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Average Price: $1,500
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$300
$701+
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High-end
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Description
Step into the world of legendary amplification with the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12. Introduced in 1985, this amp continues to be a cornerstone in the realm of guitar amplifiers, celebrated for its versatile three-channel architecture. The Mark III sets itself apart with its distinct "crunch" channel, allowing guitarists to seamlessly switch from pristine cleans to earth-shattering overdrives.
Designed with Mesa/Boogie's revered Simul-Class power section, the Mark III boasts a unique hybrid of Class-A and Class-AB operation. This innovative setup provides a dynamic power range, making it switchable between 75 and 15 watts, perfect for both intimate gigs and arena stages. The amp's tonal flexibility is further enhanced by the option of a 5-band graphic equalizer, allowing musicians to sculpt their sound with precision.
The robust 1x12" combo format ensures ease of transport without sacrificing the powerful presence that defines Mesa/Boogie amps. Whether you're playing in a studio, on stage, or in a rehearsal space, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III delivers unmatched sound quality and reliability.
Key Features:
- Three-channel design with a distinct "crunch" mode
- Simul-Class power section for hybrid Class-A and Class-AB operation
- Power output switchable between 75 and 15 watts
- Optional 5-band graphic equalizer for detailed tone shaping
- Compact 1x12" combo design for portability and convenience
Product specs
| Brand | Mesa Boogie |
| Model | Mark III 3-Channel 100-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) | 100 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
| Speaker Configuration | 1x12" |
FAQs
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What are the main tonal characteristics of the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III is renowned for its versatility, offering a wide range of tones from pristine cleans to aggressive distortion. Its three channels allow for a seamless transition between clean, crunch, and lead tones, making it suitable for various genres, including rock, metal, and blues.
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Is the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo suitable for gigging with a drummer?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo is well-suited for live performances. With its 100-watt output and 1x12" speaker configuration, it provides ample volume and projection to compete with a full band, including a drummer.
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Does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo take pedals well?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo handles pedals exceptionally well, especially in its clean channel. Its robust tube-driven circuitry ensures that effects pedals integrate smoothly, allowing for creative tonal shaping without sacrificing clarity or character.
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What type of power tubes does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo use?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo utilizes 6L6 power tubes, which contribute to its powerful, dynamic sound and are known for their ability to deliver both sparkling cleans and rich, harmonic overdrive.
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Does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo have built-in reverb?
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Yes, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo features a spring reverb, adding depth and dimension to your sound, which is particularly effective for enhancing clean and lead tones.
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How many channels does the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo have?
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The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Combo offers three channels, allowing for a wide range of tonal options, from clean to crunch to high-gain lead sounds, making it a versatile choice for various playing styles.
Videos
Mooseboy08
(SOLD) Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class Hardwood
(SOLD) Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class Hardwood
Mooseboy08
TONE SECRETS AND HISTORY | Mesa Boogie MARK Series | Mark III blue stripe
Kris Barocsi
LONG REVIEW: Mesa Boogie Mark III
rollysguitars
Gear Talk - Mesa Boogie Mark III (1985)
Lothar's Guitar School
Mesa Boogie Mark III Green Stripe
Eddy Lenz
Mesa Boogie Mark III Demo
Kan Lyd
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12.
Comparisons
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Some users find the Mesa Mark III Red Stripe to be too bright compared to the Blue Stripe, while others appreciate its brightness relative to amps like the Fender DRRI.
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The Friedman Runt 20 is noted for its Marshall-like vibe with superior clean tones and pedal compatibility compared to the Mesa.
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Users compare Mesa Mark V:35’s clean channel to Fender cleans, highlighting its capability of achieving a diverse range of tones without pedals.
Source
Features and functionality
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The Mesa Mark III head features a half-power switch, allowing flexibility in cab selection without needing a new cabinet.
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Owners report the Mesa Mark V:35’s 10-watt mode is compressed, limiting dynamics and frequency range, but effective for quieter practice settings.
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Some owners find the Mesa Mark V:35's CabClone speaker emulation subpar, recommending alternatives like the Two Notes Torpedo for better results.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The Mesa Black Shadow speaker in the 1x12 combo is praised for its volume and quality, sufficient for most venues without needing additional cabs.
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The Mesa Mark V:35 is preferred by some for its boost feature, offering versatility in live settings with a variety of dirty and clean tones.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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A Z-Matcher, like the one by Weber, can address impedance mismatches between the Mesa head and Orange cabs, offering a cost-effective solution.
