Best overall reviews of this amp. Well done! And HUGE kudos for actually showing what the 2B mode can do. Literally every other reviewer either goes right to the 2C or IV for "all the gainzzzz" or plays a couple token low-mid gain licks with the gain dial at 11. I really like your showcase of the 2B: a bit less overall gain, but more open and great attack. I know I would really dig it! Also, now knowing that the 2C+ reissue uses the same transformers, same build/components....essentially just stripped down to the C+ mode with all the push/pulls....the VII seems like the better buy....unless you REALLY need all the push/pull functions.
The tranny on this amp is absolutely murder inc. Considerably better than the V. The play feel and bite it has behaves close to like having a boost on the V without a harsh frequencies it had.
I admit I was kind of only looking at channel 3 for the IIC+ and IV mode. There’s tones you got from IIB are very intriguing though. Glad you posted this, it def seems that I need to look at this mode!
Mark IIb mode is my favorite mode on the amp so far, with the gain maxed and a boost like the Grid Slammer in front it has a great early Metallica IIC+ tone.
Nah I had a local guy offer to buy it and I was wanting to try new amps so I sold that one. Great amp though. My favorite of the china built boutique amps. Bruce did a great job with it. The tweakers are also excellent amps.
I watched your other video,and liked the IIB mode a lot..Now I like it even more,it’s less saturation,but it’s got more balls..My only point of reference is Brad Gillis tone on Ozzy’s Speak of the Devil,he used a couple of IIB’s on that record..it’s got that slight cocked wah midrange that the Mark’s have,but less fuzzy in the high end than the IIC..Don’t get me wrong,I love the IIC sound,but the IIB mode makes me really want one of these amps….I have a question though,what’s your opinion of the Simulclass power section?..I was wondering if it really adds that much to the sound,or is vastly different from a “regular”power section?….I know Mesa says the Class A and AB running simultaneously adds a 3D character to the sound,is that reality,or marketing buzzwords?
I love simulclass mode. It softens the attack juuuuust enough to take the initial bite off the attack if you don’t want that but doesn’t really cut hardly any volume. I don’t really think it changes the tone much. It may sweeten the top end a tad but it’s more of a change in feel than anything else. But yeah. IIB mode hits with the most authority of any mode in the amp and the low end punches hard without being boomy like the IV mode.
@ that makes sense..the JP2C was Petrucci’s favorite 2CP and it was a non -simul model..I saw where he said he didn’t like the Simul ones for the reasons you stated..Not as immediate..
The baby V is amazing. I loved the 35w I had for review and it sounded great on stage. I liked it a lot better than my V 90w. If you're not into metal, I think that the baby V is a great option. It still has a lot of gain but crunch mode is fantastic and xtreme mode, despite the name, has less gain than IIC and IV mode and is the most open and articulate of the 3 high gain modes (similar to how IIB mode is on this amp). the VII though is next level. Much harder hitting, a lot more clean headroom, high gain sounds punch harder, built in load box so you can run DI without a cabinet, built in IR loader, etc. I don't think it's worth 2x the price but I think it's the best Mark amp that mesa has ever built.
If you don't play metal, bro this is still end end goal amp. The clean alone is gorgeous and the included reverb really sweetens it up. It has better clean than even my Fender favorites such as the Twin Reverb and Princeton. On par with a Super Reverb and a Vox AC30. You can also use the high gain channels with a lot less gain and get great singing tones. I currently have my channel 2 set to replicate a Dumble like sound. The amp can indeed do it all. That's with no pedals attached.
@FastRedPonyCar it honestly is. I played a JP2C which was ok and honestly a great machine but.....the Mark VII plays just as good and offers me much better mid gain options. I also do NOT need a second GEQ. I literally own a boss one....plug it in the FX and i have the same option. Poof and done. Didn't even mention the DI functionality. Never played crushing gain at 12am before I had this amp!
Best overall reviews of this amp. Well done! And HUGE kudos for actually showing what the 2B mode can do. Literally every other reviewer either goes right to the 2C or IV for "all the gainzzzz" or plays a couple token low-mid gain licks with the gain dial at 11.
