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Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 5 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $3,809
High-end/Boutique
$300
$801+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash the power of legendary tone with the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head, a true icon in the realm of guitar amplification. Revered by guitar virtuosos and tone purists alike, this amp head stands as a testament to Mesa/Boogie's innovative spirit. Building upon the foundation of its predecessors, the Mark IIC+ introduces a refined circuit that delivers unparalleled versatility and sound clarity. From studio sessions to live performances, this head is engineered to provide the dynamic range and responsiveness that professional musicians demand.
The Mark IIC+ is celebrated for its rich, creamy leads and its ability to cut through any mix with precision. Its high-gain capabilities are matched by its clean channel, offering a pristine tonal palette that suits any genre. Whether you're crafting intricate solos or driving a band with rhythmic energy, the Mark IIC+ gives you the tools to express your unique sound. Trusted by icons like Kirk Hammett and John Petrucci, this amp head has earned its reputation as a staple in the world of high-output amps.
Key Features:
- Rich, creamy lead tones and precise high-gain capabilities
- Versatile channel options for a wide tonal palette
- Renowned for its dynamic range and responsiveness
- Trusted by professional guitarists for its iconic sound quality
- Perfect for both studio and live performance settings
Product specs
| Brand | Mesa Boogie |
| Model | Mark II C+ 2-Channel Simul-Class 75-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Various |
| Year | 1984 - 1985 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 75 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 / EL34 |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
FAQs
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What are the tonal characteristics of the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head is renowned for its versatile tonal range, offering rich cleans, creamy overdrive, and aggressive high-gain tones. It's particularly favored for its tight low end and smooth, singing lead tones, making it a staple for rock and metal genres.
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Is the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head is designed for live performances with its powerful 75-watt output, ensuring it can compete with loud stage volumes. The amp's dual-channel design also allows for seamless switching between clean and overdriven tones during a performance.
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What power tube types does the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head use?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head utilizes 6L6 and EL34 power tubes, providing flexibility in tonal shaping and power output. This combination allows players to achieve both American and British-style amp tones.
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Does the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head include built-in effects?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head features built-in spring reverb, adding depth and space to your sound. This classic effect complements the amp's versatile tonal capabilities.
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What is the impedance range of the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head offers an impedance range of 4 ohms and 8 ohms, providing compatibility with a variety of speaker cabinets. This flexibility ensures optimal performance and tone with different setups.
Videos
Ola Englund
MESA BOOGIE MARK IIC+ - IN THE ROOM
MESA BOOGIE MARK IIC+ - IN THE ROOM
Ola Englund
MESA MARK IIC+ COPY?
Ola Englund
3X MESA BOOGIE MARK IIC+ Metal Comparison
Ola Englund
Mesa Boogie Mark IV vs Mark IIC+
Blake Mansfield
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ vs Mark III vs Mark IV vs Mark V 2020
Reamp Tones
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Coliseum KG
Blake Mansfield
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional versatility across genres: rock, jazz, metal, country, blues, and R&B
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Unmatched tonal quality and sustain for live performances
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Class-A Triode 15-watt setting ideal for rehearsals and small venues
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Powerful enough to outperform larger amplifiers in live settings
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Precise sound dialing eliminates need for external effects
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Durable and reliable for thousands of gigs, both indoor and outdoor
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Vintage desirability and rarity make it a collector's item
CONS
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Heavyweight design due to large transformers and speaker components
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head.
Comparisons
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The Mark IIC+ is described as having a raw, aggressive gain compared to the more compressed sound of the Mark III.
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The Mark IIB is praised for its fat sound with cleans and dirties, while the IIC+ offers tonal variety in sculpting.
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The Mark III Blue Stripe is mentioned as having a similar vibe to the IIC+ but with more compression.
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The Mesa IIC+ plugin is noted as less intuitive to dial in compared to Archetype Petrucci but offers more accurate replication of IIC+ tones.
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Petrucci plugin is praised for its creamy, liquid lead tones, while the IIC+ excels at delivering raw, aggressive rhythm sounds.
Source
User experience
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Owners note that the Mark V can sound overly compressed if not using the Diode settings for the rectifier.
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Some owners anticipate that the reissue will not affect the value of original Mark IIC+ amps due to perceived differences in sound and collector value.
