Fillmore 50 - First Look with Andy Timmons, Randall Smith & Doug West

MESA/Boogie founder, designer and President Randall Smith, Doug West in R&D and guitarist Andy Timmons got together just before the public unveiling of the new Fillmore 50 to discuss what inspired the design and the legendary sounds captured in the vintage-voiced Fillmore series.
#mesaboogie #fillmore50

[@philf4086]

Randall Smith - just as significant to the guitar world as is Leo Fender, Les Paul, and PRS. He is always trying to improve, innovate, and deliver new products that customers want.

[@bobbyburrows724]

Out of all the gyutarists there are in this world, this man is in my opinion plays with so much much soul and his melodic phrasing is the best. I know its subjective but man i love Andy’s playing. He’s a great guy and super humble as well.

[@donprater6944]

Andy could plug into a Fisher Price and it would sound awesome. I do love some Mesa amps though.

[@rb032682]

I used to have a Mark IV which I miss very much.

[@ThePedroDB]

@Don Prater I was thinking the very same thing. A shoebox guitar and a Fisher Price amp and it would still be a perfect rendition of Electric Gypsy...

[@ShiningEyeBrigade]

True, players with great touch can make even a lesser amp sound great. The key difference, and I think this is true for even great players too, is you have to work harder on a lesser amp. You have to pick just right to find what may be a very small sweet spot, and find where the lesser amps weak points are so you can avoid them. For example, if an amp gets harsh on top if you pick too hard, you’d have to be careful to pick under that intensity. Of course Someone like Andy does this automatically, like her says when they adjust the the controls as he is playing it affects what he chooses to play as he adapts to get the best tones out of what they have done. So what’s intriguing here is how effortless Andy seems to be playing, along with what he is saying (it doesn’t get harsh on the top end, for example).

[@donprater6944]

Jason Caputo dude, he's just amazing in every aspect of his playing. Very few players that I've seen, ever accomplish that. He is so good.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

It’s crazy that Andy isn’t known more, he’s an amazing player/composer.

[@mattgarcia440]

Randall Smith, very under appreciated for his contributions to "boutique" tube amplifiers. A true American icon...

[@MrRockinguitar]

Strongly Agree...….

[@Swampster70]

The guys at Fender, Jim Marshall and Randall - pioneers and producers of the finest tones. I think Mesa has gone beyond being a boutique amp company and Randall's work and influence has inspired many a guitar amp design. People like Jim (Marshall) and Randall should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@paulsmith1807]

total legend

[@gregmccurry5619]

@@Swampster70 Leo fender is in.

[@ajlsrv5490]

I saw Andy live last summer in a bar with about 150 people. It was mind boggling. There is no one better.

[@riffinpeace6667]

he can plug his guitar into a broken dishwasher and still sound great

[@michaelcorrieri6117]

Andy could sell me sand at the beach if he plugged into it.

[@MetalMan73100]

This video could have gone on for five hours, and I would gladly watch it till the very end. Also nice to hear them talk freely about other famous amplifier brands as a point of reference. No taboos here.

[@ryantandy307]

"Marshall was just a copy of the ol' Fender tweeds..." big WOW

[@page29]

6:50 I like how he gets the "Stern" legs as soon as he starts playing jazzy.

[@MuchachoC]

the guy looks sooooo happy seeing Andy play. For an amp designer it must be a real treat hearing everything your creation is capable of, in the right hands

[@JasonMcFly]

Their passion for tone is infectious. Andy and Boogie are a match made in heaven

[@davidthomas3725]

Low end without getting bloated and tubby....I am a Fender Deluxe guy and this is exactly what I'm looking for! This amp sounds ridiculously good!

[@tns4421]

Just sayin'...to have Lord Randall next to you as you play through his boogie...you must have done something very very good in your life for such a present!!!

[@Phoboss32]

This proves how well Mesa collaberates with his artists. Absolutely fantastic!

[@bridgey3706]

I have this amp and it's the best amp I've ever owned. I have owned all the well known brands, but never a MESA. I demoed many amps looking for one that goes from Fender clean to great sounding overdrive and this one does it. Takes pedals great including overdrive pedals. Well built and thoughtfully designed. I only wish it were smaller. There is a smaller 25 watt version, but I thought the clean on the 50 watt was better. It's not perfect, but close for me!

