GJgo
Well-known member
Hey guys,
Thanks to a hot tip a couple months ago by Racerxrated I (we both, really) scored a SUPER clean 15" Coli combo from the collection that sold out of L.A.. Of course the call came 2 days before I left on a 2 week vacation to HI so the timing was poor, but when you gotta buy an amp you gotta buy an amp! I've had pretty much all Mark amps but a Coli and V, so I had to jump on this one. Once I got it I sent it in to Mike B. for a full service and decided to take a leap of faith on his loop mod.
I just did a tone vid, check it out. https://youtu.be/A-ATYsY8IMc
First impressions- 540 plate volts is AWESOME. Playing notes, it makes it feel like my picking is spring loaded. I fully expect to smoke the STR440s that came with it.
It is sensitive to preamp tubes for sure. I've rolled a couple types of Russian, some Chinese, JJ and also a Tunsgram. The right combination makes a big difference. When Mike modded it, the 12AT7 preamp slots all turned into 12AX7 slots.
The gain, once I figured some things out, I'd say is between the C+ and the C++, and closer to the latter. The character of the gain isn't quite as smooth as a C+ but most guys would never know the difference unless you were A/B-ing them. I actually have to be careful with the various masters now if I want a sparkly clean tone as it starts to break up much earlier than when the amp was stock. TBH the stock cleans were amazing so that's a bit of a bummer, but there should be so much headroom in its 200 watts that it won't be an issue.
A few years ago I had a guy come over with a IIB & a IIB loop mod. At the time I had IIC+s and IIIs. Everyone online always talks about "what's the closest thing to a IIC+ since I can't afford one?". The internet seems to think it's a III, specifically red stripe which I've had. Don't get me wrong it's a great amp, and close, but the IIIs are a little more raw & aggressive than a IIC+ because that's what the hair metal bands at the time were looking for. C+s are smooooth, and a lot of the gain is in your fingers because they are so touch sensitive. My opinion has always been that the closest thing to a IIC+ in terms of feel & character was a loop modded IIB, and this amp isn't changing my mind.
Every one of these old Mesa amps I've picked up I've sent back to the mothership to have Mike refurbish them. Beyond needing a cap job, they have all had problems- even this one which was in as close to showroom condition as they come. They're ~30 year old amps! Thus, all of my comparisons have been done from a level playing field. When you just go pick one of these older amps up and try to make some comparisons odds are that the amp has some issues & you're not hearing its full potential, so be cautious.
This is the first Mark amp I've played that legitimately has the balls to keep up with the hugeness of my Rectos. Big, tight bottom end. Now, it is a different character than the Recto but still awesome. They definitely sit in a different spot in the mix.
I've always thought that the IIB was a better classic rock amp than the IIC+ in terms of the medium gain tone structure, and this amp isn't changing my mind. So, with the loop mod we have an amp that:
- Has huge, sweet clean headroom.
- Has a killer classic rock tone.
- Has a high gain tone that's DAMN close to my C++. There is much metal inside.
- Has the sweet Mark II character as opposed to how the III and IV got a little more aggressive & harsh.
- Is so loud that it can kill your neighbor's cat.
- Has the Limit board so it can easily be run, sounding good, at bedroom levels.
WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!?!
The one place I will give the nod to the C+ is that the gain structure is more complex and lead tone is smoother, which is part of why they are what they are. The other reason, of course, is MoP.
Thanks to a hot tip a couple months ago by Racerxrated I (we both, really) scored a SUPER clean 15" Coli combo from the collection that sold out of L.A.. Of course the call came 2 days before I left on a 2 week vacation to HI so the timing was poor, but when you gotta buy an amp you gotta buy an amp! I've had pretty much all Mark amps but a Coli and V, so I had to jump on this one. Once I got it I sent it in to Mike B. for a full service and decided to take a leap of faith on his loop mod.
I just did a tone vid, check it out. https://youtu.be/A-ATYsY8IMc
First impressions- 540 plate volts is AWESOME. Playing notes, it makes it feel like my picking is spring loaded. I fully expect to smoke the STR440s that came with it.
It is sensitive to preamp tubes for sure. I've rolled a couple types of Russian, some Chinese, JJ and also a Tunsgram. The right combination makes a big difference. When Mike modded it, the 12AT7 preamp slots all turned into 12AX7 slots.
The gain, once I figured some things out, I'd say is between the C+ and the C++, and closer to the latter. The character of the gain isn't quite as smooth as a C+ but most guys would never know the difference unless you were A/B-ing them. I actually have to be careful with the various masters now if I want a sparkly clean tone as it starts to break up much earlier than when the amp was stock. TBH the stock cleans were amazing so that's a bit of a bummer, but there should be so much headroom in its 200 watts that it won't be an issue.
A few years ago I had a guy come over with a IIB & a IIB loop mod. At the time I had IIC+s and IIIs. Everyone online always talks about "what's the closest thing to a IIC+ since I can't afford one?". The internet seems to think it's a III, specifically red stripe which I've had. Don't get me wrong it's a great amp, and close, but the IIIs are a little more raw & aggressive than a IIC+ because that's what the hair metal bands at the time were looking for. C+s are smooooth, and a lot of the gain is in your fingers because they are so touch sensitive. My opinion has always been that the closest thing to a IIC+ in terms of feel & character was a loop modded IIB, and this amp isn't changing my mind.
Every one of these old Mesa amps I've picked up I've sent back to the mothership to have Mike refurbish them. Beyond needing a cap job, they have all had problems- even this one which was in as close to showroom condition as they come. They're ~30 year old amps! Thus, all of my comparisons have been done from a level playing field. When you just go pick one of these older amps up and try to make some comparisons odds are that the amp has some issues & you're not hearing its full potential, so be cautious.
This is the first Mark amp I've played that legitimately has the balls to keep up with the hugeness of my Rectos. Big, tight bottom end. Now, it is a different character than the Recto but still awesome. They definitely sit in a different spot in the mix.
I've always thought that the IIB was a better classic rock amp than the IIC+ in terms of the medium gain tone structure, and this amp isn't changing my mind. So, with the loop mod we have an amp that:
- Has huge, sweet clean headroom.
- Has a killer classic rock tone.
- Has a high gain tone that's DAMN close to my C++. There is much metal inside.
- Has the sweet Mark II character as opposed to how the III and IV got a little more aggressive & harsh.
- Is so loud that it can kill your neighbor's cat.
- Has the Limit board so it can easily be run, sounding good, at bedroom levels.
WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!?!
The one place I will give the nod to the C+ is that the gain structure is more complex and lead tone is smoother, which is part of why they are what they are. The other reason, of course, is MoP.