Mesa Boogie Mark IV VS Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+

[@NateThunder]

Thank you so much for not spending the whole video talking!! So refreshing! Ive yet to find another amp that rivals my Mk IV Rev A head.

[@PainDive1]

I have gotten a mark III no stripe with the famous 105 transformer today that sounds just like c+. I put against my c+ and was blown away by how identical. So happy!

[@jeffreyjess4164]

The mark 2 C+ is a beast ... too bad nobody mentions it has one of the most Iconic clean sounds that rival any vintage fender. I have one and when in a closed eye test using a 66 deluxe reverb vs my 2C+ hard to tell the difference. My humble opinion after 40 years of Gigging live or in the studio with many other amps the 2C+ Most Iconic amp for sure of all time.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Jeffrey Jess absolutely ! Great clean, but as you said, no one take the Time to show this ability of the c+ . Maybe for my next demo stay tuned

[@robvoyles]

Well it was a Fender hot rodded into a boogie.if they were vastly different they wouldn't have just swiped each version with just a magic marker swipe or a black dot or a + sign. The big difference in the IIC+ and the Mark III was the third channel. Mesa got noticeably different with the Mesa badging vs the Boogie badges. The Rectifier series,The lone star, Road King,Nomad, etc came later and did sound different... The stiletto was probably the most different being EL34 based shooting toward the Marshall tone. Even my newer Mark 5 EL84 based amp sits in my studio with the older mark III'S and it too sounds really close even all these years later with totally different power section/ tubes. The petrucci amp is a modern Mark amp and you can line up all the Mark series amps and NO one in the audience would ever know the difference and most guitar players blind folded couldn't pick them out one from the other especially with the transparent EVM 12L black shadow speaker or an MC-90 black shadow. The IIC+ landed in the right time to become the flagship vintage boogie. Thats when 80's music was huge and that amp was produced at the right time for the players who made it famous. I would argue a Mark III purple, red, blue or green could have been used by the players who made the IIC+ famous and those albums and concerts wouldn't have sounded any different.

[@yoda4520]

@@robvoyles Agree with this and so much more. I would make a joke about the original deluxe to mark comparison being flawed as I would have that deluxe dialed in under a minute where as the mark would take longer so I would know which one is which. All jokes aside a deluxe is not a great comparison cause the amp is arguably more famous for its breakup than it's clean. Compare the Mesa to a Twin then we might have something. I do love my Mark IV, but I feel like there is a lot of messing around to get a good sound and most of the variation is either undesirable or negligible. Especially in a recording setting where a sound engineer is going to change your sound even more to fit the mix. Maybe I'm just not a true Mesa fan, but it does have its merits. My mark iv does have a great clean and a good LDw/EQ channel that I would record for leads. I even kind of like using the maligned or ignored Ryth 2 channel for plexi type of crunch. However, I groan when I see a Mesa show up with a band I'm playing with or watching. Usually amounts to unbearable loudness, horrible tone, and insane distortion. I've never gigged with mine, but the thought of having to adjust my mark iv for the venues acoustics in 10 minute sound check sounds like a recipe for disaster.

[@theboogies474]

God damn... the MK2C+ voice is untouchable ! The mark 4 is awesome also. What the MK2C+ does no amp can do! IMO

[@bougear]

I want the round 2 of this battle with your new sparkly Mark IV Camo :) !

[@kevenrivard8719]

Ca le prends

[@rec99cts27]

Un son d’enfer 😈 Ta collection s’en vient bien!

[@RodrigoRamirez-eq6gj]

In my opinion, there's really no justification in terms of tone for the much higher price that IIC+ amps sell for compared to MkIVs.

[@torreyintahoe]

or III's.

[@guillaumeduchesne9758]

Merci pour ce video de grande qualité ! Following

[@kevenrivard8719]

Guillaume Duchesne super et merci! Je devrais être en mesure de sortir quelques démos prochainement

[@-jk-2580]

Nice comparison. I see you didn’t pull out the lead presence on MK IV? In my opinion it brings the whole sound to a new level. I would run treble and presence controls higher also, which brings it very close to MK IIc+ and even beyond.

