Played a MKIIC+ RI

PurityS.L.G

PurityS.L.G

Well-known member
And I’m not blown away, not even remotely.

I have a couple of questions for those who’ve played/owned both the OG and RI.

1. How do these 2 truly compare in your honest, no BS opinion?

2. Are the OG’s as noisy as the RI? I feel like my III is way less noisy than the IIC+ RI.

With that said, I do have to admit I really like the smoothness of the 2C+ and can now understand the complaint of the brasher sound of the III. If you’ve been spoiled by the 2C+ for many years, the 3 can be grating to your ears and what you’re used to. I can’t deny that anymore but also it still doesn’t bother me. I still like the aggression but not as much as I thought now playing the RI.

Also, I feel like the sliders are much more sensitive than my 3, 4 and JP2C. Not a terrible thing but also not as useful or as easy to dial to really hone in on what you’re looking for. Honestly, just a bigger learning curve I guess, not unusable by any means. The feel was also nice. Way less stiff than my III RS.

People praise the punch of the 2C+ but my IV kicks way harder and more 3D as well.

So again, to those who’ve owned and/or played both OG and RI, please chime in on the differences. If the RI is really a 90% or above iteration of the OG than I’m sorry the amp isn’t all that and once again proven that certain amps command internet hype for whatever reason *cough*metallica*cough*
 
They’re good. Slightly noisy. The OG ++ is quieter with even more gain. I really can’t wait to blend them. Keep the gain moderate on the RI. Tight dry and punchy. Then put the hairy crunchy ++ on top and mess with the levels. Should be the perfect Mark tone (in my mind).
 
I haven't played one but based on all videos and clips to me it sounds like an ultra polished, modern and polite mark. Not raw and in your face like the OG one.
 
Tone Monster said:
They’re good. Slightly noisy. The OG ++ is quieter with even more gain. I really can’t wait to blend them. Keep the gain moderate on the RI. Tight dry and punchy. Then put the hairy crunchy ++ on top and mess with the levels. Should be the perfect Mark tone (in my mind).
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Cool idea ! I can’t wait to hear you blend the old with new , that’s what I’m talking about ! That will be killer
 
ultimatemetalguitartones said:
I haven't played one but based on all videos and clips to me it sounds like an ultra polished, modern and polite mark. Not raw and in your face like the OG one.
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It is slightly less raw, but it’s nice. Precise. To me, the IIC+’s magic was that narrow frequency in the mids that is “creamy”. Damn that sounds stupid. It just compresses in just the the right way. Smooth and juicy. I could never quite achieve that with the other Marks.

EDIT: I forgot to say the RI has those creamy mids.
 
Tone Monster said:
It is slightly less raw, but it’s nice. Precise. To me, the IIC+’s magic was that narrow frequency in the mids that is “creamy”. Damn that sounds stupid. It just compresses in just the the right way. Smooth and juicy. I could never quite achieve that with the other Marks.

EDIT: I forgot to say the RI has those creamy mids.
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Nice to hear that! Yeah I totally agree - when it comes to the 2C+ there's something special going on in the mids + rich harmonics
 
Im on the waitlist for a reissue IIC++, i liked some of the vids on the reissue iic+. I owned a mark iv-a, mark v, jp2c, and ive played the vii and mark iii but i cant remember which stripe, mighta been a black stripe.
 
I've always loved the vintage IIC+, and like if you can add a switchable extra +. Reissues always sound fine, and some much better than others (like this), but I've always found the vintage ones to have a little something special in the room. It's a dynamic that won't translate in videos, and you usually sense it immediately. Dynamic, open and punchy. Of course, it could all just be in my head because I paid 3X more for the vintage 😉
 
RedB4Black said:
You can get these brand new for less than $3100. I had been thinking about buying one… but these descriptions of it being smooth killed my interest.
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Didn’t someone bring over an OG to your house? How did you like that one? If you liked it, I’m sure you’ll like the new one. Again, I welcomed it and you can get plenty of treble from it but it’s not as jagged as the 3 is basically what I was trying to describe.
 
Les Zombie said:
Im on the waitlist for a reissue IIC++, i liked some of the vids on the reissue iic+. I owned a mark iv-a, mark v, jp2c, and ive played the vii and mark iii but i cant remember which stripe, mighta been a black stripe.
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Please let us know what you think of it when it comes dude 🤘🏻
 
I got the RI in Janaury, and just got an OG DRG two weeks ago. The RI seemed to me to be lacking a bit of gain compared to my other mark amps. Compared to the OG, after tube rolling, they sound close enough to say that the RI could be another variant of the OG. To me, the RI sounds just a tiny bit harsher, and even though you could say it has the same amount of gain, the OG kind of sounds a bit more saturated with the same settings, just slightly, but enough to me to prefer the OG. The RI also has a faster attack, which surprised me.

Now, what really surprised me is how close I got my IV-B to sound and feel to the OG with the "IIC+ mode" of the IV. The IV still has more gain, sounds a bit more compressed and a little less raw, but punches harder. After wanting an OG for more than 20 years now and finally getting one, I think I'd be happy with just two IVs: A rev A for the IIC+ tones, and a rev B for leads.
 
PurityS.L.G said:
Didn’t someone bring over an OG to your house? How did you like that one? If you liked it, I’m sure you’ll like the new one. Again, I welcomed it and you can get plenty of treble from it but it’s not as jagged as the 3 is basically what I was trying to describe.
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I’ve played quite a few next to my Wizards…I liked them, but I prefer the Wizards.
 
Haven’t tried the RI yet, but the OG IIC+’s I’ve had are low noise as far as high gain amps go

Vs several Mark III’s IME I would not consider it less aggressive actually the way the internet imo misleads about that. Yes, the highs are smoother/less grating, but that’s just one area. In most other areas I’d say they’re to me actually more aggressive and certainly more tonally complex. How the RI is in all this I don’t know yet. Also, the RI is simul class. I prefer the HRG version since it’s more gritty/aggressive, open and more powerful sounding, but the DRG the RI is based on is IME tighter, faster, smoother/creamier, more compressed

The Mark IV’s do have this low mid punch/beef. Maybe that’s what you mean by kick. If so, then yes they have that advantage vs real IIC+’s too IME. For 3D-ness, those details surrounding and connecting the notes, IV’s are definitely not in the same league when AB’ed with a C+ IME, but I can believe it could be more 3D than the RI

With all that being said, my favorite and definitely most aggressive/gritty, raw, jagged mark IME is easily the IIC (not plus). They basically sound how the internet hyped up mark iii’s to be in terms of raw aggression and teeth, but the IIC’s really deliver on that without also the qualities I don’t like in the III’s. One of my top 3 or 4 high gain amps I’ve played. The IIC+ of course is much better for leads, is more gainy, saturated, and has that feel guys rave about, but otherwise much prefer the IIC. For me it’s hands down the best amp Mesa/Boogie ever made
 
Les Zombie said:
Im on the waitlist for a reissue IIC++, i liked some of the vids on the reissue iic+. I owned a mark iv-a, mark v, jp2c, and ive played the vii and mark iii but i cant remember which stripe, mighta been a black stripe.
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Same here on waitlist also.
 
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