Gigged a Mark IIC Sat night....

[Racerxrated]

And wow! What a thick, articulated tone...right up there with the best that I've had. SLO, Jubilee, Cameron Aldrich, VHT Deliverance....I have an SRG combo and I ran it through my 79 Marshall cab with 65s. Cut like an SLO or any Marshall I've had..only had it on 1 on the master and I was probably a bit louder than my drummer. Grabbed it for 899 at GC..it needs the + mod from Mike B so I'll be sending it out in a couple weeks. If it sounds this good as a C...can't wait for the +!

 

[sjk]

And wow! What a thick, articulated tone...right up there with the best that I've had. SLO, Jubilee, Cameron Aldrich, VHT Deliverance....I have an SRG combo and I ran it through my 79 Marshall cab with 65s. Cut like an SLO or any Marshall I've had..only had it on 1 on the master and I was probably a bit louder than my drummer. Grabbed it for 899 at GC..it needs the + mod from Mike B so I'll be sending it out in a couple weeks. If it sounds this good as a C...can't wait for the +!

Great Score!

 

[anomaly]

That's one amp I need to own some day. Awesome score, and only $899! what a deal! You got it for the price of a Mark III.

 

[Racerxrated]

Yes sir...and I've had two Mk 3s, a purple and a red. Both nice..but even without the + the C is a step up IMO. I would compare a MK3 to a 2C like this....a Soldano HR100 is a nice amp, good tones to be had. But an SLO is a step up. You can tell the difference... At least IMO.

 

[Blackmore]

Yes sir...and I've had two Mk 3s, a purple and a red. Both nice..but even without the + the C is a step up IMO. I would compare a MK3 to a 2C like this....a Soldano HR100 is a nice amp, good tones to be had. But an SLO is a step up. You can tell the difference... At least IMO.

And so it begins. Shortly, you will sell every amp you own but the IIC. You will use the money to find "loaded" IIC+s. I'm not joking, give it another 5 months.

In the short term, it'll probably be a month until you receive your upgraded IIC+ back from Mike. We all know that amp is going in for the upgrade, and frankly, it should. The IIC compared to the IIC+ is a night and day difference, favoring the latter.

Congrats on the amp. The Mark III doesn't compare. The Jubilee doesn't compare. The SLO doesn't compare. I've had personal experience with these amp and lots more, the IIC+ is the pinnacle.

 

[Racerxrated]

so far the feeling I got was similar to playing an SLO, not to say it sounded like one but the articulation was there. Completely different than a Mark 3 in that respect. Mark 3s are nice but this was a step up. It will be going out soon to Mike B. But my Jube stays...even if I sold it I'd have to come up with a bit more......for a loaded one lol.

 

[Blackmore]

so far the feeling I got was similar to playing an SLO, not to say it sounded like one but the articulation was there. Completely different than a Mark 3 in that respect. Mark 3s are nice but this was a step up. It will be going out soon to Mike B. But my Jube stays...even if I sold it I'd have to come up with a bit more......for a loaded one lol.

I'm glad you can tell I'm having a bit of fun with this and not trying to be a jerk.

The Mark III is the most underrated amp out there. It was a steal a few years ago, particularly when you could pick up a simul red stripe for about $750. I look it as being a "competitor" of the 2203/2204 on paper, but in practice its not even close - the Mk III blows it away. It doesn't nail the Marshall sound, but thankfully it provides a better gain tone. And don't get me started on the cleans.

As great as the Mk III is, the IIC+ is in another league. Beyond the tone itself, the feel at volume is worlds apart.

I had an original 2550 and 2555 right when I got my first IIC+, which was an SR. Even that lowly SR, with an EQ in the loop, sounded better. Far better. I seriously think you'll come to the same conclusion and will sell the Jubilee eventually (and the JMP), unless you have a sentimental connection to them. By the way, what do you think about the whole pre-3100 S/N issue with the Jubes, any experience with that?

Also, don't give up hope on a loaded IIC+. I picked mine up for about $1500 less than two months ago. As you know, and proved, deals are out there if you're persistent.