[@bugeyedmudafuka2]

You should do an andy timmons signature amp

[@carlosaureliocarvalhosouza1647]

The blackstar is his adoptive son 😏👊🏼👍🏻🎸

[@p6x2]

Andy quit Laney as they were working on his signature amp. From his numerous interviews, the Lonestar IS his signature amp. You could slap "Andy Timmons" on it, there would be no difference. His favorite combination is the Lonestar 100 watts head with the 2 x 12 rectifier cabinet. That being said, in almost all the latest shows I have seen of him, he uses Lonestar combos, at least two, with external cabinets. Something that changed too, he no longer uses the drive channel of his amplifiers. His singing tone is now exclusively obtained with pedals in front of the clean channel. He said this combination offers more subtlety and variation options than the traditional dirt channel plus drive.

[@wyattearpp9540]

@@p6x2 ....that's right. Digitalized clean setting is always best I can conjure up!

[@ajlsrv5490]

Pisk Six maybe a modified lone star with no dirty channel since he never uses it anyway then

[@p6x2]

@@ajlsrv5490 That sounds good to me. But I would not trust Andy to stick to the clean channel exclusively. Since I have known him, his choices have evolved with his tone quest. At least, he stuck to that one guitar, the AT100 prototype; but amp wise, he seems to have gone from the 100 Lonestar head + dual rectifier cabinet, to the Lonestar combo. He is still stereo, before with the Lonestar and the Stiletto, and now with two Lonestar combos. I am going to make a video of the photos I took at his last concert, where he used more gear than usual. Andy Timmons and the Electric Truth. There, he also added a Lonestar special for the EL 34's. So back to a signature amplifier, it could be a dual 6L6 and EL 34 switchable?

[@Turboy65]

About 50 years ago Randall Smith started to make a name for himself by modifying Fender Princetons. Today, his new amp basically sounds like two Princetons in one box. Well...a similar Fender with reverb, anyway. I'm thinking it sounds almost exactly like my Pro Reverb. Randy has has come full circle. In a few years he'll mod this amp and call it a "Mark One Mk II".

[@AndJamTracksForAll2014]

when he riffs on pinball wizard, that was just amazing

[@p6x2]

Andy and amazing is a pleonasm.... :-)

[@voodootele]

As great as Andy is, it'd be awesome to see Brent Mason play through this amp, to hear that gnarly old grey tele through it will really show how it picks up where the fender leaves off.

[@1telemaster]

voodootele too bad it probably won't happen. As, Brent has his own Signature Amp now. But, it'd be DAMNED MAGICAL!

[@CNCTEMATIC]

Andy should play a Strat more often. He sounded great playing one.

[@Kamy.GG.Official]

Nobody brought me here, I'm here cuz *MESA* is life.

[@claytonmsteele]

hello! how would this compare to a fender 65 deluxe reverb reissue? Thanks!

[@nekromachine]

Excellent as always from MESA, This seems like a great amplifier in its own right but also extremely well suited for taking pedals, So any players with a decent range of overdrives to all-out modern high-gain monster distortions that they like to use along with their likely equally decent selection of modulations (most of them anyway) and all reverbs and delays piped into the FX loop. Still, I am not saying that it is a limited hangout for players and better suited to players who own and use numerous pedals. As that would be doing it a big injustice. Have to also say that AT makes everything that he plays through sound great and he's a top-notch player too. Cheers and all the very best

[@andrewbroadhead1897]

This is a truly wonderful sounding amp, such a varied palet of tones and all great. Could this be THE do it all amp 🤔, I think it just might, well done guys 👏 just stunning tones.

[@koski666]

Love my Fillmore 50 combo! Just put the knobs at 12 o'clock and this amp sounds amazing. It's also a great pedal plateforme. A great musical companion.

[@mattyounis5636]

Does it handle high gain pedals fine?

[@koski666]

@@mattyounis5636 I don't use a lot of high gain pedals to be honest, but a Rat 2 sounds really good. If you use the Drive mode with lower gain, it stacks really well too.

[@russellmedeiros7927]

My Boogie Bros have been nailing it with the amps lately!

