Does the Mark IV have a switch to cut back the wattage ?

[ChrisRocksUSA]

:?:

 

[Rob Lockwood]

Yes, three of them really, each one has a different effect on the sound/feel of the amp as well as the power output:

Class A/Simulclass
In Class A the inner pair of tubes are off - reduces power to 50W in pentode or 30W in triode

Pentode/ Triode selector
Changes the power amp configuration - Triode reduces power to 70W in full power or as above in Class A

Full Power/Tweed (on power switch)
Lowers power supply voltage in tweed, manual doesnt say how much but I think its close to 50%

So in Tweed/Class A/Triode the power is down from 85W to around 15-20W

 

[ChrisRocksUSA]

thanks for the quick reply.

forgive my ignorance, i used to own a dual rec years ago in college (and if it had this option, i surely wasn't aware of it). I'm trying to get back into a mesa and I'm thinking mark IV might be for me. So in the lowest watt setting, can I still use the 3rd channel on high gain, or is it going to be limited?

I ask b/c I live in an apartment and want something I can use at home as well as for playing gigs.

if not, do I need to be on full wattage to get that classic high gain tone from the mark iv? i'm looking primarily at dream theater rhythm type tones.


thanks

 

[lockbody]

thanks for the quick reply.

forgive my ignorance, i used to own a dual rec years ago in college (and if it had this option, i surely wasn't aware of it). I'm trying to get back into a mesa and I'm thinking mark IV might be for me. So in the lowest watt setting, can I still use the 3rd channel on high gain, or is it going to be limited?

I ask b/c I live in an apartment and want something I can use at home as well as for playing gigs.

if not, do I need to be on full wattage to get that classic high gain tone from the mark iv? i'm looking primarily at dream theater rhythm type tones.


thanks

I think the Mk IV is one of the best low-volume practice amps ever. I leave mine @ Simulclass/Pentode/Tweed and when the family is asleep I can just barely crack the output and still get a rocking tone. Sure, it sounds nothing like it does at full blast, but still tons better than many amps at that level. I do think a compressor in front at really low volumes helps fill out the sound a tad, though.

 

[dodger916]

thanks for the quick reply.

forgive my ignorance, i used to own a dual rec years ago in college (and if it had this option, i surely wasn't aware of it). I'm trying to get back into a mesa and I'm thinking mark IV might be for me. So in the lowest watt setting, can I still use the 3rd channel on high gain, or is it going to be limited?

I ask b/c I live in an apartment and want something I can use at home as well as for playing gigs.

if not, do I need to be on full wattage to get that classic high gain tone from the mark iv? i'm looking primarily at dream theater rhythm type tones.


thanks

I think the Mk IV is one of the best low-volume practice amps ever.

+1. Even at "TV" volume, the Lead channel will still produce a great liquid tone because Mesa relies on preamp distortion played through a relatively clean power section. You could also use the Recording out and plug into any unit that has a headphone jack; pull the Output pot and play silently. Or plug a headphone into the Recording out socket and get a low-volume mono signal.

 

[ChrisRocksUSA]

Very interesting! It doesn't need to be quiet, I just can't have it disturbing the neighbors all the time. I'm going to go check out the mark V again. At the store it didn't seem to want to break up very well, even on the 10 watt setting.

My issue with the mini recto is that no matter how loud it's cranked, it sounds like my DR did at low volume (very fizzy/buzzy). I need real tone, just at a reasonable volume.


So bc I can set the wattage lower would you guys suggest a mark IV head w/ an excluded 2x12 over the combo? I'd be using it primarily for metal.

 

[lockbody]

So bc I can set the wattage lower would you guys suggest a mark IV head w/ an excluded 2x12 over the combo? I'd be using it primarily for metal.

You don't see many metal bands using combos.