Mesa Mark VII vs JP-2C

[Mike Oxhuge]

Unless you need the separate channels etc, I'd go for a Mark with all the controls (volume and lead drive). The JP2C and VII don't let you adjust both (though the JP2C has push/pulls to supposedly let you tweak them, and channel 3 is set higher than channel 2).

Those controls are important and it sucks they took them away in the modern designs.

I don't even miss those controls. The VII is the only Mark I've had that is set it and forget it. Same consistent great tone every day. I'm sure certain tones may be harder to get but it definitely gets Metallica and Whitesnake tones with no problem. And the VII channel is so good for 80's rock it's ridiculous. And the best clean channel of any amp I've owned.

 

[Brandonrz]

I’m a bigger fan of Rectos than mark series. If I had to choose between an VII and jp2c I’d go VII… the jp2c is boxy/honky as fuck. Over both those I’d grab any one of the reissues.

 

[PurityS.L.G]

I would say the JP2C is the better choice of the two. I sold mine and miss it. You really don’t know just how useful the dual GEQ is until you have it. It’s invaluable if you gig since you can set it differently for each channel. Tone wise they are similar enough but the VII is more flexible for lower gain stuff if you see yourself ever needing it.

 

[mentoneman]

i like the VII, but since you’ve never owned a mark period, you could pick up a used III, go through it to refurbish it and with your mod killer skills turn it into a magic boogie.

 

[Holy-diver]

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.

I know we totally agreed about this a while back, it would be the ultimate to have the VII mode wiped from existence and set the amp up like this. Or make ch3 have a new VII mode that was like an evolution of the extreme mode from the mark V.

I have pretty extensive mark ownership experience and also owned the JP, mkivb and VII at the same time and the VII was my favorite of those 3. I have a Mark iii++ HRG now that im holding onto. I haven’t tried the reissues though, I want to get my hands on the HRG and see how it compares to my iii++

 

[dead-pan]

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.

The JP2C is more mid focused. I couldn't dial it to sound like the VII in 2C mode. I prefer the IV mode but the 2C mode is really good also.

This is for metal. Thrash and beyond.

The VII is more open sounding.

The VII mode reminds me of the Badlander direction.

Here is a quick comparison clip. This was as close as I could get the JP2C to the VII. The VII could be dialed to sound more like the JP2C though.

 

[FourT6and2]

The JP2C is more mid focused. I couldn't dial it to sound like the VII in 2C mode. I prefer the IV mode but the 2C mode is really good also.

This is for metal. Thrash and beyond.

The VII is more open sounding.

The VII mode reminds me of the Badlander direction.

Here is a quick comparison clip. This was as close as I could get the JP2C to the VII. The VII could be dialed to sound more like the JP2C though.

Which was which?

 

[GJgo]

Awesome, I'll check out your vids. I'll most likely be playing in Drop C. The HRG RI seems interesting!

As much as I love the OGs and the HRG RI, IMO they're not the best choice for anything below drop D. Theyr'e too raw, and IMO low tunings play more well with something that's a bit more compressed. In the Mark world that's the V and the JP.

 

[FourT6and2]

As much as I love the OGs and the HRG RI, IMO they're not the best choice for anything below drop D. Theyr'e too raw, and IMO low tunings play more well with something that's a bit more compressed. In the Mark world that's the V and the JP.

This sounds pretty killer to me. Man... there are too many Mark amps. IIC+ RI, IIC+ HRG RI, JP, VII... I need to get in a room and play them all. I'll reach out to Mesa and see if they have a factory demo room in Petaluma, but I doubt it.

 

[Exo-metal]

They have a room...getting in there these days may be another story.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I know we totally agreed about this a while back, it would be the ultimate to have the VII mode wiped from existence and set the amp up like this. Or make ch3 have a new VII mode that was like an evolution of the extreme mode from the mark V.

I have pretty extensive mark ownership experience and also owned the JP, mkivb and VII at the same time and the VII was my favorite of those 3. I have a Mark iii++ HRG now that im holding onto. I haven’t tried the reissues though, I want to get my hands on the HRG and see how it compares to my iii++

Yeah I didn’t like VII mode at all. And the 2 main sounds I wanted were on the same channel. I’d rather have IIC+ mode and IV mode on separate channels, giving me 3 useable channels. As it stands, ch2 on the VII is totally useless for me.

 

[dead-pan]

Which was which?

The VII is first.

 

[Skirmish]

From lurking here and watching your posts we seem to have a similar taste. I own a Mark VII and a VH4. Mainly playing Drop-C. Will never get rid of either, they are that good. All the channels of the Mark VII sound great, imho it's best to use it with an attenuator (I use the Fryette Power Station). The only question is: Do you want two graphic eqs or is one sufficient? For me one is more than enough, you could easily add a boss eq or similar if desired. Really nothing negative. Sounds massive through either a Bogner 1x12 (!) or Recto 2x12. 4x12 not necessary, still fun though. Get one.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

If you have a multi effect with midi like I do with the Boss GT1000 you can switch the graphic eq off and use the eq in the Boss for a different eq setting and also add a boost or eq in front as well per preset if you want more gain.

 

[Metalhex]

4x12 not necessary

4x12 is ALWAYS necessary!

 

[BenoA]

I don't need another amp but @NinjaRaf 's videos and the one with John and Tosin make me want a Mark VII

 

[BABMusic]

I would just get a VII or a used V. Mark IV mode is missing on the IIC+, and that is a mode most people enjoy. Both the VII and V have it.

 

[Kagami]

As much as I love the OGs and the HRG RI, IMO they're not the best choice for anything below drop D. Theyr'e too raw, and IMO low tunings play more well with something that's a bit more compressed. In the Mark world that's the V and the JP.

Anything with triode is not going to sound as aggressive or punchy as pentode just due to the even harmonics. Depending on what you want it may or may not be good but it's not for me.

 

[GJgo]

Anything with triode is not going to sound as aggressive or punchy as pentode just due to the even harmonics. Depending on what you want it may or may not be good but it's not for me.

I agree with you which is why I don't care for triode, and IMO it's more than that. Mark II and III gain structure is pretty raw and it gets muddy with low tunings compared to the more smooth gain structures of the V and JP. As (comparatively) dull as the 90W V sounds in general it usually wins the 7 string contest to my ear.

 

[BABMusic]

I love triode on my IV. It uses just the EL34 tubes on the outer sockets. It's the only amp I've owned that has a good sounding triode mode.