My first boogie - Mark IV project

[sduck]

Hi - long time lurker, first time poster. I've always wanted a boogie, ever since high school when one of the local bands was Zobo Funn Band; and their lead guitarist, David Torn was a friend of mine and played through an original version boogie. Over the years my lust has upgraded with the various newer models, but the price point has always been out of reach when I've been amp shopping.

So many years ago I set up a search in ebay for a mark IV, at a price point I could afford, but they almost always end up way out of my comfort zone. A few days ago someone posted a project mark IV, and I actually won it - my first boogie!

As you can see, a true project - no cab, fan, reverb tank, footswitch. I recently built a ceriatone Overtone Special, so have some degree of amp chops worked up, and I do a lot of modular synth building, so electronic repair is second nature to me, so this may be something within my range. Issues as far as I can see currently are:

2 missing knobs, 1 with a missing pot shaft:

The missing pot shaft will be tricky - have to decide if I want to replace the whole thing, which involves removing the one above it also, and keeping a lot of wires straight - or if I want to fabricate a replacement pot shaft and glue it in - might try that first and if it doesn't work proceed with the former idea.

But that's the easy stuff -

Missing components -

3 power caps are missing. Anyone know the values of these? I have the schematics here somewhere, but if someone knows offhand that'd be nice. There are also some half disconnected parts, but nothing too serious. I don't know the story of this, but it looks like the old caps may have exploded, or possibly someone didn't know how to discharge them, as there's this somewhat alarming hole in the pcb -

Which I don't think is as bad as it looks in the picture - there's only a very small hole that actually goes all the way through, and none of the traces on this side are messed up, although I need to find out about the back.

Anyway, it's an interesting project, and even if I end up taking it to a tech to get it working, I'll get it going somehow.

 

[Mongo1]

I was watching this one on eBay. It looks like some prior to you has attempted to work on it (removing caps, etc). Not knowing what the original issues were, you are left to troubleshoot the amp initially based on the current components and whatever damage is visible. If that were mine, I would not touch a single thing on the amp. I would get it on the bench of a tech (or mesa) that knows the MKIV intimately. Anything you change only complicates their chances of finding the source of the original failure. This definitely not an amp repair for a novice.

Even if you spend several hundred in parts and labor, you end up with a working MKIV for a fair price.

 

[sduck]

I'm starting to think that may be the best course of action. There are lot more missing parts than I was thinking originally.

 

[zodiac272]

Hey Congratulations on your new amp! where are you from?

+1 on sending it to mesa. They will make it perfect, hopefully for only $200 to $300. Did it come with a head or combo shell? or just the chassis?

scott

 

[sduck]

Thanks! I'm in Nashville, Tennessee.

And actually my current plan is to back off from this one - put it back on ebay, along with another amp (that works) - and use the proceeds to buy a working one. I'm starting to think that I may have bit off more than I can handle with this one. If I knew I could get it running for 200-300$, that might be ok, but I have a sinking feeling that it's going to entail pulling the pcb to make sure that hole isn't a problem, and that seems like it would be a lot of money to do.

And that top picture is all I got. No cab.

 

[RussB]

...I may have bit off more than I can handle with this one..

That's an understatement :shock:

 

[GD_NC]

Not to be a bring down but you could easily spend $300-$400 on this if it were a working mark IV.

Used Combo Cab w/ speaker ~150 (Headshells run about 275, rackmount kits can be found for 40-60 bucks)
Reverb - 40
Set of Tubes 150
2 replacement pots 30
Caps 40-50
Footswitch Used ~150
you need well over $400 of parts before you even start the repairs.

A Mark IV is a crazy complex amp. It needs professional help if it's worth saving at all.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Agreed: send it to Mesa and let Mike to the work. It will save you a load of headache. This Mesa has been pretty seriously neglected, but a Mike can get her running at a fair price all things considered. I'd hand select the tubes myself though...

As for the cabinet, thats up to you. Headshells/combo shells and rackmounts can range from cheap to expensive depending on what you want.

All said and done, the project is going to be reasonably cheaper than a full cost Mark IV.

 

[zodiac272]

you are probably gonna take a hit if you sell it again. I thought the chassis might sell for $450 or so, (not 750) considering it could need $300 in service plus $200 for a head shell

if you sell it on ebay, the buyers will know you had it looked at and figured it cost too much to fix, so you are flipping it. Maybe you can send some detailed pictures to mesa, and they may give you an idea if it's worth fixing.
that being said, you are probably going to spend at least another 800 to 1000 to get it going like new (after tubes, shell, foots witch, servicing at mesa). My suggestion, Do some better research to find out how much things will cost before you do anything further.




scott

 

[sduck]

Thanks for the advice guys. Yes, I bit off more than I can chew, and will most likely take the financial hit to ram home that lesson.

I will be putting it back on ebay, probably later tonight, with better pictures than I got to see and more details provided to potential buyers. Maybe it'll scare away some of the people, but at least I won't be leading anyone on, hopefully.

 

[GD_NC]

Thanks for the advice guys. Yes, I bit off more than I can chew, and will most likely take the financial hit to ram home that lesson.

I will be putting it back on ebay, probably later tonight, with better pictures than I got to see and more details provided to potential buyers. Maybe it'll scare away some of the people, but at least I won't be leading anyone on, hopefully.

Sorry about that. I hope you can find a Mesa that works out for you. There are a many great Mesa amps that can be found for half what a Mark IV cost and a lot less risk.

Before you give up and sell it you might just check with Mesa, send them details pics and get their input. They are super helpful and if anyone can resurect it they certainly could. At least you would know before you take the hit.

Good Luck!

 

[sduck]

Thanks everyone for your input. It's been very helpful. I've decided to just cut this one off so I don't get too frustrated. See my first paragraph in the original post - I still really want one of these! This just isn't the way for me right now. It's relisted on ebay (hope I'm not violating any forum rules by mentioning that).