Mesa Mark VII vs JP-2C

[Mike Oxhuge]

I have owned several Mark series amps. I had a III blue stripe, then a purple stripe. Both had this harshness to the top end I didn't like. Then I had a IV and I liked it better than either III, but it also had a certain frequency I didn't like. Then I had a IIB loop moded Coliseum and it was epic and perfect except I lived in an apartment and in full power mode was where the tone I loved lived and it was already at eviction volume levels with volume on 0 so I sold it do to noise complaints. I bought a new VII last June and for me it is the perfect Mark. It has the tone of the IIb loop moded but with a much more controllable master volume. I live on IIC+ mode for metal tones. IV mode is great but does have that frequency I don't like just like the real deal IV had. Great cleans and reverb. And Mark VII mode does some amazing moded Marshall and Rectoish tones. It is the best swiss army knife of an amp I've ever tried. I use a Boss GT1000 for the midi switching and effects. It is the best overall rig I've ever had. I'm sure the IIC+ reissue can sound a bit better but at the cost of versatility. Depends on what you need the amp for. Mine seems plenty punchy like a proper 100 watter but I don't max out the gain, I use 80's thrash level gain and it lacks nothing in tone or feel to me. I'm sure side by side with the real deal would be different but Probably not enough for me to make the switch to the reissue.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Mark is Life. Everything else is just waiting.

I play only Marks these days. Started with my III+, then IVb, then the almighty Quad/2:90, then the MkVII. Most recently picked up the TriAxis V1 O.G., which I also use with the 2:90. Still learning it , but it also sounds yuuge and has incredible cleans. I need to get a Ground Control midi board for it.

I could undoubtedly fully enjoy a JP-2C, although my MkVII jumped out in front of me and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It has a very low noise floor and sounds impressively pristine and scalpel-like, even with maximum grind, although it doesn't have quite the guttural roar and mean spiritedness of the III+ and Quad lead channels. I'd say it has a more high resolution type of gain, extremely tight tracking. But when the Quad is cranked, it's the Anvil of Crom!! The Quad has a damn near perfect clean channel from the IIC (no plus apparently and totally separate from the MkIII preamp EQ in the bottom half of the Quad), although you wanna talk clean, the VII can be hyper CLEAN. The IV has a tremendous lead channel, although the crunch channel, while great fun to play, isn't up to it for metal rhythm, especially considering how great the lead channel is.

If I played the MkVII with a 2:90 power section, perhaps I would like it best, as true stereo 2 x 90 watts is a lot more than 1 x 90 watts. As it is, I play the Quad more than any of the others just because it delivers the magic so easily every time with such charisma. But the MkVII is the most complete of all Marks. It's immaculate, no flaws or balancing issues between channels. You have 2 channels on the MkVII that are FULLY up to the challenge of full thrash/modern metal rhythm at the same time at studio volumes. I use 90watt mode for the Clean channel and usually 45watt modes for crunch and lead channels in the studio at least. Thank you Randall & Co, his last great epic for Mesa.

Me being me, I'll eventually get a JP-2C also, and probably a IIB and a wicker III and/or IV at some point, just because.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I have only tried a Mark IV, but that was a seriously badass amp

 

[rsm]

Never tried the VII. Considered it vs JP-2C.

Clean, Rhythm, Lead channels.

2 x EQs.

IIC+

Sounds good. More of what I want, need and use vs VII.

I got the JP-2C, rack version. Only Mesa I own and need. I prefer Marshalls for everything else; this is my prog amp.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Never tried the VII. Considered it vs JP-2C.

Clean, Rhythm, Lead channels.

2 x EQs.

IIC+

Sounds good. More of what I want, need and use vs VII.

I got the JP-2C, rack version. Only Mesa I own and need. I prefer Marshalls for everything else; this is my prog amp.


View attachment 432435

My MkVII is rackmount also. The Era of the Rack is returning!

 

[NinjaRaf]

I've had a few Marks over the years...V25, V90 (twice), IVa, IVb, JP, and a VII. My favorite probably was my IVb. I had the JP and VII at the same time. The VII is like the most modern sounding Mark. More gain, tighter, more aggressive. The JP feature set is the best. 3 channels, 2 EQs, and Shred mode, but I thought the VII sounded better than the JP. The JP has this slight boxiness going on that you can't really dial out. The VII is more open.

The IV has a bigger low end and the overall tone is a bit low mid focused compared to the others. I think that is a unique character to the IV that makes it my favorite.

All that said, they all sound great, and you really can't go wrong. I was happy playing each one of those amps while I had them. But of all of them, I wish I kept my IVb.

I wish they did end up doing a Mark VI with the clean, IIC+, and IV channels set up like the JP, with 2 EQs and Shred built in. To me, that would be the perfect Mark series. I liked Extreme mode on the V a lot...shared some midrange character with a 5150, but overall the V needed more low end.

 

[BenoA]

I actually like this new era of Mesa. I played a new Triple recently and thought it was the best Recto I've personally played/heard. I had a three-channel dual many years ago and hated it. The new Triple sounded great. And I have a new Gibson-era (lol) 4x12 trad that kills.

