Still the King

[rarebitusa]

41 years and four Mesa amps later... this HR is still at the top of the tonal list.

 

[spawnofthesith2]

Killer! Is that a II of some iteration?

How do you feel running that pedal GEQ performs compared to a mark with one built in?

 

[rarebitusa]

Originally a IIC, ordered in 1983, Mike B did the "+" mod and caps years ago, totally different amp after the upgrade. Been fortunate to play a IIC+ DRG and yea it's got a different response for sure.

FWIW I always reference this @GJgo vid where he does the comparison.

IIC+ Loop GEQ vs native

If a player is not a metal focused purist, IMHO a non-GEQ IIC+ is an excellent value. However the placement in the signal chain (vs the loop) and the higher voltage swing in the integrated GEQ does make a difference.

 

[spawnofthesith2]

Originally a IIC, ordered in 1983, Mike B did the "+" mod and caps years ago, totally different amp after the upgrade. Been fortunate to play a IIC+ DRG and yea it's got a different response for sure.

FWIW I always reference this @GJgo vid where he does the comparison.

IIC+ Loop GEQ vs native

If a player is not a metal focused purist, IMHO a non-GEQ IIC+ is an excellent value. However the placement in the signal chain (vs the loop) and the higher voltage swing in the integrated GEQ does make a difference.

Badass!!

I'll check that video out. It might be a stretch to call myself a metal player but on my lead channels I do like pretty brutal and tight tones. I couldn't imagine not using the GEQ on my marks but a purple stripe III popped up locally for the cheapest I've seen a III in over a decade. just doesn't have a GEQ. It's tempting but I feel like I'll miss the GEQ. I've been meaning to do an A/B test with mark's with the mesa GEQ model on the stomp vs actual GEQs to get a but of a sense of how I might feel about it

 

[spawnofthesith2]

What do designations like HR or DRG mean specifically? Curious to learn more about some of this older boogie lore

 

[rarebitusa]

What do designations like HR or DRG mean specifically? Curious to learn more about some of this older boogie lore

This post will outline the model designations really well plus alot more

IIC+ Guide for Dummies

 

[rarebitusa]

I couldn't imagine not using the GEQ on my marks but a purple stripe III popped up locally for the cheapest I've seen a III in over a decade. just doesn't have a GEQ. It's tempting but I feel like I'll miss the GEQ.

Will admit I was GASn'g for a III with a GEQ & Simulclass for quite a while until the prices shot up and kinda ran out of room LOL

 

[CoG]

Badass!!

I'll check that video out. It might be a stretch to call myself a metal player but on my lead channels I do like pretty brutal and tight tones. I couldn't imagine not using the GEQ on my marks but a purple stripe III popped up locally for the cheapest I've seen a III in over a decade. just doesn't have a GEQ. It's tempting but I feel like I'll miss the GEQ. I've been meaning to do an A/B test with mark's with the mesa GEQ model on the stomp vs actual GEQs to get a but of a sense of how I might feel about it

If you're not a metal player purple might be the best for you. My experience with the purple is that R2 has a fatter 'tweedy' sound that is just a great loud rock tone, a blast to play, and sounds fantastic with pedals, really reminds me of Neil Young in his loudest Crazy Horse days. It might have just been the one I owned, but it was really quite different than the red, blue, and green R2s which were all pretty similar.