Gibson acquires esteemed amplifier brand Mesa/Boogie

The brand will function as a “Gibson Custom Shop” for amplifiers.

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Gibson and Mesa Boogie press photo

Image: Gibson

Gibson has officially announced its acquisition of esteemed amplifier makers Mesa/Boogie.

The move marks a renewed focus in guitar and bass amplifier production for Gibson, as Mesa/Boogie is expected to operate as a “Gibson Custom Shop” for amplifiers.

“At Gibson, we are all about leveraging our iconic past and leaning into the innovative future,” Gibson CEO James ‘JC’ Curleigh said in a statement. “A quest that started over 100 years ago with our founder Orville Gibson.”

“Today this quest continues with the addition of Mesa/Boogie into the Gibson Brands family, along with the visionary leadership of Randy Smith and his team who, for the past 50 years, have created an iconic and innovative brand that has stood the test of time. This is a perfect partnership based on our collective professional experiences and passion for sound.”

Mesa/Boogie was founded by Randy Smith in 1971, who initially started by hot-rodding Fender amplifiers. The brand has since cemented its status as one of the earliest ‘boutique’ guitar amp-builders in the world.

“I’m 75 years old and still at work every day. This is my art and many of our crew have worked along my side for 30 to 40 years,” Smith said in a statement. “Today, Gibson’s guitars are the best-ever – and when they asked if we’d like to become Gibson’s Custom Shop for amplifiers, we envisioned a perfect collaboration that would expand our outreach while preserving our legacy beyond my time.”

We are pleased to announce the addition of Mesa/Boogie to the Gibson Brands family. One of the most respected and…

Posted by Gibson on Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Gibson’s last venture into amplifier building was the Goldtone series, launched in the late 90s. Despite this, the brand has a long history with amplifiers, dating back to the 30s. With Mesa/Boogie acting as a “Gibson Custom Shop for amplifiers,” it’s plausible we’ll be seeing reissues of classic amplifiers in the near future.

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