JP2C & Mark IV Comparison

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[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Some people love Soldanos, some people are Marshall guys, but for me that Mesa sound is the boy. Love those chorus cleans, love that tight and tough rhythm which sounds great for chugs but handles big Acdc chords too and the lead sound just feels like Eagles soaring and Lions roaring. The EQ takes a bit of learning but it does offer a great level of control once you understand it.

[@Golem29]

The tight chug is just unbeatable. Honestly I can't go to any other amp

[@Kungfulouis]

@@Golem29 Basically what i think too :) i tried several amps.. but i keep coming back to my Mark IV. I once was negotiating for a dual rectifier.. But then we had another gig.. and i was like.. nah... But someday.... someday i will get a rectifier... Orrrrrrrrrrrr..... maybe a peavey 5150... or EVH 5150.. but would preffer the peavey...

[@Matthias_Jabs]

А мне нравится и triaxis и jcm 900

[@dane4453]

I still do not understand my Mesa V 35. That's why I do not like Mesa amps. They will sound good 10 years after you bought it and figured out the tone controls.

[@eds4754]

Great stuff - just goes to show that the IIC+ and JP2C aren’t the be all and end all; certainly great in their own right (and have a kind of signature tightness) but every Mark amp has its merits and they can all sound killer

[@eds4754]

FWIW I like the Mark IV a little better here, it’s more squishy. JP2C is great for that one classic sound but overall the IV has more tones that I like in it.

[@barry3045]

I love my MK IV and I’d love to have a JP2C.

[@greghitt1704]

Great vid Leon. For me and from what I can tell over you tube, the chug of the IV just has something extra - more raw and really that’s what we are looking for if you’re sniffing around a Mark. 🔥

[@jakedibiase7404]

Had both amps at the same time. I prefer the IV. Has a rawer and tighter gain channel. Also has a better clean channel and better reverb. The JP makes annoying reverb swell when going from lead back to clean. The JP also pops when switching channels (Mesa confirmed this as normal behavior) and the IV switches silently. It was cool to have a cloned lead channel and extra GEQ on the JP though.

[@tony2tone1985]

I’ve noticed that swelling reverb as well! Not happy about that!

[@soloist6660]

a lot of people say this and that for both amps,its soooo nice that you took time,to show,the pros and cons !! i love this Comparison videos,and i was hoping that you bring jpc to the game...im so glad you've made it!!!!

[@LeonTodd]

Glad you liked it!

[@digchevelle]

Both sound great. The IV sounds better to my ear. I'd love to hear your take on a MkIII. The MkIII mids are a whole other animal.

[@SteveBelong72]

Both sound great! Excellent comparison vid my friend!

[@thirteenthandy]

Now that you've fallen in love with the Mark series amps, here's a fun question to explore: What would you want to see in a Mark 6? (Features, sounds, etc) It might be a cop out, but I would like to see it be a Mark IV reissue as much as the JP2C is a 2C+ reissue. Give us a fully modernized Mark IV with midi, dual graphic EQ, their updated cab clone with user-supplied IR... All that good stuff.

[@samwilcock2853]

I like this question. For me, the JP2C would be a good starting point for a MkVI. I'd like a simulclass output section though, and the second channel to basically be the crunch mode from the MkV. Tweed mode on the clean would be ace too. Then you'd still have the great form factor of the JP, plus the MIDI and cabclone, but with tweaks from other previous marks that were really popular. And the lead channel would be closer to a DRG iic+ which I think is more desirable than the 100/60 version.

[@viniciusbertucci]

I have no idea how a Mark VI (original new amp) would be... so I think it would make a lot of sense to create a modern Mark IV reissue. With a modern IIC+ (JP2C) and a new IV, everyone would be happy.

[@TheGgreen100]

Whatever Mesa might do, the #1 thing I hope for the Mark 6 is that they bring back having two gain knobs for the lead channel(s). Both the Mark V or JP2C only have a single Gain knob (the JP2C at least has a gain push pull function that sets the original gain knob's equivalent level to either 7 or 9 which is not enough control), and I think the amps have suffered for it. The other thing is that newer Mark amps have narrower bandwidth than old Marks. Less high highs and low lows. I hope future Mark amps fix this. And are made to compress less.

