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Average Price: $1,500
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$300
$801+
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Description
The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier is a true cornerstone in the evolution of guitar amplification, offering a triple-channel design that revolutionized the soundscape for musicians worldwide. Launched in 1985, this amp not only boasts the legendary Mesa Boogie's signature high-gain sound but also introduced a third "crunch" channel, setting new standards for tonal versatility. Whether you're diving into searing solos or laying down lush, clean tones, the Mark III's unique circuitry adapts effortlessly to your needs.
With its Simul-Class power section, the Mark III allows you to explore a world of dynamic power configurations. By marrying Class-A and Class-AB circuits, it delivers a nuanced, responsive sound that can switch from roaring 85 watts to a more intimate 15 watts, depending on the model. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for both small gigs and stadium performances.
The amp comes fitted with Reverb and Presence controls, primarily located on the rear panel, and many units feature a coveted 5-band graphic equalizer for further tonal sculpting. The "Green Stripe" revision, produced from 1989 onwards, added another layer of sophistication with its pentode power tube configuration, bumping up the power output for even more headroom and punch.
Key Features:
- Triple-channel design with Clean, Crunch, and Lead options
- Simul-Class power section for versatile wattage configurations
- Switchable between 15/25 and 75/85 watts depending on the version
- Rear panel Reverb and Presence controls
- Optional 5-band graphic equalizer for detailed tone shaping
- "Green Stripe" revision with enhanced power tube configuration for added power
Product specs
| Brand | Mesa Boogie |
| Model | Mark III Simul-Class 3-Channel 75-Watt 1x12" Guitar Combo |
| Finish | Black Stripe, Blue Stripe, Purple Stripe, Red Stripe |
| Year | 1985 - 1988 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Guitar Combo Amps |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Number of Channels | 3 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 75 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 / EL34 |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
| Speaker Configuration | 1x12" |
FAQs
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What are the core tonal characteristics of the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier is known for its versatility, offering a wide range of tones from pristine cleans to aggressive overdrive. Its three-channel design allows players to switch between different voicings, making it suitable for various genres, including rock, blues, and metal.
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How loud is the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier, and is it suitable for live performances?
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With 75 watts of power, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier is loud enough for live performances, even in larger venues. Its robust output ensures it can keep up with a full band, including a drummer, without losing clarity or impact.
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What type of power tubes does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier use?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier uses a combination of 6L6 and EL34 power tubes. This blend offers a unique tonal flexibility, allowing players to achieve both American-style clean tones and British-style overdrive.
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Does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier have built-in effects?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier includes built-in spring reverb, adding depth and dimension to your sound without the need for external pedals.
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How does the Simul-Class feature affect the performance of the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier?
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The Simul-Class feature allows the Mesa/Boogie Mark III to operate in both Class A and Class AB modes simultaneously, providing enhanced harmonic richness and dynamic range. This unique design contributes to the amp's renowned versatility and tonal complexity.
Videos
Mooseboy08
(SOLD) Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class Hardwood
(SOLD) Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class Hardwood
Mooseboy08
Mesa/Boogie Mark III Simul-Class (Red Stripe)
Sinisa Radin
The Terrifying Versatility of the Mesa Boogie Mark Series
Johan Segeborn
The Neighbors HATE This Mesa Boogie Mark III coliseum....
ZIMM'S GUITARS
LONG REVIEW: Mesa Boogie Mark III
rollysguitars
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile tones covering rock, jazz, and fusion effortlessly
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Exceptional clean, crunch, and lead tones with simple pedal switch
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Push mids for Marshall-like tones; great headroom with 6L6 tubes
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Consistent performance; original valves still intact after years
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Easily achieves classic rock sounds with hollow-body guitars
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Offers both Marshallesque and Fenderesque sounds with a Class A/B switch
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Long sustain, reminiscent of iconic 80's sounds
CONS
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Weighs over 60 lbs, making it cumbersome to transport
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Requires professional biasing to avoid potential damage
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier.
Setup and maintenance
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Mark III models are sensitive to EQ settings; setting bass, mid, and treble to zero results in no output, indicating their critical role in sound shaping.
Source -
Some owners report issues with pots transitioning from quiet to very loud abruptly, suggesting a need for careful maintenance and setup checks.
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Owners recommend having the amp checked by a tube amp repair specialist to inspect solder joints, capacitors, and tube sockets for optimal performance.
Source
Comparisons
User experience
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The Mark V 35 is noted for its separate EQ per channel, making it easier to manage tonal differences when switching between guitars.
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Owners report the Mark III is incredibly durable, with many having never experienced issues despite the amp's age.
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Owners highlight the amp's volume and master volume relationship, where a higher volume setting requires a lower master volume to maintain specific volume levels.