I sure don't need another amp but those new Recto RI are giving me the itch to add one to my collection

 

[dead-pan]

I have both and they are pretty different sounding.

The VII is much more versatile also.

 

[FourT6and2]

Also, if you want the late 80s Metallica tone (Puppets, Justice, Black album), Marks are the answer.

Nah. Not what I'm after.

 

[Metalhex]

I've heard it's easier to take a dark amp and make it sound brighter in a mix than it is make a bright amp sound darker in a mix, is it true or nonsense?

 

[FourT6and2]

I have both and they are pretty different sounding.

The VII is much more versatile also.

Can you go into more detail about the similarities/differences? What kind of music do you play? I don't need a review of the clean channel (haha). Just high-gain stuff.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've had a few Marks over the years...V25, V90 (twice), IVa, IVb, JP, and a VII. My favorite probably was my IVb. I had the JP and VII at the same time. The VII is like the most modern sounding Mark. More gain, tighter, more aggressive. The JP feature set is the best. 3 channels, 2 EQs, and Shred mode, but I thought the VII sounded better than the JP. The JP has this slight boxiness going on that you can't really dial out. The VII is more open.

The IV has a bigger low end and the overall tone is a bit low mid focused compared to the others. I think that is a unique character to the IV that makes it my favorite.

All that said, they all sound great, and you really can't go wrong. I was happy playing each one of those amps while I had them. But of all of them, I wish I kept my IVb.

I wish they did end up doing a Mark VI with the clean, IIC+, and IV channels set up like the JP, with 2 EQs and Shred built in. To me, that would be the perfect Mark series. I liked Extreme mode on the V a lot...shared some midrange character with a 5150, but overall the V needed more low end.

Ok, perfect... you had both at the same time. I'd prefer to get a new amp over a used one that's 20-40 years old. For one, if I don't like it immediately, 30-day returns. So I'm really only considering the VII, JP2C, and possibly the HRG since it was mentioned earlier.

Is the JP darker? I've read a few accounts where people say that's the case. Contrary to popular tone-searching desires, I don't want brighter and more clarity. Amps in general can get plenty bright. I'm not after tons of not separation and treble. Don't need it. What I like is tight, thumpy lows and a solid mid-range with growl or snarl or aggression. Highs... I like dark. You can always turn the treble and presence UP. But if an amp is too bright, it can be hard to dial that out sometimes. I doubt any Mark series amp is "dark" though. KSR? Dark. Bogner? Dark. Mesa? Dark isn't a word I typically see used.

I also don't need a ton of versatility. I find a good high-gain sound and I stick with it. No need for channel switching and tons of features. That said, the Mark series amps (and Mesas in general) have tons of features. Not a problem though.

I was going over the list of amps I've owned in my life and was trying to see what else I might want to try that I never did. And a Mark Series popped into my head.

The only Mark Series I played was a real IIC+. But I don't think I was EQ'ing it right and I didn't know about the pre/post EQ thing.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've heard it's easier to take a dark amp and make it sound brighter in a mix than it is make a bright amp sound darker in a mix, is it true or nonsense?

In my experience, that's true. I've never maxed out the treble or presence on any amp. In fact... I typically wish I could shift those controls' taper down so I get more useable sounds at their lower ranges. i.e... amps are typically too bright for me and I sometimes have to put EQs in amps' loops to cut highs.

 

[ChuggNorris]

I liked the triple crown 100 better than the mark iv after extensive testing.....




Im sure this doesnt help.


Between those you mentioned Id get the VII 100% though.

 

[angelspade]

I liked the triple crown 100 better than the mark iv after extensive testing.....

Hated that amp...Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Others seem to really dig it.

 

[ChuggNorris]

Hated that amp...Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Others seem to really dig it.

Sounds like the amp hated how you mishandled it tbh

 

[Meanjoegreene]

The VII still blows me away

Seriously does everything really well and feels great under the fingers on every channel and mode

 

[angelspade]

Sounds like the amp hated how you mishandled it tbh

Yeah...That must have been it. Apparently many of us couldn't figure out how to use it properly as it it was one of the Mesa's worst selling models.

 

[ChuggNorris]

Yeah...That must have been it. Apparently many of us couldn't figure out how to use it properly as it it was one of the Mesa's worst selling models.

Yeah, which has nothing to do with the amps tone. It sent the mkIV packing...

It does favor a good player with dynamic abilities. Its not a smear all be all amp.

Probably my favorite Mesa and top 5 amp easily. Isn't the first time the players let an amp down but it sure as hell wasnt the amps fault.

 

[angelspade]

Yeah, which has nothing to do with the amps tone. It sent the mkIV packing...

It does favor a good player with dynamic abilities. Its not a smear all be all amp.

Probably my favorite Mesa and top 5 amp easily. Isn't the first time the players let an amp down but it sure as hell wasnt the amps fault.

Yeah...that makes perfect sense.