Growing curious about the rarity of my Blue Stripe MKIII

[SonicProvocateur]

So, in a previous topic some of us were talking about some serial numbers and blue stripe/green stripe serial number layovers, and a couple weeks ago I took a picture of the back of my Mark III, and it didn't hit me until Coolidge posted his NAD of his blue stripe combo (serial 23xxx).

Mine is serial 27xxx. I figured it has to be one of the last blues made; well into green production. But its a 60 watter (weren't all the greens simul?). I haven't reopened my chassis to check and see if it's wired in triode yet, but I noticed something...my serial code isn't stamped onto the chassis, but is on a metal sticker. Is anyone else's like this?? Thanks.

 

[Neptical]

Maybe there was something wrong with the engraving machine...or they were simply cutting costs. :lol:

Just had this discussion with someone who posted in the 'Modern' Boogie section. The dating of Mike B's. initials on the chasis on my purple stripe was after another owners red stripe dating, which is funny because the purples were right before the reds. To me that just means that they were behind in releasing some of the amps while they were still in the shop.

~Nep~

note: You 'X'd out your serial number but the picture shows the full serial number.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Maybe there was something wrong with the engraving machine...

Lol...that didn't occur to me. I also thought maybe since MKIII's and MKIV's were both being produced in '94 at the same time, but i've only played a MKIV once, are the Mark IV's engraved or stickered? Aren't their serials on the underside of the chassis? If they have the stickers like mine, maybe they used a Mark IV label to serial mine.

 

[>Photi G<]

Just to clarify, all S/N#'s are stamped. Mesa never used an engraver.

Mesa started using the stickers after the MKIV was introduced in '91, since the IV had no faceplate or backplate. Everything was printed right on the chassis. All amps after that also adopted the stickers, and since MKIII's were still in production until the late 90's, they also adopted the system.

That being said, almost all late-model IIIs were Blue stripes. Most commonly 60w and 100w models. If you wanted a Simul MKIII, you had the factory option of either Blue or Green. The Greens only came in Simul.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Just saw vhyken's post actually and checked out the auction for this blue stripe: its actually 243 amps later than mine! Same sticker, no stamp... same type as mine: 60 watter, but his has reverb and GEQ.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-Mark-III-Blue-Stripe-Combo-Amp-MKIII-MK3-/280555770431?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41526d523f

So, i'm wondering if blues were made all the way up to the end of Mark III production?

 

[MrMarkIII]

Well, if Greens were all Simul-Class, then if you have a 60 watter, it must be a Blue. Also, at that time, there were few retail outlets selling Mesas, certainly not GC or any mass merchandisers. IIRC, there were only two places in SoCal, Lab Music. These places had a few floor models, but you weren't limited to them. Boogie was still considered a "boutique custom order" shop, so you could walk in and factory order just about anything you wanted.
Dating these amps by serial number is a guessing game at best. Mesa itself does not have correct or complete information. Look for a DOB in Magic Marker somewhere on the chassis.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Mine had to have been an individual purchase. It was originally a Zinc Bronco 1x12 combo before I racked it.

On the chassis is written either 94 or 1994, I can't remember, but that's there. So that kinda begs the question, do you think the last of the blues were all 60 watters? Does anyone have a late model blue that is 100 watts after green stripe production/Mark IV production?

Lol wikipedia states "The Mark III ceased production in 1989" and on Ian's site, it states they ended in 1999. If the blue stripe listed on ebay is 243 amps later...and both of Ian's Green 1998 serial's are 283XX, that's a gnarly huge gap in year production for the Mark IIIs for 300 amps.

 

[MrMarkIII]

LOL on Wiki "info". I bought two Blue Simuls in 1990, both in the 24XXX range, both with 1989 chassis dates. Greens were built until '98 or '99.
I doubt that all the last Blue stripes were 60 watts.
I had a Blue 60/100 #278xx. Darn, never did check the chassis for a build date...
Once again, you could order ANYTHING. Well, maybe not a Green 60 watter or Green 60/100, but they would make a Blue for you.
The serial number thing is chasing ghosts IMHO. During that period, Blues and Greens, from 60 watts to Simuls, to 60/100s, are all mixed in together. And then the Mark IV came along, while Green Mark IIIs were still being sold, so don't forget them! Did I mention the Satellites, both Simul, and non-Simul?

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Yeah...I've been thinking about replacing my Mosvalve with a Simul-Satellite :twisted:

I just don't know where to look for one :|

 

[cremona]

Yeah...I've been thinking about replacing my Mosvalve with a Simul-Satellite :twisted:

I just don't know where to look for one :|

I have mint a simul at 85 loaded, and rack mounted i wanna sell .

You wouldent happen to liv in EU ?

I am located i Denmark

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Nope, Alabama...the deep south. 8)

I was dialing in my Mosvalve as a stack yesterday instead of a stereo rig and realized how much brighter my Mark III sounded, so I either need to a) do alot more dialing in than I realized before I go back to the studio, or b) invest in new speakers and do more dialing in :? I'm very displeased.

 

[dodger916]

Yeah...I've been thinking about replacing my Mosvalve with a Simul-Satellite :twisted:

I just don't know where to look for one :|

You don't know where to look for one? Are you serious?
Try the classifieds. Someone has had one for sale for a couple of months now

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48052&p=347323&hilit=satellite#p347323

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Gracias!