REISSUE Rumor: Mark IIC+ and 2ch Recto

[Appleridge]

I messaged my sweetwater rep and put in a preorder as well. No money down, just a place in line. I asked him if he felt like there would be challenges getting one and he stated “no, we have quite a few on order, you won’t have any issues”. I’m sure mesa will be on backorder for months, but sounds like no limited run?? I need to get this to see what’s what…I don’t have a C+ to compare it to, but I have a loop modded IIb that sounds amazing. Looking forward to a/b’ing!

 

[woodbutcher65]

Why are you talking about germanium? Germanium diodes and transistors have NOTHING to do with the Mark II's tone. Even if the EQ may (or may not) use germanium devices, the EQ can be re-engineered to use Silicon devices with no negative effects.

 

[GJgo]

Why can't they use Germanium when everyone else can? China placed a ban on export of Gallium and Germanium based products, does not mean it is a ban worldwide. Those two elements are primary for silicon chips. It is just BS. Other countries can produce products with those elements. China has placed a ban on export of all rare earth metals. Has nothing to do with EPA but more so with military use. Those elements are not included in the ROHS directive. If things go sour as they are looking to do so, they will be classified as conflict minerals just like copper, silver and gold.

The EU banned Germanium and since Mesa makes the same amps for their market they stopped using it.

 

[GJgo]

Why are you talking about germanium? Germanium diodes and transistors have NOTHING to do with the Mark II's tone. Even if the EQ may (or may not) use germanium devices, the EQ can be re-engineered to use Silicon devices with no negative effects.

It's information from a conversation with someone I trust that indicated the fundamental properties of the germanium based components used couldn't be recreated with their repalcements, and this was one key reason why the reissues can't match the OGs.

I really hope the reissue is true, but so far the V, JP & VII have not been so...

 

[Darkstar2]

I messaged my sweetwater rep and put in a preorder as well. No money down, just a place in line. I asked him if he felt like there would be challenges getting one and he stated “no, we have quite a few on order, you won’t have any issues”. I’m sure mesa will be on backorder for months, but sounds like no limited run?? I need to get this to see what’s what…I don’t have a C+ to compare it to, but I have a loop modded IIb that sounds amazing. Looking forward to a/b’ing!

Please report back your opinions - I look forward to reading them!

 

[bandit2013]

It's information from a conversation with someone I trust that indicated the fundamental properties of the germanium based components used couldn't be recreated with their repalcements, and this was one key reason why the reissues can't match the OGs.

I really hope the reissue is true, but so far the V, JP & VII have not been so...

I doubt there will be any more Varactors made, that is a given. Germanium is a common element used in LEDs, transistors, Silicon chips (logic and CPUs like midi controllers and such). Gallium Arsenide probably should be banned but that is also a common element in all of the above. Not sure if the Varactors used with the light reactive CAD cell is possible as Cadmium is a banned mineral in the USA, heck, even Cadmium Oxide used on high power relays is also banned. I have to deal with finding alternates for that since most relays do not hold up for long without wearing out when loaded with inductive loads. More than likely what was used to block signals or turn on circuit paths will either be relays or JFETS.

Then there comes the power tubes. Is Mesa going to use up its stash of STR415 Sylvania tubes (they have them but do not list on any website as that is a private request that must be handled through email direct to Mesa and not through Gibson channels.) That is how I got a quad of them a year or so ago. Expensive but worth it.

As for the JP, it gets more closer to the truth with the STR415 power tubes. Mark VII does not need it. Sure they are different but not bad for what they are. No comment on the V as I do not want to stir the pot any further on how I feel about that.

As for tonal quality, perhaps things are different. Most of the components used in the IIC+ are probably obsolete to start with so they will have to substitute with different components. Capacitors, Diodes and such. I still remember seeing the large ball type diodes in the Mark III. That was one amp I should not have sold off. Oh well. Just got tired of having to dial the amp in every time I wanted to change to clean or some lighter crunch. Was not a user friendly amp. Still sounded great if you only want that one sound. I get it. the only way to get that sound is to have the real deal. On board but doubt I will participate with buying. More curious on the Recto for some reason or another. I am patient.

 

[bandit2013]

The EU banned Germanium and since Mesa makes the same amps for their market they stopped using it.

Do you have any sources to prove this? I highly doubt that EU placed restrictions on products containing Germanium. If they did, there would be bans on cell phones, computers, TVs or just about any electronic devices. If there were substitute on that rare earth mineral, they would be using it in doping process of silicon wafers used to make electronic components. It is more common to use silicon as the substrate and use other elements for the doping process. Germanium or Silicon-Germanium can be used too. Silicon is a more abundant resource than Germanium. Still, I doubt there is any ban on its use or import of such containing this element as it is not listed in the Rohs directive of banned elements or compounds. If this was true, my company would not be able to ship product to Australia as they also make use of the same rules and regulations as UK and EU. Since Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU. If they really did ban Germanium, that would place a ban on the use of solar panels as that is one of the primary elements used to convert light energy into electricity. Believe what you want to believe. I doubt that has anything to do with Mesa not shipping to the UK or EU as that has more to do with maintaining agency approvals of those countries that would import American goods. TBH, that is a pain in the butt, I had to go through that process just for one application and it was expensive. That is what that CE mark represents. However, to sell that product in the EU it must pass the rigors of IEC compliance (international electrotechnical commission) which is more strict than UL /ETC/ CSA, however they are now adopting the IEC standards. Sorry, I come here to forget about work. I would rather forget about it when I am home on vacation.

 

[Chronomariner]

It's information from a conversation with someone I trust that indicated the fundamental properties of the germanium based components used couldn't be recreated with their repalcements, and this was one key reason why the reissues can't match the OGs.

I really hope the reissue is true, but so far the V, JP & VII have not been so...

Here, this will hopefully end all theories about EU and Germanium:
Welcome to Eurostat
The home of high quality statistics and data on Europe
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/m...hportlet_INSTANCE_bHVzuvn1SZ8J?text=germanium

There is no ban, EU is heavily dependent on importing Germanium, EU have been looking at various methods to gather this raw material in EU.

 

[woodbutcher65]

Germanium is heavily used in thermal optics. It's not banned, it's actually in high enough demand that prices on it have been steadily rising for years. Germanium is transparent in the infrared spectrum but opaque in the visible spectrum.

It's NO FACTOR in the tone of an original Mark IIC. + or otherwise.