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Chapter 1: History & Legacy premieres today with a rare historical interview featuring 43‑year MESA veteran and Tone Lab Director Doug West, tracing the handcrafted‑in‑Petaluma, California heritage of the MESA/Boogie brand.
“What Makes a Boogie,” is a brand-new multi‑episode video campaign that explores the story, spirit, and craftsmanship behind one of the most influential names in guitar amplification. The series invites players and fans into the world of MESA/Boogie—its people, its innovations, and the relentless pursuit of tone that has defined the brand for more than five decades.
The debut chapter, History & Legacy, launches with a rare, in-depth interview featuring Doug West, MESA/Boogie’s Tone Lab Director and a 43-year veteran of the storied brand. Drawing on decades of first-hand experience, West traces the company’s journey from its late-1960s experimental roots to the groundbreaking amplifier designs that helped define the modern electric guitar sound—all crafted in Petaluma, California. This opening episode offers a compelling, insider perspective on the brand’s evolution and enduring influence WATCH HERE.
For more than 40 years, every MESA/Boogie amplifier and cabinet has been handcrafted in Petaluma, California, where the company has operated since 1980. This commitment to craft remains central to the brand’s identity and will be celebrated throughout the “What Makes a Boogie” series, which highlights MESA/Boogie’s most iconic products and its ongoing design leadership.
Anchored by West’s personal reflections, the episode illuminates the culture of experimentation, originality, and tone first thinking that has guided MESA/Boogie since its founding. His stories bring to life the origins of the “Boogie” name, the early workshop days, and the innovations that established MESA/Boogie as the original boutique amplifier builders.
This new series expands MESA/Boogie’s ongoing commitment to telling the stories behind its craft—spotlighting the roots, defining innovations, and tone‑first philosophy that have shaped the brand for more than five decades. “What Makes a Boogie” underscores the values that continue to guide MESA/Boogie today: passion, integrity, excellence, premium quality, and hand‑built craftsmanship. More than a retrospective, “What Makes a Boogie” looks ahead—showing how the brand’s next chapter is being shaped by the team that has carried its standards forward for decades, many of whom have worked at the company for over 30+ years. The series celebrates the people and ideas behind MESA/Boogie’s legacy while spotlighting the innovation and craftsmanship that continue to inspire musicians worldwide.
With this launch, MESA/Boogie invites players, fans, and tone‑seekers everywhere to rediscover what truly makes a Boogie—and to experience the heritage and future of a brand whose impact on guitar tone continues to resonate globally, preserving the craftsmanship and spirit that musicians around the world continue to trust.
Read more about the new video series on the Gibson Gazette HERE, and explore all things MESA/Boogie HERE.
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