dan_the_man
New member
It really depends on what you play and how many sounds you need, and whether you’ll be using it strictly in the studio or also live. Let’s assume you’ll be using it live as well, since in the studio you can basically dial in one sound at a time per amp setup.
The MK VII is the full expression of the Mark series philosophy: a multi-channel amp capable of everything from ultra clean to extreme high gain, and its design/layout lets you access all of that essentially in real time, with no compromises like the old II and III (where you can dial in only two tone at a time).
The JP2C is Petrucci’s take on the IIC+, less versatile overall but with a few features the VII doesn’t have (most notably the dual graphic EQ).
If you need a reliable and versatile amp between the two, the VII wins hands down, and in my opinion it also sounds better than the JP2C, which I personally find a bit too “boxy”.
The IIC+ reissue could be a strong competitor to the VII, provided you solve some of the versatility limitations, I’m thinking, for example, of the Petrucci mod that was often done on the original IIC+. It also cuts the mix like no other.
In any case, the VII remains the only true 3-channel amp among the three.
You could also consider a MK IV, which to my ears actually sounds better than all of the above, but it might get tricky to reliably get the classic clean / crunch / high gain (and solo) setup in a live context.
The MK VII is the full expression of the Mark series philosophy: a multi-channel amp capable of everything from ultra clean to extreme high gain, and its design/layout lets you access all of that essentially in real time, with no compromises like the old II and III (where you can dial in only two tone at a time).
The JP2C is Petrucci’s take on the IIC+, less versatile overall but with a few features the VII doesn’t have (most notably the dual graphic EQ).
If you need a reliable and versatile amp between the two, the VII wins hands down, and in my opinion it also sounds better than the JP2C, which I personally find a bit too “boxy”.
The IIC+ reissue could be a strong competitor to the VII, provided you solve some of the versatility limitations, I’m thinking, for example, of the Petrucci mod that was often done on the original IIC+. It also cuts the mix like no other.
In any case, the VII remains the only true 3-channel amp among the three.
You could also consider a MK IV, which to my ears actually sounds better than all of the above, but it might get tricky to reliably get the classic clean / crunch / high gain (and solo) setup in a live context.