[@bluerazors]

Great question!! You'd have to build it on wheels. A stacked coliseum 300 MK iii with a coliseum 300 JP2c welded to it. Thats 600 watts in each module. 8 modules and it's time to play ACE of Spades!

[@mthao1832]

Don’t forget Three loops, gain boost and mid boost bein footswitchable and rack mountable lol

[@sk8125]

Love my Mark iv… once you learn how the controls interact, there’s so much clarity to be had.

[@lynoj777]

Great comparison and great opinion. Thanks for demoing the two amps. Great playing as well!!! 👍

[@LeonTodd]

Appreciate that, I had a blast!

[@jonbigg7385]

One of the other comments mentioned dialing up the mids on the clean channel for more crunch. If you're interested, there's a YT vid on the Mesa channel with Dustie Waring from BTBAM demoing this. It's a good watch and Dustie is a monster player.

[@berndgroters2745]

The Mark IV is my favourite amp, periot! It can´t get any better! Amazing video, as always!

[@LeonTodd]

Mine too!

[@kennethjolley]

Great video you nailed it!!! MarkIV just hit where it needs to when it needs to. First time i played it 🤯i found that sound ive been hearing in my head.🤘🤘

[@LeonTodd]

Me too! best amp ever

[@robertsanchez6384]

Hey Leon, absolutely loved this video (and your last one) about the JP 2C. So much so, I just bought a custom one in white with a wicker grill from Wildwood Guitars in Colorado today! I can't wait until it arrives! Maybe I'll have to post a video of it when I get it dialed in? Anyways, thank you for making me spend a lot of money today on an AMAZING amplifier! LOL. Iv'e owned several Boogie's along the way, from MK III's to Quad and Studio Pre's, to a hand signed (by Randall Smith) MK1, old school diamond grate 4x12's, on and on. Boogies RULE....and I love to watch your videos. You're a great guitarist that knows what's up about good tone! Horns up!

[@LeonTodd]

Duuuuude!!!! I'm so excited for you to hear one in the flesh!

[@juliochingaling5824]

Excellent video and amps. Great playing. That Mk 4 is a real bad ass, serious amp.

[@LeonTodd]

It's a strong and tasty tone

[@neilmcleish9014]

Great comparison Leon. And awesome playing as always.

[@EatYourOwnBacon]

I sold my IV to get a JP2C. The 2C is just so versatile. I put in a lower preamp tube in v1, and it made it a lot more versatile. I can turn the gain down and get low gain tones but can still get in your face stuff.

[@xanderfrew8247]

On the JP2C if you turn the mids beyond 12:00 it gives you a gain boost Also, the JP2C doesn’t have pull fat on ch 2 & 3 (this is set internally to a fixed “on”) the pull on the gain on those channels give you a bit more gain.

[@Golem29]

That gain boost is on the V 25 and 35 too. Cool

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks for clearing that up, I appreciate it. I need to RTFM.

[@xanderfrew8247]

Haha no worries mate, play now, read later 😁

[@xanderfrew8247]

For clarity, the gain boost on the mid control is only on ch1

[@Golem29]

@@LeonTodd Boogies are the one amp brand where reading the manual is compulsory!

[@Supergrunged]

This definately goes over the players differences between the 2. Options wise, yes, they are 2 different beasts, and are setup for more different applications. Thanks for making the video comparing them! Now I'm heading back to my Stiletto Duece Stage 2 :p

[@miketomanelli8799]

Love your reviews..been a Mesa boogie guy for decades. Love your playing too. In my opinion there is nothing like a boogie mark series. I’ve had a mark 3 since 1986 and I’m waiting for my new jp2c. Absolutely killer amps, raw power and tone like no other.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Maybe it's because it's yours and you know how to dial it in so well, but to me it sounds better when you play the Mk IV.

[@mattcacioppo2502]

Incredible demo as usual! Love my Mark V I just picked up. Complete Swiss Army knife of tone. Cheers!

[@LeonTodd]

Congrats!!

[@midnightmix2692]

For the clean channel I actually like the eq shape of the mark IV more but that isn't a problem in these amps because you can just turn on the graphic eq and tune to taste! I never understood why more amps didn't use a graphic EQ and a pre distortion parametric eq section. It is so much more useful than the typical marshall style tonestack. I think it comes down to the fact that guitarists are afraid of change lol

[@Golem29]

The IV sounds more dirty and unhinged. It's fantastic.

