Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ – Back in Production!
The Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ is back at last!
4,4 / 5,0 | 
The Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Collection has finally been announced. It reissues one of the legendary amplifiers used by many famous guitarists throughout the 1980s. Want that classic rock crunch or high-gain metal mayhem?
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Collection
The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ has selectable 75-watt or 25-watt power modes, so you can dial in the perfect tone for any gig. Its dual-mode preamp lets you switch between classic and modern voicings.
The built-in tube-driven spring reverb and 5-band graphic EQ give you ultimate control over your sound. Plus, with a slave output and series buffered effects loop, you can expand your rig and integrate your favorite pedals.
It is based on four 6L6 power tubes and five 12AX7 preamp tubes, so there is a lot of great American-voiced tube tone from these amps.
Reissued
It’s also the amp that Metallica famously used and was the amp model that introduced ‘scooping the mids’ during the 1980s Thrash Metal era.
They are back and being reissued in both a head and combo format, which will please many players. They have a huge cult following and haven’t been available for nearly 40 years.
Vintage Boogie
The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ is a pure vintage Boogie classic rooted in the original Mark II design. This legendary amplifier was the world’s first “Dual Mode” amp, offering independent clean and overdrive channels. The original IIC+ design represents the third generation of this groundbreaking design, incorporating refinements made over nearly five years.
The IIC+’s single row of controls blends its two modes: Rhythm (clean) and Lead (overdrive). Independent gain and volume controls are available for each mode’s gain structure, along with shared tone controls.
Pull-shift voicing features, some mode-specific, allow for fine-tuning, and the onboard 5-band graphic EQ offers surgical-level sculpting. This EQ section is also foot-switchable, making it very useful for adding a boost when required.
Rear Panel
The rear panel of these maps is packed with features and offers a lot of control. The globally accessible Presence and Reverb controls are conveniently placed for easy stage-side adjustments. A series, buffered effects loop seamlessly integrates your time-based effects.
The Power Select switch offers a choice between 75-watt Simul-Class mode for maximum headroom and richness or 25-watt Class A mode for reduced power and smooth low-end clipping at lower volumes.
Plus, that Slave output captures the full amp sound for IRs or external processors, perfect for a classic “dry/wet/wet” rig setup.
Construction
These amps are rock solid and made using marine-grade Baltic Birch cabinets. The combo version comes equipped with a single 12″ Celestion C90 speaker. They are heavy amps; the combo weighs 26.76 kg, and the head is 17.69 kg.
MSRP – Mark IIC+ Head USD 3599 and Combo USD 3899
Verdict
I’ve used the originals many times, and they have that ‘Boogie’ sound, with some excellent crunch and gain tones available. If you want these classic amp tones, the new models could be just what you are looking for, as they will be new and won’t require servicing.
Older Boogie amps can be pushing 40 years old now, so they will need some maintenance to stay in tip-top condition. It looks like they have already sold out on the Gibson site, as preorders in the US have been open for a few weeks.
Great amps; they are not cheap, but you get a lot for your money in terms of flexibility and tone.
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo at Thomann
More Information
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One response to “Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ – Back in Production!”
Ouch! 😳 Almost 5.000 Euros!?!?
For under that price, you can get great deals in beautiful quality hand-made boutique amps…