[@Rolf_D]

Best advertisement ever, great Amp and great player!!

[@rottalmusik6563]

Love how andy is playing the Pinball Wizard😍😻🎸

[@lifebreath77]

Andy makes me want to buy every Boogie he plays through! Lol.

[@deanmlshredder]

JP hooked me on a Mark v 25. And I'm really thinking about the fillmore 25 for my more Larry Carlton moments. The MK V will do it but Andy is killin me with this shit.

[@jamesjurewicz]

I believe the last time we saw John Petrucci in this room demoing the Mark V Mini...a signature amp followed. Let's hope one is coming with Andy's name on it.

[@jerryfraker377]

I really like your amps. Saving up to get a fillmore 50 for giging.

[@mark7166]

I think it sounds better in the combo. But either way, it's a pretty killer sound!

[@alessandrorossini8704]

Timmons is a hell of an axeman, true, but this amp...gee... cooks as hell as well, man...

[@cehdmoy]

It's impossible to consider it as a valid test, cuz if u give Andy a $5 amp and he gonna make it sounds amazing

[@NateThunder]

If youre going to shoot a promo for your amp, youre always going to choose the best player you can to show the best qualities of your amp.

[@realgoodmind]

With all the amp companies that don't want to mention other these big amp companies that are foundations for all these sounds that we love, it's refreshing to see someone acknowledge them. They are paying homage to them and saying they love them. Nice video. Can't wait to get one of these one day.

[@jitsroller]

I love all the adjectives for guitar tone. Love it, they all make sense. I think Andy's clean tone is slightly puffy and airy.

[@Locoandchooch]

Randall is getting up there, God bless him for what he does. Especially the metal side 🤟

[@Theweeze100]

As mentioned before, having seen this video was the catalyst to my putting this amp on my bucket list. I will never sound like Andy, what a gift… But how much is a dose of inspiration worth? Born in the 60s, I was blessed to hear a lot of players using Fender black face amps live. Never forgot that sound. Along with a lot of my fellow “tone chasers” this amp fills a huge place in my heart. It’s not the be-all, End all, but it dose provide a healthy dose of pure inspiration! Bring one home for a test drive… You won’t be sorry!

[@samiam7342]

boogie does it again! seems like they put out a new amp every 2 months.................................

[@romanslegion7771]

Could you possibly compare this combo to the Bloomfield Combo 20/40. This is my dilemma. Can’t afford a real Dumble SOD. Which comes closest? No biased comments allowed. Your humble servant, Brad Dallas

[@p6x2]

Any guitar amplifier would sound good with Andy, it is both fortunate and unfortunate.... (smile). I purchased my Mesa LoneStar because of that tone, which I can't get myself. I would really like Mesa to design a 5 watts amplifier, one that I can play in my bedroom without disturbing my neighbors. I think it is time. I was at Andy's concert on April 20th at the Guitar Sanctuary, and he seems to exclusively use LoneStar combos, including a LoneStar special. I really would like to see a 1/5 watts version of that in the market. What do you think?

[@nekromachine]

Truth and nothing but the truth. Very nice MESA amp which you picked up too Pisk Six. I can never really nail other player's exact sound with precision even with the exact same pieces of gear and knowing exactly what to play and how, I can get semi-close but my own style/sound always has and will dominate, Which I am peace with totally. I think that we all have our own style/sound no matter what and getting close to some of the best/personal hero or legends is great and fun, Often the style/technique of another player will provide any of us some bits and pieces to "borrow", That ends up incorporated into our own take on it blended with the rest. All the best your way and cheers

[@p6x2]

@@nekromachine Thanks! I think that at some point, we all do the same copycat, before we realize that tone is personal. No amount of equipment will change how you sound. Personally, I think that good equipment helps you define your sound more accurately. But it is only a layer above your own ability. At the end of the day, you will always be with what ever signature you started with. Throughout the years, I have accumulated some of the main Andy Timmons tonal ingredients; name it, I probably have it. Starting with his first ever signature guitar, the AT100SB, then came the AT300, the various echo, including the Chandler stereo Digital delay, and later, the Electro Harmonix Memory man. I got a couple of BB pre-amp pedal, until I realized, no matter what, I will only sound like me.

