Mesa Boogie Mark III Black Stripe

  • Thread starter Thread starter Torgo2003
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I bought my old fully loaded red stripe for about a grand, but that was over ten years ago. Current prices are ridiculous. They gotta come down eventually I'd think. I wouldn't pay more than 2 grand for one now in great shape. The thing about those amps is they very often have issues with caps and such so send it to Mike B at Mesa when you get it, and that's another fair chunk of cash.

I'm so glad I got my Mark IV rev B back when prices were not bad and fair. I paid about $900 for it if I remember correctly?? I'll never sell it, best Mark I've ever played through.
 
There was a blue stripe on CL last year for 800. I couldn't get the guy to respond. Ended up getting another amp then about a month later he replied and I didn't have the cash.

I have a IV so I wasn't too upset about it but it would have been nice to have
 
MadAsAHatter said:
I bough a Mark III DG red stripe long chassis that was recently serviced by Mike B from a member here a few months back for $2200. I'd consider that a fair price given today's market. I'd think $2500 is topping out and 3k is overpriced unless it has something extra special going for it.

Are you specifically wanting a black/no stripe or would you go for any Mark III? In either case I suggest putting out a WTB feeler in the classifieds here. You're more than likely to get a better price, safer shipping, and overall better experience than you would dealing with Reverb.
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Posting a WTB in the classifieds is likely the direction I'll go unless I find something elsewhere this week - relatively new member, just working to get that post count up to 50 without spamming the forums :)

The color of the stripe really doesn't matter to me. I've heard the Blues are more aggressive from some folks, others tend to think it doesn't really matter with the IIIs.
 
Racerxrated said:
The 105 is THE only connection to a C+, so every seller tries to jack the price based on that. I agree, Mark IIIs are Mark IIIs. Some may sound better than others but it's just straight up BS that ANY of them will sound 'closest to a C+!!' No. Sorry.
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I see this sentiment pretty often, so I'm just curious, what about the IIC+ is so unique that you wouldn't consider it to be connected to a Mark III? Honest question here.

Looking at the schematics of the two amps, they are nearly identical. Later IIC+'s and early III's are almost 1:1 identical in the preamp with only a few value changes, which if one so desired could mod a MkIII (especially a III with the same transformers) with a pretty rudimentary understanding of a soldering iron and have the identical circuit/voicing. Thanks to the boogie forum, people have drawn up schematics based on the actual amps too (so no manufacturer trickery/falsified schematics, which does happen), and some later IIC+'s even have the III values in some areas. What am I missing here?
 
TotallyRadGuitars said:
I see this sentiment pretty often, so I'm just curious, what about the IIC+ is so unique that you wouldn't consider it to be connected to a Mark III? Honest question here.

Looking at the schematics of the two amps, they are nearly identical. Later IIC+'s and early III's are almost 1:1 identical in the preamp with only a few value changes, which if one so desired could mod a MkIII (especially a III with the same transformers) with a pretty rudimentary understanding of a soldering iron and have the identical circuit/voicing. Thanks to the boogie forum, people have drawn up schematics based on the actual amps too (so no manufacturer trickery/falsified schematics, which does happen), and some later IIC+'s even have the III values in some areas. What am I missing here?
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Your not missing anything in my opinion.
Had a 2C+. Sounds good. No magic in this amp. It was fun to play. Way, way overpriced now.

I’ll also add that as long as “we” keep thinking and saying a Mark III is worth 2500-3000 because it has the magic transformer, the sellers will keep asking these prices and the market will never correct.
 
If I remember my Boogie history... Mesa got ahold of some magical pixie dust, mixed it with various rare herbs and spices, then sprinkled over the Mark IIC+. Once they ran out of the magical concoction they had to move to producing Mark III's.

Seriously though, I'm not amp guru but individual components can influence tone. Consider Marshall initially copied the Fender circuit 1:1 but used different components and the difference is night and day. Not saying that's the case with a IIC+ but it probably explains some differences. I do think you're right that early Mark III's could be modded to IIC+ specs. Regardless, all marks have the same core tone, just slightly different flavors. It's a matter of personal taste for which one you like best.
 
TotallyRadGuitars said:
I see this sentiment pretty often, so I'm just curious, what about the IIC+ is so unique that you wouldn't consider it to be connected to a Mark III? Honest question here.

