Played a IIc+ today

[eudaimonia02912]

Empire Music in Providence, RI, has a IIc+ combo, GEQ, reverb, simulclass, for only $1600. I did the loop test and confirmed it's a IIc+.

I definitely prefer the real thing to the IIc+ mode on the V, but that's almost entirely due to the pull deep control. Otherwise they really do sound very much alike. I don't think the V on IIC+ has less gain, just less bass. In fact, extreme mode covers that territory (the IIC+ pull deep sound) really well.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

Okay, I have more time to write now:

The IIc+ is definitely a cool amp. The cleans are great, and it is plenty aggressive. But I don't seem much advantage in buying one over a Mark III for half the price. The IIc+ and III have a more raw tone, compared the smoother IV and V. So, I'd say if you like the raw sound, go for a III.

If I had to have one and only one Mark, I'd still stick with a V. I wouldn't mind making the IIc+ mode of the V sound a bit ballsier--like the real thing--but I still prefer the V to the IIc+.

P.S. This wasn't my first time playing a IIc+, but it was the first time since I bought the V.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

Some more thoughts:

The pull deep on the real IIC+ makes it very punchy. Even at low volumes, it shakes the ground. Extreme mode has that same power, but the Mark IV and Mark IIC+ modes do not. (A real Mark IV doesn't have it, either. It has a pull fat option, but that's not the same as the pull deep on the real IIC+ or Mark III.) The pull deep is nice for shaking the ground, but it did seem to take over the sound. At moderate volumes, the bass was nice and tight, but it overpowered the rest of the guitar sound. I would speculate that if you were to use pull deep on the IIC+ in a band, you'd drown out the bassist somewhat but also make it hard to hear the proper guitar frequencies.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I found the pull deep on my Mark III tended to be overbearing and leaned towards being muddy with humbuckers. If I remember correctly, the manual said it was meant to thicken single coils, which it did a really good job of.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I found the pull deep on my Mark III tended to be overbearing and leaned towards being muddy with humbuckers. If I remember correctly, the manual said it was meant to thicken single coils, which it did a really good job of.

Sounds very much like Mark I mode on the V to me from this description. Maybe the IIC+ tones you seek hide in the Mark I Mode (possibly with a boost)?

 

[scoden]

Interesting.I can't seem to get II c mode to satisfy me at bedroom volumes because it lacks thump....to my ears Extreme sounds like ii c on steroids. With a band iic sounds better but Extreme is so powerful yet articulate/dynamic its my new mode of choice (this month anyway)

 

[satch4u3]

Extreme has been my choice of Channel 3 voicing for the past 9 month since I have owned the amp. I have yet to find a use for IIC+ and Mark IV mode.

 

[braintheory]

I find the IIC+ and IV mode better for playing leads than the extreme mode, but prefer extreme for rhythm and riffing. I also agree that IIC+ sounds better than extreme when playing with a band and I also find the IIC+ mode to be more crunchy than extreme which I like. I actually though use crunch mode for 99% of my high gain rhythm, and use channel three for leads. I only use channel three for rhythm when I use mark i mode for leads, but if I could I would always use crunch mode for rhythm. I wish mark i mode and crunch mode were on seperate channels. I find when dialed in right crunch mode sounds much heavier, rawer, ruder, more open, aggressive, and edgy than any mode on channel three. Also crunch mode doesn't have that annoying honky and congested midrangy voicing that I also hear on every mode on channel three. I recommend everyon to spend more time with the crunch mode because it can sound very brutal.

 

[MesaGod666]

Mark IV mode is the best channel for the riffs I play...just putting that out there.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I too prefer Mark IV mode for rhythm. Extreme is powerful, but it also kind of lacks character. Not that a sledgehammer needs character... it's just not the kind of effect I'm going for.

 

[Don]

I wish I had read this earlier. I would've stopped by there today to check that out!