[@jcoulter43]

Both are great sounding amps. IIc may be a bit more versatile, but I wouldn't kick either of them out of my studio. Great video as usual. Love that flamey Les Paul and that Hamer. God bless and rock on 🎸😎👍

[@frankygale643]

Mark iv is rawer!

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Awesome video!! They both sound great!!!

[@208414]

The MKIV seems like a better studio tool since it is capable of a more diverse range of tones than the JPIIC. The JPIIC has the clear advantage for live since it has the MIDI control and the dual graphic EQs that make it a lot easier to get a clean, rhythm, and lead available with the foot switch. It is obvious that the JPII C was made with the heavier tones in mind whereas the MKIV was meant to be a jack of all trades.

[@0megalul309]

Considering the jp2c is 30 years younger haha

[@jasoncrump1886]

Love those mesa mark series amps. I will have one or two one of these days.

[@ScreamingStevenHoward]

They both sound great. I have a Mark III blue stripe. It sounds great but not very versatile. I think I might be into the JP to cover the tones I need.

[@lowqualityguitarvideos]

What do you find lacking in the III blue stripe?

[@ScreamingStevenHoward]

@@lowqualityguitarvideos my model is non 5 band eq and without it the mids are not shapeable. For that matter the regular eq knobs do not have much range. That being said it does have this plexi meets boogie sound that is really good. The clean is the best I've ever heard and it has more tone shape ability than the crunch.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

The Mark IV’s are up in price tremendously. I bought mine in early 2020 for a little over $1100 & now I regularly see them listed on Reverb for $2000-2500. It’s an amazing amp. I’ll never sell it.

[@jsullivan2112]

It's absolutely ridiculous. Similar boat, I got a bubinga version A combo in 2020 for about a quarter of the price it is now. Gibson buying Mesa had a lot to do with it.

[@kevins4222]

@@jsullivan2112 Gibson buying Mesa had NOTHING to do with it. It's because of videos like this that the Mark IV's reputation has gone up- people are realizing they are better than the Mark V's and JP-2C's and they've been out of production for almost over 15 years, so the value is going up

[@jsullivan2112]

@@kevins4222 The ads that I saw with “pre-Gibson” in bold letters say otherwise. Videos are not responsible for people being dumb, and greedy. They are responsible for their own behaviour. They’ve steadily been going up for 30 years? Nope. Mark IVs were $1000 ever since 2009. The Mark 5 came out and people couldn’t get rid of theirs fast enough. Then suddenly everything spiked.

[@kevins4222]

@@jsullivan2112 lol they can write anything they want in their ads- people do the same shit on listings for JP-2C amps- it doesn’t make it a selling point. Except maybe for stupid people (who generally aren’t buying Mark IV’s). And no, you’re right, they haven’t gone up slowly over time- they spiked recently partially because all vintage gear has gone up with the pandemic AND partially because of new videos like these which have shown how great the Mark IV is, so the amp’s reputation has been building like crazy! I remember you couldn’t give away used Mark IV’s and now everyone is saying they are “the greatest amps ever!” so now everyone wants them. Lol again- nothing at all to do with “pre/post Gibson” crap. Basically, Mark IV’s are hot right now because they’ve been hyped up and their reputation has gone up.

[@maximumguitarage]

@@kevins4222 just like the Mesa Trem-O-Verb Rev G's 94-99. Trust me I know I just got one at around $2,000. Now I am headed towards a Mark IV or JP2C+

[@TheCyberMantis]

Nice comparison. The JP-2c is a great amp. Probably my favorite amp Mesa makes. But as you said... it's ridiculously expensive. Your Mark-4 sounds great too, and you got a great deal on it. So it's easy to see why you are very happy with it. You are also very happy with your AxeFX-III. Can you run your AxeFX into the "return" on the Mark-4, and go out to a 4x12 cab? ( Just use the Mark-4 as a tube power amp. )

[@benh1467]

The JP2C is an amazing sounding amp, but that Mark IV just smashes it. Wow.

