Picked up a Mark IV

  • Thread starter Thread starter Boogie2498
  • Start date Start date
Another thing, why risk shipping an amp if not needed. Big risk for being damaged, being stolen or lost and having to deal with claims etc. Would hate the irony of sending in an amp I loved for “service” to only be destroyed by a guy tossing it to the ground.
 
T Wilcox said:
I just sent mine in about 6 weeks ago.
You just call and schedule service. Mine automatically went to Mike B but it wouldnt hurt to request him either.
Just paid for a full re-cap and general cleanup service. $290 + whatever your shipping cost is depending on location. Im in NorCal so it was only $25
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Hey thanks for the help! I'll give them a call tomorrow!
 
I ended up dong the caps on my 1990 mark IVA myself, did the top method so I didn't have to remove the board. Came out well. If I did send it in to Mesa, I can see them rolling their eyes since mine has a bias mod and not a mesa branded tube in sight.
 
155 said:
what does this cost ? I have a old mark iv works perfect but im sure a cap job will be needed, shipping across country will be about 200 to start...better to do local if its a simple cap replacement no mods?
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I would only let them work on the caps , but that’s me
 
I bought a Mark IVa from GC used for pretty cheap. Came in a tour case and looked like it was rode HARD and put away wet. Sent it in to Boogie. They overhauled it (told them do whatever it needs) had it back in a month and it was a little under $400 less shipping and tubes. I ended up selling it because I still preferred my Mark IVB. I sold it during Covid when the prices went nuts so I made out pretty good on the deal and someone got a great amp.
 
Chris6870 said:
I bought a Mark IVa from GC used for pretty cheap. Came in a tour case and looked like it was rode HARD and put away wet. Sent it in to Boogie. They overhauled it (told them do whatever it needs) had it back in a month and it was a little under $400 less shipping and tubes. I ended up selling it because I still preferred my Mark IVB. I sold it during Covid when the prices went nuts so I made out pretty good on the deal and someone got a great amp.
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I prefer the Mark IVb as well, as it's more aggressive, and it's actually brighter than the IVa, regardless of what some people think. The IVa is smoother, and perhaps a little more IIc+ like. I didn't buy mine to cop IIc+ tones though, I much prefer the recorded tones I've heard of IV's. They're more modern sounding. Like for instance, Chevelle's last album NIRATIUS... it sounds massive,. He actually uses his IV's with the 750hz slider almost to the middle line if you can believe that, perhaps that's why his tone cuts so well??
 
I think sending your amps to Mesa is atually a good idea. New caps are not just part of maintenance, they actually help your tone as well. When I got my amp back from Mesa about a year and a half ago I noticed an increase in bass response, punch, and a bit more clarity as well. It was definitely worth the investment.

Mesa might tell you that getting new caps won't change your tone, but I think they're just bullshitting cause they hate doing the work, lol. They'd rather just replace what immediately needs changing, and then get it sent back a few years later when one of the caps goes... like what happened to me with my old Mark III red stripe. I sent it to them twice, and the first time they convinced me not to get a recap, a couple years later a cap fries, back to Mesa it went.
 
anomaly said:
I prefer the Mark IVb as well, as it's more aggressive, and it's actually brighter than the IVa, regardless of what some people think. The IVa is smoother, and perhaps a little more IIc+ like. I didn't buy mine to cop IIc+ tones though, I much prefer the recorded tones I've heard of IV's. They're more modern sounding. Like for instance, Chevelle's last album NIRATIUS... it sounds massive,. He actually uses his IV's with the 750hz slider almost to the middle line if you can believe that, perhaps that's why his tone cuts so well??
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I Don't heavily scoop my Mark IV's either. It cuts better and has a nice snarl.




