Mesa Engineering

8
4
5
first play
MESA ENGINEERING JP-2C HEAD
28
Guitarist summer 2016
4. The CabClone output
offers highly authentic
speaker emulation,
with a choice of open/
closed-back sounds
as well as speaker
defeat, ground lift
and level switching
5. Not one but two
fi ve-band graphic EQs
can be pre-set to any
channel, as well as
footswitch or MIDI
controlled
Verdict
Signature products are sometimes double-
edged swords – the artist’s name is there to
hopefully boost sales, but special features
don’t always appeal to a broad range of
players. However, in the JP-2C’s case, we
think Mesa has pulled off a rare success,
teaming one of its biggest ambassadors with
a truly killer head that’s way better than we
could have imagined. Whether or not you’re
a Petrucci fan, the JP-2C is an astonishing
amp, aimed primarily at prog metal players,
but with a lot of scope in all kinds of genres.
You’ll have to dig deep, though – this is one
of Mesa’s most expensive designs, although
you definitely get your money’s worth.
Check it out now.
Whether or not
you’re a Petrucci
fan, the JP-2C is an
astonishing amp,
aimed primarily at
prog metal players,
but with scope in
all kinds of genres
MESA ENGINEERING
JP-2C HEAD
PRICE: £2,950
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Valve preamp and valve
power amp
OUTPUT: 100W RMS, switchable
to 60W
VALVES: 5x 12AX7, 4x 6L6
DIMENSIONS: 230 (h) x 475 (w) x
270mm (d)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 18/40
CABINET: Birch Ply
CHANNELS: 3, footswitchable
or MIDI-controlled
CONTROLS: Gain, bass, mid, treble,
volume, presence, 3x reverb.
2x 5-band graphic EQ. Effects Loop,
Reverb, Channel Select and Shred
voicing select switches
FOOTSWITCH: 6-button switch
toggles channels, graphic EQs
and reverb
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Pull gain
boost and frequency shift on both
lead channels, Shred mode, channel
EQ assign switches, valve-buffered
effects loop (switchable via MIDI),
integrated CabClone speaker-
emulated DI output, slave output,
headphones output, spring reverb,
100/60W switching. MIDI control
over channel select, loop, EQ,
Shred mode and reverb
OPTIONS: Slip cover and
footswitch included
RANGE OPTIONS: A specially
finished Limited Edition JP-2C
costs £4,099; rackmount version
is £2,950
Westside Distribution
0141 248 4812
www.mesaboogie.com
PROS Devastating modern take on
the legendary Mark IIC+; incredible
tonal range and huge power
CONS It’s seriously expensive; we’d
have preferred to see the FX loop
on the footswitch instead of reverb
GIT410.rev_mesa.indd 28 7/6/16 7:31 PM