OT : Mk IIC+ or MkIV ?

[Dizzy]

Fellas,

The long wait for the "right" BFR top to come up has me on an amp quest.

In seeking a MkIV, I've just got a lead on a MINT, fully optioned 1984 MkIIC+ and I have 1st dibs.
I remember hearing one years ago and was astounded by the sound.

I've been reading the Boogie Board and have got some pretty good information, but would like to see what you lot have to say..... there's always some great advice to be sourced here.

The MkIIC+ and matching 1x12 cab will come at a somewhat inflated price, only about AU$800-900 less than a brand new MkIV head.

What do yas reckon ?

Thanks.

Dizz.

 

[Rossie]

Is that even a choice!?!?!

I would get that MkIIC+ in a heartbeat!

IMO, price is the last thing that concerns me when getting an MkIIC+...
I believe it goes for more than USD2k on ebay...

 

[Dizzy]

Is that even a choice!?!?!

I would get that MkIIC+ in a heartbeat!

IMO, price is the last thing that concerns me when getting an MkIIC+...
I believe it goes for more than USD2k on ebay...

Hehe, For 2K USD I'd buy it in a heart beat too !!

To put things in perspective, a new MKIV head lists at nearly $5200 new here in OZ....... even when our Dollar is now SOOO close to the US dollar.

AU$5200 = US$4800

 

[marduke]

ive heard people say that the MkIIC+ doesnt have the same grunt as the MKIV in the rhythm department, but has such a stellar lead channel.... not sure myself as ive never played the MkIIC+.. but that was my next choice if i decided against the MkIV..
and yep the MkIV aint a cheap amp here in aus... but the road king is nearly $8kAUD!! so you guys in the states are pretty lucky..

 

[emkey]

I used to have Mk IIc, then sold it, and now kinda regret this. But it was a long time ago. However there are some things to notice: clean sound of IIc is great, lead (in my opinion) needs some of compression given by for example Dbx unit. When I picked some of heavy metal music I had to find something tighter and more aggressive...so there was a high gain tube amp head I changed my IIc for...Now I think I found my sound source and it's definitely Mark IV or RoadKing (only because of the diversity).

In your place I'd save up some money and get that Mark IIc, but again, it's from my point of view.

PS. That's really bad with the cost of that amp, I thought Poland is expensive, but THAT is something unguessed!

I'd pick Mark IV, because of the tighter and better drive plus I like that dry rhythm

 

[roburado]

I wish that I could answer your question, because that would mean that I would have had the opportunity to have played the Mark IIC+. One day, I'd love to try one.

I played a Mark IV once back around 1989 before I knew anything about it and once very briefly several months ago. I don't think it was really an optimum set-up for the Mark IV. I can't even remember what cabinet it was running through, certainly not one I would have chosen for it.

 

[Rossie]

Hehe, For 2K USD I'd buy it in a heart beat too !!

To put things in perspective, a new MKIV head lists at nearly $5200 new here in OZ....... even when our Dollar is now SOOO close to the US dollar.

AU$5200 = US$4800

And I though we Asians are getting ripped off
A Mark IV head here costs around USD2.8k, more than double the street prices in the US...

 

[Dizzy]

^^^

Yep, we get well and TRULY Gaffed here.

Just got some shots of it.

Shame about the Creme Tolex !?

 

[Norrin Radd]

LOVE the cream tolex!!

 

[rigmarole]

Well, this is off-topic for a an OT-thread, but...
For the money, you may consider a Mesa/Boogie Quad pre-amp.

They're a combination of the Mark IIC pre-amp (Rh/Ld) and a Mark III (Rh/Ld).
Only about $600-ish on ebay here in the states.

I've used them for years and really adore the warm, smooth distortion.
There aren't any other pre-amps that compare (in my lowly opinion).
With the right tubes, they are downright transcendent.

Also, after using the old M/B 295 power amp (EL34 & 6L6!), then Rocktron SS,
I can tell you that the cheapy MosValve amps are actually my favorite match.

Regards...

 

[danyeo]

I owned a IIC+ for years but sold it last year for $3000. I have also owned Mark III's and IV's. IMHO, if you're playing in a band or doing any type of gigs, the Mark IV is the clear winner. I feel i can get the IV very very close in tone to the IIC+. A lot of guys hyping up the IIC+ are Metallica or Petrucci fanboys who have never even played one.

One day i plugged my IIC+ in at my friends house when a few of us were comparing amps. Then we plugged in a rackmountable MarkIII blue stripe non-simulclass and most of the people there thought the III sounded better. After i tweaked, they sounded close. BUt think about it, that MarkIII cost the guy $600.

As much as i do love the IIC+, there is no doubt that it is the most overhyped amp out there. Yes, it does sound great no doubt, but if most people were to use their ears they would realize that you can get a very similiar tone from other Boogies at a fraction of the cost.

