Are people happy with their Mark V combos?

[nremondelli]

So I got a really good deal on a used Mark V 1x12 combo (1300$) with an EVM-12L instead of the stock speaker at any rate, before it comes, I've been reading reviews and it seems to be a mixed bag. Just curious if most people are happy with the V. I was interested in it because it seems super versatile. I guess I just want someone to help me feel good about my purchase

 

[OryCheyne]

Congratulations sounds like a bargain and sounds like someone didn't like theirs enough to have passed it on.
The only opinion I can give is that you will be spoilt for choice. Hopefully it has good life left in the tubes.
I suggest you find a good setting or two and just play it. The V is many many things, but it is not magical, that part is still up to us.

 

[SamuelJ86]

Well it is mesa's flagship amplifier. It's done so well that mesa has put out 2 more versions of different wattages. So it's selling. That should help you feel better. Now whether or not you'll like it is your decision. Personally, I have a love hate relationship with mine. One day I'll dail in the most awesome crunch sound that there has ever been. A tone Mr. Hetfield himself would be drooling over. And the next day it'll be gone. The amp is definitely "alive". And every once in a while I'll fight with it and we just can't get along. But for the most part I think it's a great amp. We get along 90% of the time.
Hell, at the price you paid for yours, if you end up not liking it, you might even be able to make a little money if you sell it. There's no doubt you got a world class amp though. Enjoy!

 

[OryCheyne]

nremondelli,
I feel I should clarify that I have only ever played Boogies in earnest, apart from the odd Marshall, peavey and Laney. The Boogies just worked so could not see any need to change. So my opinion will be slightly biased, and while I said that these amps are not magical, they do give you the choice of tone and depth that put expression right there at your fingertips.
I have believed ever since I owned my first Boogie nearly thirty years ago, that the people at Mesa fully subscribe to their moto... 'the spirit of art in technology'. So there is magic in those people over there in California who make these for you and me.

While the V combo is a versatile standalone for gigging, I have recently been enjoying experimenting with additional speakers. Thankfully the combos have the same output options as the heads so you can run two quads if you want. For me it has everything! Albeit I still have a minor issue with ch2, I think is valve issue but I haven't sat down to nut out.
That's all from me. I like mine, don't think I'd be able to build one myself, thankful mesa do.

 

[LesPaul70]

Well it is mesa's flagship amplifier

Nitpicking here but I thought that Road King II was. At least its list price is a tad higher, and it's got some crazy features that even the V doesn't have - most notably, Progressive Linkage (which I love), plus two FX loops, cabinet switching etc. Then again, those two amps don't really cater to the same audience or compete with each other.

But yes, the MkV combo is an awesome little package. Of course you can expand its sonic impact with an extension cab or, if you please, use it with an external 4x12, just like the head.

 

[Nicklotsaguitars]

Super happy with mine. First channel switching amp in a long time that I think competes with single channel amps on all of it's channels. I've always found switchers either have great clean or great driven channels, never both. Until now.
The only things about it I don't like are the C90 and the weight.
No experience of the EVM speaker. But have determined it's the C90 I don't like as the thing sounds even better through other cabs. And the C90 ain't that bad until you turn it up.

 

[LesPaul70]

The only things about it I don't like are the C90 and the weight.

2 easy ways to make a Mark V combo sound better:

1) Add an extension cab. Even 2 x 1x12 will sound significantly better than just one.

2) Swap the speaker. IME, Mark series crunch/distortion loves V30 (but V30 isn't as good for cleans); YMMV. The EVM is great but not as easily available, and it weighs like sin. So if you think your combo is heavy enough already...

 

[Tucker44]

I am extremely happy with mine. i use the stock C90 speaker and set the combo on top of a lonestar 410. I rehearse and gig regularly with mine. I have set it up for clean, mid gain and high gain. I would like to get a head version also.

 

[bandit2013]

I converted my Mark V head to a combo. I was missing the open back combo sound. Besides, the Roadster head needed a cab to sit on. I bought the combo shell on ebay and it came complete with reverb tank and MC90 speaker. The EVM12L black label speaker went in before I mounted the amp chassis. I also had a wide extension cab with the EVM12L so I could run two speakers with the combo. The EV sounds best thought he 4 ohm jack and better when two are in use. The two EV speakers pushed out as much power as the Mark V did with the 412 (I had loaded a recto cab with the same EV but recently converted back to V30). I did not dislike the MC90, but did have issues with the one that my Mark IV had. In short I loved the combination of the Mark V and EV speaker. Recently I decided to take a gamble on a different speaker; Jensen Jet Black Bird. Does not quite have the same maximum output level as the EV, sounds quite similar in fact but yet different. I finally have the new speaker broken in and I am pleased with the end results. The Jensen BB seems to outshine most other speakers I have experimented with on the clean channel. It is no slouch on CH2 or CH3 either but not as bold on the bottom end as the EV. Perhaps if I had the EV classic vs the Black label, I may not have swapped it out. Note that the Black Label version uses the same suspension as the original Mesa EVM12L black shadow and too my memory sounds quite the same. So if you are one that pushes the envelope, the EV will serve you well.

