What is this?

[jdel77]

I know it's an early Mesa Mark...but which?
Crazy story - it's at a guy's place I know. He repairs amps now and then.
A customer of his found this at a rubbish tip, brought it for repair 10 years ago and never collected it.
It's had a new output transformer installed.
Depending what it is, I may put in an offer.




free unlimited image hosting

 

[Racerxrated]

Looks like a Mark 2B. Vintage classic rock amp that has more gain than you'd think. Loop sucks, but it was the first amp to have a loop. I have a 2B coliseum that has the loop mod, makes it usable and adds more gain, tightens the amp. The 2B can be tubby in the low end. Mod is 350 and Mike B replaces anything that needs it. I like the 2B stock better than any Mk 3 I've had, more 3D/organic tone.
If you get it cheap enough send it to Mike for the mod. It moves the loop to the 2C+ position which adds more gain, also adds a master to the back of the amp. Brad Gillis used these for the Speak at the Devil live record.

 

[jdel77]

Very interesting.
I have my MKIII Blue Stripe that I love, but this IIB situation sounds interesting.
Moving the Loop etc I can probably do myself - when you say a more 3D/organic tone, do you mean like the difference between a vintage JCM800 and a new DSL, for example? Richer and more real?

 

[Racerxrated]

Very interesting.
I have my MKIII Blue Stripe that I love, but this IIB situation sounds interesting.
Moving the Loop etc I can probably do myself - when you say a more 3D/organic tone, do you mean like the difference between a vintage JCM800 and a new DSL, for example? Richer and more real?

I had 2 Mk IIIs, a purple and a red stripe. Cool thrash style amps, but kinda sterile if you will. By contrast, a C+ has this 3D organic tone that surrounds you IMO. The 2B is sort of in between these 2 tones, when it comes to clarity/organic 3D tone. Try the amp stock and see how you like it..the loop mod makes it smoother and gainier but a bit less raw. But still better than a Mk III IMO. Yes I feel the tone is richer with the mod, but I feel the Mk IIB is richer than a MKIII stock.

 

[jdel77]

Very interesting. I'll hit him up and see what the situation is!

 

[Racerxrated]

You might get it for a steal, the 2B usually goes for 800 or around there. The only thing I didn't like about a stock 2B is the low end is hard to tighten up, but the loop mod takes care of that. I would think the amp with a replacement transformer is worth maybe 5-600?
Good luck!

 

[psychodave]

Brad Gillis used these for the Speak at the Devil live record.

Gillis used a Son of Boogie on the Speak of the Devil album. I know someone who owned the amp.

 

[rupe]

Brad Gillis used these for the Speak at the Devil live record.

Gillis used a Son of Boogie on the Speak of the Devil album. I know someone who owned the amp.

Ralph claims Brad himself told him they were IIBs in an old thread:

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96793

 

[psychodave]

Brad Gillis used these for the Speak at the Devil live record.

Gillis used a Son of Boogie on the Speak of the Devil album. I know someone who owned the amp.

Ralph claims Brad himself told him they were IIBs in an old thread:

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96793

Cool stuff. The person I know evidently spoke to Brad and actually owned the amp. Uh oh, conspiracy tone theory. Hahahaha. Either way, I’ve always liked that album.

 

[rupe]

Brad Gillis used these for the Speak at the Devil live record.

Gillis used a Son of Boogie on the Speak of the Devil album. I know someone who owned the amp.

Ralph claims Brad himself told him they were IIBs in an old thread:

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96793

Cool stuff. The person I know evidently spoke to Brad and actually owned the amp. Uh oh, conspiracy tone theory. Hahahaha. Either way, I’ve always liked that album.

Yeah, me too. I'm one of the few Randy fanatics who didn't say it sucked when it first came out
I always felt Brad did justice to the songs while retaining his own personality on the guitar...no easy feat IMO.

 

[Racerxrated]

Speak at the Devil..oops.

Anyway, I always thought that tone was REALLY gainy? Have to give a listen again, after all these years. Hey Dave, that Son of Boogie..is that kinda like a NMV Boogie?