MESA/Boogie has unveiled the Mark IIC+ HRG, a fully loaded reincarnation of one of the most revered amps in Boogie history, alongside the triumphant return of the 1×12 Vintage Thiele Cabinet.
The HRG designation harks back to MESA’s early Lagunitas Shop days, when Randall Smith built amps with optional upgrades – Hundred Watts, Reverb, and Graphic EQ – that transformed the “Super Sixty” into a monster platform. That HRG spec is now reborn on the legendary IIC+ circuit for the first time since the ’80s.
This isn’t just a nostalgia piece. The new Mark IIC+ HRG delivers towering clean headroom, ferocious low-end tracking, and an expressive lead channel that bites with unmistakable authority. Think maximum girth and stunning clarity across every style, from crystalline cleans to modern metal crunch.
Dream Theater’s John Petrucci long favored the HRG, making it the natural foundation for his JP-2C signature model. With the new reissue, players get the same 100-watt knockout punch, powered by one of the most revered preamps ever designed, now updated with Boogie’s meticulous modern craftsmanship.
As Doug West, Director of Tone Lab at Gibson Amplifiers and MESA/Boogie, explains: “We’re excited to bring back this iconic and feature-rich Mark Series, now built on the IIC+ platform… The result is a beast: it can play clean in Rhythm Mode at high volumes before clipping, and it tracks even tighter than the Simul IIC+ in the low end in Lead Mode.”
Alongside the amp comes the return of the 1×12 Vintage Thiele Cabinet, a compact, ported powerhouse that defined the sound of small rigs in the ’80s. Originally designed for the Electro-Voice EVM12L, this sealed box became a “secret weapon” for fat, punchy low end that outperformed its size.
Now reissued with a Celestion C90 speaker for a more forgiving, overdrive-friendly voice, the Thiele remains a perfect match for Boogie’s Mark Series. Whether you’re running a new IIC+ HRG head or looking to beef up your existing rig, the Thiele delivers focused fundamentals, tight percussive lows, and classic Boogie girth.
Doug West puts it simply: “This sealed and ported design became synonymous with huge tone in the ’80s… We’re excited to offer this mighty little cab once again, now paired with a more forgiving and era-appropriate speaker to complement the ‘HRG’ IIC+ and other compact Boogie rigs.”
Get the MESA/Boogie has unveiled the Mark IIC+ HRG and 1×12 Vintage Thiele Cabinet here for $3,599 and $799, respectively. Keep up with all our MESA/Boogie coverage right here!
