Mark iii - Help me turn my Blue stripe into a Red stripe PLEASE !!!

[Hoplite22]

Hi folks,

Like the title says, I am chasing as much info as I can get, to update a blue stripe into a red stripe.

The reds have a much more gainy R2 channel.
Also, the lead channel on the red stripes is less bright, smoother, and also slightly girthier.

I do already know that C30, which is empty on the blue, needs a 500pf cap.

Does anyone have details or a complete list for all the capacitors & resistors that need to be changed to do this mod ?

Any help would be appreciated

 

[axyirum]

The blue stripes were the most aggressive versions. If you want gain, keep it as is.

 

[CoG]

Hi folks,

Like the title says, I am chasing as much info as I can get, to update a blue stripe into a red stripe.

The reds have a much more gainy R2 channel.
Also, the lead channel on the red stripes is less bright, smoother, and also slightly girthier.

I do already know that C30, which is empty on the blue, needs a 500pf cap.

Does anyone have details or a complete list for all the capacitors & resistors that need to be changed to do this mod ?

Any help would be appreciated

how would you know anything about the red's gainy girthiness if you don't even own one?

i have owned all the stripes. there is no difference worth chasing. try practicing if you want to sound good.

 

[GJgo]

I've done what you're thinking, and it does not turn it into a red stripe. I suggest one of two ways forward as being effective.
1) Sell the blue & buy a red.
2) See if Mike B will III+ mod your blue. III+ is the best version of any III, and I've had them all- some many times over.

 

[Oscillator]

Just for educational purposes, this is my red stripe (or at least what I believe to be a red stripe). I am unaware if any modifications were performed by previous owners.

 

[little-b]

As a long time mkiii user I agree with these guys,
Either buy a red,or send back to Mike b himself.

 

[Theresa]

Too much emphasis is placed on variants of a series. I have found that even among a variant, amp to amp may sound different due to what tubes are installed, speaker used, combo vs, separate speaker cabs, and the myriad of other combinations that affect what the amp will sound like. I think there is a habit of over-generalizing and chasing the "rabbit down a hole". (Oh, I own an unmolested MK III red stripe). but I'm sure it doesn't sound like another red stripe. Due to component drift and other factors, I say if possible, find an amp that you're happy with and stick with it.

 

[CoG]

learning what the volume and tone knobs on your guitar do combined with the mark iii's Volume and Treble knob and treble shift pull will erase any stripe differences and open up all sorts of tone shaping without even touching the geq

mark iii stripes is the dumbest boogie rabbit hole you can fall down

 

[Fastforded]

Leave it alone and buy a red stripe. And I think the blue stripe is the most aggressive other than Mike b ️ mod

 

[rarebitusa]

speaker used, combo vs, separate speaker cabs, and the myriad of other combinations that affect what the amp will sound like.

yea... my take as well.

 

[little-b]

OP: if you can,own each- a red and a blue. I run mine together with an a/b box into thier own cabs and when you kick both in at the same time,it's a tone from God himself. It's awesome.

 

[Joey1970]

OP: if you can,own each- a red and a blue. I run mine together with an a/b box into thier own cabs and when you kick both in at the same time,it's a tone from God himself. It's awesome.

Did I sell you one or both of my Mark III Coli's? One was a Blue and one was a Red.

 

[danielpasco]

Turn the presence on the blue stripe way, waaaay down, like to 2.

Then bring the thunder. It's a beast.

 

[little-b]

Did I sell you one or both of my Mark III Coli's? One was a Blue and one was a Red.

Possibly. Was a long time ago.

 

[VisaL]

I've done what you're thinking, and it does not turn it into a red stripe. I suggest one of two ways forward as being effective.
1) Sell the blue & buy a red.
2) See if Mike B will III+ mod your blue. III+ is the best version of any III, and I've had them all- some many times over.

What did you exactly tried to realise it doesn't turn into red stripe?

Some very brave individual has put together all the schematics and layouts. Talk about dedication. Here:

https://boogieforum.com/threads/putting-together-a-mark-iii-guide.83605/

Just spot the differences on the schematics and use the layout to locate the part. I recommend to check what really is in your blue before changing it. My '86 black stripe was way closer to IIC+ than those schematics would imply.

From a quick glance at least R106, R153, C21, C50, R212, R238 and C516 have a different value. And the missing C30. However, I would not change C516 (4n7) or R238 (1K5). Values on the blue should already be the same than in 2C+ and those sound better to my ears than what's in the red.

 

[fretout]

I own a Red Stripe, two Blue Stripes, a III+ Coliseum, a III++ Coliseum, and a few No Stripes (early Black Stripes).

I don’t think altering your Blue Stripe to Red Stripe Specs is a worthwhile endeavor.

Why? The Blue Stripe was Mesa’s attempt to more closely match the IIC+, and had more “refinements” than the Red Stripe had. Those refinements resulted in a brighter, more aggressive amp. I say this because the R2 on the Blue Stripe is more aggressive than the Red Stripe. I can easily get a Marshall-type growl out of R2.

If you feel like R2 still lacks the amount of gain you’re after, try running a boost on R2 (my current favorite is a Hizumitas in front of a pushed R2). Or, you can always try running some gainier 12ax7s. I’ve found Tung-Sols are good for this. If you’re still having problems getting R2 to distort enough for you, you may need to run the Master Volume higher.

Final recommendation: add an R2 Volume. If you’re able to work with a soldering iron without lifting the traces, it’s easy enough to do yourself, or Mesa can do it for you. This completely opens up R2 (with the right pot value).

If you’re still dead-set on a Red Stripe, you’re better off selling your Blue and buying a Red. Or, you can see if Mesa will mod your Red to a III+ or III++, but it isn’t cheap.

Best of luck!