Mark V's all over the place.

[sebby123]

I sold mine and I love the Mark series amps. IMO channel 3 was DEAD compared to other Marks. Too boxy/stiff/lifeless/etc, like a Mark IV with it's nads removed. I had very high hopes and I thought pre-ordering one was a no-brainer. I was wrong.

My thoughts exactly. It's puzzling that they got channels 1 and 2 right for the most part but fucked up channel 3. And the used prices are dropping fast, i saw one on the Boogie forum for $1700. Funny that Mark IV prices will probably go up and demand for used IIC+ will probably increase. Pretty much the opposite outcome that Mesa was looking for.

Unfortunately, I agree. I hope the V catches on but fear it may not. Channel 3 was a disappointment. I did like the Extreme channel though. My IIC+ came in yesterday and can already say that it sounds great. Much more open sounding then the V. I was surprised that I found a great lead tone within minutes. Way too early to give a review but already head and shoulders above my initial thoughts around the V.

Only two amps i hunger for right now are a Fortin Bones and a IIC+ Probably going to purchase one of them soon.

I actually considered the Fortin Cali Mod JCM 800. The You Tube clip sounded fantastic but I would want to play it before I went that route. I went the Splawn QR route for my hot rodded Marshall fix and it just didn't fit the bill for me. His Cali modded 800 sounds fantastic with just a hint of modern voicing. This IIC+ sounds great. I am beginning to understand what Dan (Danyeo1) was saying about the simplicity of the IIC+. It was so easy to dial in compared to the V.

Here is a clip of the Cali modded JCM 800

If I feel like taking a chance I would just save up for a cheap, used 800 and send it to Mike for the mod. I wouldn't mind owning two amps. I will have some IIC+ clips up by this weekend.

Will be looking forward to the clips!
If Fortin Had a Two Channel amp i would be all over it! But theres not one coming out that i know of, Plus i dont like using alot of preamp gain, On my Mark IV I have it set to 3-4 Pulled Why would be 3 pulled on the IIC+ Since they have a little more gain then the IV From what i hear when i played one, Amazing amp nonetheless Everything ive heard from Fortin sounds like a perfect mix of that modded marshall sound but it does have a little mark series vibe which is why the gas grows rapidly.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Nice. I knew you'd like the IIC+. It just sounds more alive than the Mark V doesn't it? Like the sound is jumping out of the speaker while on the V it's kinda muffled.

And yes, I'm taking the Fortin plunge I'm getting a JCM800 Superbass for a great price and it's getting the Cali mod. In the future I'm not sure what I'll get, maybe a Mark III. But I'd like to take care of my GAS for guitars first. For some reason I'm getting the urge for another Yngwie Strat.

 

[Digital Jams]

Nice. I knew you'd like the IIC+. It just sounds more alive than the Mark V doesn't it? Like the sound is jumping out of the speaker while on the V it's kinda muffled.

And yes, I'm taking the Fortin plunge I'm getting a JCM800 Superbass for a great price and it's getting the Cali mod. In the future I'm not sure what I'll get, maybe a Mark III. But I'd like to take care of my GAS for guitars first. For some reason I'm getting the urge for another Yngwie Strat.

So you saw that as well on TGP?

Yngwie.......Marshall......you copying me bitch!?!?!?!!?!!? I know you will kill with that rig!

 

[thiswaythatway]

Nice. I knew you'd like the IIC+. It just sounds more alive than the Mark V doesn't it? Like the sound is jumping out of the speaker while on the V it's kinda muffled.

And yes, I'm taking the Fortin plunge I'm getting a JCM800 Superbass for a great price and it's getting the Cali mod. In the future I'm not sure what I'll get, maybe a Mark III. But I'd like to take care of my GAS for guitars first. For some reason I'm getting the urge for another Yngwie Strat.

So you saw that as well on TGP?

Yngwie.......Marshall......you copying me bitch!?!?!?!!?!!? I know you will kill with that rig!

Mike showed me the link, but the seller, Jason, posts here as well.

 

[Marshall Freak]

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

Yup. It seems the Mark V sell-off happened a lot faster.

I agree that Boogie should just build a IIC+ already....geez, what is the effing deal with Randall refusing to do one? It makes no sense. He is such an engineer that he has to keep adding shit insteading of subtracting. I guess building a IIC+ is going backward for him but it seems it is what the people want.

I thought I heard there were a few key parts for the IIC+ that are no longer available and that was what was preventing a re-issue...

