First Look - Mesa/Boogie California Tweed

#mesaboogie #guitar #premierguitar
More First Look videos: bit.ly/FIrstLook
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2019

[@premierguitar]

Read the review: bit.ly/MesaBoogieCaliTweed

[@gregmccurry5619]

What about the Fillmore 25 combo?

[@American-Dragon]

Good grief! Too many good amps out there. This one is a winner.

[@vincentl.9469]

@@American-Dragon I believe these are now owned by Gibson. This is where it gets confusing..you have the Tone master series which is also very good with no tubes, no heat

[@juanmaperera]

We love John. Such a humble guy and really great player. I love his videos.

[@DSilvergun]

Yeah he's pretty good.

[@dreyn7780]

And totally an idiot who's got it all wrong. You've got to watch out for male perfectionists cause they dismissed active pickups along time ago, and now they have NO CLUE what they're doing and saying. EMG active pickups amp. If this guy in the vid was right, fender would sue. It wouldn't be any different to a fender amp. Fortunately the amp is designed for active EMG pickups.

[@Robstafarian]

@@dreyn7780 Whoever said this amp was designed for active pickups was probably thinking of the low-level input rather than specific aspects of the preamp circuit.

[@dreyn7780]

It can't be the same thing as a fender amp. You can't play a fender guitar and get the same sound as a fender amp. It wouldn't be built any different to a fender amp at that point. What it's designed to do is make SOME NON FENDER GUITAR seem to sound like the old fender sound. You've got to find which NON FENDER PICKUPS this amp circuit accepts. G&L guitars allow the user to have BOTH active and passive pickup sounds. So find one of those guitars and explore what happens to all those sounds. They can't all work in the amp. Some MUST SOUND TERRIBLE in this amp.

[@Robstafarian]

@@dreyn7780 I disagree with your assessment of the intent behind this amp's design.

[@SilverParatrooper]

Just played one at a local music shop and man it blew me away at how awesome it sounded. Very responsive and so spongy sweet.

[@dianeduffcroop8158]

Hey John I know you posted this about four years ago but I'm in the market for a California Tweed and your demo is the best on KZbin as per usual! Not only do I love you playing because it's very unique but your take on all this gear is so well-informed that I learn something new every time I watch and re-watch and re-watch your videos! And I am absolutely addicted to the Rig Rundown particularly when you're the one doing the hosting! So I just wanted to thank you for the free information to help me spend my hard-earned dollars on the exact speed piece of gear that I need! And in this case it's going to be a Cali Tweed! And by the way I'm going to be running that in stereo with my tone king imperial Mark 1! I freaking can't wait!🎉😊❤

[@LucasFowler]

John is such a badass. That little harmonic squeal with the slide he threw in on the intro was so tasteful and sweet. Love it!

[@xoxb2]

Sitting on the floor is the best place to play a guitar! Cool demo ...

[@scrimmerman]

You and Sister Rosetta always give the best demos on the interwebs, thanks!

[@blottoinchcago]

Mesa is still in my crosshairs. No pedals, creamy and dreamy . $1899 retail . Less than the cost of the divorce lawyer if I come home with another amp or guitar. But tell me that isn't the sound of freedom . lol . Love your vids John, I sit here waiting for new rig rundowns . Thanks for making this look and sound easy .

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Nice one! Well done John! Thanks for sharing brother!

[@TheBentwrist]

The Multi Watt switch is a happy switch. You may be the new Bob Ross of amps!

[@pdbordelon]

Very good review...Im particularly grateful to hear what this amp sounds like at full gain with no pedals...we all know it sounds great clean but nice to know the amp does have some natural sizzle when pushed too!

[@johnnytruck2009]

I own 5 Mesa's... This sold me on a number 6... Great illustration on this.. Thank you!

[@telemaster]

Would love to see a Bohlinger Rig Rundown...

[@premierguitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6bWYmCZpL6co6s

[@bingefeller]

@@premierguitar Love you John!!

[@telemaster]

Steel is fun, but we want the proper rundown. ;) @@premierguitar

[@johnbohlinger]

@@bingefeller I love you too, Sus4b9...you remain my third favorite chord.

[@bingefeller]

@@johnbohlinger lol!!

[@pirateradio808]

in case nobody else said it Neil Young uses a 1959 tweed Deluxe but he runs two 6L6's in it. It runs so hot that he has to have fans blowing on it during a show. That is the heart of his whole sound. (And this Mesa gets you in the ballpark, so great job).

