Here is my rig

[Rampage]

I just picked up a Mark IVA head on ebay and I have to say it is the best amp I have ever had the opportunity to use. So when I was able to seperate myself from its gravitational pull, I decided to get some pics of it, along with the rest of my gear.

-Mesa Mark IVA Short head
-Avatar G212 Vintage w/ Celestion Vintage 30 and G12H30
-1985 G&L Rampage w/ D-sonic and Air Norton
-T.C. Electronic G-Major
-Ibanez TS-9
-Digitech Metalmaster (Use it as a splitter sometimes)

 

[junior]

beautiful guitar! the d-sonic looks awesome on it!

 

[73h Nils]

Schaweet! Petrucci fan?

 

[Rampage]

beautiful guitar! the d-sonic looks awesome on it!

Thanks man! I think the D-Sonic looks pretty cool in it too, it pulls together the chrome of the fretwire and the black of the hardware and finish. It even sounds as good as it looks!

Schaweet! Petrucci fan?

Thanks dude, yeah I have become a pretty big Petrucci fan lately and fell in love with his tone, so I decided to go for it. I couldn't be happier. I wish I would have moved to Mesa a few years ago!

 

[fpoon]

Just curious, do you set your gear facing towards you when you play or do you play off to side from the amp and how does the Mark IV sound with the G-Major?

 

[Russ]

Nice little rig

 

[Platypus]

Cool setup, I like how tiny the Mark looks on top of that cab

 

[Rampage]

fpoon:

Whenever I am playing at home I usually just sit to the left side of the amp or stand away from it on the opposite side of the room. If I am playing with my buddies though it all depends on where we are playing. The G-Major sounds really good with the Mark IV, I really like mixing some chorus, delay, and reverb with the signal to get that Dream Theater type sound 8) .

Russ:

Thanks man . I used a 5150 before this so you can imagine my amazement with the versatility of this setup :shock: .

Platypus:

I thought the same thing. Whenever I got the cab I was surprised how big it was for a 2x12. It has some exceptional bottom end though! Its amazing how much tone can come out of such a small package

 

[junior]

Which midi controller do you use to change presets of the g-major?

 

[Russ]

How much was that cab? That might be what I need for my '77 JMP to sit on when I don't want a 4x12.

That little Mark IV is pretty awesome, huh? I have a short head myself. I had moved it into the combo cab temporarily but because it weighed so much with the EVM in it I didn't move it around much. Then when I almost rolled it end over end on the carpet I moved it back in to the headshell. Right now, it looks funny sitting on a 4x12 but I will find an older Mesa 2x12 halfback for it someday.

 

[fpoon]

Yeah its funny how such a small package can deliver such ball crushing tones. Mark IV's ruleee \m/

 

[Rampage]

junior:

I had a FCB1010 but I tripped and put all my weight on it one night. It is no longer with us anymore :lol:

Russ:

The cab is the Avatar G212 Vintage cab. It was $422 because I got the custom black grille. They are priced at $358 with a wheat grille, with $34 shipping, and custom grilles (you can get black, fender, oxblood) are a $30 upcharge. There is also a salt and pepper model that is only available open back design and it sells for $389. With the wheat model you can select either the open back or closed back design. Both models can have whatever speakers (that Avatar has available) you would like, wired to whatever rating you would like (4, 8, 16) and either mono or stereo.

I really like mine. I have a G12H30 and Vintage 30 combo with a closed back in mono @ 8 ohms. I had a Bogner 2x12 with a Shiva about two years ago and this cab sounds the same, if not better than the Bogner. They also get to you pretty quick, if you order before about noon pacific time. Mine got to me in about a week from Spokane, WA to Phoenix, AZ.

Man those EVM's have to weigh a lot! I tried out a Mark IV combo my buddy had and the thing weighed a ton for a 1x12, at least as much as my old 5150 combo did. They sound like their weight in gold though!

fpoon:

Man I couldn't believe it whenever I first heard it. When I opened up the box with the Mark IV in it I kind of laughed inside at how small the amp is and how light it is. Then once I wired it up with the 2x12 I was shocked to see how much tone comes through it! I have to say that I don't think I will ever buy another amp, but if I do, it WILL be a Mesa.

 

[Russ]

If my G&L was like that I probably wouldn't have sold it. I had a G&L ASAT Classic Leo Sig. That was a really nice sounding guitar but I couldn't bring myself to play it. She ended up being a case queen. I am thinking that she is finally getting played often now. I would have much rather had a dual HB Kahler setup.

Thanks for the info on the Avatar cab. I wonder if they'd do large Marshall checkerboard or salt n pepper.

 

[Aart]

Nice Mk 4 dude!

Welcome to the club!

 

[Rampage]

Russ:

I've always liked the sound and feel of the ASATs but I think I would do the same thing. I have owned Fender, Jackson, Ibanez, Gibson, Dean, and a ton of others, but I cannot find anything as good as the Rampage in my hands and to my ears. And to think I got it for $400 :shock:

Aart:

Thanks man, I am happy as hell to join the club

 

[Russ]

That's a lot of guitar for $400. I have been around the block with guitars too. I play mainly Gibson now with a single American Standard Strat filling my single coil needs. I actually have a V that I built my trem into with Gary Kahler and John at the shop. The Strat and the V are the only two guitars with trems that I own anymore. I used to play Floyd loaded guitars like Fenders, Jacksons and Ibanez, but found Kahlers to be way smoother.

What p'ups are you using?

 

[Rampage]

I used a JB bridge and Jazz neck but then I got addicted to DiMarzios when I owned an '89 Ibanez RG550 loaded with Evolutions. I have been listening to Dream Theater for a while and love Petrucci's tone so I dropped the cash for a D-Sonic bridge and an Air Norton neck. They suit my needs far better than the Duncans.

 

[Russ]

That D-sonic looks like half of an X2N mated to something else