The Mesa/Boogie Gold Mine is a higher-gain overdrive pedal from Mesa/Boogie, announced in June 2020 as one of three new hand-built overdrives alongside the Cleo and Dynaplex. It sits at the top of that trio's gain range: Premier Guitar's press release described it as "soaring, fat high gain that tips the hat to Boogie"1. Mesa/Boogie's own page calls it soaring, smooth high gain with "a harmonic edge that's borderline Brit in character"2.
The Gold Mine is discontinued. Mesa/Boogie's product page states: "Sorry, the MESA/Boogie Gold Mine is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only."2
Character and place in the lineup
The Gold Mine was the high-gain option when Mesa/Boogie added three overdrives to its pedal line in June 2020, covering the range from boost to high gain across the Cleo, Dynaplex and Gold Mine13. Mesa/Boogie describes the pedal's sustain in amp-like terms: "a violin-like quality infuses single notes with saturation that blends attack and sustain with near perfection in pedal form"2. For a player, that places it in overdrive pedal territory at the gain levels where overdrive starts to meet distortion, with a voicing the maker describes as tipping the hat to Boogie while leaning toward British amp character2.
The controls
The Gold Mine carries five knobs covering gain, a three-band EQ and output level, plus a hidden internal switch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Determines the amount of gain (overdrive) in the signal path2 |
| BASS | Works in tandem with the TREBLE control to adjust low frequencies2 |
| MID | Increases or decreases the amount of midrange frequencies2 |
| TREBLE | Adjusts the amount of high frequencies present in the mix, allowing fine tuning of highs separately from the lows2 |
| LEVEL | Master output level; controls the amount of signal provided to the host amplifier2 |
The separate BASS and TREBLE controls, rather than a single tone knob, let you shape the low and high ends independently, with the MID control filling in the center2.
The hidden TIGHT switch
The Gold Mine also has a TIGHT switch that is not on the front panel. Mesa/Boogie describes it as a hidden switch on the circuit board, accessible from the bottom under the removable lid. When engaged, the bass response is trimmed back and the sound is tailored toward rhythm playing and faster tracking of pick attack2. If you pick up a used Gold Mine, it is worth checking under the lid, because the switch changes the pedal's low-end behavior and is invisible from the top.
Power and specifications
The pedal runs on a 9V battery or, optionally, AC power via an external power jack input. Mesa/Boogie specifies that an external supply must be 9VDC with a NEGATIVE CENTER plug polarity, a 2.1mm x 5.5mm jack plug, and a draw of 15mA at 9VDC2. That draw is low enough for most pedalboard supplies.
Other specifications from the maker2:
- Input impedance: 1M Ohm (500k Ohm minimum), nominal input -20 dB
- Output impedance: 10k Ohm
- True bypass on/off switching, bypassing all circuitry when off to ensure no tonal loss
- On/off status LED
- Dimensions: 4.77 x 2.87 x 2.29
- Weight: 0.865
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Questions
Is the Mesa/Boogie Gold Mine still made?
No. Mesa/Boogie's own product page states that the Gold Mine is no longer available and that the page has been left up for reference only. The pedal was announced in June 2020 as one of three new overdrives, alongside the Cleo and Dynaplex, and was hand-built in Petaluma, California.
Can the Gold Mine run on a 9V battery?
Yes. The Gold Mine is 9V battery powered, with optional AC power through an external power jack input. If you use an external supply, Mesa/Boogie specifies that it must be 9VDC with a negative center plug polarity and a 2.1mm x 5.5mm jack plug, drawing 15mA at 9VDC.
Is the Gold Mine true bypass?
Yes. Mesa/Boogie describes the Gold Mine as having true bypass on/off switching, which bypasses all circuitry when the pedal is off to ensure no tonal loss. An on/off status LED shows whether the pedal is engaged.
Where is the hidden Tight switch on the Gold Mine?
The TIGHT switch is on the circuit board, accessible from the bottom of the pedal under the removable lid. When engaged, the bass response is trimmed back and the sound is tailored toward rhythm playing and faster tracking of pick attack.
How much did the Mesa/Boogie Gold Mine cost?
The Gold Mine listed at $199. Guitar World reported in June 2020 that the Cleo, Dynaplex and Gold Mine clocked in at $199 apiece when the three overdrives were announced.
Sources (3)
- Mesa/Boogie Introduces Three New Overdrive Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2020-06-17
- Mesa/Boogie Gold Mine, Gibson (www.gibson.com)
- Mesa/Boogie reveals 3 new overdrive pedals, Guitar World, 2020-06-18
