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[maddnotez]

Honestly the Marks are all pretty close. The JP2C is fantastic. I have yet to play a Mark that didn’t give me the sound I was looking for.

Definitely more than usable. Wasnt the best tone in the world or anything but definitely great.

I will say it sat in a live mix in a spectrum better than any amp I've ever played in my life. Just very clear, cutting and very hard to explain but it was just in the perfect space of the audio spectrum if that makes any sense.

 

[Desertdweller]

Definitely more than usable. Wasnt the best tone in the world or anything but definitely great.

I will say it sat in a live mix in a spectrum better than any amp I've ever played in my life. Just very clear, cutting and very hard to explain but it was just in the perfect space of the audio spectrum if that makes any sense.

IDK the JP2C with shred mode engaged is pretty close to the best tone in the world in my book.

 

[maddnotez]

IDK the JP2C with shred mode engaged is pretty close to the best tone in the world in my book.

Have you played the Uber Ultra? It's one of those omfg amps for me.

The only other amp I've heard (not played) that sounded better was the unobtainable Tapp Marzain.

Would definitely put the JP2c in my top 5 though.

 

[Genghis]

I've had the JP2C and it was pretty badass.

I've played a few rectos and they were not my flavor at all but I have heard a buddy use a Single rectifier that sounded monstrous and also Killer tone made a couple vids of a dual and a maxon boost perhaps that sounded incredible.

Just couldn't ever get a recto to work for me but im interested in mark series amps. What would you say the best Mark is?

Based off random comments I've seen over the years it seems the masses like the Coliseum or the 2c++?

I’m have a JP2C and was fortunate enough to get an old school IIC+ from a friend locally for a great price. Any Mark will do well for you. I haven’t played any others, but I trust the lineage.

 

[nicolasrivera]

IDK the JP2C with shred mode engaged is pretty close to the best tone in the world in my book.

Yes, SHRED cust low end from the input into the first gain stage, also adding a bit of mid high freq. This can also and probably only be achieved in other MESAS with the MESA Flux Drive pedal.

 

[newholland]

Just got this Monday. Mark IIB SR with the MS-12 speaker, RP9C preamp board. It was listed as an 82, but looks like an 83 on the bottom of the chassis, plus the black knobs and 9C preamp lean late 82-early 83.

I played a Mark IVb wide combo with an EV for years, and traded it on a new Mark V 90 combo a couple years after they came out, that I stupidly sold a few years ago. I went to one of the Denver GCs that showed to have a used MkV in stock as well as a new VII. Got there and they sold the V, so I tried the VII, and this IIB was sitting next to it so I plugged in and WOW. I did like the IIB mode on the VII (liked other modes too, but would rather have the V for the tweed and MkI modes, wattage modes and solo volume). I quickly dialed in a nice clean tone. I left it though and after some research went back and made an offer the store manager accepted so I brought it home.

I have read on many forums that it's hard to get both a great clean and lead tone, and the lead mode gets pretty muddy. Not the case on this one, but I'm not a metal or chugga guy. I dialed the clean to sound exactly like my AN SSS. Even better when I ran it through the Hi-tone eclipse 2x12 with repro crescendos. I love this amp. It is in really great condition other than a bunch of dust that I cleaned up after I took those pics. I opened it up just to make sure there wasn't any funny business going on, and to see what rev the preamp was. Appears to have the original preamp tubes and it also has the sought after STR 454 power tubes. I have never owned a Mark w/o the GEQ, but not missing it at all on this one. And the reverb is great too.

Not sure if it has been serviced, but the caps appear to be in good shape with no bulging. I will check with MB to see if it has ever been sent in. I should get it checked out, anyone know of a good MB tech in the Denver area (had a great one in Dallas)? Also looking for recommendations on an after market head shell for down the road. I haven't gigged since I moved to Denver, so it's fine as a heavy ass combo for the house, but not sure I wasn't to lug it around when I finally get around to finding or starting a band.

i run my 81 iib through a fane and an ev- its a fantastic combo and dialed in right makes a great, but not less loud hiwatt-esque kranger.

im also in the camp that loves an eqless iib. meantime- you can absolutely get great cleans and dirt- use your volume knob, not the footswitch!

