Mesa/Boogie Mark JP-2C

THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF THE coveted Mark IIC+ amplifiers that Mesa/Boogie produced in the 1980s has finally been realized with the introduction of the John petrucci inspired JP-2C, which is both a IIC+ at heart and Mesa’s first “unlimited build” signature model.

- Art Thompson

Of course, as Mesa never makes exact replicas of anything—their constantly evolving technology always figures to some degree into the models it chooses to bring back—it’s no surprise that the JP-2C has some new tricks up its sleeve. Much of this is due to Mesa and Petrucci’s intention of creating the most aggressive and purest sounding representation of the Mark IIC+, and the need for it to fully address his requirements for an amp that functions equally well onstage and in the studio.

An important aspect of the JP-2C is that it doesn’t have the multiple voicing modes found on other Mesa amps. Instead, the aim was to give each of the three channels the ultimate voicing and flexibility possible from the original Mark IIC+ circuits. The Clean channel gets there via a high-headroom preamp with a Mid control that adds boost when turned past halfway. It’s actually the same Mid/Boost circuit found on some other Mesa amps, however, as the gain on this channel is pretty low to begin with, you only get a mild clean boost and more midrange color by cranking up the Mid knob. Wrangling any appreciable distortion from the Clean channel requires turning it up until the power section clips, which, of course, means loud. Strats, Teles, a PRS Mira, and a Teye Pistolero all sounded outstanding though this pristine and dimensional channel, and the exquisite spring reverb brings the nicest sense of bloom to a spectrum of tones that areright in the wheelhouse for jazz, funk, and anything else that requires a cleaner approach.