[@joeanon2415]

Great job as always,you need to try crate blue voodoo 300h it's up in tonesville. Wima gernan caps.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Both amps are killer. Your playing is killer. Your knowledge is killer. That Les Paul is beautiful and really pops with those white pickups. I would have probably bought black pickups, but seeing those make me think white looks better. Good stuff my epic friend. Hope all is well. It's really cold today! Off to help my friend at his diner for a couple hours. They can't find enough help. People took cared of the virus as well as the rest of the country scared to death. Thank God I've had all my shots and the booster. Later sir. ❤️🤟

[@JB54379]

I love the Mark IV tone much better but the Mark JP is a great amp also! If I had to choose between the 2 the Mark IV wins big IMO.

[@coreyclark6505]

The only issue I have with this video is there’s no love button. Thank you for doing this!

[@Velranius_Ghodrim]

Bought studio preamp after wathing your videos. New boogies have so many switches and other stuff, if something break, regular technicians have no change to fix that.

[@MKRISING75]

I like both they each sound killer but I like the MARK4 better I think LT would agree??!!🤟🏻Rock on 🎸🤟🏻

[@nicktrierweiler3690]

Right around 6:25 reminded me of "life in the fast lane" ala Joe Walsh. Very classic rockish👍

[@normanderson01]

JP2C is my favorite amp of all time. I just love it so much.

[@LeonTodd]

I can see why

[@fabiol.9161]

Check also the mark iii... Super underrated amp..

[@johnnathancordy]

Yo Leon I've got a Mark 3 you can borrow....

[@rp9187]

That was the best comparison yet. Would you do the mark v against the JP-2C? I like how you minimize the processing and dig into the channels and real amp sounds/ features

[@Tiger1016.]

Wonder if you'll wind up getting to test out the new Mark VII sometime soon. Been really interested to see how it compares to the IV. The V was a disappointment on the higher gain side in comparison for my taste (sterile, boxy mids, more compressed). The VII seems to have a pretty exciting voicing, but the jury is out on the punch and dynamics department. Based on the limited demos so far, it seems to have a noticeably muted attack, could almost use the word squishy, and then the voice blooms in with a smoother flavor a few micro seconds later. I'm betting that the IV will have a noticeably better ripping attack.

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah I'm really keen to try one

[@TavaresProject]

Mesa is usually not my thing, but the JP2C is seriously impressive

[@paisteplayer1040]

You can easily simulate the dual EQ's on the JP by just putting an EQ pedal in the loop.. Many of my pedal boards have 2 eq's in the lopp just for that purpose of tuning them differently

[@nickx1754]

Well done!

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Oh man, if you were forced to choose one, that would be a difficult to pick, as both amps sound bloody awesome and both have there strengths and character 🤔

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

My Mark IV always gets it done.

[@vincentbranciforti329]

Can we see the settings ?

[@aspharts]

What Mark IV specifically is this one? A or B?

[@0megalul309]

B

[@justingiles7163]

I was wondering what the Detune effect used on the clean tone at the beginning is? And ho do you go about setting it up! Brilliant video!

[@LeakyBucketHandle]

Been struggling with my mkIV pull presence options, mine gets a lot quieter but believe me when I say that it wasn’t always that way. I think the caps might have failed or something.

[@bluerazors]

With sounds this nice, I think you should just write him a check and keep them both. Run them together stereo.

[@EdHanniganMusic]

Had JP2C and 6505 in studio reccently on a session but the PRS MT15 Tremonti head destroyed all and we ended up tracking with that and the 6505, the JP2C has too many switches and messing and quirks and then it still didnt have what we wanted.

[@LeonTodd]

The Mark series amps are pretty fussy and work great, but the immediacy of something like a 5150 is hard to beat a lot of the time. MT15 is a great amp!

[@EdHanniganMusic]

@@LeonTodd I agree, I've had 3 different Mk3's over the years and they were all different sounding :D I just found with the MT15 and a PRS in front end you just dial it in and off you go. I'd still love a mk2c just to have stashed away :D

[@climatecontroller4781]

Iv !

[@michaelallen981]

Would love to see a Jp2c vs MKVII

[@patriknessboLemoran]

Leon. Could u pair the mark IV with the marhaall 1960 cab ? The one with g12T-75 ? I am curious what it would sound like

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks for reminding me to get my cab with a V30 and G12T75 back from the studio!

[@patriknessboLemoran]

@@LeonTodd haha no problem xD

[@cunjoz]

YES!!!!!!!

[@billyhall2006]

I've owned both, If you like adding a little flavor with different boost pedals , JP may not be for you. Seemed like no matter what pedal I used it was kinda sterile and lifeless . Jp has a boxy thing going on too and I just could not dial it out.