Its not that there not available its that the power sections cost so much to make from what ive read.

I think that's a ton of BS because they don't want to do it. You can get transformers rewound, and cloned for amps that are 20 years older than a MkIIC+ and they don't cost that much. Anything can be redone if they want to, Mesa just doesn't want to because they've staked their reputation on the MkV having a "MKIIC+" channel/mode and to re-release a MKIIC+ on top of that would admit they fucked up from the beginning.

I've had MKII's MKIII's and MkIV's and I was really hoping the MkV would be able to do the MkCII+ sound because it's heads shoulders above anything that came after it IMHO.

 

[gibson5413]

Nice. I knew you'd like the IIC+. It just sounds more alive than the Mark V doesn't it? Like the sound is jumping out of the speaker while on the V it's kinda muffled.

And yes, I'm taking the Fortin plunge I'm getting a JCM800 Superbass for a great price and it's getting the Cali mod. In the future I'm not sure what I'll get, maybe a Mark III. But I'd like to take care of my GAS for guitars first. For some reason I'm getting the urge for another Yngwie Strat.

It does sound more alive. In fact, I noticed two things about the IIC+ within minutes of playing around with it:

1. The amp's top end seems more open and present if that makes sense. It didn't sound piercing or congested and sounded in your face without overtaking the balance. Even more so than my old Mark IV and especially the V.

2. My guitars sounded much different from each other than the IV and V. I mean really different! With my old IV I could get by without having to turn knobs and would basically get the same tones between my passives and actives. In fact, with the V I didn't notice a ton of difference at all. It was very evident which guitar I have plugged in through the IIC+. The guitar with the actives sounded pretty balanced with really tight bottom end. I plugged in my EBMM Petrucci and literally said "Wow"! The top end was very much there and the low end was not as tight (in a good way). The passives had a bit more of a vintage vibe going on. It was a very cool revelation that I was not expecting.

Maybe I'm thinking too hard about it but it really was that noticeable. It is only the honeymoon stage at this point but it is fun to get the Mark features I love with a less compressed and more open/organic vibe going on. I don't want to overstate anything yet but I can see this amp staying with me for a long time. I was able to pull some really cool vintage type lead tones and really tight metal tones. I will post clips by this weekend.

 

[dfrattaroli]

How many Bogner Fish reissues hit the used market weeks after they came out? People buy into the hype, buy without ever being able to hear it, and then find it doesn't work for them. The same would happen with a CII+ reissue. Not that either aren't great, but if you can't lay your hands on one, you have to buy to try. And if it doesn't work out the door it goes.

Scarcity creates buzz, so a CII+ reissue might kill that buzz about the "Legend". Scarcity creates demand, just ask Mark Cameron - how many people want those without ever trying them.

Perfectly said. The thread can end here as far as I'm concerned. I don't see how anyone can pre-order an amp without ever hearing it.

 

[thegame]

If Fortin Had a Two Channel amp i would be all over it! But theres not one coming out that i know of, Plus i dont like using alot of preamp gain,

There is ! Soon ! But it'll have lots of preamp gain so it may not be the amp for you.

 

[killertone]

I generally disregard the opinions of amp flippers, not all of the time but most. The kind of good info that you can get from someone that really knows an amp is really beneficial when figuring out if an amp is for you or not. In a lot of cases, it takes a good while to really bond with an amp and amp flippers never establish that. In turn, they may not have the best info when chiming in about an amp.

The bottom line is that buying an amp without playing it is a huge gamble. I have done it and lost. I know a lot of times it is not possible to try before you buy, but with that comes the risk that you won't dig it.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The thing with the Mark V is that guys who know the Mark series well are selling it off, myself included. There's a difference between an amp flipper who bought the V just because it was new, and a guy who has owned Mark II and IV's in the past and like liked them.

 

[stephen sawall]

I was wanting the Mark II promise ..... a Fender, Marshall and a Mesa all in one amp. The V is not that. I am sure it is a cool amp for many. It just is not the amp for me.

 

[gibson5413]

The thing with the Mark V is that guys who know the Mark series well are selling it off, myself included. There's a difference between an amp flipper who bought the V just because it was new, and a guy who has owned Mark II and IV's in the past and like liked them.

+1

I would say I know the Mark series pretty well. The V just didn't hit the mark (no pun intended). Channel 1 & 2 are great but 3 was a big disappointment. The lead channel defines the Mark series and this version swung and missed. Hopefully they will do an update someday. The IIC+ is hitting on all cylinders for me. Thanks for the suggestion Dan!

