Dream Mark V

[dlpasco]

I sold my Mark V a few months ago and replaced it with a V:25, which I love. Honestly, the V never really did it for me, whereas the V:25 is a freaking monster.

Maybe the added circuitry and complexity on the full V neuters it's tone. Maybe it's some of the things Screamingdaisy considered in another thread, maybe Mesa made some real breakthroughs with the V:25 that the V never got.

If Mesa rolled out a Mark Vb with the following changes from the Mark V:25, they would have:
- amazing cleans on Channel 1
- mid-boost and a phenomenal, USABLE Crunch on Channel 2
- A IIc+ mode on channel 3 you could lose yourself in for days at a time, plus really great IV and Extreme modes
- great headroom options on all three channels
- my money (again)

If they added a Cab Clone as well, I'd probably marry the darn thing.

 

[Monstercastle]

I don't know....I came at the Marks from a different angle. I bought the V:25 first and loved the tones so much I bought the Mark V head a few weeks ago. I can get everything out out of the Mark V that I was getting out of the V:25, but so much more. Bigger iron, bottles, and the added modes/channel. I use the V:25 on the recording desk now or for grab and go.

For me the V:25 was a total gateway drug in that the Mark tone was what I was searching for in my other amp purchases and hadn't found until the V:25. I now seriously doubt I will ever buy another amp. I'll keep my Marshall too, but I sold everything else.

 

[richaxes]

I've never heard a V:25 in person but I'm pretty sure that Mesa didn't make it too different to the V. Maybe some sounds need to be dialed in differently because they had to make a very different circuitry to make the sounds of 3 channels merged into 2, but I'm sure that the V:25 is absolutely in the same ballpark as the V. The only real difference is the power amp section and I'm sure that EL84s are nothing like 6L6s, but then again you can plugin EL34s in the V and make it sound closer to that. Also, many people I read talking about the V:25 said that they really missed the headroom of the 90W V and couldn't get a good clean and distorted tone at the same time. I like to think of the V:25 just like the previous commenter - it's a gateway drug to the real deal. Of course you're free to like any of them better, but the V is definitely a well thought out and designed amp with tons of amazing tones. The V:25 is more like a niche small studio or practice-reherseal amp to me.
By the way, I don't see the problem with cleans or crunch. I think Crunch mode is one of the best modes in the amp, it's so versatile yet sweet sounding, it's great for lower gain leads as well as heavy rhythm tones. I love the Fat clean, too, who needs better cleans than this and for what application?

 

[screamingdaisy]

Mark V Colosseum.

That is my dream.

 

[dlpasco]

Mark V Colosseum.

That is my dream.

YEESSSSSSS

 

[ryjan]

I've never heard a V:25 in person

So until you do I wouldn't worry about the rest of what you said.

 

[yianni54]

Hi Guys!

I'm thinking of getting a Mark as well and really torn as to which to get 25 or 90 watt. Will the 25 still have the low end power that the 90 has? Thanks

 

[primal]

Hi Guys!

I'm thinking of getting a Mark as well and really torn as to which to get 25 or 90 watt. Will the 25 still have the low end power that the 90 has? Thanks

No

Now I don't think the V25 sounds thin. I think it sounds incredible.

But even switching from 25 to 15 watts you can hear a drop in low end.

No way a 25 watt amp will have the low end of a 90 watt version of that same amp.

Still sounds huge in the mix though

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

But even switching from 25 to 15 watts you can hear a drop in low end.

at most output levels, that's more due to the power "mode" than the wattage.

I'm with Monster on this one though. The more I play the V25, the more I want the big boy. The added features and channels would be great. I'm guessing that once I get that 2x12 vertical cab, the Mark V won't be far behind. The V25 won't go anywhere though. It's too small and light and TOO stinking great to get rid of, even if I have the full Mark V sitting right next to it. I'd take the V25 whenever I played out.

With most amps, you have a great channel or two if you're lucky, and if you have that amp, you have those tones and you get another amp or three to get the "other tones" you want. With the full Mark V, almost anything you could want is in one box.

 

[Monstercastle]

I can't get over the Edge mode on channel two on the Mark V. That alone was worth the price of admission. I can spend hours in that mode alone, and it takes pedals nicely too. Hits early AC/DC tones really well, cleans up nicely, and yet it snarls when you dig in. Just inspiring to me.

Between the two, the Big Mark is getting more play time at the moment, but it's inspiring a lot of ideas that I want to start recording. So the V:25 will be used a lot more in that role. Couldn't be happier with this one two combo. Wish I had discovered the Mark V years ago. I could have avoided a couple amps purchases I later regretted. 8)

 

[dlpasco]

I run my V:25 with the cabclone activated so it does't need a speaker load, then use it as a preamp for the fx loops of my tremoverb and multiwatt recto, in stereo.

Plenty of beef. It sounds incredible.

 

[LesPaul70]

Two words:

Progressive Linkage

 

[bandit2013]

If Mesa could improve the Mark V, change in circuitry or what ever it would be needed to excel the product line, I would like full Mark V available in a 2x12 combo housing two V30 and a ported back style similar to the RA100 Combo. Sure would be heavy but perhaps worth the extra weight. I will have to channel the Mark V thought the RA100 combo speakers just for fun. I am curious how that will sound.

 

[bandit2013]

My dream Mark V would be one that does not red plate all the tubes I put into it. :roll:

 

[Shai`tan]

"I don't know....I came at the Marks from a different angle. I bought the V:25 first and
loved the tones so much I bought the Mark V head a few weeks ago.".

My situation was sorta similar. But I 1st had the Mark V combo. Got it home, found the reverb springs were broken. Sent it for repair, and they found some bad cold welds. Ended up returning it. And waited it out. Then finally got the Mrk V 25. Absolutely love the mini V. But secretly pined for the Mrk V. Just picked up a good deal on a Mrk V Head..... with a mini Recto 2x12 with V30s. The heads about as perfect as it gets I think. It is lighter than the combo, and allows for trying different speaker configs.