The wait is over: Mesa/Boogie has finally unveiled the latest addition to their legendary lineup of Mark amplifiers: the Mark VII. Available as a 1x12 combo, head, and rackmount head, the Bay Area-based manufacturer has referred to the new amp as the "magnum opus" of the line and the pinnacle of Randall Smith's five-decade-plus career in amp design.
Since the Mark I was introduced in the early 1970s, the line has become synonymous with the sound of heavy guitar tone and joined the ranks of the high-gain Hall of Fame. As new Marks were introduced and the line evolved, they soon became the very first amps to offer channel switching, allowing players to refine gain stages to create the iconic super-saturated lead tones we all know and love today.
The '80s Mark II C+ was used by the likes of legends such as Kirk Hammett and John Petrucci, and the Mark IV became associated with metal bands like Lamb of God not long after its release the following decade. With each model comes new leaps and bounds in tech and tone, and the newest member of the family is no exception.
As the successor to both the Mark Five and the unreleased Mark Six prototype, the Mark VII boasts several of the same features that put Boogie amps on the map, be it Graphic EQ, rich reverb, and a streamlined Effects loop. It also packs in their CabClone IR DI Direct Interface, which allows for individual assignment of 8 Rectifier and Boogie cabinets per channel.
All three variants are equipped with a 3-channel, 9-mode preamp alongside their highly adaptable Simul-Class power section to deliver a diverse range of distinct tube tones offered at 25, 45, or 90 watts per channel. Users have the option to use 6L6 or EL34 power tubes, and to top it all off, there's even MIDI functionality for the ultimate flexibility in rig integration.
The Mesa/Boogie Mark VII is available now in combo, head, and rackmount head form.