BTW,

When will you receive your Fortin modded Marshall?

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Killertone's exact language:

"generally disregard the opinions of amp flippers, not all of the time but most"

Some of you guys are getting defensive about having the flipper stigma attached, lol!

 

[thiswaythatway]

The thing with the Mark V is that guys who know the Mark series well are selling it off, myself included. There's a difference between an amp flipper who bought the V just because it was new, and a guy who has owned Mark II and IV's in the past and like liked them.

+1

I would say I know the Mark series pretty well. The V just didn't hit the mark (no pun intended). Channel 1 & 2 are great but 3 was a big disappointment. The lead channel defines the Mark series and this version swung and missed. Hopefully they will do an update someday. The IIC+ is hitting on all cylinders for me. Thanks for the suggestion Dan!

BTW,

When will you receive your Fortin modded Marshall?

Another month or so. Good to see that you like the IIC+. As you can see, it's not hype with that amp, it really is a cool sounding amp. One that Mesa hasn't duplicated.

 

[FixXxer]

The thing with the Mark V is that guys who know the Mark series well are selling it off, myself included. There's a difference between an amp flipper who bought the V just because it was new, and a guy who has owned Mark II and IV's in the past and like liked them.

+1

I would say I know the Mark series pretty well. The V just didn't hit the mark (no pun intended). Channel 1 & 2 are great but 3 was a big disappointment. The lead channel defines the Mark series and this version swung and missed. Hopefully they will do an update someday. The IIC+ is hitting on all cylinders for me. Thanks for the suggestion Dan!

BTW,

When will you receive your Fortin modded Marshall?

Another month or so. Good to see that you like the IIC+. As you can see, it's not hype with that amp, it really is a cool sounding amp. One that Mesa hasn't duplicated.

Its not hype with either amp. Although I did not have them side by side, I spent allot of time with a IIC+ and spent an hour with the MArk V today (90 mins in total), and I had the cleans dialed in very nice and although it did not sound like the IIC+ combo because of the EV speaker, it was killer. REally Killer.

The second channel, was a nice rock channel, and the 3rd was crazy versitile.

DId I get the IIC+ tones for me.... well yeah they were really freaking close. I moved the sliders (the book end sliders) all the way up and let it rip.

I play through mills cabs so that will help with the bottom end girth, but damn if it was not good. I mean really good.

The IV and extreme I did not dial in as good but there is allot of potential. With that EQ you can really manipulate allot.

That said, I'll most likely score a Mark V and not a IIC+ like I had planned. For me its more versatile, and damn close enough.

I can understand the posts because I own a pre500 dual rec and unless you played one an unleashed the power, you don't really get it. There are allot of guys that are now stating the "pre-500" thing is crap and its not, trust me.

The above scenario applies to the Mark V as well. The IIC+ is a special amp and it will always be one of the sought after. If the Mark is your thing I say buy the freaking IIC+ and stop obsessing over the last 10 - 20% your not getting. If your a recto guy (like me) get the pre-500 and fulfill your destiny.

Bottom line the Mark V is the first Mark I actually like, again this is from the perspective of a guy that had ZERO patience to read the MArk manuals and dial them in, push this in, pull that out.

Its a good amp guys, I recommend you just give it a try.

 

[FixXxer]

I was wanting the Mark II promise ..... a Fender, Marshall and a Mesa all in one amp. The V is not that. I am sure it is a cool amp for many. It just is not the amp for me.

Its damn close and not 6k.

 

[blackba]

Its not hype with either amp. Although I did not have them side by side, I spent allot of time with a IIC+ and spent an hour with the MArk V today (90 mins in total), and I had the cleans dialed in very nice and although it did not sound like the IIC+ combo because of the EV speaker, it was killer. REally Killer.

The second channel, was a nice rock channel, and the 3rd was crazy versitile.

DId I get the IIC+ tones for me.... well yeah they were really freaking close. I moved the sliders (the book end sliders) all the way up and let it rip.

I play through mills cabs so that will help with the bottom end girth, but damn if it was not good. I mean really good.

The IV and extreme I did not dial in as good but there is allot of potential. With that EQ you can really manipulate allot.

That said, I'll most likely score a Mark V and not a IIC+ like I had planned. For me its more versatile, and damn close enough.

I can understand the posts because I own a pre500 dual rec and unless you played one an unleashed the power, you don't really get it. There are allot of guys that are now stating the "pre-500" thing is crap and its not, trust me.

