Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Mesa/Boogie Announces the King Snake

This tribute model is an exact replica of the amp Carlos Santana toured with in 1972 and 1973.

Petaluma, CA (December 10, 2013) -- Mesa/Boogie recently announced the limited-edition King Snake, designed in conjunction with Carlos Santana. Here are the details from their website.

The Compact 100 Watt 1x12 Combo, Tube Cascading High Gain Preamp (SUSTAIN), FOOTSWITCHING (Clean to Overdrive), Half Power Switch (100/60), Pull-Gain Boost, On-Board Graphic EQ, Slave Out, All World Export Transformer, Custom Hardwood Cabinetry and a Wicker Cane Grille were all innovations seen exclusively on the worldā€™s first boutique amplifier by the worldā€™s first boutique amp builder, Randall Smith and MESA Engineering.

The Limited Edition King Snake is legendary in both sound and story because it is the direct descendant of the original Boogie that stood alone at that intersection so long ago. That amp was the transitional link between the low gain single channel amps of yesteryear and todayā€™s current high gain, multi-channel footswitching amplifiers. Before the Boogieā€™s appearance back then, players had to turn an amp all the way up to get overdrive and sustain and it occurred in the power section, which of course was LOUD. With the creation of the worldā€™s first high gain tube preamp in 1970, found only in the little Boogie by MESA Engineering, players could achieve sustain and singing tube overdrive at any volume. Revolutionary! The rest is history ā€“ and while it is correct to say that the little high gain, high power 1x12 Boogie Combo changed guitar and popular music forever, the story doesnā€™t end there!

This tribute model is an exact replica of the amp Carlos Santana toured with in 1972/73 as he introduced the world to this new sound, right down to the unique chassis size and the aged Snake-embossed Lambskin covering. But it has also been updated to include all our most secret Tone discoveries uncovered throughout the 43 years since the originalā€™s creation. These improvements, some visible and some hidden, increase the performance and versatility while recreating the original voice with full authenticity. They make the Snake more usable across a wider range of musical styles and power requirements and add exciting new possibilities for expression and enjoyment.

Watch the company's video demo:

For more information:
Mesa/Boogie

The ultimate hand-wired Tube Screamer from Ibanez is up for grabs! Enter the I Love Pedals giveaway today, and come back daily for extra entries!

Read MoreShow less

The high priest of prog-metal guitar, John Petrucci, is still finding new territory on his instrument.

Photo by Mark Maryanovich

The legendary progressive-metal guitarist details the darknessā€”and the renewed camaraderieā€”that led to his band Dream Theaterā€™s 16th full-length record, Parasomnia.

Some very important events happened in John Petrucciā€™s life in 2024. He celebrated an enormous milestone with his bandmates in prog-metal behemoth Dream Theater: Theyā€™ve been a band for 40 years. Many bands arenā€™t destined to last a single decade, let alone four. Itā€™s a titanic personal and artistic achievement. And yet, that anniversary paled in significance next to another major development: The band wrote and created a new full-length record with founding drummer Mike Portnoy, who had been absent from Dream Theater since 2010.

Read MoreShow less

Fifteen watts that sits in a unique tone space and offers modern signal routing options.

A distinct alternative to the most popular 1x10 combos. Muscular and thick for a 1x10 at many settings. Pairs easily with single-coils and humbuckers. Cool looks.

Tone stack could be more rangeful.

$999

Supro Montauk
supro.com

4
4
4
4

When you imagine an ideal creative space, what do you see? A loft? A barn? A cabin far from distraction? Reveling in such visions is inspiration and a beautiful escape. Reality for most of us, though, is different. Weā€™re lucky to have a corner in the kitchen or a converted closet to make music in. Still, thereā€™s a romance and sense of possibility in these modest spaces, and the 15-watt, 1x10, all-tubeSupro Montauk is an amplifier well suited to this kind of place. It enlivens cramped corners with its classy, colorful appearance. Itā€™s compact. Itā€™s also potent enough to sound and respond like a bigger amp in a small room.

Read MoreShow less
- YouTube

Watch the official video documenting the sold-out event at House of Blues in Anaheim. Join Paul Reed Smith and special guests as they toast to quality and excellence in guitar craftsmanship.

Read MoreShow less