Mesa Boogie MarkIIC+ on a Budget? (Modded '89 Mark III)

[EddyLenz]

Hi Everyone,

I recently bought my first Mesa Boogie amp, which was a 1989 Mark III Green Stripe. I really liked how the amp sounds and you can listen for yourself in this video.


Comparing it to my modded Marshalls, it had a more extended low-end, but was harsher, more sterile, and not as organic sounding, and especially the feel wasn't as nice. So after listening to a lot of Mark IIC+ videos, I decided to try and get my Mark III as close to a IIC+ as possible. I changed all parts of the circuit, including the Reverb, EQ, and Power Supply to be identical with a IIC+, except for the 250kA Master, which I left.

To me, the amp sounds more organic now, with a sweeter top-end and a chewier feel, which I really like. It has a bit less gain, but still more than enough for modern Metal, if you crank the Volume, Treble and Lead Lead drive a bit
I know there's a lot of discussion around the different transformers, even with different IIC+s, but I think the transformers in my Mark III are a good enough base for the circuit to shine haha. For those who wonder, mine has a plate voltage of around 475V.

Here's a video of it with the IIC+ specs, tell me what you think!

 

[RaceU4her]

Isn’t the feel more than tone what makes the iic+ special?

 

[EddyLenz]

I haven't played a real IIC+ yet, but the circuit definitely has a better feel to me than the stock Mark III Green Stripe.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

Awesome video and job! Funny thing i had a C+ and a Mark IV and ended up keeping the Mark IV. Great playing by the way.

 

[Donnie B.]

Both sound killer!

Watching your right hand makes me jealous!

 

[Racerxrated]

I do hear some similarities; definitely seems sweeter/less harsh than a stock III. The feel though is the part of the C+ magic. But I like the clip!
Nice job!

 

[EddyLenz]

Awesome video and job! Funny thing i had a C+ and a Mark IV and ended up keeping the Mark IV. Great playing by the way.

Thank you! It just comes down to preference

 

[EddyLenz]

Both sound killer!

Watching your right hand makes me jealous!

Thanks!
My right-hand sucks though haha. I really need to practice picking more again...

 

[Markedman]

It was this time last year I bought my Boogie Quad preamp and a Boogie 50/50 power amp for $900.00, and I debated buying it! It is IMO, as good as it gets for Boogie Mark tone, and I've owned all Marks including C+ & C++.

 

[EddyLenz]

I do hear some similarities; definitely seems sweeter/less harsh than a stock III. The feel though is the part of the C+ magic. But I like the clip!
Nice job!

Thank you!

 

[EddyLenz]

It was this time last year I bought my Boogie Quad preamp and a Boogie 50/50 power amp for $900.00, and I debated buying it! It is IMO, as good as it gets for Boogie Mark tone, and I've owned all Marks including C+ & C++.

Nice! I'd love to compare it to a proper IIC+ one day

 

[Markedman]

Nice! I'd love to compare it to a proper IIC+ one day

I can compare it to my 1984 Mark IIC+ SRG and make a video, but, in person is the only way to tell any difference, and you'd be floored by the Quad. I've tried many power amps and still have a Strategy 400 but the 50/50 has something in it that makes the Quad go bananas. More gain that any monkey would want, C++ gain amounts.

 

[SpiderWars]

The more harsh top is a tonal difference between the two that I've noticed. I'm not into super aggro tones but those that are probably love the III.

 

[Racerxrated]

The more harsh top is a tonal difference between the two that I've noticed. I'm not into super aggro tones but those that are probably love the III.

That was the one thing I couldn’t dial out of the 2 Mk IIIs I had. The harsh highs. Other than that they are nice.

 

[EddyLenz]

I can compare it to my 1984 Mark IIC+ SRG and make a video, but, in person is the only way to tell any difference, and you'd be floored by the Quad. I've tried many power amps and still have a Strategy 400 but the 50/50 has something in it that makes the Quad go bananas. More gain that any monkey would want, C++ gain amounts.

Yeah, the difference in the room is gonna be bigger than close miced.

I thought about trying the C++ specs, but I don't need more gain haha.

 

[EddyLenz]

The more harsh top is a tonal difference between the two that I've noticed. I'm not into super aggro tones but those that are probably love the III.

Yeah, it was a bit too harsh for me stock

 

[anomaly]

That was the one thing I couldn’t dial out of the 2 Mk IIIs I had. The harsh highs. Other than that they are nice.

That was the reason I went from a Mark III to a IV cause the IV has a much sweeter, smoother top end to it and is not harsh at band volumes, but still has those aggressive mark mids to it. The III definitely gets a bit harsh when at band volume. You gotta roll the presence way down to the point where it sounds dull, to get rid of it. I was always struggling to get a tone I liked with the mark III when I played in a band. Recording too sometimes.

 

[Beyond Black]

Killer clips, both. I actually preferred the stock clip. The modded version is more articulate, but the stock one is more aggressive, and I prefer the mids. But like I said, they both sound stellar. All your clips are wicked, man. What speakers?

 

[EddyLenz]

Killer clips, both. I actually preferred the stock clip. The modded version is more articulate, but the stock one is more aggressive, and I prefer the mids. But like I said, they both sound stellar. All your clips are wicked, man. What speakers?

Thank you!
I could have turned the presence up more on the modded one, but I just prefer the smoother sound.
I've been using my 1991 1960BX cab with the original Greenbacks for a while now. Before that, I always used my 80s 1960BV.

 

[anomaly]

Would love to hear this amp in a mix, double tracked. It sounds badass.