RA-100=Mark IIC+

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richb

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Now i've owned a couple of original Mark IIC+'s and this RA-100 is it!!!!!
TIGHT AS HELL and yeah it does a mark IIC+ better than the MKV mode IIC+(go figure)...
Richb
http://youtu.be/UBbtgjK0ngU
 
richb said:
Now i've owned a couple of original Mark IIC+'s and this RA-100 is it!!!!!
TIGHT AS HELL and yeah it does a mark IIC+ better than the MKV mode IIC+(go figure)...
Richb
http://youtu.be/UBbtgjK0ngU

I agree with you. I picked up my Royal almost two months ago and haven't left my amp alone in a long time. I just play and play with grins and happy feelings.

I also love that the amp isn't apart of the usual fashion-craze that some amplifiers go through. I'm sincerely hoping Mesa just discontinues the amp sooner than later. I get a lot of compliments on my tone and the clarity of my gain sounds and I would like that vibe to remain uniquely mine!

You and I are the few.
 
guitarrhinoceros said:
richb said:
Now i've owned a couple of original Mark IIC+'s and this RA-100 is it!!!!!
TIGHT AS HELL and yeah it does a mark IIC+ better than the MKV mode IIC+(go figure)...
Richb
http://youtu.be/UBbtgjK0ngU

I agree with you. I picked up my Royal almost two months ago and haven't left my amp alone in a long time. I just play and play with grins and happy feelings.

I also love that the amp isn't apart of the usual fashion-craze that some amplifiers go through. I'm sincerely hoping Mesa just discontinues the amp sooner than later. I get a lot of compliments on my tone and the clarity of my gain sounds and I would like that vibe to remain uniquely mine!

You and I are the few.
I'm with you on this^
Richb
 
JOEY B. said:
Play them BOTH in a stereo rig and you will wet your pants. :D It's a very complementary combination. The rawness of the RA-100, and the smoothness of the C+.
I was there...I played it...I ALMOST wet my pants...(I didn't want to mess up the crib...so I excused myself...!)
killer
 
lesterpaul said:
JOEY B. said:
Play them BOTH in a stereo rig and you will wet your pants. :D It's a very complementary combination. The rawness of the RA-100, and the smoothness of the C+.
I was there...I played it...I ALMOST wet my pants...(I didn't want to mess up the crib...so I excused myself...!)
killer

Like I said, we represent the few ... :lol:

I really don't get some of the complaints about the RA. I mean, if someone writes that they just don't like Mesas, then I fully understand what they are talking about. At the end of the day the RA still sounds very much like a Mesa/Boogie style amp. I've read lots of dumb complaints about the amp too though -- like people write things such as "it doesn't sound like a true British amp" to "Marshall X and Y sound way better." What does it mean? It means that the 'net is full of haters and overly opinionated individuals that don't know enough yet make hasty conclusions. As much as I do love the RA, I still don't think the amp will ever "take off" as some amps do (considering the economy, Mesa perception, competition, etc). Regardless, the RA is a definitive gem.

What does the RA sound like? It sounds like an RA. That's what it sounds like. Either you like it or you don't. It isn't a Marshall or a Dual Rectifier. It isn't a Mark amp. It can sound close to other amps, but it definitely has its own flavor happening.

FYI -- I've never tried the Mark amp in question, but I wouldn't be surprised if a current Mesa sounds close to an older Mesa. After all, the amps are made from the same company.
 
FWIW, the stereo rig was in 50 watts RA and 15 watts Mark IIC+. Genz-Benz G-flex 2x12 for the RA and a metal grille 2x12 MS-12 loaded Boogie cab for the Mark. Sylvania 6CA7's in the active power tube sockets, and Ruby, Penta preamps in the RA with Tungsram, RFT preamps in the C+. Blend in just the right amount of each amp, and it is outstanding. 8)
 
KH Guitar Freak said:
I sure hope people who are using the IIC+ mode on the Mark V has it on triode setting as well...

You can tweak all you want, it still doesn't come close, IMHO.
 
