I have a decision to make. C -> C+ or C++?

[glip22]

Call Mike and he will explain the differences to you. Go direct to his extension. Someone will have it here. Rich is the one you will need to go through if you send it in. He's a good guy. It just might take a little growing before you think that. He and I became pretty cool over a few deals.

 

[ReloadZZ]

C#

 

[racerevlon]

My old singer has a C++. I typically don't like Mesa and that amp sounds unbelievably good. Scarcity is a consideration as well. The ++ models seem to only appreciate.

 

[glip22]

My old singer has a C++. I typically don't like Mesa and that amp sounds unbelievably good. Scarcity is a consideration as well. The ++ models seem to only appreciate.

I concur. I am not a Mesa guy but the C++ is fantastic in tone and feel.
OP when Rich asks you if you want a discretionary service make sure you tell him that you would rather all caps be replaced

 

[Racerxrated]

Alright guys, got to play the IIC for the first time tonight. Holy shit, this amp already has the best lead feel I've ever played, and it's not even a + yet! Having a JP-2C I didn't really know what to expect, but first impression they don't feel the same. I'll do a side by side later. Also it doesn't sound anything like my Mark III, it's way smoother & better harmonics. I'm starting to see the light.

It's super clean, from what my untrained eye can tell the only thing that's not original on it is the power cord. My plan is to have Mike do whatever it needs to make it right, give it a re-cap, and the + treatment.

Oh yeah, and it has the X101 transformer. Big sucker. Same dimensions as the one in my JP-2C, BTW, 3 7/8" deep. Deeper than a 105...

I gotta tell ya, when I first played mine as a 2C I was hesitant on sending it in. It was this killer vintage raw yet modern beast..I gigged with it once, When I got it back as a + I loved it, but it wasn't as raw anymore. I'd definitely consider keeping another 2C stock if I found one. It became smoother and def more gainy...but I boosted it as a C and it was very fn cool.....My soundguy liked it better before...

 

[GJgo]

Heh, I added "keep it a IIC" to the selections and it wiped them all, so VOTE AGAIN!!

Glip22 I did tell him I wanted a full recap. If I'm going to send it in I want it as good as new.

Yeah that is the one thing about doing a ++, it will appreciate. Damn. You know I've talked to Mike about it, but the one thing I haven't done yet is ask him what he would do.

 

[glip22]

Heh, I added "keep it a IIC" to the selections and it wiped them all, so VOTE AGAIN!!

Glip22 I did tell him I wanted a full recap. If I'm going to send it in I want it as good as new.

Yeah that is the one thing about doing a ++, it will appreciate. Damn. You know I've talked to Mike about it, but the one thing I haven't done yet is ask him what he would do.

Send it in. If Mike retires and or stops doing mods the C will not be worth much. A IIC + or ++ will always keep its value or appreciate.

 

[Racerxrated]

Heh, I added "keep it a IIC" to the selections and it wiped them all, so VOTE AGAIN!!

Glip22 I did tell him I wanted a full recap. If I'm going to send it in I want it as good as new.

Yeah that is the one thing about doing a ++, it will appreciate. Damn. You know I've talked to Mike about it, but the one thing I haven't done yet is ask him what he would do.

Send it in. If Mike retires and or stops doing mods the C will not be worth much. A IIC + or ++ will always keep its value or appreciate.

Yeah, it must be done. But I've had a few 2Bs, and the difference in the B-C is huge, the C is really tight where the B was very loose. And the loop is unusable until the + is done.

Funny thing, the 2C will be the most rare of the Marks because most that have them will send it in for the +..

 

[mojotone]

I would say go for a full re-cap and the regular + mod. Add some STR-415's and let that bitch eat!

 

[Markedman]

I guess I'm in the minority voting ++ but why would you want an amp that goes to 9 when you can have one that goes to 10? 350hp v. 427hp? Isn't the whole idea of owning one of the most mimicked tones in the history of amps to actually own that tone? I also own a JP2C and the + isn't doing shred mode, that's ++ territory. As far as not having a clean channel, why would you want a crystal clear clean channel on an amp that is made for high volume gain? The fake news about the ++ sacrificing the clean channel is just that, fake news. If you turn the volume 1 knob down you have clean tone. There are other things that the ++ does such as allow you to turn the bass pot up. If there was a +++ mod, I do it!
Talk to Mike Bendinelli at Mesa first. The ++ is magical.