[@Allann882]

Pisk Six Man They know We need that one

[@p6x2]

@@Allann882 I hope they read the comments section here, because every amp company and their uncles have already proposed or re-issued low wattage amplifiers, while Mesa is still demure of a single one. My six cents? they won't come up with any. It is not their segment. They seem to be tagging a different market.

[@nekromachine]

@@p6x2 & Allan Ardon tell you what a "micro" rectifier and "micro" Mark V would do me just great/be perfect, Sack the clean channels off, With the recto I'll take the orange Raw, orange modern and red modern, The Mark V wise the lead and the extreme channels would be plenty to keep me busy. I have a lot of options all-valve wise from around 120 watts (not including bass guitar amps) right down to roughly a single, lone 1 watt which is handy. I have a dual-rectifier, 5150 II and 5150+, VHT pitbull ultralead (from before Fryette sold the name but kept his amps that he does under his surname nowadays, Great stuff), JCM2000 DSL50 the 50 watt version, Thats plenty power on tap that I rarely have gotten close to maxing out among others, It is actual space that I don't have enough of to be able to grab 100 watt and yeah even 50 watt heads nowadays. So compact is key, More headroom then I've already got plenty of beasts with the FX Loop that takes care of that. Been so close to pulling the trigger on a Mark V smaller sized 25 watt head and the Mini Recto that is 20 watts, been inches away from a 5150 III, Randall 667 & also the PRS Archon 50...I keep having to crack myself in the face to stop myself hehe, You gents know what its like I'm certain. Regardless the lust will keep rising and I must resist. Love to hear what has been leading you both to temptation if there has been anything. Cheers and all the best

[@ColdToiletSeats]

12:56 ... that riff ... sounds exactly like the fucking record ........ first time I heard this in person I was sold .. my friends les paul sounded just like the song remains the same

[@kuringmundo]

i always thought andy's tone was at least 75% his fingers and 25% his pickups , signature guitar, treble bleed (ie his gear). when he switched to that strat at 8:54, i can confirm its ALL from his fingers

[@garysmith2983]

One thing that you notice with the best players is that they have their own sound, but can also play numerous other styles very proficiently. I see the comments about a 5w Mesa. I have an express and it attenuates down to 5w. Very under rated amp. Great playing Andy. Great amps Mesa.

[@almightyguitarnerd]

Just got Fillmore 50 Head and 2x12 Cab. This clip had a lot to do with me forming final decision so thanx for dipping me into 3 years long finance deal

[@orion681]

Strat sounds better than the Ibanez. So much more dynamic.

[@pilotamurorei]

Fuck you, Ibanez is way better than your garbage strats.

[@dressedtosmellgood]

@@pilotamurorei lol cool off. its the pickups.

[@anthonydemmons5951]

Its Andy......

[@JM-bg2ts]

yup! so much more vibe!

[@ikhsanhasbi657]

Dunno about that, andy's tone has always been heavenly with his ibanez at100.

[@lennyd4712]

Superb sounds coming from this amp...love it...want it....gonna save my money to buy it!! Great job guys at Mesa ❤

[@jimcairns1633]

Damn damn damn. What’s that song @ the 15 min mark?

[@jefffelderman2409]

I've heard some amp demos where the tone comes across as kind of dull and flat. But in the hands of a master like Andy Timmons, you really hear how awesome this amp can sound. His clean tones are heavenly.

[@tractordirt]

4 years ago and I’m just seeing this? Such a fun 18 minutes. Three talented guys geeking out on gear and music. Helps me appreciate my Fillmore 50 even more.

[@tommyfunk693]

I JUST joined a family. The Mesa/Boogie family. I ordered the Fillmore 50 combo. I can't wait 2 have it and try explore it. Mesa/Boogie 4 life.

[@andrewrwhitfield]

Absolutely beautiful!! You've knocked it right out the park. Well done guys.

[@riffinpeace6667]

why oh why Andy Timmons dosent have his own mesa boogie signature amp

[@r.weaver3769]

because he loves them all

[@fromthistexasbreath]

I'm a Mark-series guy, but damn I love all of Mesa's amp demos.