[@kevenrivard8719]

-JK- yeah probably but i love to run my presence very low on old Boogie’s. I don’t need to hear the top end high frequency. Presence on the C+ was at 5 this time. Why i don’t pulls out the presence knob on the IV? I play with a very loud and round pickups so i feel like i don’t need the the extra space, larger sound that the pres knob give and i prefer to keep the focus on each frequency very tight. But yeah i know it would sound more like the C+ but it was not a tone matching vidéo. Anyway, they are two différent beast and the most difference is the Spirit and the feeling of each amp. Really thanks for watching and comment, cheers!

[@Rooster7six]

Harvester of sorrow! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@1969MARKETING]

I have a mark five 25 and i'm not sure how close the IIC+ and IV modes are to the full size amps but i prefer the IV distortion over IIC+. i find the IIC+ a bit muddy and IV tighter and more focused.

[@tomh4244]

You just described basically the opposite, the C+ is legendary for it's percussive tight attack while the IV is smoother and has a soft attack, better for leads than crunch. Either your perception is not on point or the Mark v25 does a poor job at replicating these amps.

[@1969MARKETING]

@@tomh4244 what i described is correct. the IV is tighter than the IIC+ mode for distortion on the Mark V 25.

[@callumvernon7053]

@@1969MARKETING I agree with you, but if you put an extreme ‘Mesa V’ on the 5 band EQ it can be tight. Set the bass pre EQ quite low, around 9 o’clock, quite high gain and treble around 3 o’clock. It takes an awful lot of messing. Had my 25 since they first came out and still finding new tones today.

[@randywilliams7958]

Nothing compares to the 2C+

[@L.J.S.P.]

DUDE! How did you make the Mark IV sound like a Mark IIc+? The tone you have is the reason for me getting a Mark IIc+. If sound/tone could glow, this would be the example. I don't know what the fuss is about the Plexi, these do it with steroids then some! So versitile with the eq. Thanks, Jason

[@kevenrivard8719]

thanks man! IV as nearly the same circuit c+ as ,it's easy to dial the IV very close to the C+ but when you play with the C+ you notice no one can be tighter, organic and agressive as the C+ can be. So...both can do great tone as always. two iconic sounding amp

[@petesilvo8131]

If you have a Rev A Mark IV, you can get pretty close with dialling in Simul-Class, Harmonics, Triode (or even pentode). Then experiment with the Presence push and pull. I prefer the Presence pushed for a more gutsy tone which pulling Lead drive to Bright.

[@5150forevermore]

You think youll ever get the ++ done on the C+? Im thinking about sending mine in whenever Mike B starts modding again

[@kevenrivard8719]

Hi! Hype was really hard till I’ve tried one. This mod is clearly not for me. I’ve hated the over compression. Less definition. I want it as percussive as possible so… I prefer the stock one 💪🏻

[@5150forevermore]

@@kevenrivard8719 I literally only want it because of Metallica 😅. I have zero complaints about the tone it's perfect. Ive always been curious tho. I mean it's switchable so what have I got to lose right?

[@kevenrivard8719]

@@5150forevermore yeah but make sure you chose the REVERSIBLE mode. Then you’ll be able to return stock. See ya!

[@petemoore8923]

Jesus! At around 3:56 is when you can just hear an ungodly quality to the tone. I can’t even explain it. I first heard a Boogie in person in 1986. I literally almost pissed my pants. There’s something in there that just sounds right.

[@ronaldothomejunior3702]

1:56 Yes, that is!

[@kevenrivard8719]

Haha right on

[@rubenalonsoviguerassalazar1539]

Hi. Have you made kemper profiles inspired in Metallica?

[@kevenrivard8719]

Nop, sorry. Don’t own the Kemper anymore. Thank you

[@Ultranova80]

OMG, its amazing!! I see a Kemper in your rack, did you try to profiling the Marks? Have you this profiles..??

[@kevenrivard8719]

Thank you! Sadly, I don’t own the Kemper anymore. I’ve been a Kemper user for six years! I’ve never do any profile of my amp collection sorry!

[@Ultranova80]

​@@kevenrivard8719sadly, realy..(( But why you didnt try to made profiles of your amp collection? These amps deserve to be "captured in digit".

[@kevenrivard8719]

@@Ultranova80 humm, I’m just used the kemper for recording, reamping, riffing hard at 12:00 a.m Really really love this unit, can’t tell anything wrong with that. Just sell because I have enough amps to make what I want and I’m more satisfied with my recording method (mic in isocab) than the kemper offered me.