Looking at the schematics of the two amps, they are nearly identical. Later IIC+'s and early III's are almost 1:1 identical in the preamp with only a few value changes, which if one so desired could mod a MkIII (especially a III with the same transformers) with a pretty rudimentary understanding of a soldering iron and have the identical circuit/voicing. Thanks to the boogie forum, people have drawn up schematics based on the actual amps too (so no manufacturer trickery/falsified schematics, which does happen), and some later IIC+'s even have the III values in some areas. What am I missing here?
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What you’re missing is the experience playing one vs the other. They are way different in the feel, in fact the C+ is the only amp I’ve ever played that has that unique ‘bounce’ to the feel. Clarity is also far and away better in the C+. I’ve had 2 Mark 3s, and they had a harshness to the tone that doesn’t exist in a C+….feel was nonexistent in comparison, and the 3 sounded smeared vs a C+. The cost of either amp is what it is; not defending or denouncing anything. But if you play a 2C+ and a 3 and come away with no or little difference then one of two things are apparent: the C+ has an issue that needs to be solved or the 3 is a very special amp that is unlike the majority of 3s out there. After owning 4 2Bs, 4 C+ and 2 Mk 3s these are my conclusions.
Talk to others here that have owned multiples of each; like Jeremy (Gjo). He’s got some more valuable opinions.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
If I remember my Boogie history... Mesa got ahold of some magical pixie dust, mixed it with various rare herbs and spices, then sprinkled over the Mark IIC+. Once they ran out of the magical concoction they had to move to producing Mark III's.

Seriously though, I'm not amp guru but individual components can influence tone. Consider Marshall initially copied the Fender circuit 1:1 but used different components and the difference is night and day. Not saying that's the case with a IIC+ but it probably explains some differences. I do think you're right that early Mark III's could be modded to IIC+ specs. Regardless, all marks have the same core tone, just slightly different flavors. It's a matter of personal taste for which one you like best.
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The only way to mod any Mark to be a C+ is by attaining an RP10 or 11 preamp board and swapping it in.
Ask Mike B himself. He will tell you the same thing. He can do a + or ++ mod to it to get it closer but without that preamp board, nada.
 
anomaly said:
I bought my old fully loaded red stripe for about a grand, but that was over ten years ago. Current prices are ridiculous. They gotta come down eventually I'd think. I wouldn't pay more than 2 grand for one now in great shape. The thing about those amps is they very often have issues with caps and such so send it to Mike B at Mesa when you get it, and that's another fair chunk of cash.

I'm so glad I got my Mark IV rev B back when prices were not bad and fair. I paid about $900 for it if I remember correctly?? I'll never sell it, best Mark I've ever played through.
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Up until about 3 years ago or so, I would see sub $1000 mk3 and mk4 often on Craigslist.
 
Had a IIC+ a long time ago. It was good but not better than the red stripe III I had (for metal tones). BUT the IIC++ is very different IME (no side by side comparisons). It fuckin takes the cake. So much punch and gain and goodness. Power chords explode.
 
I paid market for my mark III++ Coli converted to full pentode, but this amp fucks hard and was $1500 cheaper than one listed on reverb. It makes IIC+ recordings online seem weak. I honestly don’t see the benefits of paying more than I did for a IIC+ because I don’t see the tonal benefit. I’d much prefer the versatility of a VII as they can nail IIC+ and more
 
MadAsAHatter said:
If I remember my Boogie history... Mesa got ahold of some magical pixie dust, mixed it with various rare herbs and spices, then sprinkled over the Mark IIC+. Once they ran out of the magical concoction they had to move to producing Mark III's.

Seriously though, I'm not amp guru but individual components can influence tone. Consider Marshall initially copied the Fender circuit 1:1 but used different components and the difference is night and day. Not saying that's the case with a IIC+ but it probably explains some differences. I do think you're right that early Mark III's could be modded to IIC+ specs. Regardless, all marks have the same core tone, just slightly different flavors. It's a matter of personal taste for which one you like best.
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That pixie dust was called Master of Puppets lol fr
 
ClintN667 said:
There was a blue stripe on CL last year for 800. I couldn't get the guy to respond. Ended up getting another amp then about a month later he replied and I didn't have the cash.

I have a IV so I wasn't too upset about it but it would have been nice to have
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Man, I bought several Mark IIIs back in 2018-2019...$700, mint, loaded with =C=...ah the good ol days.
 
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