New Forum Member - Legacy Mark IIC+ Owner (Exploring potential Mods for my amp that is waiting a refresh at Mesa in Petaluma)

Welcome, sounds like a very cool amp you've enjoyed for years. I'd suggest reposting this in the Vintage Amps (before 1991) / Mark Series sub forum cause you'll get more eyes on it there. Plus also search the posts there and something may jump out.

Thanks!

Welcome

Mike B would know best.Just tell him what you want..to look it over and give it some more gain if possible..I'd add reverb to it if the same large original reverb is available if you don't already have it.
If it hasn't been serviced in 40 years you will probably see an improvement from the service.
Maybe a different gain is in order to go with the Mark llC+...look up on YouTube the
Vox AC30BM Brian May Amplifier with Peterson Mod. The amp is already good stock but just listen to the clips.But the amp needs to be turned up loud.

Hey Nick,
Yes she came loaded with all of the goodies including reverb. As long as the amp responds like it always did before I had a couple of issues that local amp techs just never were able to resolve (at least to my ear) I'll be happy-any added gain via a Mike B. mod would be great as long as it didn't change the natrual character of the amp...I'm talking about in particular the harmonic sustain on leads that just bloom into very musical feedback pretty much at any volume along with the crystal bell like cleans which to my ear where always what I appreciated the most and thought the Mark IIC+ was known for until the Metallica wave of owners became vogue. To me the Mark IIC+ was always the best studio amp out there given its versatility which is unmatched from crystal cleans to heavy with everything in between and forget about a drive pedal-It really shaped me as a player.
I will check out Peterson Mod you mentioned and really appreciate your input; the amp has been in Petaluma at
Boogie a couple of weeks so I should be on the bench petty soon.

Lance Sheffield said:

Hey Nick,
Yes she came loaded with all of the goodies including reverb. As long as the amp responds like it always did before I had a couple of issues that local amp techs just never were able to resolve (at least to my ear) I'll be happy-any added gain via a Mike B. mod would be great as long as it didn't change the natrual character of the amp...I'm talking about in particular the harmonic sustain on leads that just bloom into very musical feedback pretty much at any volume along with the crystal bell like cleans which to my ear where always what I appreciated the most and thought the Mark IIC+ was known for until the Metallica wave of owners became vogue. To me the Mark IIC+ was always the best studio amp out there given its versatility which is unmatched from crystal cleans to heavy with everything in between and forget about a drive pedal-It really shaped me as a player.
I will check out Peterson Mod you mentioned and really appreciate your input; the amp has been in Petaluma at
Boogie a couple of weeks so I should be on the bench petty soon.

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You've sent it to the right guy to make it restored. : )

I wouldn’t mess with it if he adds extra gain it will effect everything- IMHO
But ask Mike about the change he’ll know best

Hey @lance - welcome to the board. I would be inclined to suggest letting Mike B. get it back to 'factory original' and if you're still feeling it's lacking perhaps try a hotter output pickup. Should have plenty of gain on tap Regardless, congrats and WELCOME

Doug Doppler said:

Hey @lance - welcome to the board. I would be inclined to suggest letting Mike B. get it back to 'factory original' and if you're still feeling it's lacking perhaps try a hotter output pickup. Should have plenty of gain on tap Regardless, congrats and WELCOME

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I think I have resigned myself to just that...have Mike B. restore it to its orignial specs so as not inadvertently comprimise anything...not sure what I was thinking...Lol. I will report on the restoration as soon as I get the amp back and really appreciate the feedback from everyone.
Thanks!!

Hey Doug,
I am waiting on my tracking number and should hopefully have my Mark IIC+ back in the next week or so. After speaking with Mike B. we just decided to keep everything stock. He spent a lot of time and replaced a ton of components after finding several issues.
I wanted to ask what your experience has been with Mesa Mark IIC+ Combo speakers...I have always used the Mesa Black Shadow EV 200w that my amp came with but was thinking about trying the Mesa Black Shadow Celestion 90w (I have also heard about the G12-80 and the CL-80's but not sure about they're availability). I also am going to have to have my EV 200 watt re-coned and also wondered if you had any suggestions for that as well.
Thanks Doug,
Lance Sheffield

Welcome, Lance. I’ve recently returned to the forum after a long break, and also have a vintage amp in at M/B for a checkup (1976 Super 60). It seems that most possible mods have been experienced by a user here , so I’m certain you’ll get some good ideas. Mine’s pretty simple, especially if Mike gets it, as I just want it as it was, with a clean bill of health for regular use. I hope you find what you’re looking for!

