Channel 3 Question

[ifailedshapes]

Okay, so I own a Stiletto, and while I like it, I'm also addicted to buying gear. Lol. My question is do any of you get a rock tone in channel 3 that doesn't sound like compressed metal? I love the idea of having a 3 channel amp, and I already know that while I like Rectos, they aren't really my sound.

I used a Mark IV for a couple years and really enjoyed it, but the lead channel was always just a little thin. I'm hoping the MkV can be fattened up a little.

Also, I should say that the MkIV left a bad taste in my mouth regarding shared tone controls and global reverb, so as killer as the Electra Dyne and Royal Atlantic are, I'm afraid they aren't exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[J.J]

Channel 3 was why I didn't get a MKV. I just couldn't make friends with it. I wanted a MKV for the same reasons as you, 3 independant channels covering clean, mid gain overdrive and lead. Channels 1 and 2 absolutely nailed it for me with stunning tone and versatility.

A friend of mine also shied away, not being able to get the fat rock tones he wanted from channel 3.

If the MKV gurus here can tell us how to get channel 3 working for rock rather than metal, then its back on my list.

 

[ifailedshapes]

JJ, I just watched the MkV demo videos on Mesa's website, and there are two channel 3 clips that I really like. Those videos sound better than anything I've seen on YouTube. It's a shame my local dealer is such a flake. They were supposed to call me when they had a Mark V or Electra Dyne come in, and this was almost a year ago. It also took them over 3 months to get EL84's in stock. They actually called me about those, but I had already sold my Express.

But back to the topic, watch those clips. You'll like them.

 

[J.J]

Thats disapointing about your local shop. I am so lucky, my town just happens to have the Mesa distributer here and they are virtually across the road from where I work. They almost always have all the gear in stock. Their standard joke with me is "how many do you want" :lol:

Anyway, I watched the Mesa MKV clips. Your right, they are very good. They just seem to capture what the amp actually sounds like in a room. They sound pretty close to what I remember from last time I tried one. Channel 1 and 2 really shine for me, Channel 3 sounds really good, but I don't love it. The CH3 clip I like most is the MKIV mode which seems to have some good meat about it. I am starting to wonder if what I am missing in CH3 is in the lower mids.

They were using humbuckers for the Ch3 clips, so if your just using single coils the tone may thin out somewhat. That just reminded me when I tested the MKV I used my 1960RI LP and my 62' RI strat. Niether of those guitars are overly strong in the mids. I should go and test again with a different guitar.

 

[ifailedshapes]

I live about 2 hours away from Mesa's shop, and my dealer can't keep items in stock. You live on the opposite side of the world and get to try out whatever you please. What's wrong with this picture? :?

 

[ifailedshapes]

Really, no one who has viewed this topic cares to chime in? As much as the online videos help, I'd really like to hear from people who own the amp. Pretty please? Lol.

 

[NOWAYBACK]

Hello guys,

I owned the Mark V for about a year, and I mostly play heavy rock - to me, channel 3 in its 3 different flavours is a precise metal machine, capable of the most surgical and detailed single string/power chord riffing while preserving note definition even with lots of gain, something that very few amps can achieve IMO. My feeling is that you will find channel 3 very suitable for your lead work, but I doubt you will get the fat tone for chords or power chords that you may be after for your style of music. That said, I find extreme mode to be fatter that the other 2 modes, with prominent bass and low mids; I would start there with moderate gain settings.

Very best,
Marcelo
NOWAYBACK

 

[ifailedshapes]

Hello guys,

I owned the Mark V for about a year, and I mostly play heavy rock - to me, channel 3 in its 3 different flavours is a precise metal machine, capable of the most surgical and detailed single string/power chord riffing while preserving note definition even with lots of gain, something that very few amps can achieve IMO. My feeling is that you will find channel 3 very suitable for your lead work, but I doubt you will get the fat tone for chords or power chords that you may be after for your style of music. That said, I find extreme mode to be fatter that the other 2 modes, with prominent bass and low mids; I would start there with moderate gain settings.

Very best,
Marcelo
NOWAYBACK

Thanks for your response, man. What you just said is what I was afraid of. I still want to play one with my guitars, but I'm not expecting to be thrilled with channel 3.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I'm surprised you think the Mark IV or V lead channel is thin compared to a Stiletto. I haven't had tons of time with Stilettos, but they seemed thinner than what a IV or V could get.

If you want a really fat rock tone, try Mark I mode on channel 2 of the V. (Use channel 3 IIC+ mode for a bluesy lead instead of a metal tone.)

Try something like this (going from memory):
Channel 2
Mark I mode
45 watts
variac, tube, thick
Gain: 2:00
Treble: 3:00
Master: 2:00
Presence: 2:00
Mids: nearly off
bass: off
Sliders: create an upward slope. Dial down the bass to where it's tight and thick but not flubby. Dial up the high end to where it's rich but not sharp.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Mark I mode in Ch2 is SUPER fat and can definitely make Ch3 sound really thin in comparison, but really it's not that thin. The GEQ is ESSENTIAL to dialing in your tone in Ch3.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

The GEQ is ESSENTIAL to dialing in your tone in Ch3.