 

[spawnofthesith]

Just got my Mark III back from the amp tech with all new caps, a new screen resistor, and a few other cleanup items. The sound difference is less noise, more bottom end, and some of the fizzyness i was experiencing in the gain is gone. It sounds massive.

View attachment 49629

And of course I have to repost this pic of it:
View attachment 49630

Still can’t get over how clean and fresh your III looks

 

[Desertdweller]

Still can’t get over how clean and fresh your III looks

I have had such a great relationship with Mesa over the years. That was their doing, 100%. I called them up one day and talked with Rich for about half an hour about how I had a Mark III as a 'rescue' and needed some fix-me up stuff for it. We talked options and they sent me a great headshell with a bunch of hardware. It wasn't cheap, but they knew what I was trying to do. From my experience, Mesa has always been a class act as a company. I have a few stories from back when I was playing in bands and they were so gracious with both technical information and also with support for tubes and other oddities when I had amp issues at gigs and such. I was never anyone special and they always treated me well.

 

[newholland]

I have had such a great relationship with Mesa over the years. That was their doing, 100%. I called them up one day and talked with Rich for about half an hour about how I had a Mark III as a 'rescue' and needed some fix-me up stuff for it. We talked options and they sent me a great headshell with a bunch of hardware. It wasn't cheap, but they knew what I was trying to do. From my experience, Mesa has always been a class act as a company. I have a few stories from back when I was playing in bands and they were so gracious with both technical information and also with support for tubes and other oddities when I had amp issues at gigs and such. I was never anyone special and they always treated me well.

absolutely same for me. i bought a 50 cal around 1995 and absolutely ran the wheels off it LOUD. that amp torched a set of el84s once (and by that i mean I did by being negligent and not changing them) and i needed?

resistors. and a new quad of el84s.

back on the road for another 13 years.

any questions i ever had were a phone call away. just incredible service and nice people.

 

[László]

Speaking of the Mark Series amps, a new Mark VII arrived here yesterday. I figured I'd yak about it in case anyone's interested.

I'm not a metal player. But this amp is surprising me in good ways! It's not merely a high gain or metal amp (though it's that, too).

Mesa is missing a trick here by not demoing the Mark VII for lower gain players. I’m tempted to do a YouTube video to demonstrate how good it is at low gain settings! They’re marketing this thing as a very high gain amp in all the demos, which of course it can be.

But it is also one of the nicest clean-to-edge of breakup amps I’ve ever owned. It sounds great clean in all three channels. The Mark IIB mode in channel 3, with the gain control set to around 11:00 is one of the best clean/low-gain tones I’ve ever gotten out of an amp! And I've had some pretty sweet amps.

Blues or country players just have to use the gain controls and they can get GREAT tones of the Mark VII, and not only that, have several excellent options to achieve those tones. I’m dazzled by its versatility.

Of course, the higher gain tones work well for me as expected.

I had, and liked, a Mark V, but couldn't really use Channel 3 much, there was a bit too much gain for my taste. The Mark VII is simply easier for me to work with on all three channels. I guess we'll see how it responds in the heat of battle with ad agency folks breathing down my neck...I think it should do fine.

If I needed to travel for a session, it’s the amp I’d take along. Does everything well.

In terms of speaker cabs, it sounds killer through the C90s on my Lone Star combo, through the 4x10 Mesa cab with Creambacks, and unexpectedly, it’s also wonderful with the PRS pine Grissom ported 2x12 cab that has V30s.

It’s pretty good through the closed back cab PRS cab that’s similar to a closed back Recto cab, but the ported or open back cabs seem to be its sweet spot.

Granted, I'm on honeymoon with it, but I think it'll see a lot of use.

 

[László]

I've had great results with my open-back C90 loaded 1x12 combined with an EVM12L loaded Thiele cab. They pair extremely well.
View attachment 48545

That rig is a thing of beauty, merriment and joy!

