TGF Official Amp Mesa Boogie Mark series. Join the fun and get one today!

TacoParty said:


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.
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RP9C for the win - these usually sound REALLY good. Congrats on your amp and welcome to the Mark club. We don’t have jackets but we should probably get some made at this point.
 
spawnofthesith said:
Killer!! Congrats!!


I used to really like sound electronic service in Arvada but I heard the owner was having some health problems, and now google shows it as being permanently closed :/

There's a few other authorized mesa techs in the area though, but I'm not familiar with them. Need to get my V in for a repair though so need to figure that out

My Mark IV was an export version and I had it rewired to US voltage by a local guy that works out of his house. He's pretty good, a bit of a character. He's not totally in love with mesas though and would try really hard to convince you to let him do a bias mod on the amp :LOL:


EDIT: looks like Music Gear MD in Broomfield is the only remaining authorized mesa repair center in CO
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Thanks for the info.

BTW, and OT, noticed you have a band that plays out in the area, do y’all have a site or socials where someone can find your gig dates and places?
 
TGFMBM.png
 
TacoParty said:


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.
Click to expand...

I have been playing the crap out of this amp and trying different cabs and speakers. Sounds great through all, but I love the HT cab for cleans and an old 80s G12-65 for leads. Played for 3 hours Monday night and really had the lead dialed in. Turned it on yesterday morning and got a constant buzzing and zapping noise on the lead channel, even in standby mode. Clean still sounded fantastic, but lead sounded just like the clean with the buzzing on top of the tone and much lower volume.

I called Mesa support, and the guy I talked to, Brett, was very helpful in guiding troubleshooting beyond tubes. Had me send gut shots in so he could run it by Mike B. Mike said the amp looks like it has never been touched, so they sent an RMA and I'm dropping it at FedEx later today. Sucks, but that's the gamble you take buying a vintage amp from GC. I'm guessing the lead pull pot failed, but I'm sure Mike B. will have it in tip top shape soon enough, and not worth gambling on 42 year old filter caps anyway.

I was leaning against the loop mod, but after a lot of research I think that I will have that done too while Mike has the amp. It's going to make it an expensive IIB, but it will be as close as I can get to a IIC+ for a third of the price, and the amp is in near new condition cosmetically and I never plan to sell it so worth it to me.
 
TacoParty said:
I have been playing the crap out of this amp and trying different cabs and speakers. Sounds great through all, but I love the HT cab for cleans and an old 80s G12-65 for leads. Played for 3 hours Monday night and really had the lead dialed in. Turned it on yesterday morning and got a constant buzzing and zapping noise on the lead channel, even in standby mode. Clean still sounded fantastic, but lead sounded just like the clean with the buzzing on top of the tone and much lower volume.

I called Mesa support, and the guy I talked to, Brett, was very helpful in guiding troubleshooting beyond tubes. Had me send gut shots in so he could run it by Mike B. Mike said the amp looks like it has never been touched, so they sent an RMA and I'm dropping it at FedEx later today. Sucks, but that's the gamble you take buying a vintage amp from GC. I'm guessing the lead pull pot failed, but I'm sure Mike B. will have it in tip top shape soon enough, and not worth gambling on 42 year old filter caps anyway.

I was leaning against the loop mod, but after a lot of research I think that I will have that done too while Mike has the amp. It's going to make it an expensive IIB, but it will be as close as I can get to a IIC+ for a third of the price, and the amp is in near new condition cosmetically and I never plan to sell it so worth it to me.
Click to expand...


Thats a bummer but on the bright side its gonna be like a brand new amp when it comes back

Probably extra worthwhile to have this done now too because time's probably running short to get work done by Mike B., I've heard rumors that he intends to retire soon
 
Yeah I'd say that's a good move - if there's anyone that knows what these amps are meant to sound like, it's Mike.

The pots in these amps are often out of spec, so it could be as simple as that. I know he's replaced/rebuilt the ones in a few of mine
 
Desertdweller said:
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
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That’s still my wallpaper lol
 
Genghis said:
Betcha can’t eat just one.
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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++?
 
maddnotez said:
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++?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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