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[laxu]

The question is; Which would be the thing to go for? VII, or each individual reissue? I have no doubt they'll go for a IV reissue at some point either, reissues is what Gibson does. So the only thing you'd be missing is the VII mode. On the other hand, you're gonna get closer to the original sound (probably?) with the reissues than with the VII. But I might be wrong?

It becomes the modeler dilemma. Most people have never played the real original, and even those are not going to be consistent across units. So there will always be someone who says the reissue does not sound exactly like their example of an old Mark amp.

Mesa says in the Mark V manual that the IIC mode is based on evaluating 8 different IIC models and is probably some sort of mixture of their quirks. I've never played a real IIC so I will never know what I'm missing. All I know the IIC mode sounds kickass on the V, but not as kickass as the Mark IV mode.

 

[László]

Based on the response, it seems Mesa made a solid choice in how they represent the IIB in the VII. I’ve seen it called out as a standout in MANY of the VII reviews and conversations.

I hope it didn’t sound like I was knocking the VII because I think that amp is a work of art.

It didn't sound like you were knocking it at all. It's an interesting question.

It’s definitely been a big bonus of getting the VII, for me. It also keeps me from having wandering eyes for other amps and/or going back to my Electra Dyne, as it quickly became one of my core sounds I use live.

So far I absolutely love the Mark VII; the IIB mode is a real highlight and wonderful surprise.

 

[Mikael Dez]

As a 35 owner this is cool to watch.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Also interesting that he says the 35 is discontinued, but you can still buy it new. I would love to know what’s going on with that tbh - not that I’m really interested in a new made by Gibson Mark amp lol

 

[spawnofthesith]

Buddy of mine is playing a somewhat higher profile show next week but his amp just crapped out. Lending him my Mark III looking forward to checking it out from an audience perspective at that venue

 

[EOengineer]

Buddy of mine is playing a somewhat higher profile show next week but his amp just crapped out. Lending him my Mark III looking forward to checking it out from an audience perspective at that venue

That’s going to be a fun experience! I used to let a buddy of mine borrow my G Dual Rectifier and loved hearing it in the crowd. Didn’t hurt that the guy was a ripping guitarist.

 

[spawnofthesith]

That’s going to be a fun experience! I used to let a buddy of mine borrow my G Dual Rectifier and loved hearing it in the crowd. Didn’t hurt that the guy was a ripping guitarist.

Yeah homies good!! He usually plays through a mini recto and a 4x12 lol. He’s actually the guy that made me roll back some of my negative opinions on those amps/el84s

He’s not familiar with marks though and I saw his eyes starting to glaze over a bit when I was giving a run down of the controls and idiosyncrasies of the amp

 

[László]

Also interesting that he says the 35 is discontinued, but you can still buy it new. I would love to know what’s going on with that tbh - not that I’m really interested in a new made by Gibson Mark amp lol

Gibson's takeover of Mesa made me think twice. Honest.

Gibson has pissed me off ever since they high-tailed it out of Kalamazoo. It doesn't help that they bought and destroyed companies like Oberheim and Opcode along the way.

Looking at how they treated Randall Smith, they're the same fucked-up corporate entity that can't find its ass with both hands, and will piss away whatever goodwill the Mesa/Boogie name engenders.

The lack of loyalty to the founding genius of the company they bought is SO Gibson!

However, hearing Randall Smith saying the Mark VII is the one to get, in the same video where he says (with obvious irony in his voice) that he got 'the boot' from Gibson, tells me he considers it his masterpiece. Maybe it is. Time will tell.

 

[spawnofthesith]

It’s an unfortunate thing to hear that it actually was a shitty parting of ways between RS and Mesa Gibson

However…. He knew Gibsons track record, he chose them as a buyer, he got his pay day…. When it really boils down it can’t cry fowl too much after making a deal with the devil…. (Honestly I do feel like he is being tactful still in expressing his disappointment with the way things shook out, but yeah… this was ultimately his choice/doing)

 

[László]

It’s an unfortunate thing to hear that it actually was a shitty parting of ways between RS and Mesa Gibson

However…. He knew Gibsons track record, he chose them as a buyer, he got his pay day…. When it really boils down it can’t cry fowl too much after making a deal with the devil…. (Honestly I do feel like he is being tactful still in expressing his disappointment with the way things shook out, but yeah… this was ultimately his choice/doing)

Very true.

You make a deal with Rumplestiltskin, eventually he's gonna show up and demand the baby.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Oh the bright side, as far as I’m aware all the top dogs and apprentices of Randall are all still involved with the company, so things can’t be ALL that bad over there I don’t think?

Shit Mike B. Is even still kicking and active and doing work on old marks despite the fact that he’s been talking about retirement for years

 

[EOengineer]

Gibson eating Randall’s baby.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Hey, if he wanted the “legacy” to live on, one thing we know for certain is Gibson will focus on just that

 

[László]

Hey, if he wanted the “legacy” to live on, one thing we know for certain is Gibson will focus on just that

Speaking of legacy Mesas I wish I had kept, the Tremoverb, the Maverick and the Bass 400+ were amps I had great luck with for years. All are worthy of reissue if that's what Gibson is gonna turn Mesa into.

 

[EOengineer]

Speaking of legacy Mesas I wish I had kept, the Tremoverb, the Maverick and the Bass 400+ were amps I had great luck with for years. All are worthy of reissue if that's what Gibson is gonna turn Mesa into.

FWIW the Tremoverb pops up used these days for A LOT less than Gibson would sell a reissue in today's market. I've seen a dozen or more Tremoverbs under the $1500 mark in the last 6 months.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Tremoverb headshell is made of concrete if my memory serves

 

[Mikael Dez]

I’m surprised they haven’t already started making V:25 or 35 overseas for $999.99 tbh.

 

[EOengineer]

Tremoverb headshell is made of concrete if my memory serves

I think its just the older amps? My revision G shakes my house when I set it down. My Mark III damn near opened up a black hole when it still lived in the Mesa combo with the 12L.

 

[TubeStack]

I think its just the older amps? My revision G shakes my house when I set it down. My Mark III damn near opened up a black hole when it still lived in the Mesa combo with the 12L.

My heaviest/most-dense Mesa was a Royal Atlantic RA100 2x12 combo I had. I used to get nervous/the sweats when I knew I had to move it somewhere.

 

[László]

FWIW the Tremoverb pops up used these days for A LOT less than Gibson would sell a reissue in today's market. I've seen a dozen or more Tremoverbs under the $1500 mark in the last 6 months.

I know! My son's in a band that has one in storage in LA. I'm tempted.