[@goodmanwiseman303]

Wow, Neil has some really appreciative fans, apparently. They must have big lungs. Sorry, dad joke.

[@Wesleyguitarrista]

Man! Great sound! I loved

[@alenac7269]

Great playing, great tone,and a super cool Rosetta Tharpe poster -thumbs way up for me! 👍😉

[@ronsisk3181]

Dude! That opening slide sequence was SWEET! TAB IT for us! Your riffs rock. And the Mesa Boogie is one cool amp, btw.

[@johnbohlinger]

Thanks.. but I could not write a tab to save my life.. I'm not even sure what I'm playing.. but I have some Premier guitar lessons on slide that probably covers most of it. Check out What Bohlinger Plays. Thank you

[@barrybaker1364]

Always enjoy your reviews & interviews. You cover everything about the products so genuinely and from a guitar players viewpoint. Thanks!

[@mastertapesband2767]

John can sell ANYTHING :) , esp cool/sweet/yum yum amp like this one....love watching his videos...passionate people rock!!! :)

[@paniccleo]

This sounds so good that it almost sounds unlike a tweed! hahaha.

[@michaelc2528]

As always, great playing John! Cool amp!

[@negative_b]

I really want to plug in to one of these. I like a lot of what I've heard of this amp so far.

[@Watzzys]

Sounds so good!

[@mattthereverend1989]

Played this at guitar sanctuary. I have never heard an amp I love more.

[@MrSmiley1964]

1st Boogie I've ever thought I would like to own because I liked the way it sounded, not because it was purtty.

[@sarahgregory9502]

i love the coop art on that prs.

[@chaoticembrace6984]

Awesome opening !!!!.......have a grandAss day everyone!!!!......

[@JackOperaMan]

Great demo. Really shows the amp for the great tweed chameleon it is. This one goes on my list.

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

sound absolutely epic

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

Great tones!

[@MAV4Soul]

John! that intro! Fire!

[@PanamaJack666]

Sounds fantastic! After my experience with a Boogie recently I might end up converted!

[@matthewmoore5949]

Awesome amp! Great guitar playing 🎸

[@GuitarExpress]

Great sounding amp and great sounding guitarist!

[@AZCobraman]

Love the Rosetta Tharpe painting!

[@OTR74]

Deadly slide work!

[@bobsteel6916]

John, you excellently demonstrate that amp. I got everything I need to know. You Rock!!! ☮ & 💙 You're a 💥

[@benlogan430]

Looks good and sounds good! Seems simpler than most Mesa’s and therefore probably more reliable.

[@stephanegagnon5430]

This amps sound dreamy :O

[@slickyjorj]

love the amp... nice playing.. ♫

[@AccuracySpeaks]

You rock John!

[@THEtimguitartaylor]

It has so many wonderful tones and such versatility...it may very well be my next amp. Just curious. Wouldn't cranking down the bass help it when you get beyond 3 on the master? I can see this as a serious tool, in both the studio and for live performance with some pedals as needed to get to that extra grit and delay.

[@michaelc2528]

As always, loved your playing John. Also love your little Gibson and your old, sweet Strat! The Tweed is great, but as mentioned below... definitely out of my price range.

[@FreqCity-BelairsShow]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@seancronin4010]

Nicely played. Good review.

[@5150forevermore]

This guy is the best. Super cool dude and a rippin guitar player

[@oliviermelin8194]

Super son, avec la strat

[@BobZed]

I love the sound but Mesa Boogie is shorthand for "out of my price range."

[@Chuchuguitar]

Get a used Lonestar. I think it's one of the best amps they have made. They show up online around the $1000 range, give or take. Now, I don't know if that's a lot for you or not. Cheers

[@landonferguson4632]

Blue angle. My desert island amp, and I own several mesa's including a lonestar.

[@blottoinchcago]

This one is $1899 all in . lol. My guitar instructor ( circa 1983) had a Mesa Boogie, and he ran his Gibson ES175 and Les Paul through it .I want to say it was a Mark II c? I can still hear the sound and the tone. This video literally is about to get me in the biggest amount of trouble I've seen in a while. Anyone good with forensic accounting and how to keep this off the books in my household? lol She's going to have twins over this .

[@rdfindley56]

@@blottoinchcago But the heads steal at $1699.. might be able to get your wife to having one vs. twins. Good luck, this is killing me too! Stay away from the new Gibson line up. That got me bad.. new ES-275 thin line. I'm going to be in the doghouse on that one.

