Members petejt Posted June 20, 2006 Members Share Posted June 20, 2006 Hi. I am considering on building my own MarkIIC+ preamp. This will run into some Mesa/Boogie poweramp, running at the same time as another amp (still deciding on what, right now possible candidates are H&K Switchblade, Marshall DSL). I'd like to build me own so I don't have to spend money on getting one modded to the C+ version, stuffing around with shipping etc. Plus it would be interesting. I know a little about electronics. Is there anyone here that is familiar with building preamps from scratch? And could help me out with understanding the schematics and stuff? Here is the schematic of the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp circuit. I am having some trouble working out where the lead circuit segment fits into the main circuit. Also I think there is some missing stuff (transformers), so if you know about that please point it out. If anyone has any advice on this particular amplifier, the components, how to read the schematic properly, and building it, please reply. Thanks, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveVHT Posted June 20, 2006 Members Share Posted June 20, 2006 I would not trust any of those schematics....I had a top notch tech take a look at my 2C+ when I had it and compared it to those schematics, and they were way way way wrong...Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noseminer Posted June 20, 2006 Members Share Posted June 20, 2006 didnt blarg do this IIRC and filled in part of it with a mark IV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eric the fish Posted June 20, 2006 Members Share Posted June 20, 2006 if you're having trouble figuring out where the lead circuit goes from that schematic, hand everything over to a friend who can walk you through it. top portion of schematic, near the middle, has the LEAD secton but it would get cramped if they drew it there so it's drawn separately. also, there's no output transformers because this is only the PREAMP portion of the circuit, no power amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveVHT Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by BluePowder7 if you're having trouble figuring out where the lead circuit goes from that schematic, hand everything over to a friend who can walk you through it.top portion of schematic, near the middle, has the LEAD secton but it would get cramped if they drew it there so it's drawn separately.also, there's no output transformers because this is only the PREAMP portion of the circuit, no power amp. And the OT is what gave the Mark 2C+ it's "unique" cough cough, sound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blackba Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Why not just buy a used mark III, I am sure those would be easier to convert. I am not sure I would trust the schematics you have found though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffy Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Buy a Mesa Studio Preamp. Run it through any type simulclass mesa poweramp and you will have a sound that is so similar to a MarkIIC+ that it will knock your socks off... But another plus tothat is it will have an even SWEETER lead sound... IMHO. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by noseminer didnt blarg do this IIRC and filled in part of it with a mark IV? Yeah, I'm not sure if it's accurate to the real thing, but it sounds nice. I've never played the real IIC+, but it does have the Mark series vibe to it. Might as well get a studio preamp though, it's almost the same circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 4nkam Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 pete's in kiwi land and it's harder for them to get the cool stuff mJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yoh_yoh Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 buy a cheap used mark III and Mod it... the easiest way... or you will end up doing a Mark VII K- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shask Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 I also say get a Studio Preamp, and either love it, or have it modded closer to IIC+ specs. The stock Studio Preamp is based off of the IIC I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stratotone Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 I wouldn't even try to mod a III... just get a studio preamp. Mesa Boogie schematics are notorious for being inaccurate, and if you need help figuring out a schematic, you're likely going to be in hell trying to build one. Mesa amps are tempermental from the factory as far as oscillations and feedback, someone poking around in one with no real idea of what's going on is just asking for trouble. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stratotone Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by Shask I also say get a Studio Preamp, and either love it, or have it modded closer to IIC+ specs. The stock Studio Preamp is based off of the IIC I think. Studio preamp is based off a studio .22 boogie. Mesa created it because guys were using .22's in the studio and they were too noisy. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dreamspace Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 someone on the forum once bulidt a Preamp after the Mk2c+ schematics that are floating...but did some modifying to it, sounded feaking incredible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Negative K3 fan Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 just a slightly off topic question... but where can you buy those inductors found in the graph eq section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pwn3d Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Its not the build time thats gonna kick your ass, its the debugging. Its friggen hard to build something that has gain and dosent hiss the first time. And I agree, if your having trouble reading the schematic, then good luck to you building it. I would take a few steps at a time and maybe build a small amp or preamp and then step up. -nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 buy a different amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shask Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by Stratotone Studio preamp is based off a studio .22 boogie. Mesa created it because guys were using .22's in the studio and they were too noisy.Pete Ive heard both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 4nkam Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 The review from some old guitar mag I have says IIC but also linked to the studio .22. mJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stratotone Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by Shask Ive heard both. I heard it in a review of the studio preamp from Guitar Player, they contacted Randall Smith and he mentioned the .22 connection. It was a GP that has metallica on the cover - I have it around here somewhere. It's a good review of the studio preamp - the guy who reviewed it worked at a music store I frequented, and I found out he used to be in a band with my keyboard player. Small world! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thefyn Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Are you crazy? I saw a Mk III opened up and it was just incredible the work they put into those amps. It is a project beyond most on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shask Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by thefyn Are you crazy? I saw a Mk III opened up and it was just incredible the work they put into those amps. It is a project beyond most on this forum. Well, if you only made 1 channel it wouldnt be as bad. Remember the Mark III is 3 channels, and you wouldnt do all that. Also, you cant really build the graphic EQ, most DIY just use an EQ pedal after it. So those cut it down quite a bit. BUT, still quite a project to take on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thefyn Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 It reminded me of a human brain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eric the fish Posted June 21, 2006 Members Share Posted June 21, 2006 Originally posted by Negative K3 fan just a slightly off topic question... but where can you buy those inductors found in the graph eq section? if it were me, i'd probably end up winding my own (haven't looked at what the values are). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted June 22, 2006 Members Share Posted June 22, 2006 I think there's plenty of people here who could throw one of these preamps together. there's some really good builders on this forum man! but you do make a point that it's NOT something to be attempted by someone for their FIRST project? Not a good way to try and save a buck... buy a MKIIB or C or III or IV !!! It's gunna be close enough mang! A used QUAD preamp might be the way to go if you want a MK sounding preamp. Originally posted by thefyn Are you crazy? I saw a Mk III opened up and it was just incredible the work they put into those amps. It is a project beyond most on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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