Want a Mesa Mark tone, but need cheaper alternatives...

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needsmoregear12

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Hello all!

As Im sure you all know, being a "musician" can get very expensive VERY fast. It seems as if every month there is a new gadget on my "To buy" list.

First off, Im OBSESSED with the Mesa Mark III/IV tones. Tight/raw/agressive distortions with crystal clear clean tones. I know I will own one in the future, but right now they are out of my budget. Im only 17 and need to start saving for a car and for college.

With that in mind, does anyone here know of a good alternative to the rig I want? I currently own a Peavey 5150 212 combo and while it sounds nice, its just not the tone Im looking for anymore. Unless you guys know of any mods for it...

Im also very tight on cash so I cant spend much more than what I sell my 5150 for (Which Im assuming to be around $550+$250?) So I want to be around $800 TOTAL. Amp,pedals,mods, etc.

Any suggestions are very much appreciated!
Thank you all :D
 
The cheapest Mark III combo with GEQ, Simul-class, and reverb is for about $900 plus shipping.
Ive seen a purple stripe Mark III with NO GEQ, NO REVERB, and NO Simul-class for about $800 plus shipping.

Shipping is generally $80 for these amps considering how greedy people are. It really only costs about $50 to ship that amp, maby even a bit less.

I dont WANT to spend the $800, but that is my max.

Any suggestions?
Thank you.
 
If you're patient you'll find loaded markIIIs for $700-750, you just have to wait for them to pop up. t
They're always popping up around here.
 
Thanks for the input, I guess ill continue to wait it out :thumbsdown:

Just for reference, say you wanted a peavey 6505 212 combo and you saw one fully retubed in 7/10 condition. What do you think is a fair asking price?

Ive had mine up for sale for so many months and I just really want it gone. I started at $650, and now im asking $580.

Do you guys think this is a fair price for the amp? Im not trying to rip anyone off, I just want a fair amount considering it sells for $1200 new...

The sooner I sell this thing, the sooner I get my Mesa!
 
Yea a loaded red stripe MkIII was around here for $750 shipped not long ago. Combos can be a tough sell. FYI it will probably cost you close to $100 to ship that beast. Maybe try craigslist or a local auction on Feebay.
 
I was guessing around $80 to ship my amp, and that is what has kept me from Feebay (aswell as the fees).

Ive had mine up on craigslist for nearly 7 months now and all I have gotten is spam.

I can never find any good priced Marks, and the one time I did, I was dead broke. A guy offered me his Mark IV shipped for $1000 flat. Its not cheap by any means, but its a great deal for that amp...
 
Ive already spoke with that guy a couple weeks ago. I was about to buy it because someone was going to by my Peavey. The buyer didnt answer his phone the day we were supposed to meet up and ignored my attempts at contacting him.

But thank you for the suggestion! If his is still available when I have the funds available Id definitely get it.
 
Just keep looking, you will find a mark III for a good price. Check ebay regularly also, got mine on ebay for $800 shipped. Couple months ago there was one on here for $750 and several for $800...they will pop up :D
 
Thanks guys.

Any input on a fair asking price for my 6505 212 combo?
 
needsmoregear12":12a5e9gz said:
Thanks guys.

Any input on a fair asking price for my 6505 212 combo?
Click to expand...

I know its not what you wanna hear but they go for $400-$450 any day of the year on ebay.
 
Oh man :thumbsdown:

Well thats PLUS shipping, do you think that it will move on craigslist for $550? They wouldnt be paying shipping and all...

Also Ive seen some go on guitar centers used website for $600?

Any chance their value will go up in a little while? :lol: :LOL:
 
glassjaw7":l3dc7n6s said:
Yep, wait for a Mark III to pop up for cheap (check the Boogie Board too) or maybe consider a Dual Caliber.
Other options= a Triaxis and a cheap power amp, or you could try to get a Bugera Magician (MarkIV clone).

Edit: here's a III for $750.

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=59373
Click to expand...
As far as the Bugera goes, I thought the Magicians weren't available in the US yet? Im very interested but I dont think I can get my hands on one.
 
If you are that close money wise, save up a couple hundred more dollars and get what you want.
 
I WAS that close If I sold my amp.

And now that I know the correct value of my amp that set me back another $150(ish).

So now Im a bit further.

And I cant seem to find a job. It seems now every place requires you to be 18. All the positions that dont require that, seem to already be taken by a much older crowd. My only source of income is collecting scrap metal at my fathers shop and selling it, and washing cars.

So that doesnt really cover anything^ Besides strings and the occasional used pedal every 4 months.

Am I just better off keeping my 6505 and possibly swapping speakers and getting an EQ pedal?
 
BrokenFusion":b9z9em6p said:
You can get a Mark III for that price.
Click to expand...

This.

I got my Mark III for $800 a few weeks ago. :rock:

Keep what you got till you can get what you want. Stopgap purchases will cost you more in the end.
 
The Hoff":qvmfyqf5 said:
I bought a III for $600 a couple years ago.
Click to expand...
I paid 650 in 1995 for my combo. Now its a head and after selling the spker and cab then buying the head shell I'm up 120 so I guess that knocks what I have into it @ 530 :D

If you get a III do the Vol mod on it :yes: balances channel 1&2 so it is useable. Reverb is a nice feature to.
 
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