 

[JiveTurkey]

Oh dear lort. This thing fucking kills! The EV speaker weighs a TON and the fuck if I know how to dial in to this speaker for now but holy fuck through the V30 212, this amp is a RIPPER Blue stripe, reverb, R2, EQ. I don't have the switches for any of that so I am going to have to do some digging. I am just loving the heavies through this thing! I Super ALIVE sounding and very organic, as dumb as that may sound? I could see doing everything from heavy post punk to tech-y old school thrash with this. VERY inspiring \m/

FYI; headshell will be absolutely vital. Badlander homemade head has been empty for far too long

 

[newholland]

View attachment 50094
Oh dear lort. This thing fucking kills! The EV speaker weighs a TON and the fuck if I know how to dial in to this speaker for now but holy fuck through the V30 212, this amp is a RIPPER Blue stripe, reverb, R2, EQ. I don't have the switches for any of that so I am going to have to do some digging. I am just loving the heavies through this thing! I Super ALIVE sounding and very organic, as dumb as that may sound? I could see doing everything from heavy post punk to tech-y old school thrash with this. VERY inspiring \m/

FYI; headshell will be absolutely vital. Badlander homemade head has been empty for far too long

evms have a big bump at about 600hz- but start without the eq until you figger out the dials! the eq is a good special sauce, but it aint evrrything.

hints- volume 1 is middlier and angrier. lead master is scooped. balance the two to get mid balance right. yer mids and bass can come up from where they are in the pic. dont be afraid to NOT use the treble shift. also, push your lead master up to like 4-5 and the amp will respond better. and a passive attenuator in the loop (basically a 100k pot) will let you control volume better, and get your master up over two where the ampll be happier!

 

[newholland]

meantime.. envious! congrats! i think a mark iii would be maybe a better fot than my iib for the volumes i can get away with now.. but i love my iib anyhow and it has loverly cleans.. enjoy that thing!

 

[JiveTurkey]

evms have a big bump at about 600hz- but start without the eq until you figger out the dials! the eq is a good special sauce, but it aint everything!

I am going to put the EV in it's own closed back 112. I think that'll help the dial in with the EV?

 

[JiveTurkey]

evms have a big bump at about 600hz- but start without the eq until you figger out the dials! the eq is a good special sauce, but it aint evrrything.

hints- volume 1 is middlier and angrier. lead master is scooped. balance the two to get mid balance right. yer mids and bass can come up from where they are in the pic. dont be afraid to NOT use the treble shift. also, push your lead master up to like 4-5 and the amp will respond better. and a passive attenuator in the loop (basically a 100k pot) will let you control volume better, and get your master up over two where the ampll be happier!

Thanks for the tips! With the V30s; it was pretty much instant

 

[spawnofthesith]

View attachment 50094
Oh dear lort. This thing fucking kills! The EV speaker weighs a TON and the fuck if I know how to dial in to this speaker for now but holy fuck through the V30 212, this amp is a RIPPER Blue stripe, reverb, R2, EQ. I don't have the switches for any of that so I am going to have to do some digging. I am just loving the heavies through this thing! I Super ALIVE sounding and very organic, as dumb as that may sound? I could see doing everything from heavy post punk to tech-y old school thrash with this. VERY inspiring \m/

FYI; headshell will be absolutely vital. Badlander homemade head has been empty for far too long

Most excellent

 

[newholland]

I am going to put the EV in it's own closed back 112. I think that'll help the dial in with the EV?

it takes a minute to like evms. i hated em when i was used to celestions- but theyre such a big part if how i make amps sound like myself now! they DO sound good in a closed 112. i had one in a convertible lopo as a little pickup box for a long time, and it was a killer second cab for a small fender combo! but theyre also really good in a mesa combo once you figure em out, which i aint gonna say is a fast process.

 

[JiveTurkey]

it takes a minute to like evms. i hated em when i was used to celestions- but theyre such a big part if how i make amps sound like myself now! they DO sound good in a closed 112. i had one in a convertible lopo as a little pickup box for a long time, and it was a killer second cab for a small fender combo! but theyre also really good in a mesa combo once you figure em out, which i aint gonna say is a fast process.

I can't ever imagine calling anything with this speaker in it "little"

 

[spawnofthesith]

I can't ever imagine calling anything with this speaker in it "little"

My EVM loaded thiele is certainly “petite” and “cute”

Sure sounds massive