New to MB Board and new MB owner! Question about Mark IIB

[Oldhophead]

I just joined the group in order to learn more about my new (to me) Mark IIB combo. It was recently gifted to me by the family of my next door neighbor after he passed unexpectedly. He had it in a custom made Mojotone combo cabinet with a 15" Eminence PF 400 speaker, as he used it for pedal steel. I found the original hardwood cabinet (sans original 12" speaker) in his garage. I had an amp tech put it all back together, installing a new 12" Black Shadow/Celestion from Mesa Boogie. The amp sounds great, and I am still learning all it's nuances. It does not have reverb, but does have the 5 band graphic equalizer. It does not have switchable power modes (which I think some came with?). From what my amp tech told me, this is a 50 watt amp. I do have a couple of questions for the group: The amp is pretty noisy when the gain (or volume 1 and master 1) gets turned up past 2 , even with humbuckers. Not something I am used to with my Fender BJr or DRRI. Also, when using the footswitch to switch from clean to lead channels, there is a loud pop. Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy these two things? Thanks! I look forward to any input and to learning more about Mesa Boogie amps!

 

[Eevil]

I just joined the group in order to learn more about my new (to me) Mark IIB combo. It was recently gifted to me by the family of my next door neighbor after he passed unexpectedly. He had it in a custom made Mojotone combo cabinet with a 15" Eminence PF 400 speaker, as he used it for pedal steel. I found the original hardwood cabinet (sans original 12" speaker) in his garage. I had an amp tech put it all back together, installing a new 12" Black Shadow/Celestion from Mesa Boogie. The amp sounds great, and I am still learning all it's nuances. It does not have reverb, but does have the 5 band graphic equalizer. It does not have switchable power modes (which I think some came with?). From what my amp tech told me, this is a 50 watt amp. I do have a couple of questions for the group: The amp is pretty noisy when the gain (or volume 1 and master 1) gets turned up past 2 , even with humbuckers. Not something I am used to with my Fender BJr or DRRI. Also, when using the footswitch to switch from clean to lead channels, there is a loud pop. Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy these two things? Thanks! I look forward to any input and to learning more about Mesa Boogie amps!

Welcome to the board

Tubes are first to suspect in noise issues but you could try lowering the master to 0 then bring up the volume 1 up to 7-9, lead drive 7 and lead vol 5 and change between rhythm and lead

Shouldn’t be so hissy

If my memory serves me well from Mark III

 

[Oldhophead]

Welcome to the board

Tubes are first to suspect in noise issues but you could try lowering the master to 0 then bring up the volume 1 up to 7-9, lead drive 7 and lead vol 5 and change between rhythm and lead

Shouldn’t be so hissy

If my memory serves me well from Mark III

Thanks for the reply. Are we talking all the tubes, or mainly preamp (or power) tubes? The tech told me they all tested as good, but I know absolutely nada about tubes in general.

I took your advice on the volume settings...HUGE DIFFERENCE! Bedroom levels with very little hiss now. I'll see how it works at my band's next rehearsal...will be first time using it in that setting. I do have a Boss NS-2 on my board, so maybe that will help. So far I've only played the amp plugged straight in.

Thanks again!

 

[Eevil]

Thanks for the reply. Are we talking all the tubes, or mainly preamp (or power) tubes? The tech told me they all tested as good, but I know absolutely nada about tubes in general.

I took your advice on the volume settings...HUGE DIFFERENCE! Bedroom levels with very little hiss now. I'll see how it works at my band's next rehearsal...will be first time using it in that setting. I do have a Boss NS-2 on my board, so maybe that will help. So far I've only played the amp plugged straight in.

Thanks again!

Well. If the tubes are checked okay then it’s probably about the settings.. if the master is loud (2 and onwards) and volume 1 is barely on there’ll be hiss (too many gain stages)

Master is really touchy at lest in mark iii -> 1 is too loud in home, 2 is too much for gigs and after 2,5 there will be only power amp compression just a nature of the beast.

Never had any noise probs with Mark series amps where i would’ve needed a noise gate

 

[DC3 Gridlock]

We need pictures.

Two power tubes or four? If no power reduction switch, its most likely two 6L6’s at 60 watts.

I actually prefer these over the Simul-Class models.

 

[Jamme1961]

I have a IIB love it- pop noise when changing channels is normal

 

[Oldhophead]

Thanks for the replies, most helpful! One more question...I have noticed that when adjusting the lead drive knob, at 0 I get full volume, and as I turn it up to @2-3, there is a noticable drop in volume. Past 3 (and higher) it goes back up to full volume. I usually keep it at around 7 or 8, but just wondering why the drop in volume between 2 and 3. Any ideas?

 

[Jamme1961]

have to check mine and get back - maybe just a dirty or bad pot - maybe a bad ground on the pot? ill get back once I check mine

 

[Oldhophead]

Thanks!

 

[Jamme1961]

I just checked mine and when lead drive is at 0 there’s not full volume but still some volume of the guitar volume coming through- I can still get a lot of volume with the lead drive at zero and turning up the lead master. Also when I slowly turn up the lead drive pot from 0 to 2 on the dial the volume does go down a little bit but comes on strong at 3- the pots all work together so signal is going through all of them- hope this helps

 

[Oldhophead]

Thanks for getting back to me and checking out yours....Yes, mine is doing exactly the same thing, so I would surmise that everything is working correctly. Thanks again!!!

 

[Wings]

I just joined the group in order to learn more about my new (to me) Mark IIB combo. It was recently gifted to me by the family of my next door neighbor after he passed unexpectedly. He had it in a custom made Mojotone combo cabinet with a 15" Eminence PF 400 speaker, as he used it for pedal steel. I found the original hardwood cabinet (sans original 12" speaker) in his garage. I had an amp tech put it all back together, installing a new 12" Black Shadow/Celestion from Mesa Boogie. The amp sounds great, and I am still learning all it's nuances. It does not have reverb, but does have the 5 band graphic equalizer. It does not have switchable power modes (which I think some came with?). From what my amp tech told me, this is a 50 watt amp. I do have a couple of questions for the group: The amp is pretty noisy when the gain (or volume 1 and master 1) gets turned up past 2 , even with humbuckers. Not something I am used to with my Fender BJr or DRRI. Also, when using the footswitch to switch from clean to lead channels, there is a loud pop. Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy these two things? Thanks! I look forward to any input and to learning more about Mesa Boogie amps!