Sold my mk4 and was going to save up for a mk V. Went to the store to play the dream amp the V and it was good. In the corner of the booth stood a RA 100 combo. Hmmm what the heck let's give mesas latest brit wannabe a spin. Plugged in dialed in some settings and litterally wet my pants. The RA is the best mark amp I've ever played :eek:). Cancelled the order for the V and am now currently selling of gear like crazy to fund this diamond.

Best mesa sound I've ever heard.
 
If Mesa thought there was even the most remote chance to market the RA as kinda like a MKIIC, I highly doubt their spin doctors would skip that.

They claim the MKV is dead on the IIC and it is not, and they claim the IIC owners are overpaying tone snobs.

Does that really sound like the kinda guys that would come out with a great amp on it's own, that also nails the MKIIC?

I have played a few of the Atlantic family of amps, great amps btw. I own a MKIIC. They seem a bit different, probably complementary.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned 6L6 Vs El34 with the RA-100 and Mark 2C generally loaded differently. People argue about output tubes for days.

As for the Mark V, personally I could not find great tones in channel 3. The tones were OK, but I didn't love any of them and that was the reason I skipped the Mark V. Perhaps if someone showed me where the good tones are I would have a different opinion. After an hour of trying I gave up. The RA-100 on the other hand didn't excite me to much when I first turned it on, but after 10 minutes I had found a number of my dream tones.
 
Heritage Softail said:
If Mesa thought there was even the most remote chance to market the RA as kinda like a MKIIC, I highly doubt their spin doctors would skip that.

They claim the MKV is dead on the IIC and it is not, and they claim the IIC owners are overpaying tone snobs.

Does that really sound like the kinda guys that would come out with a great amp on it's own, that also nails the MKIIC?

I have played a few of the Atlantic family of amps, great amps btw. I own a MKIIC. They seem a bit different, probably complementary.

With respect, I don't think your logic is that feasible. The MKV came out three years before the RA, and since Mesa was on record as touting the MKV as possessing the MKIIC sound -- then I'm not at all surprised that Mesa's so-called "spin doctors" aren't stating that their newer offering, the RA-100, is capable of such sounds. It would be bad marketing and would promote more confusion than excitement. They know the MKV is selling like hotcakes. Why would they do anything to jeopardize that?
 
Driving the C+ hard in 15 watt mode with Sylvania 6CA7's and the RA-100 in 50 watt mode with the same tubes and a bit of attenuation in the Blue channel gave the best blended tone. They still did not sound anything like each other. It's all about the midrange vocal quality of the solo sounds in the C+. You could effectively use the RA-100 for rhythm and add the C+ for lead work, if need be. Or add an Xotic RC booster to the stereo rig like we did the other day. :twisted:
 
guitarrhinoceros said:
Heritage Softail said:
If Mesa thought there was even the most remote chance to market the RA as kinda like a MKIIC, I highly doubt their spin doctors would skip that.

They claim the MKV is dead on the IIC and it is not, and they claim the IIC owners are overpaying tone snobs.

Does that really sound like the kinda guys that would come out with a great amp on it's own, that also nails the MKIIC?

I have played a few of the Atlantic family of amps, great amps btw. I own a MKIIC. They seem a bit different, probably complementary.

With respect, I don't think your logic is that feasible. The MKV came out three years before the RA, and since Mesa was on record as touting the MKV as possessing the MKIIC sound -- then I'm not at all surprised that Mesa's so-called "spin doctors" aren't stating that their newer offering, the RA-100, is capable of such sounds. It would be bad marketing and would promote more confusion than excitement. They know the MKV is selling like hotcakes. Why would they do anything to jeopardize that?


I can see your point. But consider that Mesa has no problem marketing a mode on multiple amps. A few stabs at Brit type, tweed, replicating the Lonestar on the Road King.

The MKV is good but it is the only choice. The RA and Dyne are great. In the end, if people buy Mesa, whichever one, Mesa wins. They do seem to be trying really hard to find another niche aside of the Mark or Recto lines.

I have heard some good Stilletto tones but that amp gets almost no love...

I may be somewhat prejudiced since I am in the process of selling my MKV to a jamming partner that has had it on loan for months.
 

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