[@blottoinchcago]

dying laughing Richard. The conversation with my wife was , "something has to go.." and didn't know if she was referring to me . lol. Speaking of Gibson.. happy to hear their new CEO JC Curleigh at the helm to turn the brand around . I saw the NAMM vids and product line . The ES 275 is amazing , What color did you get ? I mean sunburst is sunburst.. beautiful.. and love the ice blue . and I'm guessing you were all in for about $3k ?

[@jasoncarraway966]

This is awesome guys, not sure if the channel has ever done other gear reviews but if not keep doing em!

[@ginung32]

What a great amp!! When will it arrive in Asia??

[@johnjonestheman]

Holy cow, that tapped harmonic into the slide just after the key change to A... WOW that was cool. You used the tapped harmonic to fuel the slide, that's just... wow.

[@TheDistortionPrinciple]

Nice!

[@imannonymous7707]

Ya I saw that Dave Cobb video. ..it was cool ... I love the tone you're getting John. ... sounds wiked too

[@pdbordelon]

I have this amp and use it for gigging, with a Strat and sometimes a Les Paul. What John says about setting it in a sweet spot then driving it with choice pedals is EXACTLY what this amp is built for. For gigs in bars I run it at 20 watts, a Strymon Riverside OD pedal (with the Strymon mini boost pedal on my small board) on the front end with a Boss DD-500 delay in the effects loop. Very simple set up and it sounds GLORIOUS! On the fly I will crank or reduce the gain control and/or crank/reduce the excellent reverb. But that's it, simple with a fantastic tone...HIGHLY RECOMMEND - like me, you guys may have been over thinking it! My band is alternative to classic/hard rock so please know this wouldn't be my first choice for heavy metal (though with a good metal pedal driving it Im sure the amp would be awesome).

[@DH-og5yr]

Had a duel rectifier that just sounded amazing for metal

[@michaelmitchell5909]

Take your time with these kind of videos John, your a great guitar player man, i can listen to you play alot longer brother!...

[@ChucksterOLove]

Nice, you have ALOT of different tones to work with. I've always been a fan of Mesas, and this is a great amp for rock and blues...

[@jimlutz1290]

Nothing better than "Warm Fuzzy Tone" - Great Demo Video - "One day it shall be mine, Dilly Dilly", but not today, another perhaps, when I don't know, but it will a day of Dayz in the Kingdom . . .

[@sawdust6968]

very sweet amp

[@1willywonker]

Nice sound

[@spencercox4092]

I really like this review style over the old "pink backdrop" PG demos. So much more informal but John gets to be much more natural, and I think has a bit more fun with it. Great vid!

[@sargentppeper]

Great clip! Is your 55 Strat a refinish? 3 tone burst didn't come until late 58. :)

[@gRosh08]

Sweet!

[@sonsrawk]

Hey John, the grayer your hair gets the better your gear reviews and guitar playing!! LOL Love it dude!! Keep up the good work!

[@bigbo1865]

Mr. Bohlinger your sound is as tasty as ever.!!! Absolutely love this amp. Great review..👍

[@simonpilgrims]

Great John. Really helpful and great playing dude. You're da man 💪😎

[@sassycat]

This MB I like. Also digging Dr. Z's Joe Walsh and Fender's '62 Stapleton Princeton.

[@gage816]

Choice chops at the beginning. Nice amp

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

That Is Like Way Sweet! _ That Was Unexpected!_ New Amp Day For 1000's🎸🔊🎼🇺🇸

[@GuitarStudent4Life]

Amazing sound of Boogie, I am surprised but I am not surprised :D it doesn't have the direct/recording line out?

[@TheDmonet]

Friend of mine has one of these .....it's light, it sounds great and has a bunch of different characters with the wattage settings. I'd like to hear some perspectives on reliability. I had a mesa that was a lemon that I got heavily discounted through someone who endorses them, and shelling out $1800 for a lemon is something I'm sure will not sit well with many people.

[@mikemendelsohn7281]

I'm not a big tweed guy but that amp sounds great!

[@johnevans1453]

I bought 1 at GC used tags still on it $1699. It's glorious!

[@robertiola88]

Not a fan of the magazine, but John is awesome. Thanks for the videos John.

[@benover2284]

Nice Coop sticker on that PRS. You don't see that to often!

