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TREASURE CLASS A/B REVERB REVERB FEBRUARY 2011

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB Combo Amp

Zachary Fjestad
January 17, 2011
4 Com m ents

Em ail

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Hey Zach:
Ive got an early 1980s Boogie Mark
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Ive got an early 1980s Boogie Mark

amp and Im trying to figure out
exactly what model it is. It has the 5band graphic EQ and the SimulClass switch, so I think it is a Mark
IIB. The clean channel has a really
shimmering tone and breaks up a
bit when pushed. Can you verify
this and possibly estimate its
current value? Thanks! Allen in
Detroit, Michigan
Hey Allen,
Mesa/Boogie is a true American
success story. Theyre one of the few
long-time amp companies out there still building amps in the US under original ownership, and the
company is continuing to evolve with new technology and ideas.

GALLERY

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Founder Randall Smith spent a lot of time around electronics as a child. While he was in a band
during the mid 1960s, he had the opportunity to fix a blown amp. After he successfully repaired that
amp, Smith and his band decided to open a music repair shop that became the humble beginnings
for Mesa/Boogie. At the time, Barry Melton was the lead guitarist for Country Joe & the Fish, and
when Meltons roadies asked Smith to modify a 12-watt, 1x10 Fender Princeton, he turned it into
something like a 60-watt Fender Bassman driving a JBL D-120 12" speaker. Smith soon became
known for his ability to hot-rod small combo amps and, in his words, What started out as a joke
became the foundation of the company.
Smiths shop was a popular place among the hippie musicians of the era, and one day Carlos
Santana wandered into the store and played one of Smiths modified Princetons. Santana loved the
amp and is quoted as saying, This little amp really boogies. This comment ultimately led to the
companys Boogie moniker. Smith estimates he built around 200 of these modified Princetons
before Fender figured out what he was up to and cut off his supply!
In 1970, Smith left the music shop and ventured out on his own. In order to obtain parts and
supplies at wholesale prices, he started MESA Engineering. In the early 1970s, Smith began
experimenting with new preamp designs to produce the type of gain and distortion guitarists were

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requesting. The result was what is now known as cascading gain, and it was incorporated into the
very first Boogie production amp linecommonly referred to as the Mark I.
As Mesa/Boogie evolved during the 1970s and early 1980s, they made several changes to their
little combo amps. To indicate the change in each new variation, Mesa began calling their amps the
Mark I, Mark II, Mark IIB, Mark IIC, etc. The original Boogie had two channels, but there was no
provision for switching between them without changing input jacks.
After building approximately 3000 of the Mark I models, Mesa introduced the Mark II in 1978. It had
footswitchable channels and an optional 5-band graphic EQ. In 1980, Mesa introduced the Mark IIB,
which had an effects loop, an expanded control panel that included Lead Drive and Lead Master
controls, and their famous optional Simul-Class system.
The Mark IIC and IIC+ debuted in 1983, and they featured a quieter footswitch and a revised reverb
circuit. The Mark IIC+ also had a revised lead channel and an effects loop. The Mark II series lasted
through 1985, when it was replaced by the 3-channel Mark III series, which was produced through
1999.
Mesa/Boogie introduced the Mark IV in 1990, and its one of those amps that has everything except
the kitchen sink. For Mesas 40th Anniversary, the innovative company introduced the Mark V, an
amp that incorporates features from the Mark I, Mark IIC+, and Mark IV.

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Based on the features of your ampincluding the Lead Drive and Lead Master controls, and the
100- /60-watt power switchI believe youre correct that it is a Mark IIB (but without Simul-Class).
That means it was produced between 1980 and 1983. Mesa has extremely detailed records, so you
can contact the company and provide them with the serial number to figure out exactly when your
amp was built.
There are several misconceptions about the exact meaning of Mesas model designations, such as
the + portion of the Mark IIC+. It is very important to note that each model designation indicated an
overall design change and not a specific feature or option (such as EQ or reverb). Mesa often built
amps to customers requests, so it is very common to find each model variation with different
features. It is also quite common to find these Boogie amplifiers heavily modified from their original
configuration.
As youve probably heard from many Mesa/Boogie users, each Mark model has a different sound,
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As youve probably heard from many Mesa/Boogie users, each Mark model has a different sound,
and these differences affect the overall value. The Mark I is popular because it is the original
Boogie. Many players love the clean channel on the Mark II and Mark IIB because of how it breaks
up slightly when turned up. The Mark IIC/C+ is probably the most collectible Boogie, because the
circuitry had been refined to what many consider optimal settings, yet its still simple to operate. The
Mark III is less popular because the new channel design didnt work the way many users had hoped.
The Mark IV and Mark V are still so new that not much of a collectible market has been established
yet. Another thing to keep in mind is that, Boogies with wood cabinets (like yours) are much more
valuable than those with vinyl coverings.
Your amp appears to be in excellent overall condition and is currently valued between $1300 and
$1600 in the vintage amp market. This Mesa/ Boogie is a great example of the American dream
amplified, and it should be a reliable treasure for years to come.

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Zachary R. Fjestad is author of Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, Blue Book of Electric
Guitars, and Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers. For more information, visit
bluebookinc.com or email Zach at guitars@bluebookinc.com.

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FJESTAD

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4 Comments

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Jerry Berkstresser

166 days ago

The Mark IIC+ was made by two of Smith's engineer's who seem to be greatly overlooked and screwed if
you ask me. The real design is never mentioned by any of you (experts)?. That being the tweaking by those
two fellows in putting 2-EL-34 and 2-6L6 power tubes in the mix, when R. Smith came back from
Europe they showed him what they came up with and (Poof) basically buried it in the fact that no more were
built. Believe it or not, but that is the real deal - signed-a guitar player/not a flute player/RS.
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Fred

866 days ago

Mark IIb precedes '80, mine was delivered in '79. It should be easy to tell year from the serial number.
Simul-Class wasn't available when the IIb was introduced (it came a coule years later - different output
transformer used).

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Re: short - there's a .05mf, 600V capacitor between the AC plug ground and that switch; it is likely shorted
out, connecting whichever side of the AC line the switch connects it to directly to the third wire earth (can
test by carefully plugging in with a cheater plug).
Reply Share

nick

896 days ago

go to jag-stang.com its a forum and someone will definately have your answer
Reply Share

Kari

979 days ago

They are great amps but hard to find information about, I flicked the switch on the back that had A earth Bthis has now somehow caused a short circuit and as soon as it is pluged in it blows the fuse at the meter
box.Any one got a clue as to what is going on? I can't find any information about this switch and it's function
anywhere.
Reply Share

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