Finally, don't be too swayed by the hype of the loaded versus non-loaded models. These flat out need the EQ, and the built in does sound better. But ---- an EQ in the loop still sounds really good. Also, while the Simulclass models do very sweet, the 60 is still great. I'd take a 60W barebones IIC+ over the SLO, but I'd take the DRG uber alles. If you're like me, and most everyone else who has played on of these, you'll shortly be on the hunt for more IIC+s.

 

[Racerxrated]

I disagree with some of what you said, I will still take a good JMP/JCM and a pedal over a Mark 3. I liked the Mark 3 but a good single channel Marshall sounds better to me. But some think that the Mark 3 is close to the 2C+.....I don't think either Mk3 I had(purple and red) is very close at all. And I don't even have a plus yet....this is yet to get the mod. This is so much better to me than those 3s I had. The core tone is there but this 2C has a feel/thump that gives me that same 'wow' that my favorite amps have given me....Jube, SLO, Cameron's, Deliverance....but maybe after the + mod I will kick my Marshall to the curb....maybe...lol

 

[Racerxrated]

so far the feeling I got was similar to playing an SLO, not to say it sounded like one but the articulation was there. Completely different than a Mark 3 in that respect. Mark 3s are nice but this was a step up. It will be going out soon to Mike B. But my Jube stays...even if I sold it I'd have to come up with a bit more......for a loaded one lol.

I'm glad you can tell I'm having a bit of fun with this and not trying to be a jerk.

The Mark III is the most underrated amp out there. It was a steal a few years ago, particularly when you could pick up a simul red stripe for about $750. I look it as being a "competitor" of the 2203/2204 on paper, but in practice its not even close - the Mk III blows it away. It doesn't nail the Marshall sound, but thankfully it provides a better gain tone. And don't get me started on the cleans.

As great as the Mk III is, the IIC+ is in another league. Beyond the tone itself, the feel at volume is worlds apart.

I had an original 2550 and 2555 right when I got my first IIC+, which was an SR. Even that lowly SR, with an EQ in the loop, sounded better. Far better. I seriously think you'll come to the same conclusion and will sell the Jubilee eventually (and the JMP), unless you have a sentimental connection to them. By the way, what do you think about the whole pre-3100 S/N issue with the Jubes, any experience with that?

Also, don't give up hope on a loaded IIC+. I picked mine up for about $1500 less than two months ago. As you know, and proved, deals are out there if you're persistent.

Finally, don't be too swayed by the hype of the loaded versus non-loaded models. These flat out need the EQ, and the built in does sound better. But ---- an EQ in the loop still sounds really good. Also, while the Simulclass models do very sweet, the 60 is still great. I'd take a 60W barebones IIC+ over the SLO, but I'd take the DRG uber alles. If you're like me, and most everyone else who has played on of these, you'll shortly be on the hunt for more IIC+s.

Forgot to mention the Jubilee serial numbers...my current Jube is my first Silver, the other three were black tolex JCM 'Custom' series. This one has a serial above 4500, so I don't have any experience with the first circuit. And I like the 1x12 combos, they have a little something in the high end I like. They don't have a choke, just a resistor so maybe that's the difference. One amp I've heard live and is a bucket list amp for me is a Wizard...when I've heard them up close they remind me of what I get out of my Jubilee through a 4x12. Double boosted of course....

 

[blackba]

Congrats on the Iic. Always wanted to try one. Along with an slo.

For me I have a jubilee 2553 and a mark Iva. They compliment each other well and don't really overlap that much. For me it's all about having variety.

 

[Racerxrated]

Congrats on the Iic. Always wanted to try one. Along with an slo.

For me I have a jubilee 2553 and a mark Iva. They compliment each other well and don't really overlap that much. For me it's all about having variety.

Thanks! Yeah I don't see my Jubilee going anywhere, I've had 3 previously and always regretted selling them. I've been running both amps at the same time through 2 4x12s and its pretty monstrous.....I can only imagine what a 2555 and a 2C+ simul at the same time would sound like! I only have a 50w Jube and a 60w 2C......loud enough for me though!

