Mesa coliseum heads….
- Thread starter JackBootedThug
- Start date
JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
I love you the IIb’s sound. I have never played a III before either. I just wonder if they will scratch that itch I have for another mark.
hear here! And the coli, any version but especially the Mark II is as good as a Mark gets.
Mike loop modded 3 IIB coli this year, all SP 9A, but the 1st pair Mike said had already been made 9C spec with cascode on V4, something he likely does when doing the loop. For non-loop mod there is still a very early RP 8C and the most recent to me, SP 8B that someone on this thread alerted me to before the IIC+ and coli's prices went to the URSA major space station in the sky. But with K100-K420 (ish) there are only about 330 II's out there less the ones swallowed up by floods and earthquakes caused by plugging these into a pair of EV loaded halfbacks.
The silver filters in the plus shown was a tough decision since they aren't the poly ended filters that need replacing but I had mike do the total service while he's still doing it and will have the Mallory's for keep sake. But the plus is the big brother, not a head as the head wasn't heavy enough without a 15L.
And this thread reminds me I should have Mike do the blue stripe coli and remove the "simul-class" to open it up like it should be. I really really want a purple K (non-mod) and would gladly put up a 2024 mb made S plus to entice one out of hiding.
Idk why anyone would turn the master down but it's just an audio taper thing- just bring it closer to linear from what's in there. The pots aren't made anymore but Mike rebuilds just about every pot on the 4 coli's so far this year and I'm sure could change a 10% to 30% taper if he has the parts.
For good measure here is the most rare coli- Kodzilla of boogie!! Not really sure if the K is silent. Signed by Mr RCS who worked there once. I really thought the coli's were getting lonely so I just added a 1978 Major to the stable.
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I will try- a coli should be 180W, not partially neutered. I'll be seeing him soon to grab the amps that are done (including a rare 6-pre tube C+ with cathode follower) and drop off a couple more. He said he's not going anywhere for now but I'm making a colossal effort to have his hands and brain renew my favorite marks (mostly coli) and the plusses which are now "new" along with a couple conversions.
Do you know the details on the 1/2 power vs what they called the coli "simulclass"? It was my understanding there were at least 2, maybe 3 ways of implementing reduced power over the span of coli's, and I forget what they falsely call simul. It's been a long time since I've read those details. It seems there was one version which switched out a quad leaving one pair and another that actually reduced power?
I would think the loop mod is way more work than converting the power amp. If he doesn't want to do it I'll get the details from him and do the work myself. It seems like we've gone from a COVID price hangover to outright depression in gear prices across the board (except maybe the coli). So maybe less people are sending in amps? He did catch up on his backlog at one point briefly this year.
Do you know the details on the 1/2 power vs what they called the coli "simulclass"? It was my understanding there were at least 2, maybe 3 ways of implementing reduced power over the span of coli's, and I forget what they falsely call simul. It's been a long time since I've read those details. It seems there was one version which switched out a quad leaving one pair and another that actually reduced power?
I would think the loop mod is way more work than converting the power amp. If he doesn't want to do it I'll get the details from him and do the work myself. It seems like we've gone from a COVID price hangover to outright depression in gear prices across the board (except maybe the coli). So maybe less people are sending in amps? He did catch up on his backlog at one point briefly this year.
Bossman415
Active member
Haven’t tried a Coliseum, but any members have experience with a Mark Coliseum vs slaved Mark into a Strategy 400?
Supposedly the 400 has a similar (not exact) power section.
Supposedly the 400 has a similar (not exact) power section.
mentoneman
Well-known member
a coli past 4 is like pressing your stethoscope against a train horn to hear it better.
JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
This thread cures erectile dysfunction.
mentoneman
Well-known member
i’d love to hear a guy like this throw a coli in his rig, just to kick in for punctuation like a special effect in crescendos.
for my tastes heavy guitar tone is so much more impactful when injected into a song that is predominantly more lyrical and the verses are cleaner or at least more toned down gain wise.
for my tastes heavy guitar tone is so much more impactful when injected into a song that is predominantly more lyrical and the verses are cleaner or at least more toned down gain wise.