[@vincelupone]

Hey Leon! You mentioned the pull gain on channels 1 and 2 as being a “fat” switch and then later said there was no input gain control. According to Petrucci’s demo video and (I think) the manual, isn’t it the opposite? The gain knobs are set like an original Mark with the input volume at 7 and then when you pull the gain knob it moves the input gain just a bit more, like to 7.5 or 8 on an older Mark. Either way, love the video as always and keep it up!!!

[@Nathan-fv8rt]

Would a eq in the loop of the iv be a way of adding that flexibility of the jp having 2 eqs?

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah, Mesa even make a 5 band EQ pedal!

[@jeffmays7192]

I own both of these. rev b. In the room under my fingers and tone, the jp is an embarrassment compared to the 4.

[@jameslugo]

Both are cool but that IV is the beast.

[@LeonTodd]

Unique beast isn't it!

[@anxiousnation3820]

Fast forward to today and a Mark IV cost more than a JP2C.

[@Funny-bf8xf]

i prefer the JPC or the mark V rather than the mark 4

[@zool84]

In Europe JP2C is simply impossible to find.

[@RL10]

Ladies and gentlemen, the video of the century!

[@williamscolaro1159]

Have you ever played the mini marks? 25/35? Thoughts?

[@LeonTodd]

Briefly but I'd love to get one in to demo!

[@mikedenkinger9570]

@Leon Todd: You might have covered this before... but what pickups are you using in that gorgeous Les Paul?

[@LeonTodd]

Martin A Smith PAF style humbuckers

[@_Suzuka_Joe]

JP2C is my go to amp on my fractal. After owning a MarkV back when they came out in 2009/2010 I just can’t see myself going back to tubes

[@Soloist1983]

The real star in this show is the delay, and maybe that presence knob, wow, what a difference.

[@danyeo]

They don’t make them like they used to.

[@Dimiguitar]

Fractal vs mark IV comparison. Pls. The people have spoken.

[@fedboy21]

Mk iv the best for me...more angrier than the jpc. Why mesa making worse product, why not more better than the mk4...just my opinion

[@patriknessboLemoran]

If u pull the presence and then Dail it up the amp becomes louder

[@duck2587]

The shred control is the secret to getting the jp2c in the same field as the mark IV. Almost hard to tell apart. Engage the shred. Decrease the faders that control the high end to taste and you’re more than half way in mark IV territory. Adjust everything else to ear. You’ll get there. Thank me later.

[@VaiSolo]

Not sure what happened, but my comment seems to have disappeared. Let's try this again... Was thinking about pulling the trigger on a JP-2C, then I heard heard this kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYfVgXhjhMZpl9k (1m25s - 2m50s) and felt gutted! Matt said he wasn’t able to dial out that hollow boxy sound even after months of tweaking! What do you think, Leon? Can you match channel 3 on the Mark IV with the JP-2C? We’re all after THAT tone and 95% isn’t close enough!

[@TDL122TDL]

SKIP to the metal!!! Ha, good amps.

[@duck2587]

I have Both and They’re not going anywhere lol

[@peterharvin2775]

That Soldano was grinning in the background saying "Yeah, you guys are pretty good, but..."

[@mthao1832]

Wish those boogies were fully versatile like the modded Marshall’s tho

[@Lonewolve1988]

1991 Mesa/Boogie MKIV revA.....all day long. If Mesa/Gibson ever makes a MKVII two clean channels with separate eq's, two rhythm channels with separate eq's, three lead channels with separate eq's , two power stages 6 6L6 tubes or 6 EL 34's.......cab clone , Midi, multiple loops.... Spring reverb, everything the Mark IIC+ / MKIV/ JP2C are known for choice selector for 100 watts,50 watts,& 25 watts. Available as a rack mount,long head, and dual combo with locking ceramic bearing casters.

[@gregorywall7586]

Of all the thousands of Mesa amps sold, who else (apart from the greats like Metallica) have done anything really great with them? Its for people to feel pressured into parting with lots of money to show off to their friends, and they spend so much time tweaking sounds out of it (part of the fun - I know) that most players still sound just....okay. Its really just guitar tech nerdery at its usual finest. I know - I was one of them.

[@dane4453]

Man, this tone just sounds horrible. I just do not understand the mesa hype.