 
T Wilcox said:
My Mark IV just arrived in Petaluma for an update today. It is from 96.
Call Mesa Boogie 707-789-3324 and you will probably speak with Rich, he will get you sorted
Mine has the brown 10,000uF 16V caps that are known for leaking all over the main board which is why I am having it updated. Yours may be safe from that being a later model and could probably get another 10 years out of it before needing a re-cap
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ClintN667 said:
I think this should be standard with any old boogie you don't know the service history of. I had a great experience with my last one and need to do it with my current mark iv
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jeff5 said:
I bought one from the mid-90s a couple of years back and the footswitch went bad. Sent it to Mesa and basically had them re-cap it as well as fixing that. It also needed a new reverb tank. Mesa and Rich are fantastic to deal with.
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anomaly said:
I think sending your amps to Mesa is atually a good idea. New caps are not just part of maintenance, they actually help your tone as well. When I got my amp back from Mesa about a year and a half ago I noticed an increase in bass response, punch, and a bit more clarity as well. It was definitely worth the investment.
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GJgo said:
I've had Mike service 15 or so amps over the years, 100% worth it every time.
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Hey guys, I just wanted to circle back and thank you all for the help and recommendations!

I sent in my IIC+ for servicing and the switchable +/++ mod (will still be sending in my Mark IV too!)

I am SO glad I did. Mike B just sent me an email:

Well I got your amp off the shelf today, who ever worked on it and "recapped" messed up pretty good. They left big blob of solder down in the top of the V5 socket and a couple of random washers floating about in the chassis.
But the worst was a cap under the board was not positioned well and shorted to the board stand-off. Two of the big four caps are OK the other two need to be replaced as they got WAAAAY over voltaged.
The chassis mount screws are also very rough and loose threads. I re-tapped them, and we will return ship your amp packed upside - down. This puts way less stress on the screws and the threads. They are pretty fragile.
It will all work fine, just the physical integrity of the chassis is compromised.
As they say, been rode hard, put away wet...
Treat it nice and it'll be OK..
Anyhow I should have it done up in about a week and then I will holler back or you'll hear from the office when they are invoicing your Mesa svc bill.
Sorry to be the bearer...
I will get it all as good as I can
Best, Mike B

Honestly, I feel really relieved that I sent the amp in for servicing. I had a Mesa Quad Preamp for years and loved the IIC channel (still one of my favorite tones going thru my Simul 395). I decided I wanted a IIC+ and saved and saved while working long hours during Covid. The person I bought the amp from said it had been serviced in 2020 and I unwisely didn't ask for any other details. After receiving the amp, it sounded okay-ish, but never anywhere as good as the Quad or my Mark IV. It had been eating at me for the last few years and I finally sent the amp in.

So yeah, I just wanted to say a big Thank You to you all! 😊

Oh, and @hellzington I made sure to ask Mike if he needs me to order and send Sprague and F&T caps :)
 
It's neat that Mike B shipped the Mark upside down. I get why they make Mark heads like they do, basically so they only have to make one version of the amp to fit in heads and combos alike. Maybe it's sacrilege, but I've always wished they'd make Marks in a standard head format with the tubes and transformers mounted on top of the chassis rather than the bottom. This would put the control panel on the bottom of the head but the design would be so much better. Better for transporting, better for the thermal load since the heat wouldn't travel straight up into the board, everything.
 
Glad to hear Mike B is still doing work. I need to send my MKIV in for service.
 
Thread got the cogs turning, took a look on GC’s site for a IV as they’re doing 10% off used gear above 499 and thought hmm …1999 is pretty rich but 10% off….and then I took a closer look at the pic and the lead gain knob is broken off. Yeah that’s worth top dollar…F’n GC.
So if someone is hot for one, give them a call, maybe they’ll doing something crazy on it. 🤷‍♂️
 
skoora said:
I wouldn’t spend that much on an amp from 2002, if it works fine. Especially if you look inside and there’s no known items that are prone to fail, like certain brand caps etc.
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Agreed, I'd wait another 10 years or so before sending it in for a cap job. If it ain't broke don't fix it... But with all that said, I've heard from people that fresh caps can improve your tone and bass response, it certainly did help a bit with my mid 90's Mark IV.
 
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Yeah, my brain's having trouble processing why the orientation inside the box matters. The package literally gets thrown from point A to B, until it's finally thrown onto your front porch.
 
Akira said:
over voltaged.
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Great band name :yes:

But as noted to the other guys, I wouldn't send an amp in unless it needed it. You risk doing more damage shipping it then it is worth. Cool that Mike B is honest and would tell someone not to worry about it if not needed. Also agree with @TheGreatGreen on the orientation.
 
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