Ceriatone Yeti or King Kong OR Mesa Mark IV

[suhrimmetal]

So... Ive been on the hunt for a good mid/high gain amp that excels at leads(that's where it's at for me)... a decent clean is a plus. I know I dig the modded marshall tone... but I also dig the Mark series as well. I can pick up a Rev B Mint Mark IV head this weekend for $900... also debating the ceriatone yeti or king kong... which can be found for around $1000... which I'd like to stay around. Im tired of chasing, flipping.... would like to find an amp that suffices my needs and just get on with it. Ive really falling back in love with playing/practicing again and now need an amp that inspires... at my pricepoint that is. I dig Sykes, Aldrich, Timmons, Petrucci, James, Bonamassa, Rappaport, Derrico....etc.

So, someone talk me out of the Mark IV... or more into it Thanks and Happy Holidays you gearFreaks.

 

[sjk]

I've had the chupa 100 and it was killer modded Marshall with lots of Kerrang unlike some of the higher priced competition,although a little noisy with higher gain but it has ALOT of gain so this is to be expected I suppose. Yeti is supposed to be less bright darker version afaik. Had the IV killer at metal and mid gain as well. To me it boils down to do you want something Marshally or something totally un marshall lol when choosing between the Ceriatone products and the Mesa. Answer that question and you may have your answer or at least whittled down to the Ceriatone amps you listed.

Edit] the yeti wont be as gig friendly as the king kong (2 ch I think?) nor mark Iv and the effects loop on all the Ceriatones are not great imho for delays. Nick says you need a dumbleator (which they make or something like that to buffer it or something I forget the specifics) and the Mark IV has a great loop so that could help your choice.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I've had the chupa 100 and it was killer modded Marshall with lots of Kerrang unlike some of the higher priced competition,although a little noisy with higher gain but it has ALOT of gain so this is to be expected I suppose. Yeti is supposed to be less bright darker version afaik. Had the IV killer at metal and mid gain as well. To me it boils down to do you want something Marshally or something totally un marshall lol when choosing between the Ceriatone products and the Mesa. Answer that question and you may have your answer or at least whittled down to the Ceriatone amps you listed.

Edit] the yeti wont be as gig friendly as the king kong or mark Iv and the effects loop on all the Ceriatones are not great imho for delays. Nick says you need a dumbleator (which they make or something like that to buffer it or something (I forget the specifics) and the Mark IV has a great loop so that could help your choice.

Thanks... yeah, IF I went the Ceriatone route I would install a metro loss loop.. I need a decent loop and ceriatones passive loop won't cut it stock. Maybe I should just get the Landry G3.... debating that guy as well...

 

[sjk]

Never tried the landry but it is one I want to try as well, was about 5 minutes short of getting a killer deal on a very new Minty 2015 model for $1750 three weeks ago on TGP. I have a feeling that would be your best bet to kill the gas once and for all.

 

[suhrimmetal]

Never tried the landry but it is one I want to try as well, was about 5 minutes short of getting a killer deal on a very new Minty 2015 model for $1750 three weeks ago on TGP. I have a feeling that would be your best bet to kill the gas once and for all.

I almost jumped on that amp myself...lol. I may have a lead on another... just not sure if I can pull the trigger... lol.

 

[fretout]

I have a couple of Mark IVs and I love them. I like the tones I get out of the Mark IIIs better, but for the versatility of the Mark IV, I usually experiment on the Mark IV. Feature-wise, the Mesa is the way to go. I can get a nice Marshally tone on channel 2 while running Simul-Class. Also, $900 is a killer deal for a Mark IV. I'd jump on that ASAP.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I have a couple of Mark IVs and I love them. I like the tones I get out of the Mark IIIs better, but for the versatility of the Mark IV, I usually experiment on the Mark IV. Feature-wise, the Mesa is the way to go. I can get a nice Marshally tone on channel 2 while running Simul-Class. Also, $900 is a killer deal for a Mark IV. I'd jump on that ASAP.

