Extreme mode problem?

[daverose]

Just bought a used Mark V last week and really enjoying myself. One issue I'm having is that extreme mode is not behaving the way the manual suggests. I'm basically finding only a very slight tonal shift between Mark IV mode and extreme mode. The advertised jump in level and gain isn't there. It feels slightly wimpy compared to what I would expect from something labelled extreme. Is there an issue with my new (used) amp?

 

[MichaelC4]

People often suggest when buying a used amp, buy new tubes for it.
Whichever preamp tube controls the gain might be worn out.

 

[SonVolt]

Extreme should be a little louder and more bassy and not as tight at Mark IV mode. I never use it.

 

[bdubbs]

It should be significant. More so in 90 watt mode. Are you running 90 watt?

 

[daverose]

Yeah, running at any wattage is roughly the same. I hear the shift in bass and a little more top but I guess I was expecting a level jump, which doesn't happen, and a more overdriven gain which also doesn't happen. Honestly i thought it would be dramaticly different but its a pretty subtle shift between them. I guess I wanted to see what other people's experience was before I started swapping tubes out. This is running the gain full up BTW.

 

[barryswanson]

My brand new Mark V is the same. Nothing extreme about extreme mode at all.

 

[bdubbs]

It seemed pretty dramatic to me. Are you playing at band volumes?

 

[daverose]

No band volumes yet. (Thursday is first practice!) I'm growing to really like the Mark IV setting. Feels a bit more saturated than Extreme and less flubby. I'm guessing it's playing as designed, just not what I expected. Maybe they should have called it Mark V instead of extreme? Want to try to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of tube swapping. Would rather be playing than trying every preamp tube under then sun. Thanks for your help all.

 

[Demon Of The Fall]

Hi there, my mark v does everything that it suppose to do in extreme mode. Don't know if there are any particular tube involve in this mode, at least thats the idea I get from the chart in page 62 in the manual. I hope you figured it out.

Greetings
DZ

 

[tptb73]

with my V there is a VERY significant jump in volume when i switch from Mark IV to Extreme mode at bedroom levels. Sounds like something is not normal with yours.

 

[SonVolt]

Maybe they should have called it Mark V instead of extreme?

THIS! It's like they didn't give the Mark V it's own identity. What will you call the Mark V sound in 10 years - "Mark V IIC+ Mode?" You'd think they'd want the V to have it's own identity. By using "V" instead of "Extreme" they would have done just that. Makes no sense to me.

 

[K-Roll]

same with mine.. if i switch from mk4 to extreme there is a significant increase in volume, bass and treble..

 

[kingb]

The Mk V mode for me does have a volume jump. But certainly a lot less compression that IV mode (and this seems like less overdrive). Cranking up the treble to the 3 o'clock range and hitting the bright switch gets "more" out of it. Personally I like the less-is-more flavor to V mode. But I certainly agree "Extreme" connotes something else.

 

[jpage]

When playimg at home the difference is much more subtle. At volume you will definitely notice it more.

 

[Bullen]

Yeah, there should be a pretty significant volume boost going to the Extreme mode from the IIC+ and IV modes. Unless Mesa has changed anything on the newer Mark V.

As for Calling it the Mark V Mode. Well, it´s actually also a mode from the Mark IV. Pushing in the presence knobs on ch2 and ch3 on the Mark IV gives you the same type of sound as the Extreme mode. It´s in the manual. So it´s not a new mode on the V at all. But Calling it "Extreme" is a bit weird.