Amps that have a MarkIV-like lead tone.

[stevehollx]

I'm looking for an amp that will be more versatile than my MkIV for live playing. Looking for something with a lead channel that sounds/feels like that smooth MkIV lead tone, but has better clean & mid-gain channels. It would be nice to split my lead and heavy rhythm sounds to different channels, too.

I tried a Diezel Herbert and didn't like it. Too compressed on Ch3, and Ch2 sat weird in the mix.

I'm looking at the Engls now. Has anyone played a SE or Invader? How to their lead tones hold up to the MkIV lead?

If all else fails I suppose I can go with a Triaxis, but looking for what other Boogie fans think of other amps along the lines of the MkIV lead sound.

 

[Turumbar82]

The ENGL SE has so many options and is extremely versatile with lots of midi options. It's pretty expensive too. I don't think it will get you Mark IV type lead tones though. Really the a Mark series amps are best for that type of lead tone.

I would maybe think about doing a dual amp set up and using the Mark for your leads and something else for cleans and and mid gain stuff unless you don't want to lug around 2 amps which is perfectly understandable.

 

[TimeSignature]

The Rivera Knucklehead Reverb sounds very close to a Mark IV... and has a much nicer clean channel. I also prefer the reverb of the Rivera to the Mark IV.

 

[Geiri]

I have a mk4 combo with the ev 200w speaker. I recently bought an engl screamer and dude that thing is da ****.
I suggest you run to your nearest engl dealer and try them out. It's not better than the mk4 as such but it's not worse either. Nothing on earth will touch the lead channel on a mk4 but the engl has better clean, crunch and soft lead. The lead channel on the screamer is my second favorite after the mk4 but it's by no means bad. The engls have their own tone and to my ears if I had to choose between the two I wouldn't be able to. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Go check them out you won't be dissapointed.

 

[boogietone]

I've read the VHT (Fryette) Sig X is very close to a MKIV. I've never had a
chance to play one but everything I've read about them sounds very close to
what you're looking for. I've been considering one myself. You might want to
check one out.

 

[srf399]

I owned a MKIV for a few years and now own a Carvin Legacy II. If you want a smoother MKIV type tone with a way nicer clean channel try a Legacy II.... trust me. The other advantage with the Legacy II is it sounds the same every time and is extremely easy to dial in. Killer lead tone with a really nice and unique acoustic sounding clean channel.

 

[srf399]

When I bought the Legacy.... I remember reading somewhere how women can hear frequencies that men cannot...and that some top boutique amp designers ask women to judge the sound of their amps. So.... I a/b'd the Legacy II with the Stiletto Deuce II and a Lone Star Classic.... and... 8 women listened....

The legacy was the top pick with every one of them.


That was about 3 months ago.....

I haven't played my Stiletto Deuce II much lately so today I A/B'd my Stiletto Deuce II with my Legacy II.... and the Legacy absolutely annihilated the Deuce. I know we all like to say sound is subjective.... but.... I'm so sorry.... the Legacy II kills the Lone Star Classic I had and smokes my Stiletto as well. The lead channel smokes my MKIV's lead channel as well. Not even close. I've put off getting a Bogner Ecstasy now.

 

[Turumbar82]

When I bought the Legacy.... I remember reading somewhere how women can hear frequencies that men cannot...and that some top boutique amp designers ask women to judge the sound of their amps. So.... I a/b'd the Legacy II with the Stiletto Deuce II and a Lone Star Classic.... and... 8 women listened....

The legacy was the top pick with every one of them.


That was about 3 months ago.....

I haven't played my Stiletto Deuce II much lately so today I A/B'd my Stiletto Deuce II with my Legacy II.... and the Legacy absolutely annihilated the Deuce. I know we all like to say sound is subjective.... but.... I'm so sorry.... the Legacy II kills the Lone Star Classic I had and smokes my Stiletto as well. The lead channel smokes my MKIV's lead channel as well. Not even close. I've put off getting a Bogner Ecstasy now.

So are you saying that a Carvin Legacy could improve my chances with the ladies? If so then I'm getting one and it will be the best $800 I have ever spent!

 

[Scary]

Have you tried the MarkV? Pretty much what that is IMO.

 

[deftone82]

I have a mk4 combo with the ev 200w speaker. I recently bought an engl screamer and dude that thing is da sh!t.

I recently played a Engl Screamer versus Engl Raider. Quite hard decision because the screamer has got a more 'clean', open sound, the Raider has got more tonal variation (but needs some tweaking). I was surprices by both amps their clean sound, very warm, full tones!

After that, the store owner replaced the screamer with a Blackstar series one 45watt combo (2x12")...that got my hairs up immediatly... really nice open sound with lots of headroom en some killer lead/gain.

So I'm doubting between the Engl Raider/Blackstar/Mesa Mark IV...although I didn't have the chance to hear a Mark IV...but I've heard lots of good about it (almost nothing but good!)...and they are all in the same price range (Mark IV would be second hand!)

Maybe any advice?

 

[Geiri]

Don´t know about the blackstar I'm not familiar with that brand. But you can't go wrong with the other two. But I a/b the mk iv to the engl screamer and compared to the engls open and big thick sound the mk4 sounded boxy and fizzy. This was a surprise to me since I've loved the mkiv sound for many years. But when I hooked them to a 4x12 rectifier cab the mk4 won hands down. I don't know why but the mkiv seemed to benefit more from the 4x12. On the other hand tho the engl held his own against the 4x12. There is a nasty high mid spike in the cab which the mk seems to like. There is a difference in tone between mesa's v 30's and everyone else's v30's

 

[srf399]

Hey... I'd had a few drinks when I made my last post.... so "annihilate & smokes" are definitely overstatements... LOL But... I still give the nod to the Legacy II. Also... the $800 is for the original Legacy.... The Legacy II is a different amp with Mercury Magnetics tranny and better components than the original. By the time the dust settled with currency exchange etc... it came out at $300 less than I paid for my Stiletto. As far as getting chicks... hmmm I didn't buy it to get chicks... I bought it as an improvement over the other amps I already owned.

 

[Dondante]

which legacy are we talking about? i see a few. link please?

 

[srf399]

The Legacy II head..... Carvin Website

 

[phyrexia]

It sounds like you need a Mark V, mang.

 

[SteveO]

It sounds like you need a Mark V, mang.

I agree with this completely, as I was after the exact same thing as the OP, and found it with the Mark V.