Thanks for your input.... I agree... I liked my Mark III as well, but i need a little more versatility and the Mark IV gives me that... and yes, it is a good deal on the 1 im looking at. 'Almost' can't go wrong...lol.

 

[Racerxrated]

I had a Fortin Cali Ceriatone 800. Sounded great till the OT went out. If you go Ceriatone order one without the Transformers and grab a couple Classic tone PT/OT and have a tech throw them in. Or Mercury....I'm not the only one who has had issues with the originals. Just a heads up.

 

[paulyc]

I have a KK and I love it, but I only use the loop for a noise gate and an eq. I use the line out into a splitter box into some time based effects and then out to a small Marshall poweramp for W/D/W so the loop isn't an issue for me. I don't have any problems with the transformers in the amp either.

FWIW, I can't get a tone I like from a Mark IV, but I love my Mark III Blue Stripe...

 

[Avi8r2005]

I'd go Mark IV. I've had 2 of them, now use a Mark V. The clean tones are great and the lead channel is awesome once you get it dialed in. Plus Mesa customer serice is top notch if you have issues with the amp. Plus $900 is a great price for that amp. If you don't like it, you can probably flip it and make a few bucks on it.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I had a Fortin Cali Ceriatone 800. Sounded great till the OT went out. If you go Ceriatone order one without the Transformers and grab a couple Classic tone PT/OT and have a tech throw them in. Or Mercury....I'm not the only one who has had issues with the originals. Just a heads up.

Yeah... I saw your issue with the OT on a previous thread.. scares me away a bit from the Ceriatone. I really don't want to order new and await the build time. Need to get something 'very' soon. Cheers

 

[Racerxrated]

Just picked up a JCM 800 4104, got it for 600 because someone re-tolexed in snakeskin lol....honestly forgot how good a single channel Marshall and a couple boosts can be. SD1 and an OD1X, the latter has a low end dial that gives a nice thickness back. I swear I almost have this Marshall sounding as good as the 2C+. If you get a Suhr line out and another power amp you can wet/dry a single channel Marshall...effects after the original amps tone. I've been doing this with the 2C+ and its heaven. So nice.

 

[suhrimmetal]

Just picked up a JCM 800 4104, got it for 600 because someone re-tolexed in snakeskin lol....honestly forgot how good a single channel Marshall and a couple boosts can be. SD1 and an OD1X, the latter has a low end dial that gives a nice thickness back. I swear I almost have this Marshall sounding as good as the 2C+. If you get a Suhr line out and another power amp you can wet/dry a single channel Marshall...effects after the original amps tone. I've been doing this with the 2C+ and its heaven. So nice.

Nice.... but thats more shit to haul around..lol. Im trying to find the 'tone' that is decent at bedroom volumes but gives me the goods and some versatility for gigs. Almost 40yrs old now and really just want to plug and play for the most part. Ive got my Bogner 2x12 that I dig... pedalboard that I dig... guitar that is good enough for now .... Now I just need to find thee amp.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Petrucci with a Mark IV rig.

 

[suhrimmetal]

Petrucci with a Mark IV rig.

Always LOVED this vid... thanks for finding and posting. Also really dig this era of Petrucci... Definitely fueling my want for the IV... it might come down to the IV(which I can have NOW)... or the Landry G3... which it'll be a couple weeks. Different ponies for sure... but to each his own.

ps... Petrucci could make a Genz Benz sound KILLER...

 

[harsh59]

I remember when the KK was being released , there was a lot of talk about and some clips , but since it's release it has been pretty quiet . I would like to hear some more clips .

 

[sjk]

I remember when the KK was being released , there was a lot of talk about and some clips , but since it's release it has been pretty quiet . I would like to hear some more clips .

This is one of those original older clips from the ceriatone factory but I can tell from this one that I would for sure dig one of these and more likely the 100 watt.