Yes, this. Don't use the preset in channel 3 for higher gain stuff. It will sound thin and bright. You must use the GEQ.

 

[screamingdaisy]

This is a repost from the Mk V settings thread as it seems to suit the content;

These are what I've been using for the last little bit. More geared towards thick rock tones than saturated metal. SG or Les Paul w/ PAF type humbuckers.

Channel 3 is the only one that's using the graphic EQ and it's not as scooped sounding as the picture would make you think. I was initially hesitant to turn the mids knob down that low (it's all the way off), but it changes the feel of the amp more than it reduces the actual midrange.

CH1 - Fat, EQ off, 45w, bold off, tube rectifier.
Ch2 - Crunch, EQ off, 45w, tube rectifier.
Ch3 - Mark IV, EQ on, 45w, bright off, pentode (triode also works).

Anyway, long story short... I found that the trick to getting channel 3 to sound less "metal" and more "fat" is to turn down the treble/presence/bright, and pair it up with suitable pickups. Those settings above combined with a good set of PAF type pickups produce some great grinding rock tones.

If anyone is really perceptive, channels 2 and 3 are pretty much the exact settings I pulled off the demo vids Mesa produced a few weeks back. They sound great. I suspect that the guitar used in the Mark IV Rock vid that they produced has a higher output pickup in the bridge as it doesn't sound quite as fat as my SG w/ 57 Classics. Then again, it could be that I'm using nickel strings and the dude in the vid is using nickel coated steel.

 

[ifailedshapes]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I can't wait to play through one in person. I only got to spend a few minutes with one back when they first came out, so most of my knowledge comes from YouTube videos and this forum.

 

[fuzzgod]

Ch3 takes the most work, in my opinion. 1 & 2 were great right out of the box but Ch3 makes you search a little bit.

I use Ch3 mostly for some tight, pick responsive liquid leads (I'm always trying to get a good fusion lead sound) and the gEQ expands the frequency control big time. Sometimes too much i.e. I think it's pretty easy to over EQ Ch3, especially when you start getting gainy. I usually start with the gEQ off, dial in the 'base' for the tone I'm thinking of and then start chiseling away at it with the gEQ.

Like others have said on here, don't pour on the gain right away and be very judicious with the gEQ and I think you'll dig Ch3 a lot more. I think there is a world of rhythm tones and textures in this amp, but I really think that the Mark series in general has always excelled at it's lead tones.

 

[ifailedshapes]

Ch3 takes the most work, in my opinion. 1 & 2 were great right out of the box but Ch3 makes you search a little bit.

I use Ch3 mostly for some tight, pick responsive liquid leads (I'm always trying to get a good fusion lead sound) and the gEQ expands the frequency control big time. Sometimes too much i.e. I think it's pretty easy to over EQ Ch3, especially when you start getting gainy. I usually start with the gEQ off, dial in the 'base' for the tone I'm thinking of and then start chiseling away at it with the gEQ.

Like others have said on here, don't pour on the gain right away and be very judicious with the gEQ and I think you'll dig Ch3 a lot more. I think there is a world of rhythm tones and textures in this amp, but I really think that the Mark series in general has always excelled at it's lead tones.

I agree 100% about the EQ. I remember really experimenting with my Mark IV. My favorite sound was actually using the middle slider as a mid boost. It's very unique. I also know that most people who posted on here have their own ideas of what a good rock sound is, so I'll never know until I spend a good hour or so with the amp. I've got to say that my hopes aren't too high.

Also, regarding the lead tones, there is a reason the channel 3 on the Mark IV is called Lead. That liquidy lead tone is akin to a Dual Rec for me - fun to play, but not really my style. What I'm looking for is a clean/mild overdrive/rock! setup. I'd really like to find sounds I am happy with so that the only pedal in front of the amp is my Fuzz Factory, but no distortion or OD. I think most guitarists are after the same thing, though. It's really all about what fits the sound in our head and what meshes well with our other gear.

The only way I'd be able to afford a V is if I sold my Ace and bass (hey, that rhymed) and probably something else. I really like the sound of the Ace, but I wish I had a little more flexibility (more channels, foot-switchable loop) which the V would definitely have. Plus if you find good sounds without the EQ, you can use the EQ to give yourself a pseudo 6-channel amp.

So if I can get the V to sound reasonably close to how I have my Ace setup, I'm in. If I can't, then I will probably save up for a used Lone Star or maybe even a Fender Super Sonic 22, which is one seriously sick amplifier!

 

[fr0sty]

Don't forget to try channel 2 for your lead tone (mark i) and channel 3 with the gain dialed back for your rock rhythm tone.

 

[ifailedshapes]

Don't forget to try channel 2 for your lead tone (mark i) and channel 3 with the gain dialed back for your rock rhythm tone.

Thanks, but I'm not looking for a lead tone.