34 6L6 party! Mark Fest in my garage last night.

[GJgo]

So I met this dude through selling gear on Craigslist. I thought I loved boogies, but holy shit. This guy is on a mission to collect the whole set! So, I told him to fill up his truck with gear & cruise over since I have stuff he hasn't heard yet, and vice versa. it was AN EPIC TONAL AFTERNOON!! Spent hours A/Bing all the gear with all our different guitars. I still can believe that just happened!!!!! Anyway I have a lot of new opinions if you have questions... Gear on hand:

Mark IIB S
Mark IIB Coliseum
Mark IIC++ DRG
Mark III DRG green
Mark III blue Coliseum
Mark IVa
DR Tremoverb
JP-2C
TA-15
Recto oversize
Recto standard
EVM12L Vert 212
...and my 1960B
ESP Hanneman
ESP Horizon
Fender Jaguar
Gibson SG

Initial thoughts on a couple that this is the first time I've played.
- The IIB flat out impressed me for classic rock. I did not expect to love it so much.
- The IVa was KILLER. I need me one of these. It is to that 90s heavy sound what the IIC++ is to that 80s heavy sound. There's a little sizzle still, but not too harsh like in a lot of the IIIs.
- The Colis are wicked loud, and sound GOOD. The III is the best sounding III I've played so far. I think the massive OT helps. I have to say, I can't tell you how awesome it was to plug the III Coli into the EV cabinet and play Still Of The Night REALLY FUCKIN LOUD. Proper Coli volume!! That's so much amp.
- None of the Marks can fill out the OS cab like the Recto can.

Anyway I had to share. Shoot me some questions!

 

[lespaul6]

Wow... great collection.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

That's a mess of Boogies. Which was you're favorite of the Marks? Why?

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Wow! Cool stuff!

 

[halebox]

Without the IIC+'s legendary status do you feel it is miles above all the others or just a different flavor of Boogie?

 

[GJgo]

Favorite is a hard call, they all have their own flavor.

IIB- Awesome for classic rock.
IIC++- Killer for 80's hard rock & metal.
III- I've had a couple of my own, and played a couple others here. Probably my least favorite overall. They don't have as much character.
IV- BRUTAL. 90s punk / rock / metal. Aggressive.
JP- This one is way more compressed than all the older Marks. Honestly I prefer the openness of the older ones.

I have yet to play a V, but from listening / reading I think it is also more on the compressed side.

Favorite? It's be a hard call between the IIC++ and the IV, but I might have to give it to the ++ because it's easier on the ears.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna sell the Tremoverb & get a IV.

 

[GJgo]

Halebox the + and ++ are incredible but it's just a different flavor. If you're a classic rock guy I'd take that IIB all day long. It was so damn open. The Stones toured with a IIB Coli back in those days, for example.

I've read many guys say they prefer their IV to their C+ and I've always wanted to experience this, and now that I have, I get it. I think the ++ is "better" but that IV was just BRUTAL. There's definitely tonal room for both those amps.

 

[halebox]

Yeah I had a IIC+ coli with no eq and a IIC+ 60 watt eq with wordwide voltage. They were cool but I sold them for lots of profit. Never tried a IV though and hear they are amazing too.

 

[jdel77]

Nice collection.
I had a IV and my III Blue Stripe w/ export tranny.
The III kills the IV, which I sold.

 

[blackba]

Wow, nice assortment of amps to compare.

Kind of surprised on your take on the JP2C, thought it would come out more highly. I have kicked around selling my mark IVA for a JP2C, but its just typical GAS.

I also see the little TA-15 there. I have one of those as well, great amp. I don't seem to miss the punch of larger amps until I compare it side by side with my bigger amps such as my Mark IVA

 

[GJgo]

I've even thought about trading the JP for a IVa and pocketing the extra cash. The JP is a killer amp for gigging, but I'm not doing much of that these days.

The TA was very, very thin after lighting up all those 6L6. I'd rather have a 6L6 amp at low volume- much more body.

 

[NewWorldMan]

I wouldn't sell the Mark IVA for a JP2C unless you need the extra lead channel and options. For a gigging amp, it's flexibility is top shelf for a Mark. In terms of pure tone, the Mark IVA is where it's at. I say this as someone that personally has a collection that rivals the one listed above.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

I wouldn't sell the Mark IVA for a JP2C unless you need the extra lead channel and options. For a gigging amp, it's flexibility is top shelf for a Mark. In terms of pure tone, the Mark IVA is where it's at. I say this as someone that personally has a collection that rivals the one listed above.

