Potential Mark vii Owner
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I would not fear the GEQ. Adjust the sliders to what sounds good. Anything goes. Depending on volume, gain setting and such, you may need to dial back on the bass on the 3 band tone stack as that is pre gain on most modes. Using the GEQ to get it back works. If you want more hair band sound, drop the 750 all the way down and push the 6600Hz up. It is more or less what you like in the sound.
This is where I have mine set, but others may arrange them differently. I found this works with all channels including the cleans. Also, you can turn off the GEQ and that is good too.
This is where I have mine set, but others may arrange them differently. I found this works with all channels including the cleans. Also, you can turn off the GEQ and that is good too.
Get it. The Mark VII has become my favorite amp.
I have a 212 open back with Celestion v types in it. How different are they from the C90's?
Power rating is different, that is as far as I can go with that. No experience with the V types. C90, it is OK. I no longer use that speaker anymore. I had other preferences like EMV12L Classic or the Black Label. As for the current V30 mesa is using, they are great in the Recto cabs.
Did you get the combo or head? Either way, you can still use the 212 cab. The manual describes how to pair up speakers if they have a different impedance.
Did you get the combo or head? Either way, you can still use the 212 cab. The manual describes how to pair up speakers if they have a different impedance.
I got the head version. My 212 has the v types in it.
It will probably sound good. Not familiar with the V-Type, had to watch a Pete Thorn video on them. Attributes from V30, green back and whatnot. That may be interesting to see what your comments on them will be with the Mark VII.
For those interested in spending money. You can get the Reissue IIC+ for a little more or about the same price. TBH, the Mark VII is more of a winner and enjoyable experience than the Reissue. I just got mine yesterday and so far, not overly impressed with it. Not bad but not epic. The Mark VII just has more satisfaction already dialed in with each mode on all three channels. Love the Mark VII even more than the JP2C. I have not been playing much for this past month. The IIC+ was the first guitar amp I heard this month. That way my ears were not poisoned with hearing one sound. Not very thrilled with this IIC+. It will take some control dial setting and such to get a decent sound from it. I had better experience this morning than yesterday after I got it out of the box.
Mark VII was an instant hit right out of the box and has not changed in my opinion. Probably why I bought a second one. I like running in stereo.
Mark VII was an instant hit right out of the box and has not changed in my opinion. Probably why I bought a second one. I like running in stereo.
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Thanks for quick feedback. You are echoing what Randall had said in a reply to a question in one of his latest videos on YouTube . I canceled my preorder back in November thinking I just have too much overlap with all my other Mesas. Still love my VII. Do you plan on getting the DR RI?
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Great to hear - I just canceled my C+ order and have a VII coming Friday- been going back and forth over the two amps.
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Too bad you can’t really demo them in the wild before you decide. Even that doesn’t always work…I feel like these amps are very organic and change how they sound (or my perception changes). Some days I go down stairs and am blown away with what I’m hearing…other days it sounds off and I’m ready to sell one. I think this is why I struggle w letting any go (IIb+, III+, IIC+RI). When one sounds off I use the other one(s). Not practical, but here we are. I’m a heavy distortion player, mind you. The clean channels on all of these amps are great, but there are better amps out there that do this imo.
I’m a Mark series fan through and through but did not care for the VII. I spent 3 months with it, but ultimately decided to part ways. I think I prefer the simplicity and tone of the classics. I was a HUGE skeptic of the C+ RI, but am pleasantly surprised. I haven’t tried the JP2C for long enough to comment. I guess it boils down to what you anticipate you should hear versus what you are hearing…and that, for me at least, changes constantly lol.
I’m a Mark series fan through and through but did not care for the VII. I spent 3 months with it, but ultimately decided to part ways. I think I prefer the simplicity and tone of the classics. I was a HUGE skeptic of the C+ RI, but am pleasantly surprised. I haven’t tried the JP2C for long enough to comment. I guess it boils down to what you anticipate you should hear versus what you are hearing…and that, for me at least, changes constantly lol.
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So true -
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I feel that is the right description... "organic" there is something about my IIC+ that really is different then my other Mesas.