 

[GJgo]

Markedman, what transformer does you ++ Simulclass have? I've listened to some of your clips. I think you're right that you can get them to sound the same, but after just some short playing time I really don't think you could get them to feel the same. This IIC is already the most alive amp I've ever felt. The JP to me sounds amazing, but the feel is nothing special. For a gig I'd always take the JP because it's so versatile, sounds killer & the crowd can't tell the feel. Practicing or recording I think it'd be the original all the way.

Honestly I have other amps for cleans. IMO none of my Mark amps can touch my Tremoverb for cleans. It has that feel.

 

[glip22]

I guess I'm in the minority voting ++ but why would you want an amp that goes to 9 when you can have one that goes to 10? 350hp v. 427hp? Isn't the whole idea of owning one of the most mimicked tones in the history of amps to actually own that tone? I also own a JP2C and the + isn't doing shred mode, that's ++ territory. As far as not having a clean channel, why would you want a crystal clear clean channel on an amp that is made for high volume gain? The fake news about the ++ sacrificing the clean channel is just that, fake news. If you turn the volume 1 knob down you have clean tone. There are other things that the ++ does such as allow you to turn the bass pot up. If there was a +++ mod, I do it!
Talk to Mike Bendinelli at Mesa first. The ++ is magical.

You can definitely turn up the bass knob with no flub. Even on 3 its better than the other Marks

 

[Racerxrated]

I guess I'm in the minority voting ++ but why would you want an amp that goes to 9 when you can have one that goes to 10? 350hp v. 427hp? Isn't the whole idea of owning one of the most mimicked tones in the history of amps to actually own that tone? I also own a JP2C and the + isn't doing shred mode, that's ++ territory. As far as not having a clean channel, why would you want a crystal clear clean channel on an amp that is made for high volume gain? The fake news about the ++ sacrificing the clean channel is just that, fake news. If you turn the volume 1 knob down you have clean tone. There are other things that the ++ does such as allow you to turn the bass pot up. If there was a +++ mod, I do it!
Talk to Mike Bendinelli at Mesa first. The ++ is magical.

The reason people want a crystal clean channel is for gigging. Instead of lugging a blackface Fender with your high gainer into a bar you have a C+ that has the perfect package for live use.

That said, looks like I'm gonna have to irritate Rich by giving him a call on Monday.

 

[NewWorldMan]

If anyone thinks that saying the ++ sacrifices the clean is "fake news", then you're saying Mike B is spreading fake news, because he'd be the first to tell you that.

I've had countless, and I currently own both. The ++ may have more gain, but it's unusable gain at the top of the register. Take a look the settings mentioned above by me, Dave, etc. You'll see we're not running the drive very high. You'll find yourself dialing back the drive on the amp and probably end up with the same amount of gain in use as you did with the + in the upper registers. The differences are there, but they're subtle. I think you could dial them in almost identical if you tried. The + is more versatile, the ++ is more gained up and aggressive.

If I only had one, I'd keep a +. I know others feel differently, that's just my $0.02.

 

[GJgo]

Just spent some more time with the amp. I was really enjoying leaving my boost off & running the lead drive around 7, as opposed to boosting & running around 5 on the lead drive. It actually sounds better without a ton of gain, that it has in common with my other Marks, this one is just better. This is such a different amp than my Mark III though. It sounds great with the EVM12L and the Recto V30 cab, I liked those better than the 1960 G12T-75 cab. With my Mark III it's so bright & aggressive that the darker 1960 cab I think sounds the best with it.

I'm having a serious moment of weakness, if that factory DRG is still available next time I drive over where it is I'm gonna have to get it too.

 

[Markedman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypJfEnAWc6A

Fact is truth.

 

[glip22]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypJfEnAWc6A

Fact is truth.

Are you running through EVM's John?

 

[Markedman]

Yes, they are thiele design made by Boogafunk. They have a super deep tone.

 

[NewWorldMan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypJfEnAWc6A

Fact is truth.

This proves exactly what I was saying. You're trying to get middle ground of settings for decent cleans and heavy chunk, and the result is your cleans are clipping vs a + and that overdrive is thinned out considerably because you're trying to dial it down enough to keep your cleans from distorting.

 

[mojotone]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypJfEnAWc6A

Fact is truth.

This proves exactly what I was saying. You're trying to get middle ground of settings for decent cleans and heavy chunk, and the result is your cleans are clipping vs a + and that overdrive is thinned out considerably because you're trying to dial it down enough to keep your cleans from distorting.

The Vol 1 dial decides the thickness of the sound, as it is before the tone controls in the signal chain. This is a fact.