Source
Value and pricing
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The market price for Mesa Mark III heads varies significantly, with completed sales on platforms like eBay showing a range from $850 to $1,000.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 6 Ratings
221
Heavy
Heavy sounds, small but heavy package. Three channel small, all three channels can almost be used in performance using the for switches. Look for the coloured stripe above the power cable. Purple stripe is probably the most balanced, blue stripe the most aggressive. Does great black face cleans through to searing leads and brutal metal rhythm.
Artist usage
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Mark Knopfler has used various amplifiers throughout his career, as detailed in Guitar.com’s Guitar Legends series. Notably, the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12 is part of his gear roster, alongside other amps like the Fender Vibrolux and Fender Twin Reverb from his early albums. The article mentions his transition to a Mesa/Boogie MkIIB around 1982, highlighting his evolving amp preferences. Additionally, a Mesa/Boogie Mark II, believed to be part of Dire Straits’ touring rig, was found on Reverb, offering further insight into his equipment choices.
John Squire is seen using the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12 in his live setup, as detailed on Pdmcauley. The Mark III, a simul-class amp, allows switching between 15 watts in Class A mode and 75 watts using both EL34 and 6L6 tubes, providing a versatile range of sounds. Known for its darker tone compared to the Twin Reverb, the Mark III was integral to Squire's sound, offering overdriven clean tones at lower volumes. While it features a Rhythm 2 channel for overdrive, Squire primarily utilized the lead channel for his signature clean and powerful sound. This amp, no longer produced after the mid-90s, became a key component of his massive, dynamic live tone.
Ronnie Wood is confirmed to use the Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12 amplifier in conjunction with a '57 Fender Tweed Champ for studio work, as evidenced in the YouTube video "The Rolling Stones in the studio" by gusmac pi, which shows the band rehearsing.
Gearbox
“I’ve found that some of the amps that sound great are just not loud enough. And I don’t want to put the signal through the monitors if I can at all avoid it. Generally you can find the Mesa Boogie Mark III combos on the road 90% of the time, and that’s my favorite amp, because they have the EQ and I jack the shit out of that, say to roll off highs and add lows and mids, and that, with my guitar and my set-up really makes it-on Bump it’s the [Mesa] Boogie with all the pedals. But I’ve also had good luck on the road with Fender’s new Twin, not the re-issue. On Works for Me I used what is called a Victoria High Powered Twin, a 2-12? with a tiny touch of RATT and a little bit of reverb…but not enough. And the Victoria doesn’t have the bottom of the Mark III, but it has a quality I like, and I used on the new record. I bought one of those tubed outboard Fender Reverb units to go with it, but I only used a bit of plate on Works for Me.”
you can see the amp behind him in the 1:57 minute
"I have three of these amps (one is a spare) which are combos but I run them through two Mesa 2 by 12s"
Mesa Boogie evolved out of Randall Smith's experiments modding Fender amps in late '60s California. In the '70s, the Mark series of Boogie combos set a standard for high-end, high-wattage guitar amps that continues to present day.
1985 marked the start of the Mark III era which saw a few revisions. It introduced a third channel, a "crunch" rhythm sound right in between the rhythm and lead channels. This amp has a dual footswitch system: one footswitch alternates between the current rhythm mode and the lead mode, and the other selects either the clean rhythm mode or the crunch rhythm mode. The two rhythm modes share all of their controls, while the lead mode only shares the rhythm modes' , featuring independent gain and master volume controls. All Mark III's contain five 12AX7 tubes in the pre-amp section, including reverb as well.
Nils' Mark III combo works, but lead drive when pulled tends to screech. It could use some love in that regard. We recommend this amp be serviced and are therefore listing it in poor condition.
According to Premier Guitar, Steen uses the Mesa Boogie Mark III combo.
From Abercrombie: "I try to get the same kind of amps. I usually go for these Roland JC-120s, mostly because I've gotten used to them so I know what they do. They basically have volume, bass, treble, middle, and that's it. It's very easy; I don't have to think about them or need a diagram to figure out how to program them. It's a basic guitar amp.
I also like a MESA/Boogie amp called the Mark III. Again, it's a very simple, straightforward amp. I play in stereo, so I usually like to use one of each kind if I can, because I find that using different amps sometimes creates this interesting sound, and I prefer that to using two amps at the same time that are the same. If one is different, you really get a sense that you're playing in stereo. You can really feel it more."
At 1:29 we can see that Mark's amp is a Mesa Boogie Mark III combo amp.
Behind Paul you can see a Mesa Boogie Mark III combo
Album Usage
The Mesa/Boogie Mark III Guitar Combo 1x12 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 Guitar Combo 1x12, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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