Mark IV heads at Starving Musician

[Rampage]

I was browsing a Google search for Mark IVs a little bit ago and I stumbled upon Starving Musician. On their used Guitar Heads - Poweramps page I saw two Mark IVs. One is at the Santa Clara location for $799.99 and one is in Berkeley for $999.99.

I called the Berkeley location a few weeks back when I was still looking for a Mark IV and they said that one of the pots got sheared off but they were taking it in for repair. I have since bought a Mark IV so I never called them back for inquiries on the amp.

Figured I would pass this on to anyone who is looking.

 

[disassembled]

I don't mind doing maintenance on an amp. I am going to call about the $799 MarkIV.

Greg

 

[MusicManJP6]

I called about it too. Made in '97 (info via Mesa)...

 

[MusicManJP6]

It is an A.

 

[Boltino]

If it's made in '97, I'm pretty sure it's a B.

 

[MusicManJP6]

You are right.

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=5987&highlight=mark

My bad. I was going by what a friend told me...

 

[Boltino]

No biggie! :mrgreen:

 

[lookslikemeband]

HEY! I know that place!!!

Last time I was in Santa Cruz, I went there. Not a "bad" place per se.

Typical, small-shop stuff. Lots of Crates, Peavey; etc.

I did jam out on a Classical guitar for a while, and they didn't give me sh!t about it.

 

[lookslikemeband]

I haven't seen a Mark IV go for less than $1k on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220116919194&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012

Look at that winning bidder. :wink:

Sometimes you have to be up at 2AM to get the fish.

 

[MusicManJP6]

The Mark IV is actually in Santa Clara, but since I live in TN, it really makes no difference...

 

[MusicManJP6]

Not a bad deal as long as it is in as good condition as they say it is in and the tubes are not too old...

Wonder how it would sound out of my XXX 212 cab?

 

[disassembled]

The amp is an A as it has the mono loop. You guys are confusing the website it says "SKU" not "serial" number.

Without the footswitch i wouldn't pay 800 for the amp as it really can't be tested prior to getting to me. It's a tough call for someone who can't repair amps.

Greg

 

[Rampage]

All I can say is I hope someone scores a nice amp for a nice price.

I bet you could barter them down a bit on the price too, they are a small shop after all. At least maybe get some extras tossed in.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I bit the bullet and bought the head. No tax and $50 shipping. If I don't like it for any reason, I'll throw it on ebay...

And the SKU is in fact the serial number. I called and asked them to give me the serial number (which came back the same as the SKU), then I called Mesa and had them give me the manufacture date which was '97, THEN, I looked up the A and B manufacture dates (thread on the forum), and the A was '89 - '93/94 and the B is '94 - Now...

 

[disassembled]

well if it has a mono loop then it's an A regardless of what numbers they told you but we'll see how it is when it arrives.

You should also notice the SKU is the same for both Mark IV's they have listed.

Good luck with the amp.


Greg

 

[Rampage]

Good luck on the amp man, hopefully you just got an absolute steal!

 

[MusicManJP6]

I'll let you know the verdict when it arrives... I'm hoping for some luck as well! It's a little nerve racking buying something that you cannot see/test first.

 

[Rampage]

Hopefully it gets to you quick man (and all in one piece!) so you can test it out. I'm sure you will not be able to put your guitar down after you get it, I know I sure as hell couldn't :twisted: .

 

[MusicManJP6]

No kidding! Especially when I NAIL Petrucci's tone when I plug up the Ernie Ball Petruccis! I also heard a bit of Ty Tabor's tone once when I was playing with my friend's Mark IV. Very cool indeed.

I noticed you have a Mark IV Rampage. Is yours an A or B?

disassembled: They have a 90 day warranty on used gear...

 

[disassembled]

No kidding! Especially when I NAIL Petrucci's tone when I plug up the Ernie Ball Petruccis! I also heard a bit of Ty Tabor's tone once when I was playing with my friend's Mark IV. Very cool indeed.

I noticed you have a Mark IV Rampage. Is yours an A or B?

disassembled: They have a 90 day warranty on used gear...

Yeah the 90 day warranty is much better than anything you'd get off of Ebay. The guy i spoke with said the amp was really clean so I hope it's a good deal. The only thing you need to worry about is getting a footswitch or even better buy a axxess switcher and a midi pedal to switch channels. That way you will be able to switch simul on/off and all of the other switchable functions for about the same cost as a new footswitch. You should put the groove tubes you just bought for the Txxx in the Mark IV and sell the Txxx with it's original tubes.

Don't get all hung up over the A or B status as it is more of revoicing of the R2 and a slight variation of the lead (less highs i believe) and not like a change from a 3 channel recto to an original recto from 92. Nonetheless you should absolutely enjoy the amp. If i didn't have my Mark IV combo i would have bought the head in a heart beat and if it was a long shell i would have bought it anyway just to convert my combo to a head.


Make sure you give the amp more than it's fair share of time before deciding if you are going to keep it or not.

Your next purchase should probably be a thiele cab with EV or better yet a mark series halfback 212 cab with 1 C90 and 1 EV on the bottom.

Don't forget to post pics.

Greg