Almost got rid of my Mark V

[Marcus71]

It is likely that I am going to start playing with a 90's cover band. My days of doing original music have been suspended. I have never done the cover band thing before, but these guys are a lot of fun and put on a very good show.

I was thinking the Mark might not have enough fizz to do songs by Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day for example. Going back to a Dual Recto was out of the question. So I tried out a Roadster. Don't know why. :?

In all fairness, Channels 1 & 2 are very playable. There are good tones in there. However, Channels 3 & 4 are not so good. I guess my ears have changed because I cannot stand that over-processed, gain heavy tone. The only real good tone I got out of either channel was #3 on vintage mode with the gain rolled back to 9:00. But it wasn't enough. The voicing of both of those channels just offends my ears. :roll:

I think I had channel 3 on raw mode with the gain around 12:00. I hit an open A-chord and it sounded pretty good. Then when I tried to appregiate the chord I couldn't hear it. All I could hear was a heavily distorted open A-chord lingering. I even upped the mids and nothing. A little more presence...nada.

That was it for me. My style is heavily geared towards gently picking out individual notes in a chord.

If it comes down to it, for certain songs I can buy a pedal and play out of channel 1.

That was close. But it really wasn't.

 

[NR2112]

Interesting turn of events! I feel the same way about the recs...

BTW, I hear what your sayin about the cover band thing. Sometimes its not easy to get with people that you can create great original music with.

Have Fun. Lord knows im still trying to figure out my Mark V. Feeling though its a keeper at the moment..

 

[phyrexia]

I bet Mark I mode would do a good smashing pumpkins. I used the third channel when we played Zero, though.

I have used my Mark V for the last 9 months in a 90s rock cover band. I use a combo and a thiele cab. I was even the only guitarist. I received complements on my guitar sound.

 

[scott7d]

I play Alice in Chains (Rooster), Stone Temple Pilots (Plush), Candlebox (Far Behind), Seven Mary 3 (Cumbersome), Smashing Pumpkins (Cherub Rock), and Green Day (When I Come Around) in my band using Mark IV mode and think it sounds great! The V's high gain is very lush and harmonic. I like that I can play "chordy" songs like Plush and still hear each string.

For the Candlebox solo, I use Mark I mode with the EQ off, treble and presence almost maxed, and use my neck pup. The tone is so thick and smooth, you can bite it in the air. This also works well for some of those Slash-type tones. Think "Sweet Child" intro and the Knockin' on Heavens door solos.

 

[JOEY B.]

Do your best to rise above those awful '90s guitar tones. I liked Jerry Cantrell, but most of the grunge era left me limp, so to speak. Just because the recorded tone sounds like ass, does not mean that you have to. Think about it. :wink:

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I think you need a fuzz pedal to get the Smashing Pumpkins sound. I think that's a Big Muff you're hearing.