[@Ultranova80]

@@kevenrivard8719 ok, I get it.

[@5150forevermore]

Any idea what year those V30s are? They have a very pleasant mid hump to them. Very interesting.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Thank you. Really hard to say but they are really well broken, even better today. I still own this cabinet 👌🏻

[@tomh4244]

Awesome!! Have you ever compared your DRG with an HRG? If so what are your impressions? Thanks 👍😊

[@kevenrivard8719]

Thank man! Sorry, never had a single chance to play on other c+ or variations of this one. Sadly. For sure they seems to be great !

[@L.J.S.P.]

Have to comment again, I've havent heard anybody dial this GREAT of a tone outa these amps - I've heard many. Seriously, even LOG, and Metallica - Studio stuff, man! Sorry for the brown nosing, I've probably watched this 11-19 times already, just to hear the howllowness and glow of the amps, & your playing is my forte! You certainly found the sweet spot. Let me reflect - most distortions and recordings capture a crunch that is a "ching ching ching" at the top of the signal's eq, that has some body hum to it, but the dist is not in the body part of the signal, hum. This recording has the distortion through the body of the signal, and not just "sha, sha," fizz, at top of signal's spectrum with a little hum to disguise it - it is harmonic Dist throughout the signal. IOW: the crunch is within the signal, not on top of the signal. This is proof of it being a tubed Boogie. Dammit, back to the drawing-board. Please, Pardon my obsession, sir, & KEEP the videos coming, man. Lord bless you, Jason

[@kevenrivard8719]

Jason Schneider WOAH! I have to say thank you! Really. I wiil make another vidéo as soon as possible. Just have to finish à recording here. The next one will be to shown the sightly différence between diffrent révision of the old rectifier 2ch. Next one will be the IIC + with two set of différent tubes. Thanks again

[@L.J.S.P.]

@@kevenrivard8719 That'd be awesome! Do another, show us the practicality of things! I am now at a stalemate between the 2 - Mark II or Mark IV. Going to get 1. Your awesome, later! Jason

[@jongonzalez6917]

I actually prefer the Mark IV.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Jon Gonzalez Nice choice, different taste ! This IV is a beast for sure

[@talhafatihuzun]

I second that. I have both and personally prefer the Mark IV-A.

[@anxiousnation3820]

I prefer the Mark IV as well. Has more of a 3 dimensional sound. I expected to like the 2C+ more.

[@Basedboomerchadbear]

2:54 …me too! This Mark iv is an animal!!

[@mkii1964]

My Mark IIC+ is so sensitive to adjustment it’s hard to ever get the exact tone after you change the knobs. Curious if yours is that way?

[@kevenrivard8719]

mkii1964 yep , same here. Their eQ are very sensitive! But i love it ´cause you can reach the perfect tone.

[@mkii1964]

Keven Rivard Thanks man! Nice tones you’re getting!!

[@0megalul309]

the geq is a finicky bastard to get right. one small shift and it can sound from good to shit. Lol

[@zxexrxox]

Sick amp collection

[@kevenrivard8719]

thanks man !

[@RodrigoRamirez-eq6gj]

That tone is absolutely awesome! Did you use a horizontal 2×12 recto cab? The way I'm miking I just don't seem to be able to get enough of that cabinet resonance that gives your sound fullness. If I move the mics too far out away from the dust caps the sound becomes too smooth and loses its bite. If I move the mics back away from the cloth, I start getting a lot of room reflections in the E906. I was able to get somewhere close by using only the SM57 11 cm away from the cloth and slightly off the dust cap. A good amount of cabinet resonance there. But there's still a lack of bite. If you have any tips to getting closer to that sound, I will appreciate it very much 😊

[@kevenrivard8719]

@@RodrigoRamirez-eq6gj thank man! Yes I use the horizontal 2x12 Recto cab as well. Everything was recorded in an iso box with 2 mic’s as I remember. It’s been five years. I know the struggle you have cause sometimes it happens with a microphone. My setup was always been the same, whatever the mic I’m using, iso cab, sm57, E906 for mid bite and sinonce 2 years I’ve add the Royer R121. They’re all close to the grill cloth. Mix preamp at broil and amp at the right level just to pushes the tubes properly. Nothing fancy! I don’t know your environment but, try to crank the amp and the mic preamp at good amount and the bite will come easily See yah!

