“You fix it so it won’t break again, then you pound on it some more. Every amp gets the living daylights hammered out of it”: Randall Smith on the origins of his ‘hammer test’ that makes Mesa/Boogies bulletproof

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier.

When Mesa/Boogie says its amps are bulletproof, it isn’t a mere marketing ploy: it means it. Now, brand founder Randall Smith has discussed the brutal techniques he pioneered to ensure all Mesa/Boogie amps are built to last.

Back in the late 1960s, Smith proved himself to be a dab hand at fixing broken gear while working at a local music store in Mill Valley, and became known among gear circles for his ability to bring gear back to life.