Mark IIB -->IIC can be moded to --> IIC+?

[LPClassic]

Hello, I will be getting hopefully this week a full loaded Mark IIB conversion to a Mark IIC, I still need to check it but from the pictures it has all the Mark IIC stuff except no MB signature and the 4 digits serial number.

So if this is a IIC conversion I want to confirm if it will be possible to go to the next stage to convert it to Mark IIC+, I imagine it should be possible but curious to confirm it.

Also does anybody have any of those a B to C or a B to C+ conversion? just curious on information about how they are close to the original IIC+ mainly.

Thanks

 

[dodger916]

A IIC can be converted to C+. What makes this possible for a IIC and not an earlier Mark II are the preamp boards, which are no longer being produced. From Boogiebabies' IIC+ Guide for Dummies: "The SP-11A, RP-10 and RP-11A were designed for the MK IIC. Their use was continued with the IIC+, Hence, the ability to upgrade from IIC to IC+." As long as you have one of those preamp boards, you should be good to go.

I have a IIA converted to a C+

 

[LPClassic]

dodger916 thank you very much for such a good answer, I will check the amp as soon as I have it to verify the pre-amp, hopefully can be upgrade to a IIC+.

By the way, did you have a chance to compare how the IIA conversion sound compared to a original IIC+?

Thanks!

 

[dodger916]

I bought it upgraded, and haven't played any other C+. Some have both, and opinions vary on which sounds better; point being it's subjective. There's also some individual voodoo in these amps, and two amps with the same components can sound or feel different. I'm lucky in that my mutt seems to have inherited the best genes from both parents. Also note: my amp has the export transformer.

Board member and C+ "shaman" Boogiebabies said it's among the best he's heard...and he's heard quite a few. He blueprinted my amp and is more than capable of performing the C+ upgrade as well, if not better, than Mesa. I highly recommend his work and his advice. Here's his dissertation on my amp: http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=40325.

 

[LPClassic]

dodger916 thank you again for taking the time to reply, I definetly think you are right, twin amps not necessarily sound the same and I hear good things about the export transformer.

I will be definetly considering after checking and hearing the amp to do the upgrade either at mesa or by Boogiebabes, I have been considering him to modify one of my heartbreakers too.

Thanks!!

 

[Boogiebabies]

Frank is being modest about his IICA+ Export. It's got a few factory stock differences than any other C+ I have seen.
Mike B. basically dropped in a whole finished C+ RP11A circuit board on that one. We will need to see your circuit board to see what you
have. Since there are not too many IIC's left stock it's been a bit hard to pinpoint when Mesa switch from the RP-10 to the RP-11.
It's possible to upgrade both, but the older IIC RP-10 is a nightmare better left for Mike B.

 

[LPClassic]

Thanks Boogiebabies I should get it tomorrow but I doubth I will be able to open it until the weeken, of course I have a lot of curiosity on this one, this should be an old board since the front has the Gain boost mark. I'll take pictures for sure.

Cool on that Mark IICA+

 

[Boogiebabies]

Thanks Boogiebabies I should get it tomorrow but I doubth I will be able to open it until the weeken, of course I have a lot of curiosity on this one, this should be an old board since the front has the Gain boost mark. I'll take pictures for sure.

Cool on that Mark IICA+

You should hope for the newer board, the RP-11A (SP-11 without reverb). We don't know when the RP-10 to RP11
was made. It could be middle or late production. If you could also get the final tech date from the bottom of the chassis it
would help.

Franks amp has virtually the same components from the transformers to circuit boards in the C+. The only reason I joke
about the IICA+ is the serial number. It's a very unique amp for many reasons but none of it has to do be with being upgraded
from a IIA. Frank knows the deal on the blueprint. It's a 1 in a 1,000,000 or at least a 1 in 1930. Nothing else like it.

 

[LPClassic]

Thanks for the information, I still need to verify it is a conversion, since it does not have MB signature it may be only the front face change... will know by tomorrow for sure.

Got in on the IICA+... sound cool for sure...hopefully mine can become a IICB+...hehe will see...

dodger916 should be a really great amp.

Thanks!

 

[dodger916]

Franks amp has virtually the same components from the transformers to circuit boards in the C+. The only reason I joke
about the IICA+ is the serial number. It's a very unique amp for many reasons but none of it has to do be with being upgraded
from a IIA. Frank knows the deal on the blueprint. It's a 1 in a 1,000,000 or at least a 1 in 1930. Nothing else like it.

Ed: you were right about those caps breaking in. I played it today (after playing my IIC for about two weeks) and was totally blown away! It DOES keep getting better.

