Electra Dyne or Mark V

[primal]

I own both, and I love both! Both amps offer great clean, low gain/crunch and hi gain sounds which are seamlessly footswitchable. The ED offers great sounds in each mode, but there are some definite compromises between modes for gigging by the nature of the intentional "simplicity" of this amp. That being said, I can easily set up the ED to cover the essential clean, crunch and high gain sounds that I need for live performances without much sacrifice.

That being said, my preference is definitely the MKV because with this amp each channel has 3 modes (most of which I love), each channel has dedicated tone and presence controls, power mode selections, Graphic EQ choises, reverb mix levels, etc....and all necessary functions are footswitchable. The MkV also includes the very useful footswitchable solo boost feature which was not available with the previous Mark amplifiers.

I know this is the ED forum, and don't get me wrong....The ED is an excellent amplifier and for many may be exactly what they want / need. However, for me the MKV definitely rules. I am not just comparing it to the ED, The MKV is the best amp for me period!

I think the mark V is a great amp as well.

But when I purchased the ED, what it came down to for me was the best tone I could get out of the amp.

If features where a factor then the Mark V obviously obliterates the competition.

But when I took the best overdrive tone I could dial in on the Mark V and compared it to the best overdrive tone I could dial in on the ED, I prefered the tone on the ED by a fairly wide margin. Perhaps I didn't give the V enough time, but I do own a Mark IV and to be honest I actualy prefer the lead channel on the Mark IV over channel 3 on the V. Though channels 1 and 2 on the Mark V are in a different class then channels 1 and 2 on the Mark IV. But I also felt that the EQ on the Mark V was not nearly as effective as the EQ on all the previous Mark series amps. The sliders did not make as noticiable a difference as they did on the previous versions.

My Guitar center had the Mark V sitting right next to the ED so I was able to AB them one right next to the other. The ED was much thicker and had gobs more low end. Of course which ever you like better is a matter of opinion.

I loved the clean tone on the Mark V but never directly compared it to the clean on the ED. I love the clean on the ED

But I definately liked the V, and a lot.

Probably 6 months from now when I get a little cash saved up in my GAS fund, I will bring my Mark IV down to guitar center and A/B it with a V right next to it in the same room.

If I find I can get the same lead tone out of the V as I get from them IV, I might just pick a Mark V up

 

[JOEY B.]

When asked by another C+ junkie (forum member "GTS") about the Electra Dyne, my response was: Lonestar-ish cleans and reverb, all the bass response of the Dual Rectifier in the gain channels without the fizzy distortion. The "blue" mode is hard to put into words compared to another MESA amp. It is awesome by itself or with a clean boost out front. The blue mode responds VERY well to the guitar volume control adjustment while playing. Dammit, now I'm gushing. :lol:

 

[MBJunkie]

Primal,

I totally agree that the ED is very toneful, and very easy to dial in. In fact, it amazes me that MB can provide an amp with 6 front panel knobs that work very well for 3 classic sounds that are footswitchable (especially with using the clean volume trim knob and clean/normal/gain toggle cut switch in the back). Don't get me wrong the ED is a great amp, and many may prefer it over the MKV.

However, one thing that I notice in this ED vrs MKV poll is that some people are substituting the MKV with their treasured MKIV amp in the comparison. I also still own a MKIV widebody combo, and do feel it is an excellent amp in its own right. However, IMO the MKV is a much superior amp in tone, flexibility and gigability to the MKIV.

While the MKIV was very versatile (especially in its time), I found that I had to make several compromises to achieve a great CH2 crunch sound, for example (tweed mode power, class A toggle, and triode toggle) while diming the channel 2 gain. Unfortunately, these lower power and rear toggle settings also applied to Channel 1 and 3 and while I was able to still get decent sounds out of the other channels, there were definite compromises. This is just one example.

With the MKV I am easily able to dial in incredible sounds out of each channel (in all power settings, 10, 45 and 90 watts and most modes of each channel for that matter) without any compromises. I love all 3 modes of channel 1, the crunch mode of channel 2 and all 3 modes of channel 3. It is possible that duting all of my years tweaking the MKIV made the MKV a snap for me to dial in, but in reality the features and tone quality of the MKV is second to none in my opinon. During rehearsals, I have all 3 channels set to 10W mode my bandmates absolutely love my tone and sound.

I do agree that the ED combo has a huge bass response. However, for my taste and to get a good balance between all modes while playing in a band....I keep the bass on the ED to 9 or 10 o'clock tops. At that setting, I find the ED to sound fantastic between the modes for my playing style.

