Convoluted Mark III stripe chronology question.

[Xbob]

Hey everyone. I just got my Mark III 60 watt blue stripe combo back from being repaired after I was sold some mismatched power tubes whilst on tour with my band (after one got popped by a stray table leg, I had to buy some new ones or use other people's less amazing amps for the remainder of the tour). Anyway, the poorly matched tubes I was sold resulted in a resistor burning out above a tube that was running way too hot. Thankfully the problem has been fixed and I've fitted a pair of Mesa Boogie 6L6GC STR 440s in the amp and it sounds better than ever. I love it. I'll never sell it as it does everything I need it to do, although it has no reverb it does have a GEQ and the sound is perfect for the thrashy skatepunk band I play in.
However, I've noted from something I read on here that Mark III Blue stripes were produced between 1988 and 1989, and when I took the chassis out of the cab to assess the damage visually (there was smoke when it stopped working properly, although it still made a sound) I saw that the amp was dated "3/28/91". Can anybody on this fantastically informative and interesting forum shed any light on this matter for me? I love knowing all I can know about my baby.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Well, first, a couple years either way shouldn't be that important. And I'm fairly sure Mesa was making green stripes and Mark IVs concurrently.
Also, remember that Mesa was still largely a custom order shop. I'm sure you could order a 60 watt blue stripe even after the green stripe came out. Just ask, and pay for it. Plus, your options are a bit left of center from "normal". Whoever ordered that amp specifically asked for the Graphic EQ, but *no* reverb. All the features such as your basic 60 watter, Simul-Class, 60/100 watts, Graphic EQ, Reverb, and speaker choices were all options you ordered for your very own amp, not something on Guitar Center's sales floor.

 

[Xbob]

Thanks for the reply. Makes sense to me now. My boogie has the 200 watt EV Black Shadow speaker in it as well. It's a beast! I love it when it kicks the arse of some 100 watt half stack at a gig and people come over to me asking me questions about it.