 

[LPClassic]

Well, today I picked up my new amp, turn out to be in excellent shape, not a single scratch or crackling knob, etc, everything works beautifull and definetly is a Mark IIB upgraded to a IIC, still don't know if it is a IIC+, I doubth it but I already love the cleans and the distortion this amp have, it is great, I played at the store through a cheap fender 4x12 cab and the amp sounded great with a lot of power, definition, beautiful cleans, man... it was really impress and it sounded great through that cab, so I wonder how it will do with the EV that I have in a 1x12 or the 4x12 with Black shadows... hopefully good, so far I love what it has.

It came in a case, but the foam is al over the place, so I will probably have to scrap the foam and find a way to re-install something in the case, so far it did protected the amp very well.

I think it has old mesa tubes but have not had the chance to confirm, so far they sound powerfull, i will try to open it this weekend and do the loop test just in case it may actually be a IIC+, seems that somebody cleaned very well the area where MB initials normally would be but also it may be that they were never there... so far I love this amp!

 

[LPClassic]

Well finally I could not wait any more, did the loop test and is a IIC only, but man, this thing sounds great.

Also I did get to see the inside it has the old RP-10 preamp board, so Boogiebabies, if I decide to upgrade it, then I will send it to Mesa, thank you very much for the information.

The amp is really clean, except that somebody places gray tape at the top and even that I removed most of the stuff (seems that it was there for years) there still some residue that not even with goo gone I was able to remove.

Also it came with 2 Sylvania (yellow lettering) and 2 green STR 415. They look like new and when I played they really sounded strong, so hopefully they are not require replace anytime soon.

One transformer is the T100, the other can not read.

Man I'm really happy with this amp!

 

[tony777]

Pics....pics...pics...

It's porn on this forum :lol:

 

[dodger916]

Well finally I cpuld not wait any more, did the loop test and is a IIC only, but man, this thing sounds great.

Also I did get to see the inside it has the old RP-10 preamp board, so Boogiebabies, if I decide to upgrade it, then I will send it to Mesa, thank you very much for the information.

The amp is really clean, except that somebody places gray tape at the top and even that I removed most of the stuff (seems that it was there for years) there still some residue that not even with goo gone I was able to remove.

Also it came with 2 Sylvania (yellow lettering) and 2 green STR 415. They look like new and when I played they really sounded strong, so hopefully they are not require replace anytime soon.

One transformer is the T100, the other can not read.

Man I'm really happy with this amp!

My advice: play it for a while before upgrading. I love my IIC also. Having bought it before my C+, I was planning to upgrade it but haven't. I'm lucky in that I could afford a C+ also, so I didn't need to "spoil" my IIC. I'm always trying to get one to sound like the other, convincing myself the other is unnecessary. While the IIC cannot compete with the C+'s amazing gain smoothness and feel at all levels (not just metal), it has a more vintage feel and transparency that the C+ struggles to achieve. To my ears, the IIC "interferes" less with the natural voice of the instrument mostly in the Lead channel. I find the IIC great for blues and rock'n'roll styles. IMO, the C+ will smoke the IIC when entering the heavier rock and metal styles as it supplies a less grainy, more coherent gain. YMMV.

I've recently found how to narrow this perceived "transparency gap" in the C+: turning the guitar volume way down to like three or four. So now I play my C+ in Lead mode set-up for a great Lead tone with the Treble pot pushed and the guitar volume low. (Talk about your round jazz tones (neck pup) and sweet, clear country tones!) I find the tone is a little thinner and more articulate with the Treble pot pushed...better for Rhythm to my ears. For Lead, I just turn up the guitar and pull the Treble shift adding some thickness for single notes. Luckily for me, my IIA chassis makes it easy to install a jack to footswitch the Treble pull pot for live performances. I dare not try it as I solder very poorly, but someday I will have this done.

 

[LPClassic]

dodger916, that is exactly the advice I was looking for, thank you very much. I played the amp and sounded so good as a IIC... that I don't want to change it but on the other hand I am in the stress thinking that it may become even better as a "+", but so far, I think I will keep it as that, the price was so good for the condition of the amp... I really was expecting more wear, but only problem was the tape that I removed most of it already, will be hard to remove 100%. Also it come with a case that protected very well but the foam is desintegrating so I may need to remove it and found a way to put something else.

Anyway, I think I will keep it a s IIC for now, and try to get in the future another C+.

I will post the pictures or a link, thanks!!

 

[LPClassic]

Pictures of dream amp... I remember as a kid looking at the mesa catalogue dreaming to have one of this... of course at that time was not sure which but now I know...hehe

 

[LPClassic]

From this image and the IIC faceplate I assume this was a very early conversion, maybe one of the first ones....maybe...

 

[LPClassic]

 

[Boogiebabies]

Definitely a IIC, but Mike B. can do the + upgrade to the RP-10.

 

[LPClassic]

Thanks again for all the info and recomendation Boogiebabies.

I want to wait until I can get the opportunity to play a C+ to decide if I really want to have the upgrade, this amp sounds very good but I need to give it a chance before modifying it more.

Thanks!!