To III+ or not to III+, Marks the question.

[GJgo]

Hey guys,

I've owned & played a lot of Mark IIIs. Recently I picked up this DRG red stripe long head for a great price ($700), and it's the best sounding Mark III I've played. It has that growl. Originally I was planning on flipping it but I might hang onto it for a bit.
https://youtu.be/o56PVifSfgI

Right now everything is actually in great shape, with the exception that the reverb doesn't work (and it's not the tube). I could leave it alone & I'm sure get my money back out of it. Mark III reverb sucks anyway.

I could send it in to Mesa to have the reverb fixed and a general service for a few hundred bucks. Red stripes are the most valuable III so with that I bet I could still get my money back out of it.

While it's there, I spoke to Mike B. and he can give it the + treatment for $200 or the ++ treatment for $300. These include the R2 volume knob on the back. Now, I have a IIC++ so I don't "need it to sound like a IIC+" but I do like to optimize my gear! I think the + treatment would smooth it out just a bit which would make it into a killer amp. So I have to ask myself, if I sink another $500 into it could I ultimately get my money back out of it? I have to think that a III+ red stripe DRG head has to be just about the most desirable III, I think the odds are good I could get my money back when I do sell it. Plus, then I'd be able to experience a 3+, and that experience is a good thing to me.

What would you do?

 

[SpiderWars]

Does the $500 include shipping? Even if it does I think $1200 for a Mark III head (even maxed out like yours would be) is too much. I see them for $800 and less and they still don't move fast. And since you have a IIC++ it seems likely that you will ultimately sell it. The reverb might be an easy/cheap fix so I'd prob either leave it or just try to get the Reverb working.

But I know how you feel, I recently got a cherry Mark IV combo with EV/Sylvanias and extension 1x12" for $750 and I've thought about sending it to Mike B. and I don't even know what I'd have him do!

 

[Valtyr]

If I intended to keep it then I'd invest in the mods. If not, eventually sell as is.

 

[GJgo]

Thanks. Shipping would probably be around $75 both ways, just trying to ballpark some numbers. I do think that the amp would be "worth" around $1200 all in but it'd be a tough eBay sale. Honestly of all the "non IIC+" Marks I've played this one sounds so great, it's ties with this IIB Coli I played for next-best Mark tone. Tough choice.

When I sent my IVa in for service Mike added a cap to the pull fat or R2 that gave the treble knob more range (gain). R2 on the IVa isn't that good and I'm not sure it helped.. Just don't think there's a lot to be done with a IV.

 

[Racerxrated]

If getting your money back in a sale is paramount, then I'd skip modding it. If you don't care as much about that, send her in and go for broke!
I used to buy amps with the intention of selling at some point, so it had to make sense if I modded it; would I get the money out of it? Now, I don't care so much. So what the hell, ya only live once.

 

[skoora]

for $1200 you would be waiting until they got there naturally through time as they possibly increase in value. I couldn't imagine you would get that now. Plus I don't see where you're coming from on the red is the most desirable or valuable. I've seen no consensus over the years that any one of them is more sort after than another. It all depends on the individual taste of the buyer or the pure chance of what stripe is available at the time you want to get one in the used market. If it's a flip, leave it alone and have any competent tech fix the reverb. Even paying $700 like you did I doubt you would get more than $9-950 fully functional with decent caps etc.

 

[glip22]

Once Mike mods it it is no longer any stripe.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

One Mike mods it it is no longer any stripe.

Gary... What are your thoughts on the tone change on modding a III to a III++? More aggressive tone or less agressive/smoother tone vs stock? I've heard both descriptions from different owners. Some liked it better after, others said is was meaner in stock form. What say you?

 

[Racerxrated]

My impression on the C+ to C++ is not so much the extra gain, of which there is a minor increase, but the wider tone and slightly more lower mids. Bigger sounding amp after the mod.

 

[glip22]

One Mike mods it it is no longer any stripe.

Gary... What are your thoughts on the tone change on modding a III to a III++? More aggressive tone or less agressive/smoother tone vs stock? I've heard both descriptions from different owners. Some liked it better after, others said is was meaner in stock form. What say you?

I can't remember All I can tell you was it was better, but I had a black dot with a 105 tranny. From wghat I recall hearing the + mod made the amp smoother, but the ++ mod was different in that it added gain. I remember the amp was huge sounding.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

My impression on the C+ to C++ is not so much the extra gain, of which there is a minor increase, but the wider tone and slightly more lower mids. Bigger sounding amp after the mod.

Cool. Thanks.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

One Mike mods it it is no longer any stripe.

Gary... What are your thoughts on the tone change on modding a III to a III++? More aggressive tone or less agressive/smoother tone vs stock? I've heard both descriptions from different owners. Some liked it better after, others said is was meaner in stock form. What say you?

I can't remember All I can tell you was it was better, but I had a black dot with a 105 tranny. From wghat I recall hearing the + mod made the amp smoother, but the ++ mod was different in that it added gain. I remember the amp was huge sounding.

Well that sounds good enough for me. Thanks.

 

[mchn13]

If I intended to keep it then I'd invest in the mods. If not, eventually sell as is.

+1.

 

[psychodave]

I had a few Mark III++ amps and they were all killer. The coliseum Mark III++ was probably the best. Personally, I would take a ++ mod over and stock amp or + mod.

Regarding the Mark IV... Mike can mod them and add gain. He can also make R2 into another lead channel. So you would now have 2 lead channels with separate tone controls. Like everything, you have to ask, Mike doesn’t just throw out things he can do...

 

[rstites]

I bought a MkIII last year and I agree with many of the other posters from what I saw then (and have watched until now). Actually sold prices of these seem to be in the $750-850 range for a head, despite the fact that everyone lists them for much more. (It seems like there's a lot of that on ebay and reverb when I watch listings and then compare to actual sold prices.) I don't see any major difference in various stripes for value. The graphic EQ is the single major thing that pushes prices up, or down if the amp lacks it. I don't see reverb being a big deal. Original amp heads in very nice original headshells might be worth a small premium too, as the majority of heads are cut down combos.

The semi-official mods that you speak of are certainly going to get you the best return on investment, but you'll still lose money from them compared to just selling it stock. I wouldn't even invest anything more than a local tech to sort out the reverb, and I'm not certain you'll regain money on that either. I don't see any indication that anyone gives a damn about working reverb in these amps.

 

[Mudder]

I'd leave it and rock it.

 

[GJgo]

Thanks guys. I'm going to have to chew on it for a while. I think you're right about the pricing. I just feel this one "should" be worth more because it sounds so good compared to the many other IIIs I've played, but that's not an argument you can make selling online. Also I really wasn't sure if the mods would add value, or if guys care on a III.

Mike B. told me that "The 3+ is just duplicating the 2C+ values exactly, and the 3++ is same for the C++. Of course the real thing does have a greater dynamic sense and feel to it. Just no getting around that." Since I have a C++ I was leaning towards keeping it stock, or the +. I think the only thing that would make this red stripe better than it is now is if it were a little smoother.

I think a main reason I MAY want to keep the amp is for gigging. If something happened to it I wouldn't cry.

 

[rottingcorpse]

"I think a main reason I MAY want to keep the amp is for gigging. If something happened to it I wouldn't cry."

IMO,that's always a great idea...but that's how I wound up justifying having too many amps.I

I have mailmans markIII C++. I love it. Very yummy amp.