Potential Mesa Reissues? IIC+ and Dual Rec

[Desertdweller]

I traded my neighbor’s cat for my Mark III. If he asks, nobody has seen his cat.

Was it a Bad Cat, by chance?

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

To be fair I bought my JP2C for $1900 but that was pre-covid. Here's the current approximate value of that amp based on recent sales:

View attachment 51929

Could be an ok price if the amp was an older one or didn't have the new set up tubes in it. Missing the pedal.. you know. I didn't accept the cash offer because I am in no hurry to sell it but the cat, that almost convinced my 7 year old niece to let it go!

 

[James Freeman]

Nobody's on TGF talking about Gibson's latest cash grab?
Gibson releasing another IIC+ version, the HRG.
HRG is the IIC+ version Petrucci uses on his records while DRG is what Hetfield used on his records along with the IIC++.
Both use an AxeFx now.

Maybe it's not a cash grab after all?
There is a big demand for these amps or so it seems on rig-talk and boogieboard.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Both use an AxeFx now.

Petrucci doesn't use an Axe Fx in the context you're saying though. He uses an amp that's descended directly from his IIC+'s (and only uses the Fractal for delays, currently, and maybe some harmonies.)

But I did see that 'HRG' moniker on Reverb lately, and was wondering what that was all about. So it's yet another version? Go Gibson.

Edit: What's HRG? Hundred Reverb Graphic?

 

[James Freeman]

Edit: What's HRG? Hundred Reverb Graphic?

Yes.
HRG has both pairs of power tubes are wired as Pentode which produces 100W like a Marshall.
DRG has one pair of power tubes wired as Triode and biased slightly hotter towards Class A which lowers the overall power to 75W and has a slightly darker/smoother sound.

For metal I would personally choose the HRG for maximum headroom and longer power tube life of both pairs.

 

[Tanax]

Nobody's on TGF talking about Gibson's latest cash grab?
Gibson releasing another IIC+ version, the HRG.
HRG is the IIC+ version Petrucci uses on his records while DRG is what Hetfield used on his records along with the IIC++.
Both use an AxeFx now.

Maybe it's not a cash grab after all?
There is a big demand for these amps or so it seems on rig-talk and boogieboard.

There was a discussion about it back in September: https://thegearforum.com/threads/tg...un-and-get-one-today.6782/page-61#post-406366

If I was to get one, I still wouldn't know if DRG or HRG is the one to get. The HRG seems to be a little (emphasis on the little) cheaper though

 

[EOengineer]

I’m team DRG but would love either.

 

[Tanax]

I’m team DRG but would love either.

What type of music are you playing that you feel lends itself more to the (supposedly, I haven't tried it) smoother sound of the DRG compared to the (again, supposedly) tighter sound and higher headroom of the HRG?

 

[James Freeman]

An easy way to 'demo' HRG vs DRG on the AxedFX is to run two IIC+ amps in parallel (copy & past the block with your settings), one with default 6L6GC power tubes and the other with 600B power tubes. On Amp 2 do channel A with 6L6GC and Channel B with 300B with grid Bias at 100% for quick switching between HRG and DRG.
Also set 'Bypass Mode' to Mute for a quick 100W/60W or Simul/ClassA switching when you bypass/mute the first amp, the real amp switches off the Pentode pair (Amp 1).

EDIT:
Look at the impedance curve on the the Speaker tab when using the 300B triode, this probably the biggest difference and what makes the combination smoother sounding.
Worth reposting on Fractal forum.

 

[laxu]

Yes.
HRG has both pairs of power tubes are wired as Pentode which produces 100W like a Marshall.
DRG has one pair of power tubes wired as Triode and biased slightly hotter towards Class A which lowers the overall power to 75W and has a slightly darker/smoother sound.

For metal I would personally choose the HRG for maximum headroom and longer power tube life of both pairs.

Considering Mesa had already figured out Triode/Pentode switch for the MKIV, they could have easily built one MKIIC+ with these options built in.

It might've been a bit of a "damned if you do" for purists who would then claim it does not sound like their pricy original IIC.

At least for the IIC++ model they could've included the options as toggles. But this is Gibson era Mesa, so cash grabs are exactly the kind of thing I expect from them.

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

I think Gibson would be stupid to not put out easy to sell in demand things.

The prices are not that bad here in the US when you look at other new amps, Magnatone, Marshall, Bogner, ENGL, Soldano and others are more. Sweetwater sorted by price and Boogie has only 2 things on the first page.