith was definitely a pioneer in this industry who gave Mesa Boogie its fame and continued to do so for many decades. If he was fired as the article claims, that is rather harsh and disrespectful in my opinion. People just do not disappear due to retirement without some sort of recognition for their efforts unless there was some sort of medical emergency.

Perhaps there will be more information to come later on. Too much miss-information these days.

 

[rarebitusa]

I tend to think this article, written on the VII on its release, was probably on the Mark so to speak. Anyway speculation will continue to swirl and Gibson would be smart to put out a statement.

The Last Randall Smith Designed Amp?

 

[Darkstar2]

Crikey, I just posted this same thing - sorry about that!

 

[dlpasco]

Just read an article about Gibson releasing Randall Smith from Mesa Boogie. They claim he is retiring. Anyone hear otherwise?

End of an Era?

Above is the link to the source.

Not gonna lie, I feel like bawling.

 

[JustPassingThrough]

That's not a source of anything. Where's the primary evidence? Where's the statement? It's a comment made by Fluff (also with zero evidence or citation) on a forum that got picked up and publicised. That guitar bomb article sure reads a lot like AI wrote it to pad out a nothing story with a word count.

I'll believe it when I see it, until then it's not worth bothering with.

 

[Jay Omega]

I've only seen second hand info at this point so it's tough to say what (if anything) went down. If Randy is gone and it was planned you'd think there would have been a corporate announcement from Gibson on succession plan. If they parted on bad terms or could lead to potential legal issues you would likely hear radio silence from both sides such as we're seeing. Seems likely either their relationship ended poorly or this is all nonsense.

Pretty cool to see flying alongside all the termination speculation is that M/B might reissue both the Mark IIC+ and the Rev G Dual Rectifier?!

 

[CoG]

he's what, like 79? any involvement he has is symbolic at this point anyway.

fluff's just trying to get clicks now that the pandemic gear craze has slowed down.

 

[Jay Omega]

he's what, like 79? any involvement he has is symbolic at this point anyway.

fluff's just trying to get clicks now that the pandemic gear craze has slowed down.

It seemed like he was still their primary designer, there was a relatively recent interview (post Mark VII release) with Doug West where he said there were a bunch of amps in Randy's queue and that Randy was still a "mad man". I don't think Randy has been physically present at Ross St but there's no reason he couldn't be designing amps from yonder.

It would be interesting to see what products Randy puts out there if he starts up post non-compete since Gibson owns all the Boogie patents / trademarks / copyrights

 

[funk49]

Just read an article about Gibson releasing Randall Smith from Mesa Boogie. They claim he is retiring. Anyone hear otherwise?

End of an Era?

Above is the link to the source.

I don't know who this in this video, so YMMV, but this guy is saying he was fired. Either way, this sucks.

 

[sloanthebone]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/ran...alXHML6DZcKCSBkBCA_aem_u6UljSfKiJ2fI6_r-7mTCA

“Randy, and his original design ideas, will continue to inspire us”: Gibson confirms exit of Mesa/Boogie founder and legendary ‘boutique’ guitar amp designer Randall Smith​

 

[domct203]

The whole ‘Randall was fired’ statement is nothing but click bait, and quite disrespectful IMO. The reason Mesa was sold is so Randall could retire.

It’s time for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor and I wish him well.

Dom

 

[mace]

Agree 100% (of course I don’t know anything) that that first article was click bait.

Curious if there is a health issue (none of our business) or just a planned exit or something else. If it was a ‘planned exit’ it does seem strange there has been no statement, interview or what not from the man himself.

Regardless, it does leave a pit in my stomach knowing that Mesa Boogie from here on will not have Randall Smith. But like Doug West said, we all knew such a day would arrive sooner or later.

 

[dennisl59]

I think this all has a simple explanation. Years back he sold Mesa so he could comfortably retire, and Gibson kept him on during the transition as a well deserved professional courtesy. The transition is over and Randall rides off into the sunset as he wished. And there are plenty of Mesa veterans still with the merged entity. Some may stay(because they still need a job, too young or not enough $$$ in the bank to retire) and others might leave, gradually, because of Gibson management as it is at the present. That's my 2 cents...

 

[sloanthebone]

This Randall interview was just 6 months ago. Great interview and this does not sound like a man ready to retire.

 

[Fastforded]

Anyone call mesa and confirm?

 

[spawnofthesith2]

He made it pretty clear nearly 4 years ago that he was selling Mesa so that he could retire...

John Petrucci just posted pics of his retirement party. Didn't look like a man that was just forced out of his company.

Shame on fluff and any "journalists" that ran with the baseless "Randall was fired" claims without a lick of evidence. People worried that Gibson was going to tarnish the mesa name and it turns out its just clickbaiting so called fans that are doing so.... smh

 

[mace]

Glad to hear about the the real story. And yeah, smh at the click baiters. Disappointing from the Fluff

 

[sloanthebone]

He made it pretty clear nearly 4 years ago that he was selling Mesa so that he could retire...

John Petrucci just posted pics of his retirement party. Didn't look like a man that was just forced out of his company.

Shame on fluff and any "journalists" that ran with the baseless "Randall was fired" claims without a lick of evidence. People worried that Gibson was going to tarnish the mesa name and it turns out its just clickbaiting so called fans that are doing so.... smh

 

[mace]

So, if one were to pick nits, Petrucci’s post states he was at a “celebration of Randall”. JP doesn’t mention anything about Randall retiring or leaving Gibson or leaving Mesa Boogie etc. Some ambiguity remains! LOL