Does a Mesa Mark amp need Simul-Class to sound its best?

[GJgo]

I want a Mark amp. Probably a Mark III red or blue stripe. Thing is, I can probably find a Studio Preamp for cheaper. I have a Single Rectifier series 2 that I could run the preamp through the power section of. My question is, would this still have that epic Boogie metal sound, or do I really need a Mark head with Simul-Class to get these tones?

 

[Racerxrated]

I've had 2 Mark 3s, and they were both SC. But I liked it better with all 6L6s. Not sure how different SC with all 6L6 are vs non SC with 6L6? But those Marks sounded heavier with all 6L6 to me.

 

[NewWorldMan]

No. It's all subjective, just depends what you want. All my current Mark's are Simul, but I've had plenty of non-Simul that ripped all the same.

 

[VoodooChild24]

The answer is no. I have both SC and non-SC Mark series amps and both produces the tone that's in my head. It all comes down to a matter of preference.

 

[psychodave]

My 2C+ is non simul with the 100 PT. I like it more than the simul models since I use all 6L6's. My coliseum is simul and I still use all 6L6's.

 

[midnightlaundry]

When I was a kid, the local music store had what must have been a Studio Preamp with some Boogie power amp with 2-12" speakers on pedestals setup for stereo. Although I can't remember what power amp it was, I do remember that it had a Simul-Class toggle type switch on the front of it.

With my young ears, I remember that hitting the Simul switch gave the tone an almost stereo vibe to it. I remember that it really affected the sound in a 3 dimensional way. This had to be 1985, LONG before I knew anything about tube amps or owned anything with a tube in it.

At the very least you have to think that nothing else out there sounds like a Simul-Class power section..

 

[GJgo]

If money was close enough, would you take a Studio Preamp over a Mark III or no?

 

[midnightlaundry]

A dedicated guitar amp is far better. I had a TriAxis with a 2:90 for years. Now I have a MV, so I can say from experience that single amp is far more responsive.

 

[NewWorldMan]

If money was close enough, would you take a Studio Preamp over a Mark III or no?

If you had a dedicated power amp, then the Studio is an awesome preamp. If you're running it into the power section of the Single Rec and wanting Mark tones, I'd take the III hands down.

 

[GJgo]

Alright, good deal. Since a IIC+ is waaaay out of the budget I'm looking at another Mark. I definitely like the gain structure of the MK III better than the MKIV. I like the idea of a MK Five 35 but haven't seen one in person, plus I'm a little wary of EL84s for *that tone*. I'm honing in on a MK III red or blue stripe, unless anyone has any great ideas I should think about!

 

[Racerxrated]

Alright, good deal. Since a IIC+ is waaaay out of the budget I'm looking at another Mark. I definitely like the gain structure of the MK III better than the MKIV. I like the idea of a MK Five 35 but haven't seen one in person, plus I'm a little wary of EL84s for *that tone*. I'm honing in on a MK III red or blue stripe, unless anyone has any great ideas I should think about!

I think all the stripes can be dialed in to sound similar. My keeper was a Purple stripe, which chased a Red away. Purple sounded better to me. The Red has more mids at the same settings, but the Purple could be set to sound just like it IMO. The no/black stripe might have less gain than the rest.

 

[steve_k]

yes, they will sound better. however, simulclass doesn't mean two types of tubes. it just means that the outside sockets are running Class A and the two inner sockets are running Class AB. the combination of the two at the output tranny is noticeable over non SC models.

 

[NewWorldMan]

I think all the stripes can be dialed in to sound similar. My keeper was a Purple stripe, which chased a Red away. Purple sounded better to me. The Red has more mids at the same settings, but the Purple could be set to sound just like it IMO. The no/black stripe might have less gain than the rest.

My current III is an early '85 no stripe, and it has no less gain than any other III I've had. It's my favorite III I've owned. Now granted, that was a huge period of transition for the Mark's, so I wouldn't be surprised if no two from that early period sounded alike. YMMV.

 

[LanierP]

My 2C+ is non simul with the 100 PT. I like it more than the simul models since I use all 6L6's. My coliseum is simul and I still use all 6L6's.

Hey Dave,
What model Coli do you have. I managed to snag up a original 2C+ Coli, no EQ with reverb and limiter pot on the back and half power on the front. Love this thing, but not really sure what that limiter is doing to lower the volume like it does. Figured another fellow Coliseum'r would be better in the know on the different versions of these. I do know that I don't have to be crumbling walls with it volume wise for it to sound really good, but was curious on how you like rockin yours.

Len

 

[psychodave]

My 2C+ is non simul with the 100 PT. I like it more than the simul models since I use all 6L6's. My coliseum is simul and I still use all 6L6's.

Hey Dave,
What model Coli do you have. I managed to snag up a original 2C+ Coli, no EQ with reverb and limiter pot on the back and half power on the front. Love this thing, but not really sure what that limiter is doing to lower the volume like it does. Figured another fellow Coliseum'r would be better in the know on the different versions of these. I do know that I don't have to be crumbling walls with it volume wise for it to sound really good, but was curious on how you like rockin yours.

Len

PM sent

 

[fretout]

I think all the stripes can be dialed in to sound similar. My keeper was a Purple stripe, which chased a Red away. Purple sounded better to me. The Red has more mids at the same settings, but the Purple could be set to sound just like it IMO. The no/black stripe might have less gain than the rest.

My current III is an early '85 no stripe, and it has no less gain than any other III I've had. It's my favorite III I've owned. Now granted, that was a huge period of transition for the Mark's, so I wouldn't be surprised if no two from that early period sounded alike. YMMV.

Yeah, I've played a bunch of Mark IIIs, and I can say with confidence that any of them SHOULD have enough gain for any style of music. And, keep in mind, the changes to the lead channels got really drastic in the Blue/Red Stripes. The Blue Stripe was basically a Red Stripe that was modded to get closer to a IIC+, but had slightly more gain, while Green Stripes changed the power section from Triode (which all Mark amps operated in at that point) to Pentode, which made the Green Stripes feel more Stiff, but gave them a higher wattage.

I will add that the difference between my "No Stripe Coliseum" and my "Blue Stripe Coliseum" have a "feel" that is much more immediate and urgent, that makes them a lot different than my "100 watt Mark IIIs". The difference in the way the guitar/amp responds to touch and technique is much more apparent in the Colis, plus there's an extended lower end that sounds so much more thick, but at the same time, it doesn't "flub out" like some other amps do. I believe that M/B saw the extended lower range in the Coliseums and that launched the Rectos. The early Rectos even shared a lot of the same components with the Mark IIIs.

I can say that my "No Stripe" sounds a lot more "transparent" than my "Blue Stripes". It's not that it has less gain...it has a ton...but it's not as saturated as the other stripes.

The Purple Stripes have a different safuration than the "No Stripe/Black Dot/Black Stripes", but the main difference is how Rhythm 2 sounds. I could never get enough gain out of Rhythm 2 without boosting, but the Purple Stripe has one of the warmest, nicest low-mid gain tones on Rhythm 2. It certainly shines for blues with a little breakup of getting into an AC/DC type crunch.