Mark III Blue Stripe

[benbenben]

I'm very close to getting one of these.

I'm not too clued in one how these are but I've looked around a bit on TGP and a lot of posts seem to be in favour. I wanted to check from the specialist forum first.

My setup is a K-line strat and a Fender Esquire. I'm using a M13 as my main source of effects and I've been using a little blues junior for nearly 2 years now.

It's going for around 1600 AUD, so I'm not sure how that is when compared to the US. I THINK from what I've read on TGP that it's a blue stripe, non-simul class, graphic eq and reverb Mark III. What are your opinions on something like this. I'm quite keen on getting this and it would be my IT amp for quite a while.

What more can you tell me about this amp, good? no good? Worth it?

 

[Boogie Woogie Man]

I have the same amp but is a simulclass. I previously had one identical to what you are looking at and although I liked it a lot, I prefer the simulclass version. More power, more tonal variation but also a lot more tubes, weight etc.
Does it have the EV speaker or the Celestion ?
I don't know how the value equates to the US dollar or the GBP but if it is reasonable and that is the amp you are looking for, go for it. They are incredible amps whether or not it is simulclass.

 

[robredo_mattila]

Hey man, I know a guy here in New Zealand trying to sell his blue stripe simul class with EQ for 1800 or so. His doesn't have the export transformer which you're one does though.

I got my purple stripe head for 1300 NZD which was a killer deal but you can get most Boogie Mark series amps for around 1500 to 2k here in NZ (unless it's a IIC+ of course which seem to go for 2500-3000). It seems like a good deal to me, try it with your guitar if the seller is local. They're amazing amps that are extremely versatile. You've just got to be patient with them and spend some time tweaking, different cabinets and speaker combinations change the amp immensly too. Good luck !

 

[benbenben]

The seller has said that he's got el34's in the amp.

I mentioned this on TGP and someone said that raises red flags that the amp should not be running el34s, just 6l6s.

Can someone verify this?

 

[MrMarkIII]

Yep, a 60 watt should be running 6L6s. Only Simul-Class amps can run EL-34s, and only in the outer sockets.
Maybe it's been modified. You should ask. Trust but verify.

 

[benbenben]

alright, the seller has been really great.
He was told by the guy he bought it from a few years back that it took both tubes.

But he's just left it with el34s the whole time. He brought the amp to a well known amp tech whose said it has been modded to take el34s and will require a mod to get it back to 6l6s. If this is the case, I'm still quite keen on the amp cause u don't see many of these amps where I am. Would modding the amp to take el34s and back to 6l6 specs compromise the integrity of the electronics. From what I've read and heard, this would be the amp for me with the 3 channels. Any idea how the r2 and lead channels of this amp would sound with el34s?

 

[daveg62]

My mark III is simul-class and I like the el34's in mine. In fact, I run it in class A all the time which only uses the el34 outer sockets. No idea how your amp will sound using el34's. I would suggest using it for awhile before considering modding it again.

 

[Boogie Woogie Man]

I have to say be wary...very wary. I have never heard of that mod on a Mk III and why would he do it anyway ? I personally would walk away from it.

 

[benbenben]

Hey guys,

What sorta "year frame" would this blue stripe be?

Ben

 

[igfraso]

1988, most probably.

 

[awgriffey]

I have a Mark III Purple Stripe 100/60 watt non simul class that had a mod to run 4 EL34's. I sent it in to Mesa, and they overhauled everything and switched it back to specs which is EL34's in the outer sockets, and 6L6's in the inner sockets. Mine sounded fine with the EL34 mod, but better after being switched back. It was no problem for Mesa to switch the amp back to original specs, so I wouldn't be to concerned.

 

[phyrexia]

Blue stripe can be anything from '88 to '98 depending on what model it was. 60s and 100/60s were always Blue; Simuls were Green after a certain point.

It's not hard to change the Mark III to use EL34s; all that's required is a Bias pot.