wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
I was just lost in it for an hour or two. Absolutely incredible how versatile this thing is.
NAD: Mesa Boogie Mark III (Red Stripe)
- Thread starter wharf rat
- Start date
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
Yea, I was surprised because the CL ad pics didn’t look this clean, but it’s incredibly clean.
Desertdweller
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,094
One thing is for sure, everyone, and I mean everyone, pulls deep.I can hear you push/pulling pots while scratching your head right now. MKIII Rite Of Passage.
I'd recommend diving into the Manual. Mesa always has the best Manuals.
@wharf rat if you need any help with it hit me up, I'm a big fan of the Mark III.
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
After a few days of experimenting, I can honestly say that I am a deep fan, lol.
I plan on playing with some volume this weekend. It's gonna be killer.
- Messages
- 4,432
Go buy it now!
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
Quick question for you all.
The amp is noisy mostly on the clean channel with the volume up on lower notes (low E). It's like a static noise on the pick attack.
At first I thought it was maybe a tube, but everything looks good.
I am currently in a house (temporary military stuff) and the electrical in here seems wonky. The lights are from the 70's and there's a ton of static everywhere. If I walk around and then sit down at my desk and touch my computer I get shocked. If the amp is on, and someone turns on a light I can hear a small pop in the amp.
I contacted the previous owner (who offered a refund if necessary) and he stated that he never had any sound issues, and contacted the owner previous to that (who I think was the original owner) who stated he never conducted ANY maintenance on the amp (to include tubes). I don't know if that is true, though, because it has JJ tubes and I would assume it would have come with Mesa tubes.
So, do you think the noise is the amp or the electrical here?
The amp is noisy mostly on the clean channel with the volume up on lower notes (low E). It's like a static noise on the pick attack.
At first I thought it was maybe a tube, but everything looks good.
I am currently in a house (temporary military stuff) and the electrical in here seems wonky. The lights are from the 70's and there's a ton of static everywhere. If I walk around and then sit down at my desk and touch my computer I get shocked. If the amp is on, and someone turns on a light I can hear a small pop in the amp.
I contacted the previous owner (who offered a refund if necessary) and he stated that he never had any sound issues, and contacted the owner previous to that (who I think was the original owner) who stated he never conducted ANY maintenance on the amp (to include tubes). I don't know if that is true, though, because it has JJ tubes and I would assume it would have come with Mesa tubes.
So, do you think the noise is the amp or the electrical here?
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
Any way to help that? I was thinking about buying a power conditioner from Amazon.
Desertdweller
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,094
A good one may help, but it's not going to be the $80 Furman from my experience. More expensive but better solution would be to have the electrical looked at by an electrician and see if they can upgrade the house electrical at not too much of a cost.
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
This is military base housing, so not an option for me.
I'll just live with it until I get back to CA in July.
Is playing it going to hurt it?
Desertdweller
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,094
You could maybe fix it with a $40 noise gate. I know some will say it’s sacrilege to run cheap pedals with killer amps, but hell I think the SD1 is the primo OD for metal myself. So why not snag a Donner Noise Killer and run it either in front of the amp or in the loop? I have one, it’s as good as a decimator (yes it really is, don’t believe the snobs on this one), and it may be a cheap solution.
- Messages
- 14,768
You won't hurt the amp using it. The only potential risk is some kind of surge. I'd unplug it from the outlet
when not in use. Just to be on the safe side.
- Messages
- 4,432
Interesting… I’m not a snob about Chinese clones, but the noise killer I had was the worst purchase I’ve ever made. This has me willing to give a different one another shot though….
wharf rat
Roadie
- Messages
- 154
Not a bad idea - ok, I will give this a try.
- Messages
- 5,191
I'd love another opportunity to sit down with a MkIII. I've owned a II and a IV, and have visiting privileges with a V:25. 
In the very brief time I spent with a III (tire-kicking at the store) I didn't bond with it at all. Couldn't find the gain; couldn't find the scoop I was into at the time. (This is with no pedals - at that time my thinking was, "If the amp can't do it, it's the wrong amp." 
) I must have been doing something wrong with the channel/ mode selection.
It seems like the Mk you hear about least - kind of Mesa's proverbial "red-headed stepchild". Is this a misconception on my part, and how significantly does it deviate from the MkII's that preceded it (apart from the introduction of a 3rd channel)?
In the very brief time I spent with a III (tire-kicking at the store) I didn't bond with it at all. Couldn't find the gain; couldn't find the scoop I was into at the time. (This is with no pedals - at that time my thinking was, "If the amp can't do it, it's the wrong amp." ) I must have been doing something wrong with the channel/ mode selection.It seems like the Mk you hear about least - kind of Mesa's proverbial "red-headed stepchild". Is this a misconception on my part, and how significantly does it deviate from the MkII's that preceded it (apart from the introduction of a 3rd channel)?
- Messages
- 5,191
So now I'm looking at used MkIII's (gee thanks). I came across this listing, which I share only because I think it's hilarious when the seller says the amp weighs "at LEAST 4,000 tons." 
(A conservative estimate IME.) Funny guy gets free PR LOL:
reverb.com
P.S. The amp is gorgeous, and if I were in LA I think I might actually go buy it. Despite being a notoriousspendthrift cheapskate. (Turns out I didn't know what "spendthrift" means LOL.)
(A conservative estimate IME.) Funny guy gets free PR LOL:
Mesa Boogie Mark III "Green Stripe" Simul-Class 3-Channel 85-Watt 1x12" Guitar Combo 1989 - 1997 | Reverb
One of the most important amps Mesa Boogie's history, the Mark III launched in 1985 and brought a third "crunch" channel the party, offering even more versatility to an already-winning formula of paint-peeling volume and a wider range of tones than any of the mass-produced amps of the time. Sligh...
reverb.com
P.S. The amp is gorgeous, and if I were in LA I think I might actually go buy it. Despite being a notorious
Last edited:
