Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

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benjamin801
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Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

OK, so I cracked open my trusty Mesa/Boogie Mark III blue stripe and performed a modification that I've been meaning to do for a long time. I haven't tried it out yet, but I think it will contribute to long-term playability and stage usefulness, while not altering the core tone too much.

Since I was opening stuff up anyway, I figured I would document things in photos, 17 of them to be exact. Here we go:

Here she is, in her rack case from Casesmith Customs:
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Here we go, safely extracted from the rack case and flipped over. Mesa EL34s and JJ 6L6s.
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Forever I thought this was a 1986. Apparently I misread Mike B's handwriting last time I opened it up. It's a 1988.
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If any of you crave high-res gut shots, this photo and the next one are both pretty huge on my Flickr.
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I went in planning to use compressed air or my vacuum cleaner to pick up dust, but the interior of the amp was shockingly clean considering it's pushing 30. It had been 2-3 years since I had opened it up, and it remains pretty pristine inside.
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Measure twice, cut once, right?
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Well...drill once.
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And...voila.
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Anyway, there we go. My dream amp just got a little dreamier.
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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TurboPablo
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by TurboPablo »

Lol.

I'm always amazed at how perfect Mesa's work is.
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by clipless bumper »

Awesome mod!

Not sure why you took the tubes out though.......
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benjamin801
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

TurboPablo wrote:Lol.

I'm always amazed at how perfect Mesa's work is.


Oh yeah. Extremely. Every one I've ever seen, from an original Mark I up to a Mini Recto.
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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benjamin801
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

mamberg wrote:Awesome mod!

Not sure why you took the tubes out though.......


It had to rest on the transformer and an edge of the rackmount kit for a sec, and would have been putting all its weight on the tubes had I not removed them.

Also I took the opportunity to hit the sockets with a little contact cleaner, so that I actually accomplished something during this whole project. :lol:
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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Professor Dickweed
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by Professor Dickweed »

benjamin801 wrote:
mamberg wrote:Awesome mod!

Not sure why you took the tubes out though.......


It had to rest on the transformer and an edge of the rackmount kit for a sec, and would have been putting all its weight on the tubes had I not removed them.

Also I took the opportunity to hit the sockets with a little contact cleaner, so that I actually accomplished something during this whole project. :lol:


This thread delivered. I have been cured of my case of the Mondays.
Shit that I own:
Amps: Mesa Mark III Red Stripe; Peavey 5150; Peavey VTM 60; Budda SD18; Dr. Z Carmen Ghia; Boss Katana; Mesa 400+; Darkglass Microtubes 900; Genx-Benz G-Flex; Marshall 4x12 w/Greenbacks; Peavey 4x12 w/G12K-85's
Guitars/Basses: Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro; Gibson Les Paul Studio; Ibanez Prestige RGA121; Balaguer Hyperion; Schecter Custom Shop Traditional; Schecter C-1 Platinum; Homebrew Tele; Composit Acoustics GXi; Warwick FNA; Peavey Cirrus 5; Rickenbacker 4003
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benjamin801
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

Professor Dickweed wrote:
benjamin801 wrote:
mamberg wrote:Awesome mod!

Not sure why you took the tubes out though.......


It had to rest on the transformer and an edge of the rackmount kit for a sec, and would have been putting all its weight on the tubes had I not removed them.

Also I took the opportunity to hit the sockets with a little contact cleaner, so that I actually accomplished something during this whole project. :lol:


This thread delivered. I have been cured of my case of the Mondays.


Good! Glad I could deliver some sort of recompense for all the times Vault-Boy has brightened my day on GAB. :thu:
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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Beef
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by Beef »

Hah A+ mod. You didn't wanna go full Billy Blades and put a cup holder in it too?
Wu-Tang is for the children.
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benjamin801
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

Beef wrote:Hah A+ mod. You didn't wanna go full Billy Blades and put a cup holder in it too?


Liquid never goes above electronics in my custom mods. :nono:

I'm a dumb ass, but I'm no Billy Blades. :cop:
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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Telephant
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by Telephant »

This is the best amp mod I've ever seen. :lol: :clap:
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benjamin801
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Re: Modded my Mark III (Mesa/Boogie gut shot content)

Post by benjamin801 »

Telephant wrote:This is the best amp mod I've ever seen. :lol: :clap:


:shake:



Also, you see me gettin' my Greater Austin on in the last picture? (I don't know whether y'all or SA claim Blanco.) :lol:
"If there was only a way that I couldn't even any less than I already can't then I'd gladly not, but I think I've entered some quantum paradox, dark matter levels of can't evening where the total absolute value of not evenness exceeds all ability to explain the can'ting." - MR RUBATO
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