It's incredible how Greenbacks instantly take you to that late 70s to 80s tone! After I hit play on the video, I actually instantly heard EVH's tone character first of all.
Those amps can do just about any tone. When I think of them, I usually think of creamy Santana leads. You can make them sound marshally, but never make them feel like a Marshall.
Greenbacks and Blackbacks (rare-ish) are the secret to that crunchy, Marshally 70’s and 80’s crunch! Even early AIC to me. For anyone wondering what good substitutes for pre-rola GB’s are: WGS Green Berets (25w) and Invader (50w GB), Reaper 30 and Reaper HP. Try them in an X pattern and thank me later. Also, I hear the newish EVH GB variant is good too, but no personal experience (yet).
I'm really amazed how much the Mark III sounds nearly identical to the IIC+ I could never really afford a IIC+ but do have a Mark III that I love and the thing sounds identical to all these clips I'm hearing online for the IIC+
Blake Mansfield It’s really amazing to me that 36 years later after the inception of this little monster, these amps are STILL gaining popularity. They will never go out of style. The C+ is Mesa Boogie’s “Plexi”, only on steroids.
Sounds like that’s what they’re doing. I’m sure it’ll sound great. Kind of impossible for it to sound exactly like the old ones, but I’m sure it’ll be killer
Sounds fantastic! I'm assuming this was 16 Ohms into the amp's 8 Ohm input, or does the IR make no difference there? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm new to IRs.
If I had to pick one, it would be V30 for all my amps. But I prefer to mix. I have a 2x12 with V30s and a 2x12 with Greenbacks and I run both at the same time. It's a perfect mix
@@blakemansfield2356 I gotta say, the "bounce" of the Greenbacks takes this amp to the next-level. I know they aren't as tight, but the swirly, juicy goodness is so yummy.
@@RonDodson9 Yep- they add some warmth and midrange complexity to the sound which is REALLY pleasing with this amp. Being in the room with this amp plugged into both the V30 cab and GB cab is a bit intoxicating
Hey Blake - awesome tone and playing! Thanks for posting and recording. I have the Suhr Reactive Load IR. Can you let me know what IR you used in this video? Was it the Ownhammer Marshall 1971 with pre-rola? Or a different one? DP from the Marshall Forum.
Can’t remember if I had 415’s in the amp when I recorded this. I did eventually put some in, but might have been after this. In which case this would have been JJ’s
I have 5 of mark series amps, Green stripe, Red stripe, Blue Stripe and a a IIC+.. if they were vastly different they wouldn't have just swiped each version with just a magic marker swipe or a black dot or a + sign. The big difference in the IIC+ and the Mark III was the third channel. Mesa got noticeably different with the Mesa badging vs the Boogie badges. The Rectifier series,The lone star, Road King,Nomad, etc came later and did sound different... The stiletto was probably the most different being EL34 based shooting toward the Marshall tone. Even my newer Mark 5 EL84 based amp sits in my studio with the older mark III'S and IIC+ it too sounds really close even all these years later with totally different power section/ tubes. The petrucci amp is a modern Mark amp and you can line up all the Mark series amps and NO one in the audience would ever know the difference and most guitar players blind folded couldn't pick them out one from the other especially with the transparent EVM 12L black shadow speaker or an MC-90 black shadow. The IIC+ landed production in the right time to become the flagship vintage boogie. Thats when 80's music was huge and that amp was produced at the right time for the players who made it famous. it didn't make them famous. I would argue a Mark III purple, red, blue or green stripe Mark III could have been used by the players who made the IIC+ famous and those albums and concerts wouldn't have sounded any different. They just weren't available at the time those bands recorded those albums. They stopped the IIC+ when the mark III came into production. They stopped the III when the Mark IV started and so on....they are all great amps and tonally are the same. Most of those bands stopped playing the IIC+ and went to the mark III when it came out because the sound was basically the same but the 3 had a third channel, everyone loved that.
These tones should be in a NASA time capsule.
🪐
So should Mike Hawk
@@edreed5571 dont forget Mike Hunt too!
