Secrets of the Mesa Boogie Mark IIb - AMP PORN with Service & Shredding 

A note on the tone at the end of the vid... I accidentally left the overhead room mic on too loud during the jamming parts, so you'll notice some distorting here and there. That's why.

The cricket is NOT in your house, he's in mine. My daughter named him "Crickey". If we could find him, we'd probably feed him. ...to the dog.

MB is Mike Bendinelli was the 1st employee at Mesa and the co-creator of some of Mesa's most famous amps like the Mark II C+. He checked and signed off on most of the early amps thus the MB near the AC plug and still keeps the vintage Mesas touring.

These are sooo cool. So many little features that aren’t so apparent, like I would do if I was to customize an amp like this. Rad.

You're playing is freaking amazing. Also this amp sounds incredible.

Great video! And great playing. I have been wondering what these older mesas sound like for a while now. Pretty cool. Glad you went with the new mic set up a while back for these amp demos.

Wow, I was just looking at MKII schematics this morning while you were uploading this! Synchronisity! Great vid and demo again

A sign of a good amp when you can clearly hear the individual notes played without any muddiness.

great vid, wish i could resurrect some old amps where i live but there's not many people to get em off, so i'll continue to live vicariously through your videos lol.

Great video...Fascinating details. Amp sounds super smooth after servicing.

Great job with the cap at the 26 minute mark. Love that you talked out why it is the right decision. I will definitely be using this method if needed in the future! Awesome video!

I know nothing about electronics but I really enjoy the way you explain what’s going on inside the amp and damn you can shred!

These old Mesa amps are a work of art . Even the circuit boards seem to be hand made. The curved traces are too cool.

Very wise move to solder the cap on the existing leads instead of risking breaking something on the board. Really enjoy your videos.

Pretty good for an amp from the 80's. Shredding done well sir!

Something about ending with Randy and just switching off the amp. I enjoy your videos. Thanks, Brad.

I enjoy your guitar playing a very original sound ,you were really flying on the fingerboard, great movie

That looks like the magical Weezer Blue Album amp that Rivers used. HUGE distortion sound on that thing...and can be had at really low volumes

Love the Roadstar,I have two of them , and am considering buying a Mesa Mark II Myself! Love your channel and you expertise!

I love the Mesa Boogie repair videos because I know theres always going to be strange problems with the amp.

It's amazing how far ahead of the game Mesa was on overdrive. There was simply no other amp that could get this level of solid gain at the time. And I'm not even talking about the Mark IIC Plus, like what Brad Gillis used, and I think still uses. I never liked the Mark III or IV or V, or the Rectifier. But I love the 50 Cal Plus (owned a combo), the 38 Special, Studio .22 (including the rack mounted preamp), the Mini Rectoverb 25, Lonestar, Stiletto (not as bad as people say. Di Meola loves it) and the Petrucci model because it has a Mark II C Plus preamp, which has a lot more clarity than later Mark series.

If it says Boogie you don't want it. They stared getting too creaive and are pains. All of your Mesa videos prove this. Mesa Engineering is the stuff. I chose a Carvin X amp combo over the Mesa back in 1988 and am glad of it.

The “MB” is a quality sign off from Mike Bendinelli at Mesa Boogie. I know because I owned a Mark IIB that I had upgraded to a II-C.

50:30 damn, man! These videos are fantastic, but they go over the edge because of your playing. That was some serious shredding!

a mentor of mine once told me we don't bend it we reform it ... great videos I am hooked .. silvertone rules!!! thank you

Great playing! Nice job, I wish you where in my band back in the day! Just AWSOME!

Wow....this is the first time I have seen you play !!! Not only are you a whiz fixing amps....you can make em scream too !!! All killer....no filler...nice licks !!!

Killer playing, amazing riffing there....I had a 180W tweed-covered (twill cloth a la Fender) Mark IIB head, ran it through a newer 4x12 Marshall (in the 90s). What a sound, these Mark IIB's are my favorite Boogies (they're all really good). sick mids and crunch, if you need over-the-top, put your pedal in front. My right ear rings all the time because of that Boogie.

Im so happy I kept my dads, great review. I need to get mine serviced at some point.

As much as I love to hear you play some blues, I am a listener of siriusxm octane channel. It's pretty heavy stuff. Great vid and playing Brad!

The "Oil On Your Fingers" destroying vacuum tubes is based on the same idea as Halogen light bulbs. Halogen bulbs get SUPER HOT, and anything that would get on the glass could cause extra heat. When you get new headlights for you car, you'll note they ask you to wear rubber gloves. This MAY have an effect on SUPER SUPER high power broadcast tubes that glow bright as the sun... but general audio tubes don't apply.

hahaha that mic the head bit was hilarious

Best amp channel on youtube. Great amp!

Interesting aside, in high school I got a lemon of a Hot Rod Deville 212 that was bought new. It would work for awhile, then cut out completely. It went in twice for warranty work at that same place in Richmond, however, was never made right. Needless to say, it went back to the shop for an exchange. The replacement amp served me well for years! This was way back when the guitar shop was next to a pizza place. Appreciate your channel, Guitologist, as a former Kentuckian.

Extra stamp at 20:53 would be for an ungrounded outlet for your amp that was utilized if you ordered it with the cooling fan. I had a Mark ii-B which was 60/100 watts with reverb, EV speaker, and effects loop...but no EQ. Later I got a Mark III which had a 2 conductor AC outlet right there for it's fan, so I guess maybe the fan was an option in the Mark II as well, since that punch is in the same spot.

The guy at audio video in Richmond ky is a wizard. He fixed my peavey ultra. He's retiring in a few years which leaves the amp repair in lexington very hard to find.

Your playing is Amazing, and i wish i had you for a tech!!

As i suggested on another vid, what would be great is for you to do a more design oriented video, say looking at a Princeton circuit, and following it through to explain what is going on in the circuit. Then, you could show maybe (or in a follow up video), how Randall Smith took that amp and turned it into the first Mesa Boogie? Not sure if that's something you would be interested in doing, but i bet a lot of us here would love to watch!

I'm learning so much from this channel.

Watching this again today (3/31) and saw the date written on the chassis which is 3/31! How weird... Love your channel Brad!

one just like it came up for sale rather recently.. this is my second viewing of this video, and I’m in the process of making a deal 🤘🏽

Tungsram's are really nice sounding tubes. You can always spot them by the little metal badge near the top structure. V-2 is actually an old Mullard and probably sounds great.

MB I think is Mike Bendinelli, a famed/ renowned Mesa Boogie guru :)

Fantastic and informative! Great tone and plaing....

I love seeing those old service stickers on amps. Years back I bought a Fender Twin that had started life in the USA, and it had a few service stickers on the chassis from various cities, one looked very 70s

Thanks! Love your channel! You've inspired me to mod my old Acoustic 134 solid state amp. I know only the very basic of electronics so watching you explain things with your friendly casual manner really helps me get the confidence to give it a try. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions regarding my amp. I have schematics and the service manual. What I was trying to do was simplify this 2 channel amp into a 1channel amp, taking out the 2nd channel (which is a board with reverb and tremolo which I never use). Anyway, thanks for doing this and damn.....you #%€£* rock. One of the reasons I love this channel is that you're not just a repairman, you're a kickass player as well. Thanks Brad!

The rectangular cutout on the right hand side is for a two prong power plug for the power cord of the cooling fan

Great sounding amp.

Love your vids sir. Fun, and I learn something new from them almost every time. I have been using a couple of Fender cybertwin se for the last ten years and have remained just as infatuated with them as the day I brought em home. I get a lot of ribbing from friends that I own and play an overpriced modeling amps. I try to explain why they are not really a modeling amp and how and why they work. Not with any success of course. Wondering if you have worked on any and what your thoughts are regarding them. No need to worry about offending me if your not a fan, LOL I have heard it all. Yet on stage no one has ever complained 😁, Cheers, and thank you for a great channel.

i remember tube testers at Thrifty's. I'd go there with my Dad and look at the $35 Teisco's while he'd check TV tubes then we'd get a, ice cream cone for like 35 cents. Those were the days.

OMG... This is my current amp! I will watch this when I get time today. I have the 60 watt 1 12 combo with eq and reverb. It needs some work for sure.