[@RodrigoRamirez-eq6gj]

​@@kevenrivard8719Thank you for the info!

[@orokusaki7595]

I wanted a C for the simpler pallet and layout but I love my IV…needs no boost

[@kevenrivard8719]

Iv’s are phenomenal

[@Thewsy39]

Mark IV has prettier mids for sure!

[@Locoandchooch]

Can you share the Mark IV settings?

[@kevenrivard8719]

Locoandchooch nop sorry! Dont Remember

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Whats the year of your amps ? Thanks

[@kevenrivard8719]

Late 84'/91’

[@nickyounger1368]

Settings for the iv please

[@kevenrivard8719]

Don’t own this amp anymore sorry

[@Nsypski]

2C+ only amp that has that sharp and singing midrange for each note. All of the Mark Amps have that super mesa tightness where each note seems like its individually distorted, but the 2C+ is the only one that makes all of them pop.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Norbert Sypytkowski you are just totally right. Well said

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Mark IIC+ for Metallica and Dream Theater sound, Mark IV for Lamb of God and Korn I think.

[@NateThunder]

MkIV for Black Album, MkIIC+ for Master of Puppets.

[@S1N15A]

lamb of god and korn are dual rec

[@jasonquick2178]

@@S1N15A hahahaha no they aren’t! Mark 4 all day for Lamb of God

[@swanation45]

What power tubes in the mark iv? Settings on the back, triode etc? Thanks

[@kevenrivard8719]

swanation45 Dont own this unit anymore but , STR440 yellow. At this moment, full power, triodes , simulclass & harmonics.

[@pvsnoir]

Can you please share some settings ?

[@Luxdg]

Can you make a video like Mesa’s VS Kemper please?

[@kevenrivard8719]

Luciano Di Gennaro yes, sure. Do you want a demo of my IIC profiled or IIC+ VS Kemper IIC+ profiles that somebody havé already made ?

[@Luxdg]

Keven Rivard thanks! It would be great to hear the same amp if you can profile yours and another amazing thing would be to hear dynamics things like roll off volume tone, feedbacks, harmonics with picks....and last but not least your opinions about the feeling of playing it compared to real one.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Luciano Di Gennaro excellent!

[@mastermaster2069]

2C+ just great🎶💣🔊

[@dvdpz89]

Do you have a Kemper profile of this?

[@kevenrivard8719]

David Perez not yet sir but it’s on the way to profiling my collection before chritmass

[@reamptones9925]

Which C+ is that one? like DRG, HRG etc

[@kevenrivard8719]

Reamp Tones DRG !

[@fabiol.9161]

I can t understand why everybody jumps directely from mark ii to the iv..never tried the iii? The red stripe mark iii has the same circuit of the ii+ plus with two channels but never mentioned... Mesa boogie mark iii the most underrated guitar amp ever

[@kevenrivard8719]

Fabio L. Totally agree. People jump in the iv for All the features i think. I’ve try couple of III but none of them have the torque of my IV-A Sadly.

[@theboogies474]

You an Überschall ? Überschall vs the mark C plus vs mark4? Which one wins when it comes to high gain brutality aggression with an insane hug sound ? Be honest ! Which amp blow you away when it come to chunky chug?

[@kevenrivard8719]

Bognerknot Uberknob for this particular application, Über. Everytime. One of the deepest lowend i’ve ever seen but all stay clear. Dont really need a boost. Well, not for me but it’s always subjective. Mark IIC+ can chug super tight but the lowend’s are not at thé same place. Love them

[@theboogies474]

Keven Rivard that’s why the Überschall is the ultimate heavy power metal amp ever created . Try the orignal or Rev2 lol insanity!

[@kevenrivard8719]

Bognerknot Uberknob yep! I love the early early révision, more raw!

[@theboogies474]

Keven Rivard I have the very original 053 with KT88 and the early Rev2 that Reinhold personally modded for me and it has KT88 as well! And I have a Rev blue also. My life time amps. Never tried Mesa marks! But I really digged your mark4 ! My friend told me they marks they sound tinny not huge like the Überschall ! Is it true? I know the Überschall is not a normal amp but im into explosive insane metal amps like the Überschall. I owned all the amps from diezels peaveys Mesa dual triple Friedman’s VHTs but bogner is freaking bogner. Would you recommend the mark 4 ?

