Bossman415
Active member
Just saying ~$4k for a "reissue" with modern parts isn't much cheaper than this $5k IIC+ Longhead HG.
fedrek
Member
I thought you were smart till that last part.
Also FWIW, while I do beleive these things matter in the room, things that don't really matter on a close mic recording include Simul vs not, pentode vs triode (after dialing tone knobs to match the dullness of triode), bold vs spongy, tube vs diode, tweed vs full power, etc...
Oh come on haha of course I didn't mean it can't be modified for metal, I was talking about a stock amp, just to buy it and play. And I just listed the specs Metallica used in their amp in case it matters. And I think the Simul in this video is indeed punchier, chuggier and gainier and it seems to me that there is less midrange here:
BenoA
Well-known member
Sounded very good. Thanks for sharing. What was your recording setup?
C
Cless357
Member
I am a complete noob regarding Mesa Mark serie. Can a IIB be modified to IIC+ ?
fedrek
Member
Of course it is possible, Mark IIC+ was Mark IIC, and Mark IIC is a continuation of Mark IIA and Mark IIB. Technically, any of the older Mark IIs can be converted to IIC+. Depends on the price and who makes the mod, Mesa doesn't do that anymore as far as I know.
F
frontline205
Well-known member
I would actually go for this and forget about the reissue, but I know someone will get to that local long before I can make it work
J
Jon BCN
Active member
Like pretty much everybody else. It's almost impossible to capture the tone of the records playing an amp in your room. You can get close and you will be close to the Metallica tone with a Mark amp, but the tone on the record is just impossible to achieve with just a tube amp.
C
Cless357
Member
Apparently, it would require to change the PCB to the IIC+ one. Quite invasive mod finally.
I ask because I saw a Mark IIB for $1300, and I wonder if this is interesting at this price.
fedrek
Member
I think it's better to look at the direction of Mark III or IV rather than modding a vintage amp, maybe someone will love it as it is.
mentoneman
Well-known member
not my clip-may ask him on his YT comments.
ners
Well-known member
I've been eyeing a couple local IIBs to mod, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.
The common mod is to make it a "IIB+" by modding the FX loop which seems to add more gain and get in IIC+ range. Mike B at Mesa does the mods, but I haven't reached out yet.
Check this comparison video from another RT'er
mentoneman
Well-known member
it’s interesting to hear the shifts between IIB, IIC and III.
my mark IIB Coli crunch sounded like this:
this clip shows the metal side with hotter pickups and a tube screamer:
my IIB Coli also had a beautiful clean with the best reverb of any of the marks i’ve heard, and a lead tone closest to this clip:
my mark IIB Coli crunch sounded like this:
this clip shows the metal side with hotter pickups and a tube screamer:
my IIB Coli also had a beautiful clean with the best reverb of any of the marks i’ve heard, and a lead tone closest to this clip:
GJgo
Well-known member
The late IIB Colis are the best rhythm amp Mesa ever made.
mentoneman
Well-known member
i found mine mid 90s in an ad for $500 obo in the Recycler (old hard copy buy and sell weekly LA/OC/Diego trader publication much like craigslist today) listed as a mesa series 300 with wood head case in good shape.
drove down, amp was cosmetically imbuya/wicker awesome, heavier than a house, and signed RS on the back
asked why he was selling and he mentioned wanting something a little more saturated for easier lead playing ala mark IV/Recto and that practically the IIB was just way too loud and heavy to cart around.
he plugged in to demo and it admittedly sounded a bit anemic. i mentioned it probably needed a retube so offered $400 and he accepted.
i gave him the cash and *then* asked if i could take it for a spin which he agreed to. immediately swapped the 8 ohm output to 4ohm at the amp which he got a bit nervous about but i assured him it was safe…
tweaked the dials/eq and presence and goosed it a little and KA-RANG!!! much like the IIB clips above.
he was a bit dumbfounded and asked how i got that sound out if his amp and i just mentioned i’d been messing with boogies since 82 and bounced before he changed his mind!
