NAD!! Mark III red stripe.

[GJgo]

So in the past I've had two Mark III blue stripes, one I even had the C30 mod to make it closer to a red stripe, and I ended up selling them because they were just too harsh to my ears. I have my IIC++ which is EPIC so I didn't sweat selling the IIIs. Fast forward I picked up a IVa which I do really enjoy, it has wonderful harmonics (best of any Mesa I've played), but is still a *little* fizzy.

Last week a III red stripe DRG head popped up at GC for a retarded low price & I bought it honestly just to flip it. I cleaned it up, made sure the tubes were all good, and plugged it into my 1960B. Well, shit. This amp rips! It's a lot darker than the III blues but still has the vintage grindy tone. It's still not as smooth as any II, but maybe similar to a IIB but with more gain on tap. I think this might be the coolest $650 amp on the planet.

The reverb doesn't work so I might send it in for service, maaaaybe have Mike B do his III+ mod while it's there. In hindsight I regretted not having him do that to my last III. I guess I need to find something else to sell now!

 

[Racerxrated]

Congrats!

You are now the official Mesa Mark Rep.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I got mailmans modded mark III++. Great amp.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

Mine is a Mark III++ green strip, it's an awesome amp that is amazing for thrash.

 

[Snave]

Congrats, red stripes are awesome. Love mine.

Try switching the reverb plugs to see if that'll get it working.

 

[GJgo]

Yeah the plugs are correct. Not sweating it for now, Mark III reverb sux anyway. I'll email Mike about it.

Doing some A/B with my Mark IV this morning- they are definitely different tools. The III is more grindy & organic, but not also 3D like the IIs are. The rhythms are crushing but the lead tone isn't that awesome. I propped the iPhone up & got a quick condenser mic clip. This red stripe smokes the 5 other mark IIIs I've owned / played in the past.
https://soundcloud.com/user-281594556/mesa-mark-iii-red-stripe-simple-riff

The IV is darker & more compressed, but not overly compressed like my JP is. The IV harmonics are Best Ever. The JP is definitely smoother than the IV, but it's not as big & open like any of the older ones.

I'm seeing the IIs / IIIs as the more 80s organic sound, and the IV / V / JP as the more modern compressed sound.

 

[psychodave]

++ it. I wish I never sold my old Mark III++. It was a killer amp and pissed on most amps costing 3x as much.

 

[Mailman1971]

I got mailmans modded mark III++. Great amp.

Yeah get it modded. Mike is easily reachable. Cost is cheap. Will take that amp to the next level times three

 

[stephen sawall]

I wish I never sold my red stripe. Still have my Mark IV after 27 years. Bought mine when it came out in 1990. Actually I have not plugged anything but my Tremoverb in over a month.

 

[angelspade]

Owned a red stripe for several years when I was playing in bands...Fantastic for the heavy stuff. I alternated between that and my 5150 II. I could not get a decent sound of it at home without the cops being called....Definitely needs to be loud in my opinion.

 

[Little B]

I'm gonna send in my mkiii coli red stripe for at least a + if not the ++...cant go wrong with a red stripe mesa!