[@kevenrivard8719]

@@theboogies474 ohh nice score with the #053! they're all great imo. usually i prefer all the earyliest version for the rawness. mine is a early rev Blue with KT77 and i love it. when i've bought it , it was KT88 and i've switch for the KT77. just better for my taste. i down boost the Uber so it's more tight and mid focused. Mark IV now, i think it's the BEST #1 bang for the buck. No shitty overdrive needed. sound tight as fuck. Ok it's not as loud as a Uberschall but it have plenty of tight low end with the old school vibe. you can play ANYTHING with the IV and it will sounds good. forget the shitty V model. sounds like plastic. IIC+ III blue stripes or the IV only. i hope it will help you! cheers

[@BOER1717]

Wow, nice! Have you by any chance profiled them using the kemper? If so, are they available anywhere? :) you capture the feel of these amps perfectly!

[@kevenrivard8719]

Heinrich not yet but its my goal for winter to make a Kemper bundle. I have many old and rare recto’s, Ubershclall, classical 5150 block letter ect. Îll let you know

[@Locoandchooch]

The IIC has that aggressive woody tone to it, the Mark IV has it to buy not as aggressive. Nevertheless, both sound killer. I have a IV and a V. If anyone plays a dual recto, you would like these more.

[@kevenrivard8719]

Locoandchooch you’re right man. C+ is more agressive and more open. Very articulated. Both sound killer like you said. Big Recto fan here, own every revision exept the E. They are différent beast! Mesa just kick ass

[@Locoandchooch]

Keven Rivard I won’t argue that, I have 2 rack mount rectos, I have number 288 dual rectifier, a modded rev g. Plus 2 triple rectos, 2 Uberschalls, number 82 and a newer uber TJ. It’s better than drugs👍🏻

[@kevenrivard8719]

Locoandchooch haha absolutely man! Love All my Recto, especially the G Rack and the C’s #202. Truly beast of an amp. My uber, simple rev blue KT77 and its a monster 💪💪

[@Locoandchooch]

@@c.h.graham115 That’s a tough one, but I would say the Mark V, because it has so many tone options. It does super clean and tight crunch. And it’s dry on extreme mode, and saturated on IV mode, IIC+ mode it’s in between the two.

[@mandreshyp6683]

I want a IIC+!

[@kevenrivard8719]

MandresHyp action! Awesome amps. I’ts not just a « hype » It’s a phenomenal piece of gear.

[@mathiasplem]

Keven Rivard = Ze Best Boogie Tweaker on Earth!! Great job again!

[@kevenrivard8719]

Mathias Plem un tourneux d’boutons !

[@mathiasplem]

NAMM 2025, here we come with Rivard account!!!!!!!!!!

[@philf4086]

You like drop D eh?

[@kevenrivard8719]

P Frank nop. Eb

[@NebojsaBOOGIE]

Mark IIC+ > Mark III > anything else Great video!

[@bougear]

You're the TweakerMaster!!

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

mk IV has more of a signature sound, at least in this video.

[@kevenrivard8719]

trey azagathooth IV sounds so goooood

[@vaiizkii9787]

Wow, the IV def sounded better here.

[@kevenrivard8719]

This rev a is a monster. IIC+ and IV are simply the best of the Mark series. IV’s are a bit more compress and * modern *

[@kevenrivard8719]

This rev a is a monster. IIC+ and IV are simply the best of the Mark series. IV’s are a bit more compress and * modern *

[@MykiDiBono]

Cellular audio? bad listening for me...

[@King_Kobra87]

there's some snare and kick in your compressor

[@endtimeguitarist]

Mesa: let’s build a decent amp Mesa: let’s build an even worse version but place a V at the end to make it look really cool The masses: whoa look it’s a mesa mark FIVE Reality: a company succeeds financially by first building quality and than later using its name to build a product that is clearly a downgrade but tricks newer users into thinking they have gold 🐅

[@Skoora]

I humbly disagree. I think my V is an excellent amp. But I don’t play it for the traditional mark Metal tones. I like CH1 and 2 for my metal tones. Ch 1 alone would make an amazing amp. Plus it makes an amazing power amp for my Quad Pre.

[@Blackout-mm8pr]

While a very good amp no doubt, it lacks that Diezel magic just like everything else.

[@ultimatemetalguitartones]

I have both these amps and in my opinion u made them both sound like shit lol