Mesa Mark III Purple Stripe vs Mark IV Rev. A - What would you choose?

[Meeotch]

I've owned and sold the JP2C twice. It's a cool amp, but comparing lead channels the III and IV just sound AND feel better. Both are absolutely killer amps.

Comparing III and IV honestly with some tweaking they can be very close but each has its own feel. Generally the III is more raw, aggressive, and can be harsh. IV is a bit smoother, more compressed, and a bit darker. These are subtle differences and the only way to truly answer your question is to play both and decide for yourself.

 

[GJgo]

Interesting takes here.

Let me ask you guys this- I have a 60 watt no-stripe III with the + and R2 mod by Mike B. I love this amp but from what I’m reading here I am wondering if I am I still missing out despite having the mods. Should I move it along and find a IV instead? I use this amp for high gain rhythm playing the majority of the time.

Definitely no, if you like it. A no stripe III+ is as close as you're going to get to a C+. The IV is a different amp, it marks the shift to more modern & less raw voicing.

There are quite a few IIIs out there that are unfortunately harsh, but not all of them. Out of the 8 or 9 I've had only about half of them were what I'd call harsh. The II / III feel will never be replicated by modern amps.

Also the JP is like a modern / djent version of the IIC+. And I don't mean that as a compliment. The VII is the only modern Mark that's come anywhere near the feels of the OGs.

 

[braintheory]

Definitely no, if you like it. A no stripe III+ is as close as you're going to get to a C+. The IV is a different amp, it marks the shift to more modern & less raw voicing.

There are quite a few IIIs out there that are unfortunately harsh, but not all of them. Out of the 8 or 9 I've had only about half of them were what I'd call harsh. The II / III feel will never be replicated by modern amps.

Also the JP is like a modern / djent version of the IIC+. And I don't mean that as a compliment. The VII is the only modern Mark that's come anywhere near the feels of the OGs.

Maybe harsh isn‘t quite the right word, but I found all the III’s I’ve had or tried (even with a + or ++ mod) to different extents to have a quality in the high end that I’d consider a bit messy or not as musical (for lack of a better word lol) when compared to a iic+ in way that imo somewhat gave it less clarity. I don’t mind the intensity itself of the highs. I remember the IV’s highs being better in that sense albeit smoother and less intense, but not as detailed or good as the c+‘s. To me that extra detail is what I consider a more refined or sophisticated sound. Most other amps that get called “refined” I’d just call bland or lacking in interesting tone

 

[Mad Axe]

Sounds like I just have a case of forum-induced GAS. I have a point of reference from playing a IIC++ before and have been more than happy with my III+. I just haven’t tried a IV so all of the comments got me wondering how much better it could be .

 

[Little B]

Another way to look at at it all is;
The mesa line in general,from the iib,iic+,iii,to iv,v,and jpc" in the mk series" is a gradual tone departure from what made the og so good in the first place..this is old news,but it's totally true- Ive owned them all except a iib...now,of course,there are exceptions,from time to time a moden mesa will remind u of the og,but usually as u move up from the iic+, the mks start getting less aggressive, more polite,rounder in feel,etc,etc...but the vii may be best since the og.idk yet....none the previous statement is bad per say,some like the tamer,less bite and attack the iv and v have..I personally love my mkiii's ch.2 w/ the vol mod..its very organic and if u do a rock top 40 cover band u could live there.My iv's ch2 oth is fuzzy,very phat,round, not tight at all..I did manage to dial in a half decent country rock thing with it tho.then u hit ch 3 and it's much better than ch2. My iii is very close to my iic+ tho- just a raw in ur face tone.It cuts thru a band mix really well.Im in heaven when I combine my iic+ and iii in a head switcher unit like the radial or mesa unit.

 

[blackba]

Its amazing how the preferences have shifted over time. I mean if you asked this question 10 years ago, I bet you would get most of the people saying the III.

I love my mark IVA, never played another mark series amp. At this point ignorance is bliss

 

[GearGasms]

I love the IV - it's my favorite lead tone of all time. It gets me that syrupy thing that sort of smooths out my poor picking technique.

 

[retrorack]

I owned a Mark III red stripe and Mark IVb at the same time. Wish I could’ve kept both. They were both rackmount versions and looked and sounded great. Kept the Mark III. It felt bigger, bolder than the IV. Plus there was a slight voicing in the midrange of the IV that sometimes I didn’t want, but couldn’t dial out.