[@NateThunder]

I love Marshall, Orange, Soldano, and Peavey, bug Ill always keep the Mesas and the Fenders around.

[@Allann882]

I’ll be wating your Mesa Boogie @AT amp...

[@davidkeller6156]

I bought a Fillmore 25 in February. The first tube amp I’ve actually owned. Just a bed room player so I wanted an amp with a master volume. Love this amp and would highly recommend it. Great cleans and reverb to heavy crunch. All I need.

[@Dirtydollsband]

Superlative amp!!...every time Andy touches the guitar is an holiday in heaven...

[@p6x2]

I met Andy the first time when he was endorsing Laney amplifiers. I swear he sounded just like he does now, tone wise.

[@Theweeze100]

I agree, I ended up putting this amp on my bucket list when I heard this video. I don’t sound like Andy, but my tongue is vastly improved.

[@greekfreak1980]

Looks like Andy modded his Ibanez. I see he has now a true singlecoil in the middle and also a mini switch,I guess for extra coil-split options and maybe to operate the singlecoils in parallel,like the Ibanez AZ Series models? I have a ''Frankenstein'' Strat with similar setup,made of a Yamaha Pacifica body and a Warmoth neck,now I just need Andy's talent. ;-)

[@flybynight1929]

Good catch. More questions now. Seems late in the game, but I'd like to hear why.

[@greekfreak1980]

@@flybynight1929 I guess for more versatility,the AZ setup gives you so many options. Like I said,I have something similar in my Frankensteincaster.With my setup,I can split the humbucker and have it in singlecoil mode and also the neck twin-rails pickup.(I have a S.D. JB in the bridge with a Classic Stack in the middle and a Cool Rails in the neck)

[@Echo_III]

Guitarists - The lovely top-end, very responsive gain and tight low end. Wow! That's something new! Amp makers - Shit... I put same caps and resistors last time.

[@Caged63Man]

They got this one right...Axe Effects and it's like will take the back seat to this amp! I'd be proud to lug this beast to jam, practice or whatever size gig/venue, than a rectangle box of electronics of wannabe sounds, any day of the week!

[@mattsb17]

Andy put me on the Mesa Boogie . What perfect marriage between the two !

[@PJSScotty]

Wow, 18 minutes of Andy and a Boogie. Thanks a lot.

[@brandonproctor3639]

Hell, I'd love to have this for an A/B just for my clean tone and then a Mark IIC+ for my crunch/lead tones. That's if I could afford shit like that 😆 I'm dreaming of course but my god that sounds great!

[@dadadeede7713]

Dear @MESA/Boogie could you please upload another version with the sound of the room? No direct into mixing, cause I love the live sound of the amp and his playing!

[@therollband1290]

Inspirational! I really appreciate everything that was said in this demo. The Fillmore sound is incredible. Sometimes really overdriven amps have this layer of static that washes out the sound coming from the instrument but I don’t ever hear that coming from this amp. The low end wasn’t getting blown out and the highs aren’t fizzy. It just sounds very musical. Great playing doesn’t hurt! Man I really have to have this amp now. That’s my sound! That’s the sound I’ve been looking for

[@nicfabrizio1776]

I’ve watched this video SO many times wanting this amp badly and played this amp locally many times and it’s my dream amp only other amp in my dream category that I played and loved equally is the soldanoSLO 30 which is way more expensive and no reverb. Andy’s playing is phenomenal so is that amp

[@DennyBob521]

I’ve owned a dozen Mesas, and this is by far my favorite. Of course Andy could play one of those solid state toy amps you get in a starter pack and make it sound amazing, but WOW - beautiful tone, clean or dirty.

[@jasonwilliamshuck]

it's got that warm knock on the low end that only power tubes into real guitar speakers delivers. really sounds great.

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

Sounds odd hearing the string noise under the amp tones, but it did sound excellent!

[@Swampster70]

Every video with Andy and the guys from Mesa is a joy to watch.

[@rockingstar3534]

If you are running late for your work or appointment, you better not watching Andy play. Cos he is gonna make you late. Once he plays, he cant stop!😂

[@whimpypatrol5503]

HUMM, that Beatles Sgt Peppers song may have sounded more out-of-this-world played with a Cassino or an es330 thru the Filmore.

