C+ vs blue stripe

[the art of ruin]

Anyone out there that owns both or has played both extensively? I currently own both marks, c+ w/o geq, simul, and reverb, blue stripe loaded.

I absolutely love the blue stipe and have been able to dial in a variety of very good sounds (for me). Unfortunately, the c+ has not been as I expected.

I have a/b them on a mesa 1x12 compact widebody and a 2x12 recto with c90s. I have a Jackson RR5 and Mark Morton.

I have played more on the blue stripe overall, but lately have been spending more time with the c+ to try and get a better sound. I realize that it could be different issues such as tubes, but so far I have not been able to achieve what I thought it can do. I do use a 10 band MXR in the c+ loop and that does help, if i scoop the mids, but I also don't want to scoop the mdis all the time.

Anyways, for people that have played both, what have you liked about each?

 

[silentrage]

I hav. A simul blue, my friend who's has a Iic+ Non simul jammed on my iii said he couldnt hear any difference at bedroom volume, we didn't have a chance to crank it though.

 

[Shep]

to me the blue stripe i had was a really really good amp. the only thing was it was very bright and you could get no where near the same smoothness out of it as i did will my C+ onm the lead channel.

I am just about to spend about $400 refurbishing my C+. things do get old.i suggest you may want to do the same if your not happy with yours.ATM my C+ sounds very flabby and loose and the bottom end is missing.so i am Replacing all my filter caps and cleaning her up . NEW tubes and retenioning the tube sockets and doing anything that may need it.


Tom

 

[JOEY B.]

to me the blue stripe i had was a really really good amp. the only thing was it was very bright and you could get no where near the same smoothness out of it as i did will my C+ onm the lead channel.

The C30 mod will help with the brightness. It will still not be a C+, for sure.

 

[silentrage]

I did the c30 mod and another mod mike b suggested, which is replacing the cap connected to Pin 7 of V3 with a 1000uf.
This really made the lead channel noticably smoother.

As for dyanmics, I'd really like to try a IIC+ or a coli III to see what everyone's talking about, I think my blue is pretty good on the first 2 channels, but I don't have a lot of amps to compare it to.
I did hear that if you put a 5751 in the PI slot it will help dynamics, I'm trying to snipe one off ebay to try now.

 

[chipaudette]

I usually like to get my tubes from an actual store with a phone number. I like the security. I also like being able to know that they've got stock and that I can go buy some tubes anytime I want without having to browse through all the eBay listings.

If you're interested, I've bought from these people: http://www.tubesandmore.com/

Their catalog (on paper) is really cool to have on hand. Great for browsing for parts, for seeing the variety of tubes (easier than their website), and for seeing the descriptions of the various speaker options.

There are lots of other tube retailers around, too. Just something to consider as an alternative to eBay.

Chip

 

[Boogie Woogie Man]

Dynamics on a Mk 111 is as good as any 11C+, they play differently but ultimately a decent guitarist can get dynamics from any amp.

 

[tony777]

Dynamics on a Mk 111 is as good as any 11C+, they play differently but ultimately a decent guitarist can get dynamics from any amp.

Yes and I am Donald Duck

 

[Silverwulf]

We (my bandmate and I) have both right now. We never swapped tubes, did direct A/B, etc...but we've bth played both amps quite a bit. As much as my bandmate loves his Blue Stripe, he noticed an immediate difference plugging into my IIC+. It reacts different to your playing, he thinks it's tighter, etc.

Both are loaded, but my IIC+ is 100/60 with the 105 PT and has STR 415's in it, where as his is Simul loaded with STR 440's, so I'm sure there's considerable difference there.

 

[GIG4FUN]

Dynamics on a Mk 111 is as good as any 11C+, they play differently but ultimately a decent guitarist can get dynamics from any amp.

ah.... YOU don't have Mark IIC+ do you...?

Your comment is incorrectly stated in my view, though of course dynamics may mean something to one and something else to another. BUT you DID SAY "they play differently". I'll respect you for that

The Mark IIC+ is the almighty amp to play "with". I suppose it may be played "through" by those less discerning. The C+ really needs players who can tell the difference, so I love to see them come up for sale and try to get them when they do...($$$$ ouch!)
The Mark IIC+ is "THE" Holy Grail, period, for some of us.