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Some users find it challenging to achieve a desirable tone quickly with the Mesa suite, unlike the Petrucci, which is easier to set up.
Source
Features and functionality
Build quality
Value and pricing
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The reissue is priced between $3,599 (head) and $3,899 (combo), with preorders available but delivery not expected until March 2025.
Source
Use cases and applications
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 6 Ratings
40997
the last decent sounding mesa at least to my ear... also easier to service then everything since... still a pain, but easier than everything else they've made
5340
i had it since 86 and it still sounds awesome even after about to re valves
5340
i found it in my mums house in Bristol and brought it home because i got rid of a shit ton of gear
Artist usage
Add artist
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James used the Mark IIC+ on Master of Puppets and And Justice For All...
On this photo from 1984 or 1985 you can see the MarkIIC+ in the background.
"The story of MESA/Boogie and Metallica goes back about as far as the origins of the band itself. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett have both used Mesa products in their live rigs and studio recording since the Mesa Mark IIC+ hit the streets in the early '80s . The Mark IIC+ played a significant role in the recording of some of early Metallica's most recognized music "
In this video, Petrucci uses the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head. "When it comes to the Mark IIC+, John is truly one of the worldwide experts on the Mark IIC+, next to Founder Randall Smith, Tone Boy Doug West and Mesa Chief Technician Mike Bendinelli. In this video, John explains how the Mark Five’s C+ Mode was designed around the best and most prized of the Mark IIC+ amp configurations available (since there are many different configurations of Mark IIC+ out there) while playing a few riff examples from the song “Enigma Machine” off the latest 2014 album titled after the bands name."
A December 20, 2002 post in this Les Paul Forum thread by user Bluesbreaker59 mentions that Satriani purchased a MKIIC+ from him.
When I had my Mark II C+, it had the original STR 420's in it, which from what I was told by my Boogie dealer, is the holy Grail of Mesa tubes. However they ceased production on them, so I don't know how hard they would be to find. When I finally had to replace them, I just bought brand new Boogie 6L6 tubes and they sounded good, just not spectacular like the old 420's. Just my opinion.
When I sold my Boogie, the guitar shop put it on Ebay and got contacted by one of Joe Satriani's people, because I guess he, Petrucci, Kirk Hammett and a few select others are trying to hoard all the Mark II C+ 's in the world. I got $800, for it, the guitar shop got $1800, so if I were you I'd definitely hold onto that amp, and not let those shredders have it, they don't deserve everything.
An absolutely huge guitar amp with a crazy 180 watts of headroom, Prince owned three Mesa Mark IIC+ heads around the recording of Purple Rain, and the amp was seen in his touring rig up until the 1999 Tour. Apparently, one of the heads somehow ended up in a music shop in Minneapolis, where it was purchased by an unsuspecting fan who later discovered it was Prince's backup head - not bad for a cheeky second-hand purchase.
http://www.stevelukather.com/media/84498/pastgear.pdf
From 1984's Starlicks Steve Lukather instructional video and given the year in question, one can appreciate that he utilized the MESA/Boogie Mark II c+ Simul-Class short head as a preamp and two MESA/Boogie Mark II c+ Colisseum (180W) as power amps for his Bradshaw stereo rig/rack.
http://www.hendrixguitars.com/Images/Mesa%20steve%20Lukather.jpg
he uses the amp in this video, at 1:01 he talks about the amp
On this page of Mesa Boogie's website, it states that Bruce Springsteen "recently swapped out his Mesa/Boogie Mark II C+ touring heads (for over 20 years) with ElectraDynes..."
Normally what I do, I have one amp that I use very regularly, and it’s the Mesa Boogie MK II C+ which is like one of those Holy Grail amps. I love that amp. I used it on the new Rammstein record along with a Friedman amp which I like too for some of the crunchy sounds.
"The rack setup used during the later Blue Murder days included a Mesa Boogie Dual Recto head, a Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Preamp, a Mesa Boogie IIC+ head, a Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 Power Amp, a rack mounted Dunlop Crybaby, a Lexicon PCM 41, a Lexicon PCM 70, and an H&H V800 Power Amp."
"After that, we used Music Man amps for a while, then some Boogie Mark II heads, which were also great."
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Album Usage
The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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