I need help identifying my old amp

[Skeel]

I bought this amp back in 1982 I think. Paid 1100 for it as it was already something of a collector's item. It works very well, some scratch noise when turning on one or two of the pots. I also need some help locating a serial number, this amp is completely hand made and hand soldered. In marksalot under the brain it has initials RCS 10-76. There is a reverb box attached to the bottom of the cabinet. The speaker cover is some kind of vinyl weave, not wicker. A dark solid wood cabinet...not routered.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Looks like you've got yourself an original Mark I Boogie built in October 1976, in a nice pretty hardwood cabinet to boot. The RCS initials are for Randall C. Smith, founder of Mesa/Boogie. That's definitely not the original speaker though; I think these amps came with Altec Lansings in them. I suppose a Celestion Sidewinder might not be terribly far off from the Electro-Voice EVM12L, which was the standard speaker in Mark series amps for a while after this. Nice amp!

 

[Skeel]

Seriously, I have no idea what it is, I've just lately begun to research it... I thought mark 1 did not have pull gains on the vol knobs. Any idea where to look for a serial number on one of these? I've been over and over it and have no clue, only seeing part numbers on some of the larger components. And thank you Whoopysnorp for answering.

 

[igfraso]

The serial number is in the picture... A706.

It is an original Mark I. Rather than a hardwood cabinet, it looks like a standard cabinet with the tolex removed.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Ah, standard cab with tolex removed--that explains why it's not a wicker grille. Anyway, yeah, Mark Is definitely did have the pull pots.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

I agree with igfraso and Whoppysnorp.

Also, it looks like your speaker jack is missing it's original protective cover. You may want to get a new one just for safety to prevent any accidents.

 

[Skeel]

Well it is still the way I bought it, 30 yrs ago, and it definitely seems to be a finished hardwood cabinet, although I don't know what you mean by Tolex. I never use it anymore and was really wondering what it was worth since I see none for sale anywhere on EBAY or google.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

I feel like an original Mark I would go for somewhere between $1000 and $1300. The fact that the speaker is non-original might lessen the value somewhat. It's true that you don't see too many of these for sale, though, so I could be wrong.

 

[zebpedersen]

The serial number is in the picture... A706.

It is an original Mark I. Rather than a hardwood cabinet, it looks like a standard cabinet with the tolex removed.

I disagree – my 1977 Mark I has the tolex removed and you can clearly see that it is stained plywood. On this amp, you see grain rather than ply, which would suggest that it's 'proper' wood.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

I did think that wood seemed a little too nice to be covered up by tolex. The fact that it's a fancy cabinet will probably add a few hundred bucks to the sell price.

 

[Rick Mark2A]

I wonder if that is an original Boogie hardwood or if its a homemade cab. It certainly looks different from the later hardwood cabs, no dovetail joints and edges look sharp.

 

[Skeel]

Thanks for all the responses, I'm slowly beginning to know what it is, though it still sounds fine. If anyone would like to conjecture what the extra jacks do, I've been afraid to try them. I know the one next to the date with and R by it is where my reverb box plugs in, thogh the box has two wires off it and the other one definitely doesn't work in the jack marked W. no idea what goes there. and the jacks in the back... footswitch among them? Slave and the jack above? Presence? Sorry, I really haven't been out much with it. Any clues would be appreciated.

 

[igfraso]

Yes, zebpedersen. After looking at the pictures more carefully, I would say it is an aftermarket hardwood cab.

 

[zebpedersen]

Yes, zebpedersen. After looking at the pictures more carefully, I would say it is an aftermarket hardwood cab.

It does look different from RCS' cabs of the era, doesn't it.

 

[McBarry]

The single jack on rear with the purple wire going to the preamp board may be a line out.
Slave jack is above the slave knob and the other two are speaker jacks.

Underside RCA jacks will likely be reverb jacks (to and from reverb tank) - the red and white is a common colouring.

Unsure the middle RCA though. Where exactly does it's wire(s) go to??