The II-C+ for the New Millennium
Despite over 20 years of history playing through nearly every amp in Mesa/Boogie’s catalog, John Petrucci always went back to his beloved Mark II-C+ heads. When the Dream Theater guitarist reached out to Mesa/Boogie to create the perfect amp for him, the company happily obliged, of course. The resulting JP-2C is the ultimate high-gain amp, and one bearing the distinction of being the first Mesa/Boogie regular production signature product. Based on original Mark II-C+ designs with additional functionality requests, the JP-2C is a bona fide reissue of the original II-C+ circuit that boasts three channels of uncompromising, everlasting beauty and ferocity. Far beyond a reissue, Mesa/Boogie expanded the amp's overall versatility with two assignable 5-band graphic equalizers, a Shred switch to further tighten your sound, CabClone DI output, and MIDI control, bringing the heart and spirit of the original Mark II-C+ into the 21st century. Mark series essentials such as built-in reverb, tube-buffered effects loop, a 100-watt/60-watt power switch, and a quad set of 6L6 power tubes round out this epic package. But don't wait another day — this special Black Carbon edition of the JP-2C is available only at Sweetwater!
Important Notice for International Customers: Mesa/Boogie products sold by Sweetwater are intended for use within the United States. We are unable to ship any Mesa/Boogie products outside of the US.
Related Videos: JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60-watt/100-watt Tube Amp Head - Black Carbon, Sweetwater Exclusive
Pure C+ tone
Beneath this modern marvel of amplifier circuitry lies over 40 years of heritage from the Mesa/Boogie Mark series. During the prototyping and testing phases, multiple Mark IIC+ amplifiers from John’s personal collection served as baselines for the final design. The JP-2C inherits much of its tone and form factor from the Grammy-winning virtuoso’s favorite II-C+, which features an HRG chassis code. Known for its increased headroom, this 100-watt powerhouse delivers a sparkling, full-bodied, and crystal-clear clean tone in Channel 1. Remarkably, it maintains its character even when subjected to higher levels of gain, making it ideal for use with the hottest pickups.
Channels 2 and 3 are where the most coveted high-gain tones exist within the JP-2C. You can dial in everything from mid-gain crunch to high-gain stop-on-a-dime tight rhythms and soaring, harmonically rich leads — all with the utmost clarity. Nearly identical in gain structure, these two channels allow complete flexibility in dialing in your rhythm and lead sounds. Once your core tones are set with your channel controls, kick in Mesa/Boogie’s famous 5-band graphic EQ and bask in true holy grail tone.
Modern functionality
The heart of the Mark II-C+ lives on with significant quality-of-life updates in the JP-2C. The design doubles the number of 5-band EQ controls, allowing you to assign them by channel or switch them on demand using the included foot controller. Speaking of additional tone sculpting, kicking in Shred mode adds even more gain to a much narrower focal point, adding a laser-precise sense of tightness and control over your lower frequencies — perfect for low-tuned palm-muted runs and lightning-fast picking hands. Fans of the Mark II-C+ sound here at Sweetwater absolutely rave over the vast amounts of utility and tone-shaping options with the JP-2C.
Lastly, the JP-2C arrives MIDI-ready, with the capability of storing up to 256 different presets from your favorite MIDI controller. Settings such as active channel, reverb, effects loop, and Shred mode are all recallable via Program Change or Control Change messages. Switching customization can be achieved with any level of complexity, from individual rig setups that replace the included footswitch all the way up to fully automated productions for a complete foot-tap-free experience.
CabClone DI further expands usability
The included CabClone DI in the JP-2C sends a cabinet-simulated, line-level signal to your PA or console without the need for a separate cab-and-mic setup. With three selectable cabinet styles, you can get realistic-sounding results that are ready to track for your next gig or session. Keep the peace at home during those late-night practice sessions with the headphone output and the Speaker On/Off switch set to Off, then bask in the luxury of top-tier amp tone directly in your ears.
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C Features:
- Reissue of the legendary Mark II-C+ with modern enhancements in collaboration with Dream Theater guitarist/songwriter/producer John Petrucci
- 3 channels — 1 clean and 2 high gain — painstakingly re-created from original II-C+ circuits
- 2 independent, individually assignable 5-band graphic EQs further sculpt your tone without interfering with settings from other channels
- Tube-buffered FX loop accepts many different types of effects — and compensates for longer cable runs
- Built-in, individually controllable spring reverb adds ambience to your sound
- Shred mode switch adds additional tightness and focus to your high-gain channels
- CabClone DI with optional load resistor switch offers a direct sound solution to your console or PA without the need for microphones set against speakers
- MIDI switching functionality accepts Program Change or Control Change messages with up to 256 programmable, recallable presets
- 60W/100W power switch to reduce power for smaller venue settings or increased clip