Lance Sheffield said:

Hey Doug,
I am waiting on my tracking number and should hopefully have my Mark IIC+ back in the next week or so. After speaking with Mike B. we just decided to keep everything stock. He spent a lot of time and replaced a ton of components after finding several issues.
I wanted to ask what your experience has been with Mesa Mark IIC+ Combo speakers...I have always used the Mesa Black Shadow EV 200w that my amp came with but was thinking about trying the Mesa Black Shadow Celestion 90w (I have also heard about the G12-80 and the CL-80's but not sure about they're availability). I also am going to have to have my EV 200 watt re-coned and also wondered if you had any suggestions for that as well.
Thanks Doug,
Lance Sheffield

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Dear Lance:

AWESOME ALL THAT Yeah, my Mark IIC+ went up to Boogie after a tube failure and I never considered having anything changed...

Per the speaker, do you have any other Boogie cabs as that would be a great place to start hearing other speakers, just in case you haven't tried that already. I was REALLY impressed with the Black Shadow C-90 in the JP~2C combo. It's a great speaker for everything. I've got some EVs in various boogie cabs (Thiele 1x12s and various half backs) and they are great speakers. Noting that Zakk Wylde uses them they are obviously great for rock... and if you need to move your amp on a regular basis your chiropractor will love you. As I understand the C-90 is pretty much identical to the CL-80, which as you probably know is Joe Bonamassa's 'stock' Celestion fave. Noting that a 200 watt EV is VERY hard to blow, what happened that you're wanting to recone it?

Doug Doppler said:

Dear Lance:

AWESOME ALL THAT Yeah, my Mark IIC+ went up to Boogie after a tube failure and I never considered having anything changed...

Per the speaker, do you have any other Boogie cabs as that would be a great place to start hearing other speakers, just in case you haven't tried that already. I was REALLY impressed with the Black Shadow C-90 in the JP~2C combo. It's a great speaker for everything. I've got some EVs in various boogie cabs (Thiele 1x12s and various half backs) and they are great speakers. Noting that Zakk Wylde uses them they are obviously great for rock... and if you need to move your amp on a regular basis your chiropractor will love you. As I understand the C-90 is pretty much identical to the CL-80, which as you probably know is Joe Bonamassa's 'stock' Celestion fave. Noting that a 200 watt EV is VERY hard to blow, what happened that you're wanting to recone it?

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That EV 200w speaker was in the amp for 41 years...I started hearing some speaker / rattling noise and went to using a Marshall 4x12 loaded with 2 - EV 200 watt speakers (that I still have) that sounded great as well. Now that I should be getting my amp back in the next week or so from Boogie I am just considering options. I found a guy down in Tampa that recones speakers so I'll probably send the EV out to him. I also found a Black Shadow C-90 for a resonable sum and thought I might give it a try. I do believe that I remember you and John P. discussing how good the C-90's sounded with the JP-2C combo in one of your videos is kind of what made me consider the C-90 also.

I will also say that a good friend of mine had a vintage slant top Marshall 4x12 loaded with Celestion Greenbacks that sounded incredible with a number of amps I heard it with...I couldn't wait to try it with my amp and just never could get it to sound right with my MK IIC+ to my ears; probably from just playing EV's for years through it.

As fate would have it I will be out of town for a bit when my amp comes back from Boogie so it will be here when I get back. Mike B gave me a whole page of components and issues he found so no wonder she was having problems...it also went through Hurricane Michael which didn't help either...Lol.

I really appreciate your feedback Doug.

Rick said:

Welcome, Lance. I’ve recently returned to the forum after a long break, and also have a vintage amp in at M/B for a checkup (1976 Super 60). It seems that most possible mods have been experienced by a user here , so I’m certain you’ll get some good ideas. Mine’s pretty simple, especially if Mike gets it, as I just want it as it was, with a clean bill of health for regular use. I hope you find what you’re looking for!

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Hey Rick,
As you probably read in my conversation with Doug; after speaking with Mike B. I just decided to keep the amp stock, he found multiple issues so if that amp comes back sounding like it did the first 20 years of its life I will be more than pleased.
Thanks for reaching out!...Lance