Mesa IIc+

[bigman12583]

Is an original mesa IIc+ the same as the mark 5 IIc+ ? i have seen everyone wanting a IIc+ but the mesa mark 5 has the IIc+ ??? just wanting info.Thanks

 

[EXPcustom]

No

 

[Fret-Shredder]

Demo by Petrucci compariing the Mark V to the original IIC+

 

[UpNortMark]

Having owned 2 C+ and a few Mark 5’s they aren’t that close.

 

[Markedman]

Lots of "C+" modes in Boogie amps made after the original C+'s were discontinued claim to sound similar to the original. It's a gimmick to sell amps. No two Mark IIC+ amps sound alike in the first place, but no C+ mode amp has the feel of an original.

The master and the student, basically, hence price difference. Once you've owned one, you'll understand. It is an amp where you can just have fun playing palm mutes for an hour and not get sick of it.

 

[Racerxrated]

No

This.

Not a 2B+, 3+, Quad pre, Studio pre, Mk V (any of them) will sound or feel like the real thing. You have to hear and play one for yourself to really know. This is a prime example of how a video is useless to try and compare the tone and feel of an amp...when you hear the video they can sound similar. But in the room it's really not close. In clarity and feel....it's an expensive initiation fee but well worth it.

 

[marvcus]

Had a real 2C+ and triaxis/2:90; lead 2 yellow is the 2C+ channel on the tri.

Not really even that close. The 2C+ has a feel to it that I haven’t felt in other amps. Slick buttery type feel. Good clean channel too. Not the IV modern lean clean, which I hate.

You CAN get close to the IV with the tri and 2:90, though. Enough not to own both.

 

[SpiderWars]

It is an amp where you can just have fun playing palm mutes for an hour and not get sick of it.

Ha, you too huh?

I just got mine back from a tune-up/recap and I think I played Master of Puppets riffs for an hour as soon as I turned it on.

And I know many don't speak of it but the clean really is something special imo.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Never played anything that is quite like the DRG I have now. It really is a unique beast, both in tone and feel. Insanely versatile too, which I don't feel it gets enough credit for. The C+ is a paradox in a lot ways, bright yet smooth, aggressive and rich, etc. It's an amp that really doesn't make sense!

That said, I've set up my Mark IV to sound very similar. I have a video comparing the two but haven't put it on youtube yet. The Mark stands up SURPRISINGLY well to my ear. When the IV is set up the way I have it, it gets some of the C+ bounce in the feel department, but not all the way there. For $1200 or so, it's a great alternative.

If you want the full experience though, you gotta pay to play. No way around it.

 

[SpiderWars]

Never played anything that is quite like the DRG I have now. It really is a unique beast, both in tone and feel. .

I noticed in the schematic there are two 'mods' that say "for Simulclass" and in both cases it appears to be an effort to brighten up the Simulclass preamp to account for what I assume is a darker power section. I'd love play an H and a D side by side before I buy one. I'll prob never have a K.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Never played anything that is quite like the DRG I have now. It really is a unique beast, both in tone and feel. .

I noticed in the schematic there are two 'mods' that say "for Simulclass" and in both cases it appears to be an effort to brighten up the Simulclass preamp to account for what I assume is a darker power section. I'd love play an H and a D side by side before I buy one. I'll prob never have a K.

I'd love that opportunity as well.

I may or may not have a KG incoming

 

[cardinal]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

 

[Racerxrated]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

 

[cardinal]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

FWIW the III has one of those giant power transformers. It was actually inherently brighter than the C+. Had to dial down the III to make them similar, but it got there to my ears.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

FWIW the III has one of those giant power transformers. It was actually inherently brighter than the C+. Had to dial down the III to make them similar, but it got there to my ears.

Early black dot I'm assuming?

 

[Racerxrated]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

FWIW the III has one of those giant power transformers. It was actually inherently brighter than the C+. Had to dial down the III to make them similar, but it got there to my ears.

Both IIIs were DRGs too. I have heard the early no stripes are closer due to the 105 PT. But without the proper RP/SP 10 pre board it ain’t happening.

 

[Chris6870]

Maybe check out the JP2C instead of the Mark V. Petrucci says the JP2C is a bonafide reissue, everything from the circuit board to the transformer, it's the real deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEorYSfUIBo&t=158s

 

[Meeotch]

/\ Yeah, I'd be curious to hear from some of you with IIC+ experience how the JP-2C stands up? After chasing tone/flipping amps for years, I've settled on a Mark IV and JP2C as my favorites, but have been wondering if tracking down a IIC+ would be worth it?

 

[cardinal]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

FWIW the III has one of those giant power transformers. It was actually inherently brighter than the C+. Had to dial down the III to make them similar, but it got there to my ears.

Both IIIs were DRGs too. I have heard the early no stripes are closer due to the 105 PT. But without the proper RP/SP 10 pre board it ain’t happening.

Guess we all just hear different things. Or my ears are shot, which could be true.

 

[cardinal]

III is pretty close when I had them side by side IMHO. IIC+ did have a unique feel. But recordings of the two were essentially indistinguishable to me.

And here lies the differences in our ears. I had a purple and a red stripe III, at the same time as my first SRG C+. Huge difference to me. Like taking a blanket off the cab in the clarity dept.

FWIW the III has one of those giant power transformers. It was actually inherently brighter than the C+. Had to dial down the III to make them similar, but it got there to my ears.

Early black dot I'm assuming?

It's a no stripe that at some point was converted the red stripe spec. Don't know how different that makes it from a typical no stripe or red stripe.