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Somebody needs to demo the Filmore with guitars of the rock era that Leo Fender voiced his blackface amps for (besides strats) which were 1) es335s 2) Gretsches and 3) hollow body Gibson electrics.

[@solesilente]

Uhm...Andy is still using his old Lone Star so...maybe the fillmore didn't convince him enough for a gear change

[@donofly]

I bought the Fillmore 50 head several months ago, and have only played it at home 3 times, it sound good, but the reverb seems to be jacked up. The reverb on the channel to the right when turned all the way up turns the volume all the way up, but no reverb? I guess it is acting as a volume? Another repair video claims that the reverb tanks need to be replaced or modded. Anyone know what is up with this? I think I emailed You guys early this year, and never heard back. Thanks for any help. I bought it from Sweetwater, do I need to contact them?

[@loudguitar]

Andy, damn. Randy and Doug, thanks for all you have done for amplifier technology. Doug, I have an Electra Dyne that I love dearly, but I need something more manageable to move around. I think this sold me a Fillmore. Randy, enjoy your retirement. You have earned it!!!

[@loudguitar]

Bought a Fillmore 50 combo!

[@93mshep]

Andy is such a special guitar player

[@SteeringSteel]

What I love about this demo is the amp. What I hate about this demo the 16 minutes they spend comparing it to every other amp under the sun. Dammit man, just call it a bad ass amp and leave it at that!

[@sylviebernardin3086]

Leo +Enzo+Randall = "the Spirit of art in technology " 😊I was there in Petaluma in 93 or 94 ? Factory tour wirh Dave Goodman ..great moments ! thanks to all guys building thé best amp with heart and soul..Andy you are so talent man !!

[@GCW123]

Randall Smith is a genius

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

Im looking for this just for home use. Should I choose one or the 25 W and will that amp give me these tones?

[@matthoward1174]

Man,.. Andy reminds me of Jeff Golub !

[@jasong546]

I seem to recall the hateful and stupid things people said about this when released. That it sounds terrible and is a waste. Freakin thing sounds beautiful and anyone would be fortunate to have it to write and perform with.

[@johnnyguitar-uu3zr]

Hi, what amp would be better for me i play blues mostly > The Fillmore 25 or the MESA/Boogie California Tweed 2:20 ??? Please give me your opinion thanks ...🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊

[@mesaboogie]

Hi there! Both are great amps, but if you want that Blues tweed amp sound, the tweed would likely be your best choice!

[@Goku16053]

Andy Timmons is a fantastic guitarist!! Uau!!! What a sound!!!!!!! This overdrive is beautiful man!!!!

[@hyperboogie]

I swear, Andy must be responsible for 50% of Mesa Boogie's sales

[@marinstefan9918]

dreamland of clean tones ! wow ! luv Andy's feel as well :D makes any amp sound 982713867 times better haha

[@tsering90]

what's the song he plays at 13:00 ?

[@bogfish9664]

Finally!, I've found my last amp.

[@FergusVonMarkusson]

Wow! Really epic guys. I really wasn't expecting the sonic "tour de' force" that we got from this. Notwithstanding Andy's immaculate touch, this was a totally joyous experience. really well done guys. Really...

[@Tubedriver42]

wow... ripping Who riffage too

[@darwinsaye]

The best feature of a Strat is the neck pickup sound, and the weakest is the bridge pickup sound. But, hey why bother using the neck pup?

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

Man I love boogies. I never find the right application for them in my love rig but I just keep buying them because they're so beautifully made.

[@RichusRkr]

dang, I don't need another amp but..... I want one of these..... slap slap..

[@DizzyKrissi]

omg - Andy sounds soooooo good - even without delay and reverb.

[@therangersinger]

WATCHING ANDY AND DOUG TOGETHER. THEY ARE LIKE BEST FRIENDS. BOTH SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR WHEN GRAET TONE IS MADE

[@12stringblues]

WOW this should be how every amp is demoed, stellar sound and Andy T. is Fantastic as always!!!

[@peevee605]

Andy Timmons.....his playing is so tasteful it's just insane.

[@timp.9582]

Just got a Fillmore last week. It will take over for my Mark IV which I decided it’s time to move on from.