Dialing in a Mark III: before and after

[dlpasco]

Hey folks,

I was going through some sound clips and I wanted to share what is probably a common experience here.

When I first started working with my Mark III, I was incredibly frustrated, because I was certain that this amp was a special one. It's a blue stripe, which is supposed to be one of the most aggressive Marks produced by Mesa, and I had heard a lot of testimony from people that it was possible to dial in a great tone with them.

Unfortunately, for a long time, it sounded pretty much like this clip I recorded about 7 months ago.

I felt incredibly conflicted. I desperately wanted this to be the amp that I thought it could be, but I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that this was just an old, outdated piece of junk.

I made some progress over the last six months, but I still really couldn't dial in a tone that had the searing gain, edge, or punch that I was hearing in my mind.

Over the last couple of months, things have come together, and this amp is finally demonstrating that it is that special beast that I'd always hoped it would be.

Probably the first moment when I really, seriously fell in love with the tone I was getting was when I recorded this clip with my Mark III and my '67 SG.

Finally, knowing that I could really dial in a tone that I loved, I put this track together yesterday using my Mark III and my Schecter Damien Elite 7. This track, to me, showcases the the incredible tone you can get from this amplifier, and there's still significant room for improvement in the parts I recorded.

If you have a Mark III and you're struggling to get it dialed it, don't give up! It's worth the wait. And if you're thinking about getting one, I say DO IT.

-Daniel

 

[snorkel54]

I also have a Mark III blue stripe that is difficult to dial in. That crunch groove sound like it have a maxon boost, true? Or have you just dobble/quad tracked it?

 

[dlpasco]

Yes, I'm using a clean boost and the high gain rhythm parts are are doubled, but that's not really what made the difference here (but they certainly help).

 

[dlpasco]

Also, I posted a video of this to YouTube: http://youtu.be/Fs2p_krGNBk.

 

[okgb]

What made the difference for you ?
I did the mods but mine has never made it back to it's former days
I've given up but I couldn't get 1/3 rd of what i paid new for it

 

[ryjan]

Seven months to dial in an amp? You guys make this a lot harder than it needs to be. :lol:

 

[dlpasco]

Seven months to dial in an amp? You guys make this a lot harder than it needs to be. :lol:

*sobs*

The two key points for me were keeping the bass under two, the lead volume at five or more, and the master volume at two or higher. Everything else snapped into place after.

Note: I needed a hot plate to play at that volume at home.

 

[dlpasco]

What made the difference for you ?
I did the mods but mine has never made it back to it's former days
I've given up but I couldn't get 1/3 rd of what i paid new for it

No mods, just roll back the bass and crank it, really.

 

[Markedman]

The Mark II and III's need to be turned up to get any action out of them. If you are playing in a band where the drummer say's "It's tooooo loud" chances are you won't be able to get a decent tone. My Mark IV on the other hand can get decent sound at low volumes. Mesa has a guide for starting points with the Mark III, you can find it here on the boogie board, it has the best settings listed. Tubes are huge in getting tone, just changing V1 & V3 will make a big difference.

 

[megavoice]

Yes, the lower the volume, the more it sounds like a lady-shave. The more you crank up the master, the clearer and better it will sound.
Consider this very true statement of a very old guiter-player I played with formerly: "The power-section will definitively make the sound."
At low gain you'll have a lot of distortion, and the higher you'll set the gain, the clearer and crispy and firm as a rock it will sound. Its a pity, as in a band there would be lots of complaints. But be lucky you have the class A 15 watt-mod for lower gains.

 

[jon_113]

I bought my mark iii blue off of a cat who didnt know how to dial it in either. The manual is actually a life saver! The pull functions are very effective and for that reason, you NEED to understand them. Using a bunch of deep, bass shift, boosts and all that other nonsense on the lead channel with a humbucker guitar is a recipe for flub.
I learned quickly that you keep the bass knob pushed in and around 2.5-3.5. Also, turn the input volume up to the point that it just starts to break up, then back it down just a hair.
My Mark III is *gulp* better than my mark iv (maybe... they both rule).

:twisted:

 

[jon_113]

Hey folks,

I was going through some sound clips and I wanted to share what is probably a common experience here.

When I first started working with my Mark III, I was incredibly frustrated, because I was certain that this amp was a special one. It's a blue stripe, which is supposed to be one of the most aggressive Marks produced by Mesa, and I had heard a lot of testimony from people that it was possible to dial in a great tone with them.

Unfortunately, for a long time, it sounded pretty much like this clip I recorded about 7 months ago.

I felt incredibly conflicted. I desperately wanted this to be the amp that I thought it could be, but I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that this was just an old, outdated piece of junk.

I made some progress over the last six months, but I still really couldn't dial in a tone that had the searing gain, edge, or punch that I was hearing in my mind.

Over the last couple of months, things have come together, and this amp is finally demonstrating that it is that special beast that I'd always hoped it would be.

Probably the first moment when I really, seriously fell in love with the tone I was getting was when I recorded this clip with my Mark III and my '67 SG.

Finally, knowing that I could really dial in a tone that I loved, I put this track together yesterday using my Mark III and my Schecter Damien Elite 7. This track, to me, showcases the the incredible tone you can get from this amplifier, and there's still significant room for improvement in the parts I recorded.

If you have a Mark III and you're struggling to get it dialed it, don't give up! It's worth the wait. And if you're thinking about getting one, I say DO IT.

-Daniel

When double tracking guitars, drop the gain a bit. I can hear that the tone is monsterous. But for double tracking or triple tracking; its too hairy. It will sound even more brutal if its a bit tighter!

 

[dlpasco]

I bought my mark iii blue off of a cat who didnt know how to dial it in either. The manual is actually a life saver! The pull functions are very effective and for that reason, you NEED to understand them. Using a bunch of deep, bass shift, boosts and all that other nonsense on the lead channel with a humbucker guitar is a recipe for flub.
I learned quickly that you keep the bass knob pushed in and around 2.5-3.5. Also, turn the input volume up to the point that it just starts to break up, then back it down just a hair.

Well said.

My Mark III is *gulp* better than my mark iv (maybe... they both rule).

:twisted:

HELLLOOO, money quote

That really is saying something. It's nice to hear the perspective of someone that owns both AND knows how to dial them in.

 

[dlpasco]

When double tracking guitars, drop the gain a bit. I can hear that the tone is monsterous. But for double tracking or triple tracking; its too hairy. It will sound even more brutal if its a bit tighter!

Okey doke. I'll give it a shot. Thank you.

-Daniel