Official Mesa IIC++ Reissue?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheGreatGreen
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I've been looking at the Mesa Mark Series amps again...it's been a long time. I owned a Mark III red stripe that was absolutely killer. I'm strongly considering a used JP2C as it seems to be the most versitile version and I have been told it sounds killer at low volumes. Also that shred mode strikes me as pretty wicked.
 
angelspade said:
I've been looking at the Mesa Mark Series amps again...it's been a long time. I owned a Mark III red stripe that was absolutely killer. I'm strongly considering a used JP2C as it seems to be the most versitile version and I have been told it sounds killer at low volumes. Also that shred mode strikes me as pretty wicked.
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I owned a Triaxis + 2:90 rig for a long time. After selling it I tried to find a MarkIV used because I was not too keen on MarkV due to it lacking the drive pot. At that point nobody seemed to be selling one or the ones I found were US voltage or medium head ones. Let's hope the shop won't screw this deal up on the IIC++...
 
angelspade said:
I've been looking at the Mesa Mark Series amps again...it's been a long time. I owned a Mark III red stripe that was absolutely killer. I'm strongly considering a used JP2C as it seems to be the most versitile version and I have been told it sounds killer at low volumes. Also that shred mode strikes me as pretty wicked.
Click to expand...
I have the JP2C and it’s fucking awesome. Played it today for the first time in months and time traveled 3 hours into the future! lol!

Honestly, I would much rather risk some tonal “disparity” for the 3 dedicated channels and 2 EQ’s.

Also it’s pre-Gibson (not that I give a fuck), so all the people that wanna hate Gibson should actually prefer it! Lol. I remember when it was released John and Randall Smith mentioned on all the launch vids that as far as circuit-wise, it’s a IIC+…

I’ve always liked Mark tones but never lusted after them. I got the amp in a killer trade so it ticks all my boxes.

IMG_9205.jpeg
 
JerEvil said:
I have the JP2C and it’s fucking awesome. Played it today for the first time in months and time traveled 3 hours into the future! lol!

Honestly, I would much rather risk some tonal “disparity” for the 3 dedicated channels and 2 EQ’s.

Also it’s pre-Gibson (not that I give a fuck), so all the people that wanna hate Gibson should actually prefer it! Lol. I remember when it was released John and Randall Smith mentioned on all the launch vids that as far as circuit-wise, it’s a IIC+…

I’ve always liked Mark tones but never lusted after them. I got the amp in a killer trade so it ticks all my boxes.

View attachment 408957
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The + and ++ are for sure the best versions IMO, but in a tracked situation, almost any of the marks will do. Very tiny variants in sound.
 
Tone Monster said:
The + and ++ are for sure the best versions IMO, but in a tracked situation, almost any of the marks will do. Very tiny variants in sound.
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Yeah like I said, the Mark tone was never something I wanted to be my daily driver. The JP nails it for me.

If a + or ++ fell in my lap, sure. To be fair, I technically got my JP for $1250 so there’s also that. I ain’t ever getting a + or ++ for that dough.
 
JerEvil said:
I have the JP2C and it’s fucking awesome. Played it today for the first time in months and time traveled 3 hours into the future! lol!

Honestly, I would much rather risk some tonal “disparity” for the 3 dedicated channels and 2 EQ’s.

Also it’s pre-Gibson (not that I give a fuck), so all the people that wanna hate Gibson should actually prefer it! Lol. I remember when it was released John and Randall Smith mentioned on all the launch vids that as far as circuit-wise, it’s a IIC+…

I’ve always liked Mark tones but never lusted after them. I got the amp in a killer trade so it ticks all my boxes.

View attachment 408957
Click to expand...

I have never been able to try out a JP2C but they seem like killer amps! I just wish they had a drive knob.
 
angelspade said:
I've been looking at the Mesa Mark Series amps again...it's been a long time. I owned a Mark III red stripe that was absolutely killer. I'm strongly considering a used JP2C as it seems to be the most versitile version and I have been told it sounds killer at low volumes. Also that shred mode strikes me as pretty wicked.
Click to expand...
If you decide to buy a JP2C i have one that i might sell.
 
Tone Monster said:
The + and ++ are for sure the best versions IMO, but in a tracked situation, almost any of the marks will do. Very tiny variants in sound.
Click to expand...
In the bedroom and the recording studio, I agree. That said I've been that voice in the corner saying that in the live band, the IIC+ is one of the worst Marks. It's just too smooth to cut. It hides in the mix like a rooster behind the hens when you go to grab 'em. In Mark land I'd take my IIB+, III+ or IV any day over a C+. Only Mark I've tried that's worse in the live mix is the VII due to its complete lack of push.
 
GJgo said:
In the bedroom and the recording studio, I agree. That said I've been that voice in the corner saying that in the live band, the IIC+ is one of the worst Marks. It's just too smooth to cut. It hides in the mix like a rooster behind the hens when you go to grab 'em. In Mark land I'd take my IIB+, III+ or IV any day over a C+. Only Mark I've tried that's worse in the live mix is the VII due to its complete lack of push.
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Interesting. How do you know if a IIB is a plus? This is for sale near me
 

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GJgo said:
In the bedroom and the recording studio, I agree. That said I've been that voice in the corner saying that in the live band, the IIC+ is one of the worst Marks. It's just too smooth to cut. It hides in the mix like a rooster behind the hens when you go to grab 'em. In Mark land I'd take my IIB+, III+ or IV any day over a C+. Only Mark I've tried that's worse in the live mix is the VII due to its complete lack of push.
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Is this not micd up?
 
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Really interesting. From Randall Smith himself.. it’s ironic too because the ++ manual is filled with informational notes warning that there will be more oscillations with the ++.

Those who got the mark regular iic+ and not the ++… I’d be disgruntled with this situation - unless you don’t want to play high gain metal. But I’m pretty sure most do
 
I love the people freaking out about the oscillation that have never played the amps. Welcome to the internet. I own them... I'd be pissed about it if I didn't know how to dial in an amp and turned everything to 10 and couldn't figure out why it sounded like shit and squealed sitting right in front of it.

I can force the IIC+ to oscillate but I have never hit it at settings I would actually use / play with. I dialed in the IIC++ the way I like it and have not had it oscillate, and have not tried to force it to.
 
JerEvil said:
Interesting. How do you know if a IIB is a plus? This is for sale near me
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Interesting. The postfxlvl is indeed a part of the IIB Loop Mod (I call it B+ but the actual description is loop mod), but where's the knob?

When Mike mods an amp he generally denotes it in sharpie inside the chassis somewhere.
 
Brandonrz said:
Is this not micd up?
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Some gigs are mic'd up, some are not.

I've found that what tends to come across as harsh when playing at home or recording cuts better in the live mix. At least, for my hard rock & metal bands.
 
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