A sonic history of Mesa/Boogie
The IK Multimedia TONEX Mesa/Boogie Reference Signature Collection plug-in provides four reference amps taken directly from Mesa/Boogie’s Tone Lab, along with the limited-edition King Snake — an exacting replication of Carlos Santana’s legendary “Budokan” Mark I amplifier. From the searing sound of the 1984 Mark IIC+ to the gain-drenched sounds of Mesa/Boogie’s 1990s-era Dual and Triple Rectifier amps to the raw sounds of the Mark IV, this collection spans all of Mesa/Boogie’s iconic tones in a single plug-in.
What’s more, the four reference amps were captured using two matching reference cabs from Mesa/Boogie, including a 4 x 12-inch Slope and 1 x 12-inch Widebody Extension. These two cabs have been perfectly worn in over the years by the Mesa/Boogie team, supplying a rich, warm, and touch-sensitive broken-in feel. True to Santana’s tastes, the King Snake’s cab was recorded with a Jensen Blackbird 100 alnico speaker, which Sweetwater guitarists find provides a decidedly clear and vocal-like quality when pushed into overdrive.