 

[thiswaythatway]

I've been through a lot of IIC+ and III's. If I were playing strictly metal I might take a Mark III over a IIC+. The III has a bit more gain but it's not as smooth. The IIC+ has this really focused alive sound. BUT, not all IIC+'s are alike. We had a few in the same room and some sounded noticeably better than others. So if you plunk down 4K on a IIC+ off Ebay and you think your holy grail amp search is over, that may not be the case.

My last IIC+ was a loaded one that I even had recapped. It was 1x12 combo with the EVM speaker. Still, for big balls out rhythm my Electra Dyne 1x12 smoked it easily IMHO.

 

[Blackmore]

My last IIC+ was a loaded one that I even had recapped. It was 1x12 combo with the EVM speaker. Still, for big balls out rhythm my Electra Dyne 1x12 smoked it easily IMHO.

Bright mod or not? I forgot exactly when this went into effect, but it drastically impacts presence which in turn impacts gain.

Btw, Racer, I responded to your message - let me know if you didn't get it, but long story short, you did well with the tubes.

 

[Racerxrated]

I've been through a lot of IIC+ and III's. If I were playing strictly metal I might take a Mark III over a IIC+. The III has a bit more gain but it's not as smooth. The IIC+ has this really focused alive sound. BUT, not all IIC+'s are alike. We had a few in the same room and some sounded noticeably better than others. So if you plunk down 4K on a IIC+ off Ebay and you think your holy grail amp search is over, that may not be the case.

My last IIC+ was a loaded one that I even had recapped. It was 1x12 combo with the EVM speaker. Still, for big balls out rhythm my Electra Dyne 1x12 smoked it easily IMHO.

Focused, alive, articulate....that's what this 2C is now. Balls out rhythm its right there with an SLO and everything else I've had. The purple or red stripe mk3 I had didn't have the same mojo. Maybe others out there do, but when I get it back from Mesa I'll have 1500 into it....not 4k. No chance I'll ever drop that on ANY amp lol....this is an SRG combo that I might grab a headshell for but I'm very happy with the tone I'm getting now for 899....

 

[thiswaythatway]

I've been through a lot of IIC+ and III's. If I were playing strictly metal I might take a Mark III over a IIC+. The III has a bit more gain but it's not as smooth. The IIC+ has this really focused alive sound. BUT, not all IIC+'s are alike. We had a few in the same room and some sounded noticeably better than others. So if you plunk down 4K on a IIC+ off Ebay and you think your holy grail amp search is over, that may not be the case.

My last IIC+ was a loaded one that I even had recapped. It was 1x12 combo with the EVM speaker. Still, for big balls out rhythm my Electra Dyne 1x12 smoked it easily IMHO.

Focused, alive, articulate....that's what this 2C is now. Balls out rhythm its right there with an SLO and everything else I've had. The purple or red stripe mk3 I had didn't have the same mojo. Maybe others out there do, but when I get it back from Mesa I'll have 1500 into it....not 4k. No chance I'll ever drop that on ANY amp lol....this is an SRG combo that I might grab a headshell for but I'm very happy with the tone I'm getting now for 899....

Funny thing, my friend recently had an SLO....I don't get the hype with that amp! It didn't do much for me at all.

The III's I had were noiser, a bit more raw, and had a lot of high end which made them harder to dial in that a IIC+.

 

[Ventura]

Funny thing, my friend recently had an SLO....I don't get the hype with that amp! It didn't do much for me at all.

Thank you. I thought I was a loner on this matter

 

[Ventura]

But I do give mega props and kudos to Mike (Soldano) for is engineering approach and pioneering attitude with his line of amps. No doubt.

 

[Racerxrated]

Well, first time I plugged into an SLO I felt kinda the same way....but after diming the presence, mids at 4-5, bass 6-8, treble very low I started to get it...gain at 5-7....then I put a little eq pedal in front and turned it up past 2 and it became godlike. Like the best modded Marshall with more balls....clearest high gain amp I've ever tried. But for what they are worth I have a Jube combo and this Mark 2C....with the cost of the + mod both amps cost what I sold my last SLO for. And I'll take that.