[@MrBLawson85]

ARE YOU GUYS GONNA RIG RUNDOWN SUNN O))) WHEN THEY COME TO TENNESSEE ON 4/20

[@BrockBarr]

Even though John Bollinger could probably sell this amp to Eskimos I think I may have found my dream amplifier

[@Goomer]

Good looking amp, wasn't crazy about the sound. And everything sounds good when John plays.

[@billtice5057]

Nice amp!

[@markwillis2980]

I've been lucky to own several boogies, and pretty much across the board they do not tolerate much bass going into the input. The breakup can be harsh and messy. Use a TS8 or EQ to remove the low end on the input, try it.

[@phfrixion]

Just spotted the Wild Tonic Kombucha. *hahahaha* Cheers!

[@bluehappyscrap]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁

[@Aenima308]

I’ll just write Mesa boogie on my monoprice 5w and call it a day.

[@benlogan430]

Jason Lee put a new speaker in it and change the tubes and it will roooockkk!

[@Aenima308]

@SeriusNtentions oh really, I didn’t know that! I thought mesas were expensive enough already. No telling how much they’ll raise prices.

[@dionr1168]

But does the Monoprice chug like the IIC+ and the Dual Rectifier? Because it's can't be a Mesa Boogie if it doesn't chug.

[@DSilvergun]

Similar in tone to old Mesa Blue Angel?

[@jasonhurley3825]

Where can I get the black guitar strap on the PRS your playing?

[@MrTommy4000]

The extra cash is worth it. Nice slide.

[@sgmarshall3]

Am I the only one that feels like John says "Hey, come on over to my house. We'll talk guitars" like he's just a friend hanging out?

[@johnbohlinger]

Yo SGMarshall... come over to my house... Let's guitar geek.

[@sgmarshall3]

@@johnbohlinger Darn it! Of all times for me to be stuck in an office building in Wheeling WV! I'm directly across the street from the Capitol Music Hall, if you've ever played here. I love watching your videos. In a business often associated with obnoxious ego maniacs, you just seem like a nice guy who just loves music. It's very refreshing.

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

Much nicer tha a Dr z What a cracking amp

[@designsinorbit]

Man I didn't know I only wanted to play blues tones when I invested in a Gib Les Paul... if that was your only guitar, would you modify it from 50's style humbuckers? If so, what to? Thanks man!

[@Justinsdada03]

I dig the velvet Elvis on the wall.

[@geetarbube]

Ronnie P That’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@rodmackinnon8497]

Great . . . love the slide. Cheers.

[@bluesholyman6187]

John, what is that guitar in the upper left at 02:55 with 3 pickups in it - looks like a Telecaster but not like one I've seen before?

[@johnbohlinger]

It's a tele build by Forrest Guitars in Nashville. thanks

[@scotthembree2285]

Old school versatile, Marshal who?

[@MrKaden1217]

Gets that Led Zep tone pretty well.

[@eyeceeyooh]

Is 10 watts good for bedroom level or is it too loud?

[@stevenolsen3162]

It's purdy...

[@dianeduffcroop8158]

Does this amp have a tube rectifier or solid-state rectifier?

[@Bobthing67]

Wish it had 2 channels. For clean and dirt.

[@A.I-GAMING]

How come there there hasn't been a Dave Navarro Rig rundown ?

[@toastoftown6404]

stephenwolf That was funny

[@evetsnitram8866]

Do you have to pay extra to have it covered in tweed?

[@edwardmonsariste4050]

So how much better is this than an old (or new) Peavey Classic? I’m asking because this seems to me to sound around the same ballpark, as in it’s a kinda raw, spongy, barking amplifier.

[@justingarcia7722]

They’re very different. The peavey is a good cheap amp, it does clean and edge of break up well and has reverb. In that sense they’re similar but I wouldn’t describe the peavey as necessarily tweedish, more like a ballsier Fender

[@edwardmonsariste4050]

Justin Garcia. Thank you for your answer! Although it’s hard to tell for me to tell through headphones in KZbin, the amp sounded similar to me by the way he was playing up until he over- saturated the speaker. I know he said he had to turn down the bass for the P90 to make it more mushy tweed like. Just seems very similar to a 12” Classic up unto a point.

[@johnbohlinger]

I have two PV classic. I really like them, and there is some similarity there.

[@edwardmonsariste4050]

john bohlinger. For the price, they really are hard to beat for that non high gain tone.