J
JimAnsell
Well-known member
damn, thats really close to me. could walk up with 5 racks right now... oooh and its the long head with the presence on the front!!! so fucking tempting, but thats a lot of coin for a guy with a mark IVa that he loves. Every time i had a IVa and a c+ in the same room, it wasn't long before the c+ was on ebay for the heaps for cash it would bring back home because i liked the IVa better over all.
fedrek
Member
"Out of production for four decades, we welcome back this icon on December 3rd, 2024, and celebrate its impact on the incredible guitar heroes and timeless recordings they made during one of rock guitar’s biggest decades. The Mark IIC+ legacy is one we don’t take lightly or for granted, and recreating it in today’s world with today’s available components and rigorous worldwide Compliance Regulations was no easy feat. However, we are just as proud and excited about this iteration as we were about the first one that was produced for less than two years, four decades ago.If you seek to own a legend, don’t want to chase vintage relics in who knows what condition, want the fieriest, most articulate, and nuanced tone possible, don’t really need the galaxy-wide versatility of our Mark VII, and prefer a more classic layout and look, the Mark IIC+ is waiting. Be warned, though, once you play a C+, you may never feel the same about other guitar amplifiers. A bold statement, to be sure, but it’s backed up by 40 years of iconic Tone and the passionate faithful who’ve made it mythical.
Watch the full launch video on December 3rd right here at MESA/Boogie. MESA/Boogie® now available in the UK/USA/EUROPE"
So they basically admitted that they couldn't recreate it with the old components, and made it from the alternatives that were available now.
Watch the full launch video on December 3rd right here at MESA/Boogie. MESA/Boogie® now available in the UK/USA/EUROPE"
So they basically admitted that they couldn't recreate it with the old components, and made it from the alternatives that were available now.
technomancer
Well-known member
Please, for all the people talking about components, enlighten us with which components in the original IIC+ are no longer available.
The only thing I can think of is if it used vactrols for channel switching as the original company doing them stopped making them because they're not a great option for channel switching... and IIRC another company has started making them if Mesa is dumb enough to still use them.
There are just not a lot of exotic components in amps guys. Caps and resistors are still made, and electrolytic caps have actually gotten better over time.
And if you want to bring up transformers please include what in a transformer can't be done, specifically, and not some vague nonsense about the EPA banning something. I've looked into that one and was never able to identify anything used in a transformer that has been banned and is not allowed to be used anymore.
I'd just really like to know what magical component can't be reproduced in these things vs mythology as a guy that has actually built a bunch of amps.
The only thing I can think of is if it used vactrols for channel switching as the original company doing them stopped making them because they're not a great option for channel switching... and IIRC another company has started making them if Mesa is dumb enough to still use them.
There are just not a lot of exotic components in amps guys. Caps and resistors are still made, and electrolytic caps have actually gotten better over time.
And if you want to bring up transformers please include what in a transformer can't be done, specifically, and not some vague nonsense about the EPA banning something. I've looked into that one and was never able to identify anything used in a transformer that has been banned and is not allowed to be used anymore.
I'd just really like to know what magical component can't be reproduced in these things vs mythology as a guy that has actually built a bunch of amps.
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Yehuda
Well-known member
To me, the closest modern equivalent to the ccv would be the gz hellion imo- skeleton key is crazy bitey in a way neither Cameron’s or hellions are- not better, but different
fedrek
Member
https://tonegodz.com/
And a small revelation to all visitors of this thread, I present to you the worst marketing of the tone EVER. Let's start with the fact that there was no advertising to attract buyers, the price of the masterclass is initially high, no examples of tone or sound, even on their facebook and instagram page, only one video on YT and all of this led to poor amount of pre-orders.
And this is with almost the most popular band in the world, they promised mountains of gold: impulses of equipment, previously unseen notes, recreation of the tones of AJFA, MOP and RTL in one master class, some original instruments from the Metallica museum, a webinar (which was attended by 5-10 people at most), and the funniest thing in all this is that no one fucking knows about it and they promised to release it in September and now it's almost the end of November!
The amount of cringe I experienced exceeded my excitement when I saw these news.
And a small revelation to all visitors of this thread, I present to you the worst marketing of the tone EVER. Let's start with the fact that there was no advertising to attract buyers, the price of the masterclass is initially high, no examples of tone or sound, even on their facebook and instagram page, only one video on YT and all of this led to poor amount of pre-orders.
And this is with almost the most popular band in the world, they promised mountains of gold: impulses of equipment, previously unseen notes, recreation of the tones of AJFA, MOP and RTL in one master class, some original instruments from the Metallica museum, a webinar (which was attended by 5-10 people at most), and the funniest thing in all this is that no one fucking knows about it and they promised to release it in September and now it's almost the end of November!
The amount of cringe I experienced exceeded my excitement when I saw these news.
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