It's incredible how Greenbacks instantly take you to that late 70s to 80s tone! After I hit play on the video, I actually instantly heard EVH's tone character first of all.
Agreed, these usually are total metal sounding amps. But with Greenbacks it sounds quite british, like a great overdriven Marshall or Orange.
Simply one of the greatest amps ever made!
very true, I wish I had one. I do have a couple Orange amps that sound as good as this though. A rocker 30 and an AD30
I’ve listened to a lot of demos of the MKII C+ and yours is the best sounding one. It’s the only I’ve heard with no digital clipping. Great job!
No one should dislike this video. Great sound!
hushhog1 Thanks hush
Wow man. That tone is nuts. The Mark series is so good.
Chris Day ain’t it?
Chris Day Do you have a mark amp?
@@blakemansfield2356 No, however after watching these videos I've been looking. Found a few deals on Mark V 25s. Might have to check em out!
Chris Day I was just going to say, the Mark V 25 is pretty killer. Have had a couple and liked em. Great intro to the mark sound
@@blakemansfield2356 I'll have to check it out. Thanks man!
Are you kidding me?!? What a killer sound! And all this time I thought these were just for proto-chugging.
Ron Dodson I thought the same thing Ron. Thanks!
Those amps can do just about any tone. When I think of them, I usually think of creamy Santana leads. You can make them sound marshally, but never make them feel like a Marshall.
I think a lot of ppl confuse the old ones with the newer, dual recto ones.
Amazing tone. Your delay and reverb is on point!
Thanks man!
Greenbacks and Blackbacks (rare-ish) are the secret to that crunchy, Marshally 70’s and 80’s crunch! Even early AIC to me.
For anyone wondering what good substitutes for pre-rola GB’s are: WGS Green Berets (25w) and Invader (50w GB), Reaper 30 and Reaper HP.
Try them in an X pattern and thank me later.
Also, I hear the newish EVH GB variant is good too, but no personal experience (yet).
Can't argue with that tone. I used to own a 2C+ combo but I like your tones through the Greenbacks better. They're just the best speakers.
Great tones, very versatile amp! Tasty Riffs. Thanks Blake.
Paul Laughton Glad you dig it Paul! Thanks man
So sick!! Nice tones and playing!
Luc Wilson Thanks Luc! It’s a beast
Unreal tone man, very nice.
Nice, I have one with a 212 v30 loaded cab and was thinking what would it sound like with green backs….now I know I need to change them!
Killer. Killer tone. Well done 🎸🎸🎼🎼
JMP2204 Rocker Hell yea thanks bro
Do you recall the setting for the Tool tone?
It’s what there in the video man - those are the exact settings
@@blakemansfield2356 thanks!
I'm really amazed how much the Mark III sounds nearly identical to the IIC+ I could never really afford a IIC+ but do have a Mark III that I love and the thing sounds identical to all these clips I'm hearing online for the IIC+
Killer tone- exactly what I expect from a C+!🤘🏻
leosun8469 Someone told me I’d love this amp...he was right
Blake Mansfield
It’s really amazing to me that 36 years later after the inception of this little monster, these amps are STILL gaining popularity.
They will never go out of style.
The C+ is Mesa Boogie’s “Plexi”, only on steroids.
Wow. This sounds awesome.
Matthias Thanks man!
Love this tone.
I was playing the roadster clean channel through some green backs sounds great.
Awesome job, thanks!! ❤
they have to reissue this for a reasonable price and not limited
Sounds like that’s what they’re doing. I’m sure it’ll sound great. Kind of impossible for it to sound exactly like the old ones, but I’m sure it’ll be killer
Glorious
OMG!!! It sounds amazing!!!! Have you tried a dual rec or a mini rec with greenbacks?
Awesome bro awesome!
Sounds fantastic! I'm assuming this was 16 Ohms into the amp's 8 Ohm input, or does the IR make no difference there? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm new to IRs.
Really enjoyed the video!
🤘
What a magic combo! Are they reissue greenbacks (curious about availability) and if it makes any difference?