I had great results with the EV when it was front mounted (requires some mods to the grill), but the Jensen Black Bird is best with the rear mounting method and will fit the combo with the bell cover in place, just do not expect to use the pouch though for the foot switch, I may actually take it out. or remove the bell cover just for kicks.

Enjoy your new amp. $1300 is a really good price!

 

[bandit2013]

At least I broke in the Jensen speaker but decided to put the EVM12L back into the combo. The EV and Blackbird are almost identical in the tone department, however, when I go back to my heavy metal roots, the Blackbird seems to have difficulty with the heavy bass with higher gain settings at gig level. The Mark V is a tone monster with two EV running in parallel. Not bad with the Blackbird and EV but I prefer the EV overall. Actually at low volume settings, the EV is just as good as the Blackbird. That being said, the Blackbird has no equal on the clean channel. On the flip side, the EV can handle the 90W effortlessly without breakup. The Blackbird will not flub out but will bark at you if the bass is too high at moderate volume. Stick with the EV, it will take some getting used to but not all that difficult to dial in really awesome tone with the Mark V. This is what a Mark should sound like since that is what I have been familiar with since my Mark III days.

 

[misterbee]

Gotta say I love mine. And for &1300!!!!!!!! I'd love two of em! I didn't like the C90 until I broke it in. Now, for an open back combo, it sounds incredibly BIG!! Not a channel or mode that I don't find very musical and useful. Best money I ever spent on an amp (and I was nowhere near as lucky as you). Enjoy!!

 

[tele_jas]

I LOVE my 1x12 combo!

Quick history... I went through a Boogie phase in the early-mid 2000s (2003-2007). I had Single, Dual, Triple Recto's and every variant of each model (Rectoverb, Tremoverb, Road King, Roadster), Lonestar Classic.... I think I've had 5 Tremoverbs since 2003??. Then I jumped ship to handwired boutique amps with a max of 5 knobs! I SWORE I'd never be back to Boogies, they were just "too much" and sort of a "jack of all trades" but "master of none".

A couple years ago, I got a great deal on a Mark V 1x12 combo and was missing some of my harder rock tones you just can't get from pedals. Now I have a 4 knob Dr. Z amp as well as a Mark V and I can honestly say that one doesn't sound better than the other, just different.

I can cover so much ground with a Mark V....From spanking clean 50s country to modern country, to blues, to hard rock, up to Classic/Nu/prog metal all in one amp. Channel 2 can sometimes be a little fussy about settings. But I think channel 1 has some of the absolute best clean tones I've ever heard and channel 3 is the best rock/hard rock rhythm and lead tones I've ever heard.

I love mine!

 

[bandit2013]

Sorry to repeat, The Mark V combo has won me over, had to reinstall the Jensen Blackbird as that given happiness beyond any other.
The Mark V combo sounds great as is or with different speakers to suit your taste. The Mark V is one of Mesa's amps that responds extremely well to preamp tube and power tube changes. This is one amp you can actually tune with different preamp tubes. I actually prefer the Mesa branded preamp tubes, for power it is the SED 6L6GC (too bad they are out of production now). The combo amp chassis is identical to the head chassis (I actually converted my head to a combo if I have not said that already). You definitely have the power to drive a full stack if you so desire. I actually prefer the combo version vs the head as it is very easy to change all the tubes without having to remove the chassis. Sure you can swap tubes in the head without having to remove the chassis but can be tricky if you have big hands. Also you do not have to remove power tubes to access the preamp tubes but they do get in the way even with the combo. As for amp character, you can always switch to EL34 types if that is your desire. The Mark V performs great with the EL34 type tube as well as the 6L6GC type (don't forget to switch the bias switch on the back of the amp when changing to EL34, KT77, 6CA7 tubes, Most important do not run 6L6GC tubes with the bias switch set to EL34 or they will be toast in no time but you could probably do the opposite with EL34 however the outer tubes would be way too cold. Note that the inner tube bias is hot enough to run a mixed quad of EL34 and 6L6 for the 90W mode, this was in the original manual but was removed probably due to the 10W setting since the tubes are operating cathode bias for that power mode and would mix an EL34 with 6L6 and not sure if that would result in damage to the amp). What really sets this amp apart from the other multi-channel mesa's are the different voice settings for each channel. Gain character and tone stack is quite different in CH2 vs CH3 so in terms of flexibility this amp has it all.