That is correct... he said the amount of gain was more than a IIC but a little less than a C+. For me ...the more I played it , I realized there was too much gain . I put some NOS 12AT7 tubes in it and I built a thiele 1x12 with an EVM12 and now its even better (which I didnt think would be possible) I strongly recommend this Mod to anyone with a Mark IIB you will not be disappointed. You better do it before Mike B. retires
My Mark IIB after Mike B. Did effects loop mod
- Thread starter dino2sf
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Great track and sound. Minimal effects and the tone's great! Tells you a lot about the amp/guitar/player.gonzo said:
I spoke with Mike this afternoon about my '80 Mark IIB. Wanted a basic of what it would run me and how it would change the amp.
First thing he asked me was the serial number. Then the year. Apparently, they started making changes to them before they went into the IIC name mode. I don't know if that's what's up with yours. Doesn't really matter, though. The sound's really fine as is.
My main question, though, wasn't about the lead channel. I really like mine. I especially like it with the treble pot pulled out (I'd love to have that and not the gain on my stereo foot pedal). From what I hear, though, the lead channel's really nice with the mod.
No...my main reason that I'm thinking of a change is that I'm having a problem with the reverb diminishing in the lead channel as you turn the gain down. Up 'till now I've had Vol 1 at 8-10 and the lead gain at about 7-10 (depending on where Master 1 is at). All's well in that setting in terms of the reverb balance. Lately, though, I'm really getting into a more subtle OD lead sound and then kicking in the heavier stuff with a pedal. Blues.That lighter OD sound is G-R-E-A-T (blows me away) on the Boogie (both with and without the 5 band eq), but it cuts out some of the reverb you've got in clean when the gain's set below 6. Mike said the mod changes this because the connection with the reverb is changed to after the preamp (think that was it). I'd like that. He also said that it cuts some of the treble too, which I can relate to. I've always compensated for that spike with the eq. Be nice to not have to do that.
Right now I'm not swimming in $$$. If things go smoothly, this summer's looking good and I'm seriously thinking of making the change then. Then I'll start thinking, for the 1,000,001th time about getting a neo speaker to replace my EVM12L. I keep thinking then stop then start then stop...etc.
I do have a question, though, about the lead channel with the mod:
What style do you guys like to play?
I ask because I'm into lots of genres. I love metal and rock and country. Lately, though, I'm leaning a lot towards the blues and some country. My HSH Silhouette's in it's case. The clips I see on YouTube have really great metal and very hard rock sounds. I'm wondering whether you can still get that gritty blues tone and, most importantly, that lighter OD sound. Lot of transparency. I would definitely not want to lose that.
What style do you guys like to play?
I ask because I'm into lots of genres. I love metal and rock and country. Lately, though, I'm leaning a lot towards the blues and some country. My HSH Silhouette's in it's case. The clips I see on YouTube have really great metal and very hard rock sounds. I'm wondering whether you can still get that gritty blues tone and, most importantly, that lighter OD sound. Lot of transparency. I would definitely not want to lose that.
gitapik
thanks for checking the clip out...
that's the first i ever heard of that...
mine was bought in late summer 1981.... don't have the serial number at the moment, could post it if it really matters..
to be fair, in the beginning, i used a very simple pair of pedals in the fx loop.... an analog delay, and a chorus.
i never noticed tone suck using those, or any real loss of level, and with no reverb unit in mine, that kind of sets it apart from the typical mark2b setup....
and for many years now, i've used a Yamaha DG stomp in the fx loop, for time delay FX only, and it has both an input knob, AND an output knob.
i set the output for unity gain, so that if i unplug the fx cables while playing, the volume stays exactly the same.
personally, i think having the fx loop able to go seriel OR parallel, is the way to go....
but i think i'll pass on any mods to this particular amp, as far as the fx loop goes.
thanks for checking the clip out...
that's the first i ever heard of that...
mine was bought in late summer 1981.... don't have the serial number at the moment, could post it if it really matters..
to be fair, in the beginning, i used a very simple pair of pedals in the fx loop.... an analog delay, and a chorus.
i never noticed tone suck using those, or any real loss of level, and with no reverb unit in mine, that kind of sets it apart from the typical mark2b setup....
and for many years now, i've used a Yamaha DG stomp in the fx loop, for time delay FX only, and it has both an input knob, AND an output knob.
i set the output for unity gain, so that if i unplug the fx cables while playing, the volume stays exactly the same.
personally, i think having the fx loop able to go seriel OR parallel, is the way to go....
but i think i'll pass on any mods to this particular amp, as far as the fx loop goes.
I've heard that the main problem with the effects loop comes when you're running both an OD or Distortion and clean/delay pedal in there. Some kind of spike in the volume when you hit the distortion. I haven't noticed it with mine, though...gonzo said:
It's an interesting decision, for me. I just heard from a guy who's had two IIBs. He had the mod done to one and said that the net result was just "much better", as an overall sound. There's much more to it than just the lead change. He did say, however, that the lead mode sounds a bit more focused with the mod. That's where I really need to give it some thought. I really like the tone I'm getting. Dry and transparent.
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