Source
Use cases and applications
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Simul-class Mark III models can switch between 75 to 15 watts, offering flexibility in power output for different performance settings.
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This amp is versatile, favored by metalheads and punk musicians for its onboard EQ, allowing it to cut through mixes effectively; also used by notable artists like Kurt Cobain and James Hetfield.
Source
Features and functionality
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The Mark III's distortion primarily comes from the preamp, allowing it to maintain tonal quality at lower volumes, suitable for apartment use.
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The amp's footswitches are essential for channel switching, and there are products available to consolidate this function into a single box for convenience.
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The blue stripe version features more aggressive gain and a unique power section, making it a sought-after model for specific tonal characteristics.
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The clean channel is extremely clean and lacks natural compression until the amp reaches high volumes, making it suitable for specific clean tones.
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The push-pull knobs act as EQ shifts for bass, mid, and treble or manually select channels, highlighting their dual-purpose functionality.
Source
Build quality
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The amps are road-tough, with some models showing marks from rigorous factory testing, indicating their durability and reliability.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 12 Ratings
161
Punchy, yet sophisticated. One and only.
A real " Real Thing" for classic rock sound that leans towards a bit heavier groove , in general. Perfect for low-gain approach with hollow body guitars in order to get Izzy Stradlin or Malcolm Young like sound.
751
All the technology of Mesa Boogie (Marshall & Fender sounds more in 1984 !!!!) 100 w / 4 ohms
Always a pleasure so plug a guitar and listen to the excellent clean crunch lead tones with the simple pedal board to switch between chanel 1 or 2, it was my companion since 35 years, and no problem with it, only tubes changed twice a year, because of intense using, loop send / return, reverb, and choice of the class , simple but sounds very great to get every sound like Carlos Santa, Gary Moore and a lot of other great bands on this earth, never found a better amp to get long sustain in the 80's of course, and never change its 6L6 that I didn't want to change with another tubes to keep the original sound and not to destroy parts of preamp or amp. you can also get Marshallesque and Fenderesque sounds very easily with class A/B switch on the back of the head . Power of 100w under 4 ohm, bias must be done by a professional to avoid destruction of the amp / preamp or risk of being killed by high capacitors
5340
forgot it
I forgot to add this one of my 2 remaining mesas along with my triple rec which has some major damage and i'm finding a head neck and ball ache to fix right now so ill leave it off my board but this hasnt blown on me and its got original valves and thats saying something for me
Artist usage
Add artist
As reported Kurt Cobain "loved" the rich tones and the "Punishment you could deliver" to this cabinet and he thrived on feedback that can come from the tubed head. You can see Kurt Cobain using this item in the picture.
Ed O'Brien is seen using a Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier during Radiohead's performance of "Creep" at the MTV Beach House in 1993, as captured in a video by shreddycap on YouTube. Note: The initial submission mistakenly listed the Mesa/Boogie Mark V Amplifier instead.
This amp can be seen in the photos, both hiro and Kim are using Mesa boogie gear.
At 1:19 you can see Izzy using the Mesa/Boogie Mark III.
In the 1994 film "It's Pat," during Ween's performance of "Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese" at the 2:02 Deaner can be seen playing a Fender Jazzmaster through a Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier head.
In this photo you can see a Mesa/Boogie Mark III (Blue Stripe) head on top of a Vox Ac30. In an interview with Premier Guitar, Joan Jett’s tech explained that it was her main head until they retired to studio .
Trey Anastasio has been using this amp since he bought it in the mid-80s, in part because he believes "being familiar with your gear is more important than having really good gear," he said in this video at (4:10).
According to this Guitar Geek rig diagram, El Hefe of NOFX used a Mesa Boogie Mark 3 live. However, he stopped using this amplifier at some point and moved to EVH 5150s.
"Amps are always really important to me, more so than guitars, and I’d just got a Mesa/Boogie Mark III - cryptic amps at the best of times. It was all baffled off, hidden away, and John (Leckie) would start fiddling with it.
“It got to the point where John used to keep a Filofax with his own settings; he’d march in, and set it to: jazz funk tone #3, or whatever. I just became even more resistant."
According to his official website, John Sykes used both standard Mesa Boogie Mark III and Mark III Coliseum heads.
For much of the Whitesnake '87 album and first Blue Murder album John used 2 Mesa Boogie Coliseum heads. These amps have a Mark III pre-amp section but use six 6L6 power tubes--giving the amps180 watts each! John also owns several Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+'s, Mark III's and some rack mounted Mesa Dual Recto heads. Other Mesa Boogie equipment includes a Tri-Axis preamp and a Strategy 500 Power Amp.
Album Usage
The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Amplifier 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 III Amplifier, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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