Nice one! I use the Suhr with my mark IV + mark III. Which IR did you use?
OH 412 MAR-CB PR-M75 OH1
@@blakemansfield2356
Ownhammer?
What speakers do you prefer more with this amp?) V30 or Greenbacks?
Alexander Rostovtsev I use a 2x12 with both
If I had to pick one, it would be V30 for all my amps. But I prefer to mix. I have a 2x12 with V30s and a 2x12 with Greenbacks and I run both at the same time. It's a perfect mix
@@blakemansfield2356 I gotta say, the "bounce" of the Greenbacks takes this amp to the next-level. I know they aren't as tight, but the swirly, juicy goodness is so yummy.
@@RonDodson9 Yep- they add some warmth and midrange complexity to the sound which is REALLY pleasing with this amp. Being in the room with this amp plugged into both the V30 cab and GB cab is a bit intoxicating
Have you tried the Celection Alnico creamback speakers?
Marc 18 I have. They are not for me though. Good speakers just a little off for what my ear likes
@@blakemansfield2356 Do you think they would be a good fit for my mesa mark 5 35 combo?
@@Marc-nc3vj What's in there now? I honestly just prefer straight up Vintage 30s, especially for a 1x12
@@blakemansfield2356 There is a c90 Black shadow speaker in there
Why am I surprised how good it sounds? 🤔
Hey Blake - awesome tone and playing! Thanks for posting and recording. I have the Suhr Reactive Load IR. Can you let me know what IR you used in this video? Was it the Ownhammer Marshall 1971 with pre-rola? Or a different one? DP from the Marshall Forum.
Hey man, yes I believe that’s the correct one! OH1 I believe!
Hi, the most important, what is your presence setting please? Sounds killer, great videos.
4.5
Str 415 tube?
Can’t remember if I had 415’s in the amp when I recorded this. I did eventually put some in, but might have been after this. In which case this would have been JJ’s
Nice!
Awesome array of sounds 👍🏻 is this mark iic+ two or 3 channels?
2
"custombuckers" ? (Peter Griffin voice) Go oooonnnn...
Thank you for non-Metallica test (At last!;)). It sounds awesome!
Haha no problem
Peed myself hearing these tones..
Holy shit
I have 5 of mark series amps, Green stripe, Red stripe, Blue Stripe and a a IIC+.. if they were vastly different they wouldn't have just swiped each version with just a magic marker swipe or a black dot or a + sign. The big difference in the IIC+ and the Mark III was the third channel. Mesa got noticeably different with the Mesa badging vs the Boogie badges. The Rectifier series,The lone star, Road King,Nomad, etc came later and did sound different... The stiletto was probably the most different being EL34 based shooting toward the Marshall tone. Even my newer Mark 5 EL84 based amp sits in my studio with the older mark III'S and IIC+ it too sounds really close even all these years later with totally different power section/ tubes. The petrucci amp is a modern Mark amp and you can line up all the Mark series amps and NO one in the audience would ever know the difference and most guitar players blind folded couldn't pick them out one from the other especially with the transparent EVM 12L black shadow speaker or an MC-90 black shadow. The IIC+ landed production in the right time to become the flagship vintage boogie. Thats when 80's music was huge and that amp was produced at the right time for the players who made it famous. it didn't make them famous. I would argue a Mark III purple, red, blue or green stripe Mark III could have been used by the players who made the IIC+ famous and those albums and concerts wouldn't have sounded any different. They just weren't available at the time those bands recorded those albums. They stopped the IIC+ when the mark III came into production. They stopped the III when the Mark IV started and so on....they are all great amps and tonally are the same. Most of those bands stopped playing the IIC+ and went to the mark III when it came out because the sound was basically the same but the 3 had a third channel, everyone loved that.
Oooffff!
How much did you pay for that IIC+? Killer tones!
Traded my firstborn for it
@@blakemansfield2356 priorities correct. Check.
Too much mid range. This is a great amp for one particular sound, but it lacks versatility.