That's a nice Roadstar.... No doubt it's been well cared for over the years. I have one of the later MIK models, but I can imagine it don't hold a candle to those old MIJ's. That thing just looks like it has a nice feel to it.

Subscribed. Keep up the good work man. Make your work your passion and vice versa.

They are called Interdental Brushes.They don't replace floss, and they are not single use :D I've learned a lot from you (although I've only built one amp head case,and a few stompboxes) , now you've learned something from me :)

Just a few bits of info for you.I own a very early Mark II from 1978. At the time Boogies were built to order & took about 6-7 months to get. The basic amp was 60 watts then you could add 100 watt, reverb & eq, You also had a choice of EV or Altec speaker in 12"or 15" & choice of black, cream or a exotic hardwood cabinet.Mine is was ordered with everything (including a flight case) except for the eq.The extra tube was actually because there was a switch that allowed either the tube or a solid state device to be installed in one of the sockets (perhaps the beginnings of the Dual Rectifier?) tube was warmer , the solid state device gave more gain. Love the channel ,its one of my regulars & maybe you could help me with some advise. the amp has been in its road case untouched for close to 20 years & I would like to start using it again, was told by a local tech ( Chicago area) to just plug it in & fire it up (all that Variac stuff is not nessesary if stuff is going to go wrong, its going to go wrong anyway )I'm thinking he just might be looking for an expensive repair job. What do you think?

I just picked a Mesa boogie amp up on crates list for $730 dollars. I got it serviced I had them put new groove tubes in it. I also put a Emenince Swamp twang speaker in it this amp is awesome. I can't believe I finally got my dream amp. Plus. I just traded my Telecaster and $300 dollars for a USA Les Paul standard Pro 2013 .i am ready to Rock. Pat Romero Denver Colo. Cheers.

Really nice tone!

I have a Mark IIB with the graphic, the power switch at the back is marked "60-100 watt" It's been dated to '82 by Mesa. nice vid.

I took your advice and miced up the head the way you said. We recorded the whole album like it. The studio tech wasn't happy but I trusted you more than him. So roomy!

Love the tone! My brother in laws old MKII B never sounded that good.

That's the greatest tone. Right on.

Covid-19 Lockdown Fest 2020: Guitologist vid marathon keeping me sane during these trying times!

Techno amp geek lettin' her RIP at the end of the video! Fine playing, sir. Nice job on the amp, too.

Fantastic sounding amp.

I had the combo version, best amp I ever had.

Brad, You are clearly having WAY too much fun doing these vids, and we, your loyal following, are having too much fun watching...the thought police cannot be far behind...don't change a thing, but just be aware...:)

Love this channel!

Nice work! And Fuckinay, great demo!

The extra small rectangular punched chassis hole is for if you ordered the optional cooling fan, that's where the AC outlet to plug the fan in went. I had a Mark IIb and a Mark III, my III had the fan outlet there.

I remember when these amps got released, my buddy owned one. It was a great sounding amp, I truly envied him, lol.

very cool sir watched the whole service you can't kill the METAL!!

Wow! That blue guitar hanging on your wall was my first guitar!

Great instructional video!

Great amps I had one and all the techs in my area were ignorant about Filter caps are upsidedown and that threw them for a loop I think it was the regular Mark 2

Hey love the video, I actually have a Mesa mark iii red stripe and a first gen road king I need fixed. I tried to send mine to audio video electronics and he wouldn't check out Mesa amps anymore because of the complexity of the road king lol. The mark iii died on me what would you charge to go through it and fix it. I know it would depend on what's wrong with it. Love to get it fixed.

The myth about tubes burning up when the oil from your hand gets on them comes from the fact that the lamps (lightbulbs) used in theatrical lighting fixtures, and other high intensity lights will be destroyed when you get the oil from your skin on them. The glass gets so hot that if there is any oil on it, it will get blackened and form bubbles where you touched it. A lot of these lamps look very similar to vacuum tubes so that's why people get confused.

very nice playing!

Hey, those initials are probably for Michael Bendinelli, long time employee and amp wizard. He is the only one to service my Boogies (F50 and DC-3).