How does IVA compare to the IVB? Night and day difference? A Mark IV of some sort will be incoming shortly I'm thinking.

 

[NewWorldMan]

How does IVA compare to the IVB? Night and day difference? A Mark IV of some sort will be incoming shortly I'm thinking.

They're similar enough that I think you'd enjoy either. I prefer the Mark IVA. The IVA is a little closer to the IIC+, I feel it has a little something extra in the high end that was tamed a little in the IVB (which may be more to your liking). The IVB has a little extra grit on channel 2 (but not much). The IVA has 2 FX loops, which I think can have it's uses.

The IVA also went through a few different transformer changes in the first couple of years. Most folks don't realize that within the IVA alone, you'll find 3 different PTs and 3 different OTs that were used (not including export). I prefer the originals. By the time the last thousand or so of the IVAs were made, they settled into the PT/OT combo that carried over into the IVB until production stopped.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I wouldn't sell the Mark IVA for a JP2C unless you need the extra lead channel and options. For a gigging amp, it's flexibility is top shelf for a Mark. In terms of pure tone, the Mark IVA is where it's at. I say this as someone that personally has a collection that rivals the one listed above.

How does IVA compare to the IVB? Night and day difference? A Mark IV of some sort will be incoming shortly I'm thinking.

Not a big difference. The MKIVB has a bit more gain and a larger PT.

More info: http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5987

I like the MKIVB.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

How does IVA compare to the IVB? Night and day difference? A Mark IV of some sort will be incoming shortly I'm thinking.

They're similar enough that I think you'd enjoy either. I prefer the Mark IVA. The IVA is a little closer to the IIC+, I feel it has a little something extra in the high end that was tamed a little in the IVB (which may be more to your liking). The IVB has a little extra grit on channel 2 (but not much). The IVA has 2 FX loops, which I think can have it's uses.

The IVA also went through a few different transformer changes in the first couple of years. Most folks don't realize that within the IVA alone, you'll find 3 different PTs and 3 different OTs that were used (not including export). I prefer the originals. By the time the last thousand or so of the IVAs were made, they settled into the PT/OT combo that carried over into the IVB until production stopped.

Cool info.

 

[Candiria]

That's awesome man, sounds like it was a good time.

I've even thought about trading the JP for a IVa and pocketing the extra cash. The JP is a killer amp for gigging, but I'm not doing much of that these days.

The TA was very, very thin after lighting up all those 6L6. I'd rather have a 6L6 amp at low volume- much more body.

If you do anything I'd suggest buying the IV first and then comparing it to the JP before you move it. I also wouldn't move the Tremoverb for a IV since they're so different and you have a much more similar amp in the JP. I think you'd wind up wanting a Recto back at some point.

 

[Racerxrated]

Halebox the + and ++ are incredible but it's just a different flavor. If you're a classic rock guy I'd take that IIB all day long. It was so damn open. The Stones toured with a IIB Coli back in those days, for example.

I've read many guys say they prefer their IV to their C+ and I've always wanted to experience this, and now that I have, I get it. I think the ++ is "better" but that IV was just BRUTAL. There's definitely tonal room for both those amps.

I'm deciding on a Mk III++ coli or a Mk IIB coli with the loop mod..gives the loop the same as a C+ which gives it more gain and a bit smoother. I'll be able to try the IIB+ (as my friend calls it) in a week.

Had a IIB coli a year ago but it had some issues so I returned it to GC. Shoulda kept her, it was only 800 bucks. It really sounded great but was a little tubby in the low end.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

No Vidz?

 

[GJgo]

Alright the moral of the story is keep them all & buy more, I see. That can probably be arranged. I don't think I need a IIB unless I ever get into a classic rock band, but there's definitely room for the IV because it's so much more aggressive than the IIC.

Has anyone ever A/Bd the same head in short vs. long head configuration & noticed any difference? I'm guessing no, but wanted to ask.

Sorry, no videos. We were busy playing!

With the compression & really high gain of the JP I've wondered if I could open up a little rolling a 12AT7 through it- like how the Mark V guys have figured out to do. Even if it does, it's still the saggiest of the bunch- only thing more saggy is the Recto in tube rectification / spongy mode.