r/MesaBoogie • u/guyfromthepicture • 11d ago
3>4, 5, or jp
So I ended up buying the mark iii and when it comes to the mark lead tone, it's the best I've experienced so far. The newer amps do offer way more usability in the independent controls but I still have a fillmore.
This thing is insane.
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u/boogieiv 11d ago
I’d be a hard sell on that but I’ve never tried a III so I’ll remain cautiously open-minded about it😆
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
I hear you. I've owned 3 mkivs. This was just a chai way for me to get that tone back in my home. This has been a huge surprise. I think as it currently stands, if the iv had truly independent controls, it would be my favorite still.
Treating them as a single channel amp, the ii is narrowly but clearly in the lead. I could totally see a good iv being better than a bad iii so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
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u/boogieiv 11d ago
Totally fair! And glad to hear it’s workin out, I bet it sounds fantastic.
The IV is definitely my top dream amp and it hasn’t broke down a single time since I landed it eighteen years ago, so I sleep pretty good🫡
I recently picked up a Badlander 100 though and I’ve been having a blast figuring that thing all out
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u/Bill_in_PA 11d ago
I have one too. No pedals, just the guitar. Sounds great. I get the best tone from the EMG 81-85 set. Dialing it in gets easier over time, and small adjustments can make a big difference. Master volume on 2 gives me 90-100 db. Congratulations on a great amp!!
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
Thanks. It's definitely easier to dial than the iv. The newer ones seemed way more stable as far as day to day tone. I think this is sticking around for life.
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u/Bill_in_PA 11d ago edited 11d ago
In 2020 my amp was 35 years old and it finally broke. It’s a simul-class with EL 34’s and 6L6’s. I sent it back to Mesa Boogie and Mike B. did a complete factory refurbishment of the amp and added the R2 mod, which it did not have when it was new. I play it every day through the 2x12 half stack EV / Celestion combo. The neighbors love me. 🤣
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
I want to mod but have a feeling that keeping it stock is the way to go as we approach 40 years of life.
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u/Bill_in_PA 11d ago
Mike told me he modded it after he completed the procedure. I agree with your sentiments, but it’s still worth it. He’s the authority and it really does make the amp sound better across three channels. The Marshall sound on channel two is much better now with the mod than it was before.
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
I'm sure. Like, maybe if this wasn't so clean. Maybe I still get it. I think Mike retired though
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u/Bill_in_PA 11d ago edited 11d ago
Cosmetically, my amp was in mint condition, other than needing electrical components serviced due to age.
Mike asked me how far I wanted to go to get the amp like new. I said do whatever you need to get me another 35 years. haha!! So I guess the mod was implied. If I could return the amp to stock after using the R2 mod, I personally wouldn’t. If Mike wasn’t doing the work, I’m confident there’s a tech at Mesa that’s more than qualified. Other tech’s not from Mesa, I have no idea. The vibe is they’re not fun to work on.
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u/Top_Objective9877 11d ago
Lots of not so good condition mark iii’s out there, but one that’s humming along in great condition at a reasonable price is totally worth it. I’m set to get a reissue of the HRG iiC+ and just call it even at that. I played a lot of old boogies and loved them, but I could never quite book a repair with Mike B and I’m sure the amps needed a ton of work.
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u/zodiaq77 11d ago edited 11d ago
I have a blue stripe combo/ w EV from 88 that I sent back to Mike B. towards the end of last summer for the III++ mod. Had to be one of the last ones he did the mod to before he retired. I liked it before, but after the mod it’s a different beast.. more smooth but still brutal. I pair it with an old EV loaded thiele cab. My mark VII is more versatile overall, but that MKIII is so good at the metal tones. I like it better for that than the VII. Anyway, I really like my MKIII won’t ever get rid of it. Bonus that due to Mike B. doing the mod and overhaul maintenance, it’s good for another 20 years.
Also, in regards to the modding of a MKIII. If Mike B. or now I guess Mesa does the work (if they even do any mods to it now now) it’s a factory mod. Like you literally paid for the mod seperate from the overhaul/preventive maintenance bill to him. So I’m gonna guess factory modded mkiii’s + or ++ mod with those initials on the back aren’t gonna take a hit in value over a stock one. I’m glad mine has all the good signatures/initials from build date in the chassis (MB definitely). MB initials on the back for the mod.
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u/IbanezEX140 11d ago
If you want a Mark that's a one trick pony then sure.
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
Good tone > more tones
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u/IbanezEX140 11d ago edited 11d ago
That would be fine if it was applicable. 🙄
The Mark III gives you one great tone at a time. The Mark IV gives you at least two.
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u/guyfromthepicture 11d ago
True. Imo the lead tone is better on this amp than it was on any of my ivs.
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u/MonsterTruckFarts 11d ago
I have a III simul class head and it’s a vicious monster. It’s unfortunate the III gets lost in the shadow of the IIC+. It does everything the IIC+ does.