Brad737
Well-known member
Hello all,
I've been playing for 28 years, and always liked Mesa Boogies, but just never came across the right one at the right time. Anyway, I bought my first Boogie on eBay yesterday...a well-worn Mark IIC combo. And when I say well-worn, I really mean "pretty much trashed". I found it on eBay, for what I think is a pretty good deal, so I couldn't resist.
I was hoping you all wouldn't mind a newbie asking what I'm sure are the "standard Boogie" questions that you've answered a million times. (I wasn't getting very far with searching for "IIC"...too short.) Anyway, here goes!
I know I'm going to have to replace the speaker. It's currently loaded with a JBL D-120F. That's a highly desired speaker, so I figure I can sell that and have money left over to buy the "correct" speaker. Am I correct that the stock speaker for the IIC combo is the 8-ohm EVM 12L? I've read that some folks might prefer the Celestion 90? If you were trying to nail the stereotypical Boogie tone, is the 12L the speaker you'd choose?
Next, the cabinet looks pretty rough. It's sort of a cream tolex, with a baby-poop yellow grillcloth. Do you know if these early Boogie cabs are plywood or hardwood? I' e considered re-covering the cab in perhaps a burgundy tolex, or maybe just removing the tolex, sanding it down, and applying a stain. I've also contacted GTS from here about his aftermarket cabs, but haven't heard back yet. Also, I definitely want a wicker grill. I've always loved the look of those. Any recommendations? Is refinishing a cab doable for a DIY project?
Lastly, my amp is serial number 12356. It has the Pull Deep faceplate, but doesn't have the + over the cord, just an I. That leads me to think it's a regular IIC, not a C+. Even though the seller says it sounds great, I plan on having the amp serviced, because I know that caps get old and need replacement. My question is whether or not I should have it modded to the C+ circuit? I know that most folks think the C+ is probably the pinnacle of the series, but I'm a little hesitant. First off, I DO NOT plan on flipping the amp. But I have a fairly extensive gear collection, and I do want my kids to be able to sell the amp and not get hammered on resale value after I'm gone. What I'm getting at is originality. I'd never refinish an old guitar that had a rough finish, because it kills the value by about half. Do you think modding the circuit adversely affects the value of something like a IIC, or is the C+ mod considered an upgrade? The player in me wants to do the mod, but like I said, I don't wanna destroy the amp's future value. Having said that, should I send it back to Mesa, or just use the local authorized repair center?
I apologize for all the questions, but I just wanted to get the straight scoop from the Boogie experts.
Thanks,
Brad
I've been playing for 28 years, and always liked Mesa Boogies, but just never came across the right one at the right time. Anyway, I bought my first Boogie on eBay yesterday...a well-worn Mark IIC combo. And when I say well-worn, I really mean "pretty much trashed". I found it on eBay, for what I think is a pretty good deal, so I couldn't resist.
I was hoping you all wouldn't mind a newbie asking what I'm sure are the "standard Boogie" questions that you've answered a million times. (I wasn't getting very far with searching for "IIC"...too short.) Anyway, here goes!
I know I'm going to have to replace the speaker. It's currently loaded with a JBL D-120F. That's a highly desired speaker, so I figure I can sell that and have money left over to buy the "correct" speaker. Am I correct that the stock speaker for the IIC combo is the 8-ohm EVM 12L? I've read that some folks might prefer the Celestion 90? If you were trying to nail the stereotypical Boogie tone, is the 12L the speaker you'd choose?
Next, the cabinet looks pretty rough. It's sort of a cream tolex, with a baby-poop yellow grillcloth. Do you know if these early Boogie cabs are plywood or hardwood? I' e considered re-covering the cab in perhaps a burgundy tolex, or maybe just removing the tolex, sanding it down, and applying a stain. I've also contacted GTS from here about his aftermarket cabs, but haven't heard back yet. Also, I definitely want a wicker grill. I've always loved the look of those. Any recommendations? Is refinishing a cab doable for a DIY project?
Lastly, my amp is serial number 12356. It has the Pull Deep faceplate, but doesn't have the + over the cord, just an I. That leads me to think it's a regular IIC, not a C+. Even though the seller says it sounds great, I plan on having the amp serviced, because I know that caps get old and need replacement. My question is whether or not I should have it modded to the C+ circuit? I know that most folks think the C+ is probably the pinnacle of the series, but I'm a little hesitant. First off, I DO NOT plan on flipping the amp. But I have a fairly extensive gear collection, and I do want my kids to be able to sell the amp and not get hammered on resale value after I'm gone. What I'm getting at is originality. I'd never refinish an old guitar that had a rough finish, because it kills the value by about half. Do you think modding the circuit adversely affects the value of something like a IIC, or is the C+ mod considered an upgrade? The player in me wants to do the mod, but like I said, I don't wanna destroy the amp's future value. Having said that, should I send it back to Mesa, or just use the local authorized repair center?
I apologize for all the questions, but I just wanted to get the straight scoop from the Boogie experts.
Thanks,
Brad