Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

[zimmer132]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and have a question about this preamp i am thinking of buying.

So looking at the year-catalog of boogies, it tells that they are made 1988- and forward. But looking at different ads and reviews there is alot of ”made in the mid 80’s” and ”the studio preamp is based on the mark IIC+” which is an amp from around the same time. The seller of the preamp i’m buying says it has a IIC+ mod, why would that be relevant if it’s already based on that amp?

Are there different manufacturing years on the studio preamp? Can’t find any info anywhere, hence the new post.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

Welcome to the forum!

We have a few Boogie experts here, and no doubt they will chime in. Hang tight.

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

It is based on a 2C BUT it doesnt have the bass shift or Pull Deep switch options... Therefore you are going to have to mod it / take it to get modded . Also the lead circuit needs a couple of cap value changes just to fully get it to 2C+ specs. I have 2 studio preamps both with all the mentioned mods and they are AMAZING! Totally recommended. Also remember to run from the FX SEND as your output as its less compressed and way more open and tighter sounding than the '' Main outputs ''

 

[evan47]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

Hello everyone, new to the forum and have a question about this preamp i am thinking of buying.

So looking at the year-catalog of boogies, it tells that they are made 1988- and forward. But looking at different ads and reviews there is alot of ”made in the mid 80’s” and ”the studio preamp is based on the mark IIC+” which is an amp from around the same time. The seller of the preamp i’m buying says it has a IIC+ mod, why would that be relevant if it’s already based on that amp?

Are there different manufacturing years on the studio preamp? Can’t find any info anywhere, hence the new post.

I had one of these as an impulse buy years ago ( bought shortly after I got the v-twin which I loved ), in its unmodded guise I wasnt really that impressed but, after a few tweaks who knows?

 

[DonP]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

It is based on a 2C BUT it doesnt have the bass shift or Pull Deep switch options... Therefore you are going to have to mod it / take it to get modded . Also the lead circuit needs a couple of cap value changes just to fully get it to 2C+ specs. I have 2 studio preamps both with all the mentioned mods and they are AMAZING! Totally recommended. Also remember to run from the FX SEND as your output as its less compressed and way more open and tighter sounding than the '' Main outputs ''

Thanks for the tips.

I had one ages ago, sold it around 2005 I think. I picked up another in great shape a few months ago, but not mod'ed. I have Mk2C+ schematics so I'll take a look into doing this.

 

[zimmer132]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

It is based on a 2C BUT it doesnt have the bass shift or Pull Deep switch options... Therefore you are going to have to mod it / take it to get modded . Also the lead circuit needs a couple of cap value changes just to fully get it to 2C+ specs. I have 2 studio preamps both with all the mentioned mods and they are AMAZING! Totally recommended. Also remember to run from the FX SEND as your output as its less compressed and way more open and tighter sounding than the '' Main outputs ''

Alright, so if it is modified with the bass shift/pull deep switch you should be able to see it on the front panel right? And this might be a dumb question, but what do they do? Visually i can’t seem to notice the mod on it, probably only has the cap value changes? Besides, without the lead circuit mod, how does the sound differ?

Man you got two, Im afraid to get screwed over by most of the sellers to be honest. What did you pay for these if you don’t mind? Appreciate the fast response by the way, i’ll remember to use the fx send.

 

[zimmer132]

Re: Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp years

I had one of these as an impulse buy years ago ( bought shortly after I got the v-twin which I loved ), in its unmodded guise I wasnt really that impressed but, after a few tweaks who knows?

Really? well, it all depends on preferences. Looking at videos and so on, it seems to do it for me. But i’ve never owned one so we will see.