The coveted Mark IIC+ from MESA/Boogie returns worldwide, with the tonestack and features of a legend
After much anticipation, MESA/Boogie® has recreated the Mark IIC+, one of the most renowned guitar amplifiers ever made. The new Mark IIC+ 1×12 Combo and Head are authentic recreations of the original models. Over the past four decades, these amps have been featured on many iconic recordings across a wide range of genres, particularly rock and metal. Pair one with a humbucker-equipped Gibson electric guitar, and you’ll rediscover one of the most potent hot-as-Hades tonal formulas known to humanity.
The Mark IIC+ features a dual-mode preamp, allowing players to quickly switch between two distinct preamp tones—for example, a clean tone for rhythm playing and an overdriven tone for solos. Additionally, the built-in tube-driven spring reverb and the iconic five-band graphic EQ are also footswitchable, with footswitches included for all these functions.
Doug West (Director, Tone Lab, Gibson Amplifiers & MESA/Boogie), says, “Since the Mark IIC+’s replacement by the Mark III in late 1985, players have asked the question, ’When will you do a reissue of the Mark IIC+?’ Little did we know then that the Mark IIC+ would continue its rise in popularity long after its production lifespan and become one of history’s most sought-after and coveted amplifiers, becoming synonymous with rock and metal’s biggest artists’ iconic tones.
“After four decades and many iterations of the IIC+ within our subsequent models, it was finally time to tackle this challenge and see if we could do a second build of this revered Boogie. We are excited to say that our nearly three years of exhaustive component searches, countless hours of brutal comparisons, and untold scrutinous forensic design discoveries have paid off, and the Mark IIC+ lives again!
“Now you can forego the frustrating searches, the vintage pricing, and the worry of aged-out parts and obtain a brand new Mark IIC+ that holds its own—and then some—against even the most precious of 80s original IIC+ builds.”
Image: The Mark IIC+ features a buffered effects loop, reverb, and much more
Selectable wattage for ultimate control
Equipped with MESA/Boogie’s famous Simul-Class™ power amp, the Mark IIC+ uses four 6L6 tubes to deliver 75 watts of power. It can also be switched to Class A mode for 25-watt operation.
Slave output and series buffered effects loop
For optimal sound quality, time-based effects like delay pedals can be connected through the built-in series buffered effects loop. The slave output allows you to connect additional amplifiers for wet/dry/wet effect configurations or to use external IR readers.
Image: A classic “V” EQ setting. Get your scooped mids on
West continues, “This new Simul-Class, reverb, graphic EQ IIC+ represents the ultimate IIC+ build from back in the day and delivers all the explosive attack, dynamic excitement, and percussive intensity of the originals, and does so with worldwide compliance, a rock solid new build, and a new amp warranty.
“Any Mark IIC+ fan owes it to themselves to try one of these new IIC+s before going on the daunting quest to find an original. We feel sure you’ll agree that this new build is as legit and as inspiring as the legend demands. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be doing it!”
Image: The Black Shadow speaker (Celestion Custom 90—a UK-made MESA exclusive) is poised to rock, but if you need other options, the amp features a slave output to connect additional amps for wet/dry/wet effect configurations or for use with external impulse response readers
The evolution of a marvel
The Mark IIC+ is pure “vintage Boogie®” and is based on the original Mark II™ design (now called the Mark II-A), which was the world’s first “dual mode” amplifier offering independent modes for clean and overdrive sounds. Representing the third generation of this groundbreaking single-channel, dual-mode layout, the IIC+ includes all the refinements made to the original format over nearly five influential years. It was also the last model in its family; the subsequent model introduced three performance modes and was dubbed the MARK III.