I really like your showcase of the 2B: a bit less overall gain, but more open and great attack. I know I would really dig it!
Also, now knowing that the 2C+ reissue uses the same transformers, same build/components....essentially just stripped down to the C+ mode with all the push/pulls....the VII seems like the better buy....unless you REALLY need all the push/pull functions.
The tranny on this amp is absolutely murder inc. Considerably better than the V. The play feel and bite it has behaves close to like having a boost on the V without a harsh frequencies it had.
I admit I was kind of only looking at channel 3 for the IIC+ and IV mode. There’s tones you got from IIB are very intriguing though. Glad you posted this, it def seems that I need to look at this mode!
Very nice British tone out of the IIB mode.
Mark IIb mode is my favorite mode on the amp so far, with the gain maxed and a boost like the Grid Slammer in front it has a great early Metallica IIC+ tone.
Great Channel. Did You still keep that old Egnater around?
Nah I had a local guy offer to buy it and I was wanting to try new amps so I sold that one. Great amp though. My favorite of the china built boutique amps. Bruce did a great job with it. The tweakers are also excellent amps.
I watched your other video,and liked the IIB mode a lot..Now I like it even more,it’s less saturation,but it’s got more balls..My only point of reference is Brad Gillis tone on Ozzy’s Speak of the Devil,he used a couple of IIB’s on that record..it’s got that slight cocked wah midrange that the Mark’s have,but less fuzzy in the high end than the IIC..Don’t get me wrong,I love the IIC sound,but the IIB mode makes me really want one of these amps….I have a question though,what’s your opinion of the Simulclass power section?..I was wondering if it really adds that much to the sound,or is vastly different from a “regular”power section?….I know Mesa says the Class A and AB running simultaneously adds a 3D character to the sound,is that reality,or marketing buzzwords?
I love simulclass mode. It softens the attack juuuuust enough to take the initial bite off the attack if you don’t want that but doesn’t really cut hardly any volume.
I don’t really think it changes the tone much. It may sweeten the top end a tad but it’s more of a change in feel than anything else.
But yeah. IIB mode hits with the most authority of any mode in the amp and the low end punches hard without being boomy like the IV mode.
@ that makes sense..the JP2C was Petrucci’s favorite 2CP and it was a non -simul model..I saw where he said he didn’t like the Simul ones for the reasons you stated..Not as immediate..
I have an OG Mark IIB with the loop mod done by Mike B. It’s better than my IIC+.
Sounds killer. I have a MKV:25. Should I buy a MKVII? Edit: Note, I don't play Metal.
OK, watched to the end. In that comparison, the IIB is better, IMO.
The baby V is amazing. I loved the 35w I had for review and it sounded great on stage. I liked it a lot better than my V 90w. If you're not into metal, I think that the baby V is a great option. It still has a lot of gain but crunch mode is fantastic and xtreme mode, despite the name, has less gain than IIC and IV mode and is the most open and articulate of the 3 high gain modes (similar to how IIB mode is on this amp).
the VII though is next level. Much harder hitting, a lot more clean headroom, high gain sounds punch harder, built in load box so you can run DI without a cabinet, built in IR loader, etc. I don't think it's worth 2x the price but I think it's the best Mark amp that mesa has ever built.
@@FastRedPonyCar Thanks a lot for the detailed reply, and thanks for posting this video.
If you don't play metal, bro this is still end end goal amp. The clean alone is gorgeous and the included reverb really sweetens it up. It has better clean than even my Fender favorites such as the Twin Reverb and Princeton. On par with a Super Reverb and a Vox AC30. You can also use the high gain channels with a lot less gain and get great singing tones. I currently have my channel 2 set to replicate a Dumble like sound. The amp can indeed do it all. That's with no pedals attached.
@FastRedPonyCar it honestly is. I played a JP2C which was ok and honestly a great machine but.....the Mark VII plays just as good and offers me much better mid gain options. I also do NOT need a second GEQ. I literally own a boss one....plug it in the FX and i have the same option. Poof and done.
Didn't even mention the DI functionality. Never played crushing gain at 12am before I had this amp!