The above scenario applies to the Mark V as well. The IIC+ is a special amp and it will always be one of the sought after. If the Mark is your thing I say buy the freaking IIC+ and stop obsessing over the last 10 - 20% your not getting. If your a recto guy (like me) get the pre-500 and fulfill your destiny.

Bottom line the Mark V is the first Mark I actually like, again this is from the perspective of a guy that had ZERO patience to read the MArk manuals and dial them in, push this in, pull that out.

Its a good amp guys, I recommend you just give it a try.

Since the Mark V is the first mark series amp you have liked, then why are you trying to get close to mark IIC+ tones, or am I confused?

On thing this thread has helped me do is put things in perspective. There are people who say a mark III sounds close to a IIC+, others say the mark IV sounds close. Then there is the hole mark IVA versus mark IVB debate. And now the mark V versus all of them. I don't know what is the right answer other than for me to get back to playing my mark IVA and try out a mark V if I get a chance....

 

[stephen sawall]

I was wanting the Mark II promise ..... a Fender, Marshall and a Mesa all in one amp. The V is not that. I am sure it is a cool amp for many. It just is not the amp for me.

Its damn close and not 6k.

Well you are right about that and my IV and Tremoverb are not sale at all.

Myself I like all the Mark amps and probably like the III coliseum the best.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Its not hype with either amp. Although I did not have them side by side, I spent allot of time with a IIC+ and spent an hour with the MArk V today (90 mins in total), and I had the cleans dialed in very nice and although it did not sound like the IIC+ combo because of the EV speaker, it was killer. REally Killer.

The second channel, was a nice rock channel, and the 3rd was crazy versitile.

DId I get the IIC+ tones for me.... well yeah they were really freaking close. I moved the sliders (the book end sliders) all the way up and let it rip.

I play through mills cabs so that will help with the bottom end girth, but damn if it was not good. I mean really good.

The IV and extreme I did not dial in as good but there is allot of potential. With that EQ you can really manipulate allot.

That said, I'll most likely score a Mark V and not a IIC+ like I had planned. For me its more versatile, and damn close enough.

I can understand the posts because I own a pre500 dual rec and unless you played one an unleashed the power, you don't really get it. There are allot of guys that are now stating the "pre-500" thing is crap and its not, trust me.

The above scenario applies to the Mark V as well. The IIC+ is a special amp and it will always be one of the sought after. If the Mark is your thing I say buy the freaking IIC+ and stop obsessing over the last 10 - 20% your not getting. If your a recto guy (like me) get the pre-500 and fulfill your destiny.

Bottom line the Mark V is the first Mark I actually like, again this is from the perspective of a guy that had ZERO patience to read the MArk manuals and dial them in, push this in, pull that out.

Its a good amp guys, I recommend you just give it a try.

Since the Mark V is the first mark series amp you have liked, then why are you trying to get close to mark IIC+ tones, or am I confused?

On thing this thread has helped me do is put things in perspective. There are people who say a mark III sounds close to a IIC+, others say the mark IV sounds close. Then there is the hole mark IVA versus mark IVB debate. And now the mark V versus all of them. I don't know what is the right answer other than for me to get back to playing my mark IVA and try out a mark V if I get a chance....

IMHO don't bother with the Mark V. You're IV has a better lead channel if you can believe that and the IIC+ and IV are easier to dial in. Easier to me was based on the fact that i was tweaking the Mark V for a week straight and i didn't like what i was hearing no matter how it was setup.
They stripped the Mark V of all the push/pull knobs and they lost the drive knob and it seems like everything is based on the one gain knob. To me, that actually takes away a lot of versatility. I got more useful tones out a IIC+ than i did the Mark V because the IIC+ sounds good almost wherever it's set, and the Mark V on channel 3 sounds pretty bland to me wherever it's set.

 

[FixXxer]

Since the Mark V is the first mark series amp you have liked, then why are you trying to get close to mark IIC+ tones, or am I confused?

On thing this thread has helped me do is put things in perspective. There are people who say a mark III sounds close to a IIC+, others say the mark IV sounds close. Then there is the hole mark IVA versus mark IVB debate. And now the mark V versus all of them. I don't know what is the right answer other than for me to get back to playing my mark IVA and try out a mark V if I get a chance....

The IIC+ simul-class I actually liked, the rest with the push pull crap was not for me.

for the record, I liked the Mark V.