• Syndication
• Sep 20,2009
• In: Featured, Guitars

MESA BOOGIE MARK IIC+

Who would not be familiar with the well-known Mark Series all tube amplifier produced by MESA Engineering? Mesa Boogie’s amazing quality amplifiers are being echoed in all corners of the music industry. The Mark Series were introduced primarily in the late 1970s and became more popular when chosen to be a part of the music gears of Santana and Rolling Stones. They are considered to be the tiny sound-bombers of our times because of their extreme and astounding performance.

In the evolution of Mark Series, the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ is considered to be one of the most well-known amplifiers. Owners and even admirers of it highly regard it as the cleanest when it comes to available lead tones. It is not only that because this Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ is a best seller and the most collected when compared to the other Mark Series. Just imagine how many Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ were made from the year 1983 to 1985. They have produced about 1499 units in a span of two years. That is how demanding these amplifiers are in the market. In the line of Mark Series evolution (Mark I, Mark II, Mark IIB, Mark IIC), Mark IIC+ placed 5th.

Control tones can be found in the front portion of this amplifier namely: (1) Volume 1 which is indicated with “Pull Bright” above it making the amp produce pretty hard sounds; (2) Treble which is indicated with “Pull Shift” which can produce a thick, muscular and robust sound; (3) Bass which is indicated with “Pull Shift” which is responsible for the bombastic effect sounds; (4) Middle which acts as the standard tone setter but has lesser effects than the treble; (5) Master 1 which acts as the general control for the volume and is very sensitive too; (6) Lead Drive with a “Pull Lead” indication where relay of Lead and Rhythm is activated; and (7) Lead Master with the “Pull Bright” indication where the Lead mode is only affected by it causing a heavy boosting sound, making it the master control of the lead mode. On its left side, two input jacks can be found, the input and the foot switch.

At the rear portion, more are still to be discovered. There is the AC Outlet for the AC switch. Next is the Slo-Blo Fuse for blow-outs (if ever) to be prevented. It also has Ground Switch consisting of 3 switch positions responsible for reducing buzz sounds produced from the AC wiring at the amp exterior. Another control is the Slave Out and Level which has something to do with assuring enough amount of signal strength. Other controls included are the Effects Send and Return, Presence, Reverb, Speaker Outputs, Preamp and Amp Junctions, Gain Boost or Reverb Dual Footswitch, Class A Switch and the Thiele Extension Cabinet.

Being endowed with great features and being the latest of the Mesa Boogie Mark II series, many favors its sweet and smooth voice and the rhythmical tones produced by the lead channels. Moreover, being the last in the series line, this amplifier was highly customized to be extremely sensitive and its effects loop circuitry is more developed. It is different from the earlier models of Mark II.