I have a bunch of clips of the IIC+, III, and IV here.
Free Mp3 Hosting, Artist Pages, Dj Sets, Free Music Downloads

 

[Dizzy]

As much as i do love the IIC+, there is no doubt that it is the most overhyped amp out there. Yes, it does sound great no doubt, but if most people were to use their ears they would realize that you can get a very similiar tone from other Boogies at a fraction of the cost.

Yep, there is definately a pile of Hype driving the MkIIC+, both warranted and fanboy. There is definately no mistaking the credibility of the amp itself.

I tend to agree with your comments on the MkIV.
The added versatility and advances surely outweigh the minor tone differences achievable.

BTW, I noticed in your clips you have one of an ENGL SE.
(Some great clips in there BTW)
That just happens to be the other Amp I'm looking at.
Any comments / comparisions between the Mesa Amps ?
I'll take a punt and say your friends SE was the EL34 version ?

 

[Rossie]

Love the cream tolex!

danyeo: thanks for the valuable opinions and clips... I think I need to sit down and think things over now...

 

[DT1607]

I dont know its kind of a hard choice, That MkIIC+ is in really nice condition with the options plus that cream tolex is pretty sick.

Personally I would go with the MkIV. Probably my next amp when I get some money. The reasons have been mostly covered, you can also search the mesa forums for tons of info on the two.

 

[Octavarius]

^^^

Yep, we get well and TRULY Gaffed here.

Just got some shots of it.

Shame about the Creme Tolex !?

Is it possible to get a pic of the back? Then we could know for sure if it has Simul-Class, Reverb or even the fabled export transformer.

It's said that the IIC+ has more gain and is a bit more agressive than the IV in rhythms, and that the Mark IV is a lot more smoother, especially in lead tones. But hey, they're both Marks, and they sound pretty similar. But dude, you got a great deal on this one. 900AUD is like 800USD. That's nothing for such a overhyped amp. If it's fully loaded like you say, you could even resell it for 3000 and get a new Mark IV. I'd take the IV over the IIC+, but when you get a deal like that, I'd go for it. Think of it more like an investment. I bet you could sell it for six times that price in a couple of years. Plus you get a really great sounding amp.

Check out the price on this one:
Mesa Boogie MK II C+ Combo - (eBay item 300166276669 end time Nov-04-07 19:45:14 PST)

I was lucky enough to get mine from a fella on Ebay that listed it as a Mark III, and sold it to me for $1600. It's in perfect shape and it's got all the options plus the export tranny. And practically no scratches or dents at all and the circuits are 100% original with no mods. Like a new-old-stock IIC+. I'm happy. Sounds killer and I love it.

 

[Rossie]

Octavarius: read Dizzy's other replies, he said that the MkIIC+ is A$800~900 more expensive than the MkIV. So it comes up to around A$6,000 for the MkIIC+ with a 1x12 cab.

Just crazy...

 

[Dizzy]

My post actually said $800 - $900 LESS than the list price of a MkIV head, so we're looking at just under AU$4500.

Still Crazy.

 

[Dizzy]

Is it possible to get a pic of the back? Then we could know for sure if it has Simul-Class, Reverb or even the fabled export transformer.

Yep,

It's definately simulclass, Reverb, and apparently has the voltage selector switch, however the chassis Code is DRG. (The Exports are supposed to be DRGX, right ?)

 

[Rossie]

My post actually said $800 - $900 LESS than the list price of a MkIV head, so we're looking at just under AU$4500.

Still Crazy.

Opps... My bad...

But yeah... Still crazy...

 

[Octavarius]

Octavarius: read Dizzy's other replies, he said that the MkIIC+ is A$800~900 more expensive than the MkIV. So it comes up to around A$6,000 for the MkIIC+ with a 1x12 cab.

Just crazy...

Oh, sorry. I just glanced through the posts.

Yep,

It's definately simulclass, Reverb, and apparently has the voltage selector switch, however the chassis Code is DRG. (The Exports are supposed to be DRGX, right ?)

Yes, the exports are supposed to have DRGX, but I believe that's written at the start of the production, though. It's best to send a PM to Boogiebabies (Ed) over at the Boogie board to be sure. The tranny and the switch could also have been added later. Could you post some pics if you have them?

4500AUD isn't exactly the greatest deal, but you say it's less than a new Mark IV head over there, so it really depends on what you want most. If you feel like you need all the bells and whistles the Mark IV offers, save up for one. Personally I'd go for a Mark IV.. I find the IIC+ somewhat lacking in a live situation. I feel like I have to change the settings to get good results for clean and lead and rhythm. But as I said, I bought mine because of the great deal I got. It's still a fantastic studio amp. People also say that it's hard to get a good rhythm tone and lead tone from the Mark IV at the same time too, though, but you could always boost up the R2 a bit or place an external EQ in the loop that activates on the lead channel when you need it for lead tones or something like that. Actually the best solution is to get both. IIC+ for rhythms and IV for cleans and leads.

Anyway, you could always look for a used/almost new Mark IV head on ebay, if having a brand new one straight from the factory isn't that important.