Mind Blown! Santana no longer with Mesa Boogie

I was shocked when I found out Santana and Mesa Boogie parted ways & he didn't even use Boogie amps on his latest album. What do you think of this? Why do you think this happened?
I have my thoughts here in this vid.
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Thanks for watching!

[@frankcollazo8313]

I believe the fact that Mesa was bought by Gibson is the reason Carlos parted ways.

[@SaintLuminus]

Yeah, something happened there.

[@angusorvid8840]

I recall reading an interview with Carlos around 1987 where he described newer Boogies (Mark III) as harsh, trebly, and annoying. And I couldn't agree with him more. I hated the Mark III and up. I couldn't stan the Rectos. The only Boogie I owned was a 50 Caliber combo. I loved that amp. It was along the lines tonally of a good modded Marshall, something like a Soldano. My issue with the amp was that it was too compressed. I couldn't get the kind of big, bright, open distortion I could get out of a good modded Marshall or Soldano. I was playing in hard rock/metal bands on the Sunset Strip in those days and the 50 Cal served me very well. A big, loud sound from a smaller box, easier to movie than a Marshall stack, not half as heavy as a Mark III combo, and a lot better sounding to my ears. I can understand of a player like Carlos, a professional legend who knows what he likes and can get anything, chooses to leave one company for another. He's going to us what serves his tone best. Randall knew what Carlos likes and as he's not with the company anymore, I can see why he moved on to greener pastures. The music won't wait.

[@SaintLuminus]

I’ve never played a Mark III but it seems to be the least liked of all Marks. Even more interesting is the other guitar player in Santana’s band. Saw them 2022. That guy plays a Rectifier. I couldn’t believe it, but it worked in Carlos’s band. 👍🤪

[@jimdep6542]

Compare Santana's tone now to what it was back when he first got his Boogie Mk 1, and playing with a Les Paul. His tone, IMO, was so much better back then. I haven't liked his tone once he started playing a PRS. The PRS sounds like it has a sinus infection ! Loved his SG, Les Paul, Gibson L6-S, Yamaha 2000.......and that's when it ended. Now that he's not using a Mesa Boogie, his tone sounds thin and his sustain just doesn't have it anymore. Too bad , because it also effects his playing....which lately hasn't been that great. Maybe it's age, but I think it has more to do the sound he's hearing and how it feels.

[@SaintLuminus]

His change in sound is probably due to a number of factors. I would find it hard to believe he hears things the same nowadays as compared to his early days. I did see him live last year and I was about 20 feet away from the stage. His sound is huge, though a bit spikey for my taste. Indeed he did flub a few notes hear and there, but man the whole performance with the whole band was unbelievably good.

[@jimdep6542]

@@SaintLuminus I'm glad it was a good show. I first saw Santana live in 1973 and then lots of times after that. My favoirte tones he got by far were before he started playing the PRS in the 80's and started using different amps, even though he still used Mesa's in combination with other amps. After that, it started sounding nasal -y. and more processed. I've never liked it , and now, just comparing videos it sounds worse than ever.........for him. I will certainly give him a pass on flubbing notes here and there due to his age, but the phrasing in general is very limited compared to what it used to be. Maybe that's age too .....he obviously likes his tone or he'd change it. .....I'd hope so anyway. Aside from being there live....just going by what's on You Tube.....there's a big difference in tone that one can decide for themself which they like. Thanks for responding and the video.

[@johnnyguitar-uu3zr]

I agree with you....

[@xoxb2]

You're over-excited. If it was an endorsement issue, he wouldn't have mentioned Boogie at all. He was just trying to make the album sound interestingly novel. He's changed gear periodically over the years. He started with Gibson guitars and Fender amps, then Yamaha and Mesa Boogie, then PRS, then Dumbles came into his live rig certainly, then they were replaced by Bludotone, then he went back to his Kingsnake Boogie and stopped using his signature PRS in favour of the goldleaf single cut. He just means it's the first album since he stopped using Fenders that has had no Boogie at all on it. They'll come back - and he's not buying new ones, is he - just using his old favourite.

[@franckrichard8077]

5000 $ for a Bludotone ... I am not surprised by the price, when you see Mesa Boogie charges you 3000 $ for the little Mark V 25 10" combo ....

[@monkeyfinger7949]

Ok, I guess I will put in my two cents. Carlos Santana was literally the guy that made me want to play guitar. The sensitivity of his playing, coupled with those romantic Latin rhythms - man, that guy could make that guitar talk. Carlos will always be my hero, and a stratospherically great guitar player - the man literally wrote the book. Those albums still hold up today. I thinks it's fair to say I am rabid fan of this guy. He changed my life. But I agree with others that the PRS changed his tone, and maybe his style. He's still one of the greatest rock guitar players ever. And, that Santana PRS is such a sexy beast. As a player with gear lust, I'd love to have one.