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Yea this is my only worry about the VII - so much in it possibly taking away the good stuff- less is usually more tone IMHO
I will say that the Mark VII is the pinnacle of achievement for the Mark series of amps. Even the Mark V90 falls into that category, more so with the power section than anything else. The 9 voices of the V are not all that great. Mark VII are much more aggressive. Also love the crunch and VII modes which are different from the norm. Similar in some ways to CH2 of the V but totally different as it repositions the lead drive circuit than just adds in an extra gain stage.
Sure, the BAD is similar but not the same. The preamp structure is more like the crunch and VII modes, but the tone stack and back end is completely different so that makes it sound more unique. The Badlander is one of my favorite amps which follows very close to the Royal Atlantic. Mark VII is hovering in the same plateau of excellence in many ways than just its sound quality. Dynamics are king with the three mentioned. Well, the Mark IIC+ Reissue is not exception. I am finding much of the same dynamic characteristics that I like. Also discovered that the IIC+ can be pushed into a nice drive at a bedroom level with plenty of preamp tube saturation. Nice, I can dial in a sonically driven sound with rich harmonics without blowing out my eardrums. That effect I found more difficult with the Mark VII to the point I am running both at 25W more than any other power mode. It gets really loud with two amps going at the same time. The Badlander also has that trick, juicy saturated preamp but at a bedroom level pushing the 100W power section. Still a strong sound but not overpowering. Just nudge the channel master and you will blow off the top of your head. Mark VII reminds me more of the Mark IV and the Mark III, it either just barely pushes any signal or it gets blasted to near max on a fraction of degree of rotation on the channel master.
I am warming up to the new addition of the IIC+ Reissue. At first, I did not like it, now I am hearing the tones and characteristics I was hoping for. Wondering what the peak output level is at 75W. The Mark VII will push 145W rms peak, same as the JP2C. Will have to pull out the attenuator and see where it stacks up.
I still stand on the Mark VII platform being a really good one for both studio or stage. All channels are very easy to dial and not very hard to find your dialed tone if you change it. The Mark VII brings in 7 unique modes to get familiar with, or bored with. Yeah, things will end up sounding the same after a while but yet it will take much longer to find it boring. JP2C is just one flavor of amp. Clean is just clean but you can trick it into a bit of dirt. CH2 and CH3 are the same thing, just representing a change on the Vol 1 dial. It is similar to the range of the IIC and IV modes of the Mark VII. Feel the VII on IV mode has more gain and saturation than the JP2C. Now for the Reissue. It is a bit of a dozer, some settings will plow through but seem to be more of a lump of sound. I have also found interesting changes between the numbers on the dials on the center line as the reference point. Makes it easier to gauge the control setting vs using the line or a dot on the control knob surface with a virtual clock reference. Sort of like the numbers on the knobs, brings me back to the III.
I guess the Mark IVB as well. We had just moved into this new home in NC back in 2010. Not much room but had an area in the small enclosed porch to use. Boxes of un-packed stuff filled the home and every other room. Went from a much larger home to a smaller one during the move but we managed. I am surprised the Carvin was not out. At this time, I had given up on playing and did not care if I sold all of the gear. I never expected to go back to the vintage Boogie design. If I remember correctly, the Mark III DRG sounded different compared to the new Reissue DRG IIC+. I think more so due to the power section as it is centered more for 6L6 tubes and not biased for a mix of EL34 and 6L6 tubes. Almost tempted to try but it is not necessary to do so. I did not hear much of a change on the Lark Guitars Demo at the end. Since that would void warranty, I will stick with the 6L6 but may mix up what pairs of 6L6 tubes I may end up using. Will keep it STR445 for now. May try the STR448 in the center for a bit more low end if needed.
