NAD - Mesa Boogie Mark III Red Stripe

  • Thread starter Thread starter ultimatemetalguitartones
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PurityS.L.G said:
I've actually got to compare my III RS to a IIC+ RI and they are different in the highs and lower mids. The overall sound is not worlds apart like some like to claim to keep the value of their OG IIC+ up but the difference is there and noticeable. I myself prefer the brash and aggessive nature of the III but the IIC+ is so nice and clear. I get the praise and appeal of them now that I've been so curious about for over a decade. Thats even if the RI is as deadnuts or ultra close as owners of both have claimed so take my thoughts for whatever they're worth.
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Agreed! I had 2 OG 2C+s, one being an SRGX (crunch and aggressive as fuck) and the other one being a HRX (new caps + EQ faceplate added) and IMO they were better for lead stuff. If one is into heavier and more aggressive - maybe thrash and death metal - the Mark III is the one to get.
Fun fact - this is a mesa boogie mark III (red stripe IIRC) -

The story goes that Kirk lent Lee Altus his amp (check at 45:00 - 47:00)
 
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ultimatemetalguitartones said:
I am 100% that even if you were to compare 2 same stripe Mark IIIs they would still sound different. Preamp - power tubes - caps - and who knows what else play a considerable role
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Yeah, I'd agree with that. Every single MkIII that I've played was a little different from the others, even when they were the same stripe. I think MB may have still been constantly tweaking what became the MkIII and wasn't really solidified until the MkIV. The IVs I've played have been much more consistent.
 
ultimatemetalguitartones said:
Agreed! I had 2 OG 2C+s, one being an SRGX (crunch and aggressive as fuck) and the other one being a HRX (new caps + EQ faceplate added) and IMO they were better for lead stuff. If one is into heavier and more aggressive - maybe thrash and death metal - the Mark III is the one to get.
Fun fact - this is a mesa boogie mark III (red stripe IIRC) -

The story goes that Kirk lent Lee Altus his amp (check at 45:00 - 47:00)
Click to expand...

You mention death metal. Do any of the Mark amps get anywhere near the brutality of, say, a boosted rev G rectifier?
 
ultimatemetalguitartones said:
Although they can easily do thrash - death , they sound nothing like rectos. Totally different animals
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Well I know they don’t sound like rectos. VH140Cs don’t either, and they get as brutal as a boosted recto. I just don’t know of any death metal albums tracked with Mark amps. I’m almost positive that some of the Morrisound stuff has Mark III on it, because Boogie combos are mentioned in the Scott Burns book. I just don’t see any death metal dudes using Marks, and I’m curious why.
 
I find MK3’s difficult to dial in and deal with, particularly the red stripe models. I find a setting that works well and magically about once a month it sounds like shit and produces screeching feedback without even touching the knobs.
 
neptoess said:
Well I know they don’t sound like rectos. VH140Cs don’t either, and they get as brutal as a boosted recto. I just don’t know of any death metal albums tracked with Mark amps. I’m almost positive that some of the Morrisound stuff has Mark III on it, because Boogie combos are mentioned in the Scott Burns book. I just don’t see any death metal dudes using Marks, and I’m curious why.
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Early Pig Destroyer is Mark 3, at least for the live shows.
 
ultimatemetalguitartones said:
Yes, all mark IVs I've had and played were more polished and lacked that "in your face" tone the 2c+ and III ampls have! What I did like a lot about Mark IVs is how well they record. Supposedly, the Red Stripe is closer to the 2C+ preamp. I am 100% that even if you were to compare 2 same stripe Mark IIIs they would still sound different. Preamp - power tubes - caps - and who knows what else play a considerable role
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You probably know this, but pulling the presence puts the IV more in the ballpark of the iic+ and III.
neptoess said:
Well I know they don’t sound like rectos. VH140Cs don’t either, and they get as brutal as a boosted recto. I just don’t know of any death metal albums tracked with Mark amps. I’m almost positive that some of the Morrisound stuff has Mark III on it, because Boogie combos are mentioned in the Scott Burns book. I just don’t see any death metal dudes using Marks, and I’m curious why.
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More progressive guys use Marks. I think it's cause they have such good string separation and clarity and they are perhaps a bit too laid back in the 3 - 4k area for most death metal. Meaning they don't have enough grind and are too smooth. You could easily put an EQ in the loop though and boost those frequencies.
 
anomaly said:
You probably know this, but pulling the presence puts the IV more in the ballpark of the iic+ and III.

More progressive guys use Marks. I think it's cause they have such good string separation and clarity and they are perhaps a bit too laid back in the 3 - 4k area for most death metal. Meaning they don't have enough grind and are too smooth. You could easily put an EQ in the loop though and boost those frequencies.
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This is the kind of feedback I was looking for. The other guitarist in my band uses a Mark V:35, and it took quite a bit of experimentation to get it into death metal territory (if anyone is curious, an EMG81 in the bridge set very close to the strings and xtreme mode will get you there). I can’t help but think one of the earlier, “more aggressive” amps like a 100 W Mark III might get there easier. My other gut feeling is that one of the fatter Marks, like the IV or VII mode on the VII, might get there with a boost, but boosting a Mark feels like we’re missing the plot a bit, since we already know a boosted recto is instant death metal and they can be had cheaper
 
peterc52 said:
I have a DRGX red stripe going to Dann in a few days. Will be getting a IIC+/++ mod as well as V1/R2 volume mod and pentode switch,



This but with v1 mod too
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cool guy but IMO he charges too much for these simple mods
 
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