[@SaintLuminus]

Like you I absolutely love Carlos and his style. You’re right, his playing and those songs hold up. 👍 Yup, sure wish I could try that PRS. 🎸

[@tomblaze2]

Santana has been showing off his dumble amps these past 5 years - showcased in his rig rundown on KZbin and his official master class video sries

[@SaintLuminus]

Yes for sure, but his Mesa Boogie amp is also in that Rig Rundown. And he says for the first time he did not use a Mesa Boogie amp for his studio recording. So does that mean he will no longer use Mesa Boogie amps at all?

[@vaportrails7943]

I think it’s about PRS vs Gibson. Had to choose. He has a signature model PRS and it probably pays him more to promote that. It is sad, but you see it with these big players all the time. They get an endorsement deal with a particular brand, and part of the deal is that’s all they can use. Considering that Carlos started out with Gibson and Mesa/Boogie, it is particularly sad. That combination is even more natural now, so he would be the perfect partner for them. But business is business.

[@SaintLuminus]

Ohhhh, hadn't thought about PRS vs Gibson. Very good point!

[@noel3422]

When you see a guy shaking his hands, get out.

[@bluesnaggletooth1660]

The spirits told him to move on

[@jimdep6542]

Not sure what spirits he might be hearing. They might be coming from down below.

[@santanafan1713]

When asking Santana fans which tone they feel is his all time best, the majority ( me included ) will answer it was mid 70's to early 80's when Carlos was playing the Yamaha SG 175-b with the Buddha inlay and the black Yamaha SG 2000 through his Snake Skin Mesa Boogie Mark 1 with the Altec 417-8h series 2 speaker in it. Epic signature tone ! When he switched to PRS guitars his tone changed not for the better and when he later also started using the Dumble amps ( in spite of them costing 75K + per amp ) his sound / tone became horrible......way too muddy and muffled. I saw him live 3 years ago at an outdoor event and he sounded awful. Perhaps old age and standing in front of loud amps for 60 years has damaged his hearing and changed his perception of sound but nowadays he sounds like poo.

[@SaintLuminus]

Oh man that tone through the Boogie is incredible. I just saw him Live about a week and a half ago. At first his tone was good enough, but he was struggling and I could see he was working with his tech to get it right. Man, after a few minutes his tone suddenly came out & it was monstrous. However I don’t know what amps he was using. I could only see two 4x12 cabs. Still using the PRS guitar. But I agree with you, his best tones are from the 70s to early 80s. 👍🎶🎶🎶

[@bluesnaggletooth1660]

V CB completely agree

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

Totally agree

[@revelationsoundstudio]

No matter how much you love a guitar or an amp, its refreshing to go to another instrument or amp for fresh ideas. After Mr. Dumble died, people like Larry Carlton moved onto Bludotone amps as well. Now there are some people who want to revive the Dumble company, but like you said the prices are crazy high for it. Is there any guarantee that the sound and quality of the newer Dumble's are the same as the original? I agree Mesa quality will remain high, Randall probably made sure that the company and employees were going to be taken care of. Carlos moving on after so many years is not a big deal to me. I am sure with whatever amp he uses now, he will get a sound very similar to the tone he received with his Boogie amps. I just purchased the Mark VII combo and just love the flexibility of this amp and its tones.

[@SaintLuminus]

Ohhhhh, man I’m itching to get the Mark VII. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Indeed Carlos does use Bludotone, but I don’t know what else.

[@michaelheinen7664]

Take a look on 'Rig Rundown - Carlos Santana', where Santanas pedalboard is shown (871 second). This shows that he has been using the Dumble an Bludotone Amps for many years (see 2009 on top of the board). kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3OxnmN3rZmJsMU

[@SaintLuminus]

Yes, and notice that his Mesa snakeskin MkI is also used in that video

[@yobhsiFehT]

Further reminder that Gibson basically ruins everything it touches.

[@GuajoloteGonzales]

I guess that he could start to use Fender amps again, the '68 Custom series has the Mesa Boogie mojo and it's much cheaper than an actual Mesa Boogie.

[@SaintLuminus]

He uses Bludotone, and I think a Dumble as well. I saw him last year in Las Vegas, couldn't see the amps. But he did use two 4x12 cabs. Massive

[@johnnyguitar-uu3zr]

Dumble , Dumble, Dumble.....Klon, Klon,KLon....2 things i'm sick of hearing about ... Now Bludotone ?? who the hell is that ?

[@MrMattsac232]

You probably hit the nail on the head here. With Mesa being owned by Gibson now I’m sure the unique relationship Santana had with the company has ended. It remains to be seen if Mesa will survive the purchase and continue to thrive or be a shell of itself.

[@SaintLuminus]

Indeed I am so interested to see what happens with Mesa. My hope is that the spirit stays and Gibson is smart to leave it be as best as it can. 👍