Amazing Mark V discovery!

[rmcfee]

After approx 6 months with this amp I finally bypassed the "loop/output circuit". The tone was absolutely stunning in all channels.
I don't see giving up the loop and master volume for live playing but you MUST check this out. The tone is just killer.
I must experiment to try and get that with the loop engaged now.

 

[Gunner]

I had the same revelation by bypassing the loop and was also wondering how to get close to that tone with the loop engaged. Crank up the Output Master?

 

[screamingdaisy]

I had the same revelation by bypassing the loop and was also wondering how to get close to that tone with the loop engaged. Crank up the Output Master?

The loop introduces a bunch of circuitry that alters the tone of the amp, including extra gain stages meant to compensate for using pedals in the loop. Long story short, it won't sound the same in bypass as it does with the loop engaged.

Generally I prefer Mesa amps with the loop turned on, even when I use none of the features it was meant to provide.

 

[curley-maple]

yeah the loop does suck tone, there is no two ways about it

I found that out too on the first day I owned it. strummed a big open chord in fat/bold and then engaged the loop and there is a definate tone suck. I love the mark v but anyone that says it it totally transparent needs a hearing check

 

[niilz]

...I found better sounding settings with less preamp gain with the loop engaged...

 

[Jim Ed Love]

I bypass the loop too. Never liked it on my MKIIC+ and I don't like it on the MKV.

 

[RedKlouD72]

See I didn't realize this. I'll try it.

While the FX loop is engaged, Does anybody notice a "tone suck" when switching the FX button on the foot switch? I've noticed this for sure... it's a drop in volume and deadening of the sound.

This would mean there is 3 tiers of tone on the amp:
Hard Bypass
FX engaged but the light for FX is OFF on the footswitch
FX engaged with footswitch light ON


no?

 

[screamingdaisy]

See I didn't realize this. I'll try it.

While the FX loop is engaged, Does anybody notice a "tone suck" when switching the FX button on the foot switch? I've noticed this for sure... it's a drop in volume and deadening of the sound.

This would mean there is 3 tiers of tone on the amp:
Hard Bypass
FX engaged but the light for FX is OFF on the footswitch
FX engaged with footswitch light ON


no?

You shouldn't get tone suck unless there's a tone sucking pedal in the loop. I'm not saying you won't hear a small change in tone if you're listening really hard and clicking back and forth, but if you can detect that sort of change while playing with a band I'd be impressed.

 

[boogieman60]

Some of what we are hearing is the fact that when the tone loop is engaged the amp is OUT OF PHASE.. when you take the loop out the amp is in phase . This is from the manual. NOTE: It is normal to experience some amount of change to the sound when using the EFFECTS LOOP. Normally this is minimal and most often appears as a subtle roll off in top end characteristics. This is a series loop and therefore the results you get using it greatly depend upon the quality of the devices you insert into the loop. We strongly suggest taking your amplifier and trying any processor before buying it to make sure it is compatible with the MARK V. Normally, the more professional series lines of most companies building outboard gear work well. However we have seen even so called pro stuff produce less than satisfactory results in terms of tonal thievery.
NOTE: Engaging the EFFECTS LOOP circuitry adds a substantial amount of circuitry and this additional circuit reverses the phase of the entire amp. This is no cause for alarm and if we hadn’t told you of this, you probably would never have known. Sonically there is no difference other than the incredibly subtle difference in the sound the circuit itself adds.
The only time you will ever need to consider this reversal of overall phase is if you ever run the MARK V in Stereo with another amp (not another MARK V as it would be in phase with its Loop activated). In this case you would probably want to separate the two amplifiers by at least a few feet if not on the other side of the stage. Thats what we are hearing...hope that helps..

 

[Nazgul666]

DOn't forget to make sure that the send knob is set properly. When I first got my amp it was about 9 O'Clock and I didn't realize it. I thought the amp was weak. Then I saw it and put it to noon and it was amazing, or at least as it should be. Last week I read that Petrucci keeps his at 1:30. I tried that and it sounds awesome as well. So if you are having loop issues check into it.

I think the solo function is so great on these amps and I don't want to give that up so I was dtermined to make the loop work.

 

[rika_gd]

DOn't forget to make sure that the send knob is set properly. When I first got my amp it was about 9 O'Clock and I didn't realize it. I thought the amp was weak. Then I saw it and put it to noon and it was amazing, or at least as it should be. Last week I read that Petrucci keeps his at 1:30. I tried that and it sounds awesome as well. So if you are having loop issues check into it.

I think the solo function is so great on these amps and I don't want to give that up so I was dtermined to make the loop work.

He uses at 1 because of the Axe FX, you can see that in his "B" rig..I believe that everybody should use at least at 1 when you are using delay or more fx in the loop.

 

[bassmantim71]

After approx 6 months with this amp I finally bypassed the "loop/output circuit".

It took you 6 months to step on a button on your footswitch?!?

 

[SteveO]

After approx 6 months with this amp I finally bypassed the "loop/output circuit".

It took you 6 months to step on a button on your footswitch?!?

The button on the footswitch only bypasses the effects loop, it doesn't remove the entire circuit from the signal chain. That is achieved via a switch on the back of the chassis below the loop send knob, which removes the loop, solo boost, and master volume from the circuit.

 

[rika_gd]

After approx 6 months with this amp I finally bypassed the "loop/output circuit".

It took you 6 months to step on a button on your footswitch?!?

The button on the footswitch only bypasses the effects loop, it doesn't remove the entire circuit from the signal chain. That is achieved via a switch on the back of the chassis below the loop send knob, which removes the loop, solo boost, and master volume from the circuit.

That´s the way to go!

 

[HeadlessAxeman]

True! I still use my floorboard processor for fx in the series loop of the Mark V Head.
Flip the switch to Hard Bypass on the back ...and woah...tonal tsunami...but rendered completely useless to home/studio settings coz its just way too loud and not controllable nor can I split the power and pre-amp section to use fx in loop..guess that how its meant to work anyways.

I notice the upper transients/harmonics seem to be missing with the FX loop engaged. To match the tone of the amp with loop engaged with that of the Hardbypass (not an exact match, but a close one), I run a compressor with high attack and medium sustain and add a mid boost overdrive in the chain..You get some of the balls back. Also its important to keep the channel master volume at 10:00 or higher and setting the master volume control to at least 9:00 (and then use the FX processor/pedal's volume control or foot pedal to attenuate the volume without losing tone).

This is just my experience...

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I just finally tried this, too. My god, it sounds amazing.

 

[Rkorn]

If there is nothing on loop, if you turn the knob... will it affect the sound????

 

[rika_gd]

If there is nothing on loop, if you turn the knob... will it affect the sound????

if FX in the footswitch is on then YES, it will affect the tone