I am happy that you have achieved your ultimate tone with the ED. I am not parting with my ED either! ;-) Nor am I parting with my MKV! ;-)

 

[primal]

Primal,

I totally agree that the ED is very toneful, and very easy to dial in. In fact, it amazes me that MB can provide an amp with 6 front panel knobs that work very well for 3 classic sounds that are footswitchable (especially with using the clean volume trim knob and clean/normal/gain toggle cut switch in the back). Don't get me wrong the ED is a great amp, and many may prefer it over the MKV.

However, one thing that I notice in this ED vrs MKV poll is that some people are substituting the MKV with their treasured MKIV amp in the comparison. I also still own a MKIV widebody combo, and do feel it is an excellent amp in its own right. However, IMO the MKV is a much superior amp in tone, flexibility and gigability to the MKIV.

While the MKIV was very versatile (especially in its time), I found that I had to make several compromises to achieve a great CH2 crunch sound, for example (tweed mode power, class A toggle, and triode toggle) while diming the channel 2 gain. Unfortunately, these lower power and rear toggle settings also applied to Channel 1 and 3 and while I was able to still get decent sounds out of the other channels, there were definite compromises. This is just one example.

With the MKV I am easily able to dial in incredible sounds out of each channel (in all power settings, 10, 45 and 90 watts and most modes of each channel for that matter) without any compromises. I love all 3 modes of channel 1, the crunch mode of channel 2 and all 3 modes of channel 3. It is possible that duting all of my years tweaking the MKIV made the MKV a snap for me to dial in, but in reality the features and tone quality of the MKV is second to none in my opinon. During rehearsals, I have all 3 channels set to 10W mode my bandmates absolutely love my tone and sound.

I do agree that the ED combo has a huge bass response. However, for my taste and to get a good balance between all modes while playing in a band....I keep the bass on the ED to 9 or 10 o'clock tops. At that setting, I find the ED to sound fantastic between the modes for my playing style.

I am happy that you have achieved your ultimate tone with the ED. I am not parting with my ED either! ;-) Nor am I parting with my MKV! ;-)

Oh I understand completely. I also rarely run my bass over 9:00, 10 tops.

I think the thing with this poll more then anything else is that this is the ED forum. I'm pretty confident this poll in the Mark V forum would yield different results.

I found your take on the Mark V vs Mark IV interesting.

I am going to make it a point to spend some more time with the Mark V and maybe A/B it with my Mark IV side by side if possible.

I wanted to like the Mark V big time, and for channels 1 and 2 I was very impressed. But I just haven't been able to get a tone on it comparable to the lead channel of my Mark IV.

Maybe it's me. I know these amps are tweakers, but I never had any problem with the IV.

As much as I preach about keeping my Mark IV, I think if I found a way to get my Mark IV tone out of channel 3 on the Mark V, I would probably part with the IV to get a V.

Ironically my frustration with the IV is channel switching, where I think the ED with it's one set of controls does so much better. And every time I think I have R2 nailed down on the Mark IV after a couple days I realize it just sucks.

Man If I could get the tone on channel 3 of the Mark V that I get with my Mark IV, along with the tone of channel 1 and 2 of the Mark V, I would sell the IV and get a V.

I will keep trying though.

But regardless for my taste and style, I prefer the ED. I just can't get enough of this amp.

 

[MBJunkie]

Primal,

I agree the ED is very easy to dial in great tones from clean, crunch and hi gain lead! They also came up with a design that allows seamless footswitchability in this simple platform that is nothing short of amazing. In fact, IMO that was the primary objective from Mesa with the ED and they did it very nicely!

Historically, Mesa has been known for providing incredible flexibility with their amplifiers, and while this is great for some, it is overwhelming and actually undesired by others. Well, you already realize this since you also own a MkIV!

I do love the sounds that I have gotten out of my MkIV as well, but honestly, I haven't touched it since I purchased my V about 4 months ago. I haven't even been interested in A/B'ing the IV versus V because the features of the V are all that I have ever dreamed of and the sounds I get are fantastic in all channels. I personally do not find it difficult to dial in great sounds out of any channel of the V. In fact, the general layout of the V is much easier for me to navigate than my IV especially with great cleans (channel 1 all modes) and medium to high gain crunch or lead sounds out of channel 2 (especially crunch mode). I love all modes in channel 3 of the V as well. It did take me a bit more time with the V than the IV to dial this in, but it was mainly due to deciding which of the 3 excellent mode I prefer. Most recently, I have nailed a great high gain lead sound out of IIc+ that my bandmates love, but they have also loved great lead sounds I get out of IV and Extreme modes (they have no concept of which mode(s) I am playing in period!

You already own and ED and a IV. Why not a V as well?

Hell, I own all 3 and do not intend to sell any of them!