Mesa/Boogie has just revealed the John Petrucci JP-2C 1×12 Combo. The Dream Theater guitarist has a new limited-edition powerhouse of an amp. This time, it is in a compact form factor and based on his favourite Mark IIC+.
John Petrucci JP-2C 1×12 Combo
Petrucci has been using Mesa/Boogie amps for around 40 years. His favourite Mark IIC+ inspired this new JP-2C 1×12 Combo. We have seen him with a head version of this model in the past, but now it is available as a limited-run 1×12 combo.
It is powered by four 6L6 power tubes and five 12AX7 preamp tubes.
“When designing the JP-2C with the team at MESA/Boogie, the goal was to build an amp that covers everything while honoring the heritage of its iconic Mark IIC+ predecessor. It offers three channels of authentic Mark IIC+ tones and also includes updated features like Dual Graphic EQs, MIDI, and a CabClone Direct Out that make it the ultimate amplifier for today’s guitarists in any situation.” – John Petrucci
Dream Tones
This new combo could be a winner for guitarists seeking his Dream Theater tones. However, it isn’t exactly cheap and has a limited run. This could make finding it a little tricky, so act fast if you want one.
The Amp
Essentially, the combo is an expanded Mark IIC+ and offers more of what that model is famous for. It has the Dual 5-band Graphic EQ, MIDI control, and the CabClone Direct Out technology of his previous limited run amp head from 2016, etc.
Three Channels, plus SHRED Mode
This combo also has three channels: Channel 1, for clean tones and lots of headroom; Channel 2, for crunchy rhythm sounds; and Channel 3, for high-gain lead tones.
Then there is SHRED mode, which gives even more gain (which is pretty possibly where many players will have a massive smile on their faces) with articulate high-gain tones.
Key Features
The amp comes equipped with a tube-buffered effects loop and even has a headphones output for silent practising, which is very useful. The combo is built using a marine-grade Baltic birch cabinet to withstand touring.
I like that it has switchable power via the 100/60 Watt Power Switch, and Mesa has used a Celestion Custom 90 speaker to handle all this potential power. It also comes with a comprehensive footswitch to control all those channels, the EQ and the effects loop.
Who is it for?
I will say that any guitarist who wants that Petrucci/DreamTheater tone will aspire to this combo. However, it would also make a great amp for a recording studio, as it covers so much ground. If you like big, brash, modern American amp tones, this could be your combo.
MSRP – USD 4299
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