Sure, the BAD is similar but not the same. The preamp structure is more like the crunch and VII modes, but the tone stack and back end is completely different so that makes it sound more unique. The Badlander is one of my favorite amps which follows very close to the Royal Atlantic. Mark VII is hovering in the same plateau of excellence in many ways than just its sound quality. Dynamics are king with the three mentioned. Well, the Mark IIC+ Reissue is not exception. I am finding much of the same dynamic characteristics that I like. Also discovered that the IIC+ can be pushed into a nice drive at a bedroom level with plenty of preamp tube saturation. Nice, I can dial in a sonically driven sound with rich harmonics without blowing out my eardrums. That effect I found more difficult with the Mark VII to the point I am running both at 25W more than any other power mode. It gets really loud with two amps going at the same time. The Badlander also has that trick, juicy saturated preamp but at a bedroom level pushing the 100W power section. Still a strong sound but not overpowering. Just nudge the channel master and you will blow off the top of your head. Mark VII reminds me more of the Mark IV and the Mark III, it either just barely pushes any signal or it gets blasted to near max on a fraction of degree of rotation on the channel master.
I am warming up to the new addition of the IIC+ Reissue. At first, I did not like it, now I am hearing the tones and characteristics I was hoping for. Wondering what the peak output level is at 75W. The Mark VII will push 145W rms peak, same as the JP2C. Will have to pull out the attenuator and see where it stacks up.
I still stand on the Mark VII platform being a really good one for both studio or stage. All channels are very easy to dial and not very hard to find your dialed tone if you change it. The Mark VII brings in 7 unique modes to get familiar with, or bored with. Yeah, things will end up sounding the same after a while but yet it will take much longer to find it boring. JP2C is just one flavor of amp. Clean is just clean but you can trick it into a bit of dirt. CH2 and CH3 are the same thing, just representing a change on the Vol 1 dial. It is similar to the range of the IIC and IV modes of the Mark VII. Feel the VII on IV mode has more gain and saturation than the JP2C. Now for the Reissue. It is a bit of a dozer, some settings will plow through but seem to be more of a lump of sound. I have also found interesting changes between the numbers on the dials on the center line as the reference point. Makes it easier to gauge the control setting vs using the line or a dot on the control knob surface with a virtual clock reference. Sort of like the numbers on the knobs, brings me back to the III.
I guess the Mark IVB as well. We had just moved into this new home in NC back in 2010. Not much room but had an area in the small enclosed porch to use. Boxes of un-packed stuff filled the home and every other room. Went from a much larger home to a smaller one during the move but we managed. I am surprised the Carvin was not out. At this time, I had given up on playing and did not care if I sold all of the gear. I never expected to go back to the vintage Boogie design. If I remember correctly, the Mark III DRG sounded different compared to the new Reissue DRG IIC+. I think more so due to the power section as it is centered more for 6L6 tubes and not biased for a mix of EL34 and 6L6 tubes. Almost tempted to try but it is not necessary to do so. I did not hear much of a change on the Lark Guitars Demo at the end. Since that would void warranty, I will stick with the 6L6 but may mix up what pairs of 6L6 tubes I may end up using. Will keep it STR445 for now. May try the STR448 in the center for a bit more low end if needed.
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I feel like the mark VII is the best version of a multi sound amp by far. I actually liked all of the sounds for the most part…. There was just something in particular about the distortion that I couldn’t quite warm up to. I loved other things about the amp though, just couldn’t get comfy w the distortion. I can only describe it as feeling “boxy” if that makes sense. I tried diff cabs as well (1x12 widebody, 2x12 recto, 4x12 metal grill).
To be fair, I didn’t have a chance to put the VII in the mix w the band. It could have shone in that situation, but I’ll never know.
The II+RI on the other hand…my 4x12 cab with the band was epic. It sold the deal w me and I haven’t looked back. Note: I am running 415’s in it, but I didn’t detect any appreciable diff from the stock tubes.
Just get both lol. Problem solved!
To be fair, I didn’t have a chance to put the VII in the mix w the band. It could have shone in that situation, but I’ll never know.
The II+RI on the other hand…my 4x12 cab with the band was epic. It sold the deal w me and I haven’t looked back. Note: I am running 415’s in it, but I didn’t detect any appreciable diff from the stock tubes.
Just get both lol. Problem solved!
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I find out Friday- about the VII -
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