Cool amp sounds great 👍✌️

Great video, thanks!! Not sure if this question was asked, but there is a 1/4" jack between the preamp and poweramp tubes on the bottom of the chassis. It looked like it may have been connected to the Pull Bright pot on the Lead Master. Is that a footswitch jack to engage the Pull Bright feature? Looks like a second under-chassis jack is hooked up to the Gain Boost/Master 1 pot. You can see them at 17:17. Any ideas?

Wow, finaly a boogie I love the gain sound of. This amp Is sweet.

The rectangle hole is for an a/c receptacle for a computer style fan used on 100w models. the other holes are for reverb.

Hey Brad, cool video and good call with the cap on the input board. The thing really that got my attention is the fact you were on point when testing the amp. Great playing. It sounds as if you've been practicing a bit. No insult to your playing in past videos but you've obviously improved. We should jam someday. :)

A great sounding amp!

You are a great instructor

There was also a high power model that had a 1/2 power full power switch and the presence control on the front panel.

Dude, you're killin' it @51:45.

Like your channel. A lot of my high school electronics is coming back to me. Since I am a fairly new subscriber, have you dealt with swapping out 12AX7 tubes with 12AT7 tubes to give the user more sweep on the volume control. I have seen this done on a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Is the a video dealing with this topic and the pro's and con's of the swap?

I have a 1982 SOB 💯. It used to sound amazing . But now , I can't dial in a tight gutsy sound . Spent hours (after installing new valves) tweaking the knobs ,,, I would get a somewhat acceptable sound , then in less that (1) minute the tone would morph back to kazoo meets loose floppy bass . Wish I could get back that Twin Reverb on steroids sound again. That amp has with its remote switching, has all the diversity that any guitarist would ever need .

im 49 yrs old (I'm old ass dude lol) and i wish i cld visit and jam w this guy. He's a good soul. 💪👊

Wow, was that a lot better of a layout than my 1985 Mark 3 was. That thing had so much stuffed into that small chassis it was nightmare to work on. I got rid of it after 30 years of owning it. Started to sound terrible after about 10 years. Never could get it to sound like it did new ever with a cap job. Have had 3 Mesa products and all 3 have had issues in a short amount of time. Just too much crap stuffed into them anymore, not tech friendly at all. Mine had a dual layer PCB with a broken joint on a filter cap for the DC heater circuit they went to on that amp. Had to pull the PCB to fix that(not fun). I could re-cap my Friedman Smallbox 50 in an hour where it took a day+ to do the Mesa. I recapped my Mesa in a similar fashion

I'm i the process of moving house and that means putting together a new and better workshop. In my last shop, I inset my test speaker in the drywall stud space behind my bench (sounded surprisingly good) and hard mounted my multimeter to the left side of the bench. I'm always looking for ideas - have you ever consider doing a shop ideas video?

I Mic Guitar Amps the same way but, I like the tone better with it more off axis than you demonstrated. I come right in the back, pointed directly toward the output Xformer on Bass amps for better Sub freqs. Believe it or not, once on a live gig we forgot half the Mic stands and I taped MICS TO THE HANDLES ON TOP OF BOTH Guitar and Bass Amps. sounded really good but, it may have just been that room.

42:10 I believe the myth about the oil from your hands getting on to the tubes and destroying them comes from certain light bulbs that heat up to ungodly temps and handling the bare glass with your skin can cause temperature variations across the glass in operation and can shatter the glass...I think? EDIT: Ahhh, yea, you just mentioned the lights haha

In the early 90's mesa boogie was what all my hero's used. As soon as I could afford it I started buying every boogie I could find.

All aboard!

I was curious where you got the digital display on top of your variac that gives you the voltage and amps that are being drawn? A link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

That head really ROCKS man!

You are correct, the don't touch tubes myth comes from people confusing them with high wattage lights that supposedly can break from uneven heating caused by oily fingerprints on the glass. I've never seen it happen but apparently it can. Of course a tube never gets anywhere near that hot so it's no problem.

The amp sounds great... a buddy of mine used to gig with a Boogie head... i can't recall if it was a Mk II or Mk III but it always had kind of a ripping paper tone to it which wasn't so nice. This one sounds a bit more rich and smooth.