The Caline CP-16 MR. Mark is a Caline distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Caline CP-12 Blue Pure Sky and the Dophix Perseo. It pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) and the Mesa/Boogie Badlander.
Caline CP-16 MR. Mark
Caline · pedal
The Caline CP-16 Mr. Mark is an analog distortion pedal designed to emulate the gain stages of a Mesa Boogie Mark IV amplifier, delivering the high-gain, mid-focused distortion associated with that circuit. Features two gain controls for independent high and low gain stage adjustment, allowing detailed shaping of the gain structure. Additional Level and Tone controls. True bypass. Powered by 9V DC. Suited for progressive rock, fusion, and modern metal players seeking Mesa Mark-style articulate high-gain saturation.
What stands out
“Use-case wise it suits players who want articulate, harmonically complex distortion for lead guitar with the defined midrange presence of the Mark series”
— from the community notes
“Mark is an analog distortion pedal designed to emulate the gain stages of a Mesa Boogie Mark IV amplifier, delivering the high-gain, mid-focused distortion associated with that circuit”
— from the listing
“features two gain controls for independent high and low gain stage adjustment”
— from the listing
“and modern metal players seeking mesa mark-style articulate high-gain saturation”
— from the listing
“Mid-present saturation with focused harmonic content suits lead guitar applications”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“Its standout weakness is that the simplified circuit cannot fully replicate the three-channel complexity and interactive feel of a real Mesa Mark IV”
— from the community notes
- distortion
- stage
- low gain
- articulate
- lead guitar
- mid
- bypass
- high gain
Genres the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark is commonly used in
- Progressive Rock
- Metal
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt)
Mesa Boogie
29% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Badlander
Mesa Boogie
29% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Feed a high gain signal into Mesa/Boogie Badlander and it comes out closer to tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EVH 000 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Pedals that stack with the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark
Fjord Fuzz Fjaer Spring Reverb
Fjord Fuzz
20% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Fjord Fuzz Fjaer Spring Reverb in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Comes later in the signal chain
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
19% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Greer Black Mountain for more fuzzy on top
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble's lush voice goes after Caline CP-16 MR. Mark in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Caline CP-16 MR. Mark's own low gain character
Comes later in the signal chain
Wren and Cuff Gold Comp
Wren And Cuff
9% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Caline CP-16 MR. Mark's own low gain character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Mirage Dual Reverb
Crazy Tube Circuits
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Run Crazy Tube Circuits Mirage Dual Reverb after Caline CP-16 MR. Mark in the signal chain, clear of Caline CP-16 MR. Mark's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Put EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath after Caline CP-16 MR. Mark in the signal chain, clear of Caline CP-16 MR. Mark's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Caline CP-12 Blue Pure Sky
Caline
53% similarityShared character: high gain settings, signal chain, true bypass
Dophix Perseo
Dophix
53% similarityShared character: middle, response
Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just
Demon Fx
53% similarityShared character: high gain settings, signal chain, distortion
Caline CP-15
Caline
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, signal chain, true bypass
JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion
JHS Pedals
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, response, distortion
Carl Martin Rock Drive
Carl Martin
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, circuit, middle
Wampler Sovereign Distortion
Wampler
52% similarityShared character: distortion, stage
Crowther Hot Cake
Crowther
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, response, distortion
Catalinbread Carbide Purple Gaze
Catalinbread
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, circuit, distortion
Fulltone OCD V2
Fulltone
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, circuit, distortion
Mooer Micro Preamp 017 Cali MKIV
Mooer
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings
Tech 21 Tri-O.D.
Tech 21
50% similarityShared character: high gain settings, middle, distortion
See all alternatives to the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark?+
The closest matches in character are the Caline CP-12 Blue Pure Sky, the Dophix Perseo, the Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just.
What pairs well with the Caline CP-16 MR. Mark?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt), Mesa/Boogie Badlander, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here.