Why is no one making Mark series clones?

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CaseyCor

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Plenty of Marshall clone builders out there, so where are the Mark series builds? Now that Mesa isn't making the Mark IV's, you'd think people would be putting together kits for these. Especially the Mark IIC+ and III models. Colleseums are hard to come by, as far as I know. Can't get the proper Output Transformers, or is it a patent thing?
 
probly the same reason people refuse to mod them. there's just too much crap going on under the hood.
 
While almost everybody is able to build a Plexi clone (painting by numbers-like), the Mark is a bit more complicated - and there aren't any suppliers (AFAIK) who are offering kits and the correct parts (esp. for the EQ!) or so . . .

For me personally - if I'd want a Boogie sound, I'd buy a used Studio preamp for 350.
Building that thing would cost me more than 350 . . .
 
A complicated JCM800 looks like this...

JCM800gut.jpg


A Mark IV looks like this...

4822.jpg


Not that hard to understand why nobody wants to sell kits for that monster.
 
HeimBrent":gvyhw61f said:
A complicated JCM800 looks like this...

JCM800gut.jpg


A Mark IV looks like this...

4822.jpg


Not that hard to understand why nobody wants to sell kits for that monster.

*email response* I bought your kit to make the MKIV and it doesn't work, will you help me diagnose it through email? :lol: :LOL:
 
I was going to mention the Bugera Magician.

Am I wrong for wanting to try one of those, I'm intrigued. :lol: :LOL:
 
Shiny_Surface":1xb9irmv said:
I was going to mention the Bugera Magician.

Am I wrong for wanting to try one of those, I'm intrigued. :lol: :LOL:


If it sounds 70% as good.... :)
 
Supply and demand. Mark series amps were never really that popular, along with the above points about the amps being complicated.

The only Mark series amp worth a clone is the IIC+ or Coliseum. You can buy Mark III's for $700-$800 so why bother with the hassle of building it.
 
Shiny_Surface":2xp7qzyu said:
I was going to mention the Bugera Magician.

Am I wrong for wanting to try one of those, I'm intrigued. :lol: :LOL:

How do you know you have a good amp? When Bugera has cloned it. :lol: :LOL:

There is a French Mark IV clone as well, but I don't remember the name.


Most of the clone amps are single channel amps. You don't see many channel switching amps that are cloned. I think the reason is that channel switching amps didn't come out to about the 80's so they are relatively new and also they are more complicated to build/clone.
 
blackba":3k242iiu said:
There is a French Mark IV clone as well, but I don't remember the name.

"Le Marc" I think it was called, I used to have a pic of it and can't find it now, I was going to post it. :lol: :LOL:
 
duesentrieb":3gfmokai said:
For me personally - if I'd want a Boogie sound, I'd buy a used Studio preamp for 350.

If you ever find one for that price, let me know.
 
As others have discussed, I believe it comes down to the complexity of the amps, the current market value of the real Marks and the demand for them.

First, outside of Bugera's attempt at capturing the essence that is the Mark, it will more than likely not be cost effective for manufacturers to create Mark clones that are comparable. That leads me to my next point.

Without being able to keep prices low, how could a manufacturer of clones compete with the used market? It is likely that a consumer will consider this: "If I can buy a used Mesa Boogie Mark IV for $1200, why would I pay $1400/$1500/$2000 for a clone?" Buyers are likely going to prefer an item from a reputable manufacturer than a newcomer.

Finally, how many people really desire Mark series amplifiers? Go into a Guitar Center and ask anyone what they think of when they hear Mesa Boogie. Chances are you will repeatedly hear the word Rectifier. The Mark series is relatively unknown and unpopular. Outside of Dream Theater and '80s fan boys, the Mark amps are not all that well known. Unfortunate as it may be, this is the case.

Finally, how many accurate and affordable Bogner clones are on the market? What Bogner has done with the Marshall platform, Mesa Boogie did with Fender. There are plenty of Marshall and Fender clones out there; however, there are very few clones of amps that took these basics a step further.

Oh, and Randall Smith and Mesa Boogie love patents. :lol: :LOL:
 
There are two types of clones. The "better" clones and the "cheaper" clones.

As people rightly stated, cheaper is difficult with the current market for 2nd hand Mesas.

To build a "better" clone will be difficult, as unlike with Marshall, where they have gone to cheap/cheap production/price amps, Mesa have always kept their standards high.

So one might pay 2,000$ for a great Marshall clone, that is better than a new Marshall, but it will be hard to create a reasonable MkIV clone that claims to be better built than the original.
 
Complexities aside.....

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is nearly the demand for Mark series amps as there is for classic Marshall circuits....... :confused:

Not dissin' the Boogs, just sayin'.....

Editor's Note: Hey, that was my 400th post! I should celebrate by BUYING something! :rock:
 
ACShreds":fhenlkrc said:
probly the same reason people refuse to mod them. there's just too much crap going on under the hood.
This...
...and, you see many AC Cobra kit cars, but no one has made Gremlin kit. Wonder why??
 
Mitchell did a few years back. I can buil them. They would look different but inside they would be as close to dead on as possible. I love that circuit. It also mods well.
 
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