Ive been looking into the mark V a lot lately as im thinking of picking one up.Should be a great live amp as its very versatile and i play a lot of different styles.It got me thinking though.The mark v seems to be different from all the other marks.Whereas all the other marks seemed to be an evolution of the sound with each amp adding something new the V seems to be a greatest hits amp of sorts ,featuring all the best bits from the previous amps.Like for example if a mark 6 came out it couldn't have a a mark V mode ,because the V's modes are all based on previous marks like the 2c+,iv etc.Even extreme mode is the mark 4 lead channel with the bright switch engaged(or so ive read anyway) and the fat clean is the lonestar clean supposedly.Whether the tones are exact isnt important though.I dont know anything about electronics but how much more modes and switches etc can be put onto an amp at this stage?The V is already a feat of engineering surely?I spose the road king has even more stuff though.So is the V the final Mark or will there be a mark 6 in the coming years?Maybe this topic has already been discussed?It does have me wondering though.Anybody else?
Is the Mark V the last of the Mark series?
- Thread starter diddlydan
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I have wondered that two. I imagine maybe a mark 6 will have some of the road king features like progressive linkage, stuff like that? It's tough to say. Or maybe it will some other sort of progression in sound like the other marks were.
Zlofengir
Well-known member
firmani99 said:Maybe it will have a rectifier mode!Although that would probably hurt their rectifier line sales.
Um, the Mk V has a rectifier tube.
ryjan
Well-known member
Hells yeah.SteveO said:
Two channel with two voicings per channel like the mini recto.
Channel 1: Clean and Tweed
Channel 2: Mark IIC+ and Mark IV
GEQ
Maybe a couple push/pull pots for voicing shifts.
Zlofengir
Well-known member
I think the Mark Six should use EL-34's and 6L6's...
SonVolt
Well-known member
Zlofengir said:firmani99 said:Maybe it will have a rectifier mode!
Um, the Mk V has a rectifier tube.
You're kidding right.... Right?
Anyway, I've thought about this myself. I think it's poor marketing on Mesa's part that's left them in such a pickle. Exteme mode should have just been called "Lead" or even "V", that way the Mark V has an identity going forward.
SonVolt said:Zlofengir said:firmani99 said:Maybe it will have a rectifier mode!
Um, the Mk V has a rectifier tube.
You're kidding right.... Right?
Anyway, I've thought about this myself. I think it's poor marketing on Mesa's part that's left them in such a pickle. Exteme mode should have just been called "Lead" or even "V", that way the Mark V has an identity going forward.
Rectifier tube, yes, but you can hardly say the Mark V sounds anything like a Rectifier amp, at least in my experience.
Extreme mode should've been called "Badass".
Considering the span between models is not consistent. Not exactly sure if and when a Mark 6 would be a reality. It was only a few years between Mark 1 and versions of the Mark II and same for Mark III. Approximately 5 years between III and IV and 19 years between IV and V. I believe the Mark V flagship will sail for a while before it returns to port for decommissioning. Perhaps there may be a revision or two that may go unnoticed or not.
Zlofengir
Well-known member
firmani99 said:Zlofengir said:firmani99 said:Maybe it will have a rectifier mode!
Um, the Mk V has a rectifier tube.
I meant an actual rectifier preamp section.
My bad, I've been reading without my glasses again...
Who designs the amps circuits?Is it all Randall Smith on his own or does he co-design them?What got me thinking the mark v may be the last is the fact that he must be in his 60's/70's at this stage( i think) so he must be near retiring age.Thats maybe why the V is kind of a greatest hits of the Marks all in one amp.Once he retires could they really make a mark 6 without him designing it?
Authorized Boogie
Well-known member
diddlydan said:
Randy is still here every day - designing new circuits, coming up with new innovations, and applying for more patents! He is truly a force to be reckoned with!!
IMO, in a way it does seem that the Mark series wave has finally crashed onto the shore, probably due to the "greatest hits" nature of the Mark V.
However, as others have alluded to, it seems silly to think that Randy et al would not be able to come up with something incredible to top it, assuming they were so inclined...
However, as others have alluded to, it seems silly to think that Randy et al would not be able to come up with something incredible to top it, assuming they were so inclined...
ryjan
Well-known member
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
? Henry Ford
:wink:
If Randy listened to players (especially on this board) exclusively rather than utilizing his ambition to create the best and most innovative instruments he'd only be cranking out IIC+'s and blackface 2 channel Rectos. :lol:
? Henry Ford
:wink:
If Randy listened to players (especially on this board) exclusively rather than utilizing his ambition to create the best and most innovative instruments he'd only be cranking out IIC+'s and blackface 2 channel Rectos. :lol:
danyeo1
Well-known member
I hope it's not because to me the IIC+, III, and IV all sound better than the V. Mesa, either reissue the IIC+ or make a stripped down Mark, or a Mini Mark. Just 2 channels with NO MODES. The more crap they pack into these amps the tone suffers. I'd rather be able to work the sound with my guitar volume know with a dynamic amp tone rather than modes that all fall short of what they're aiming for.
I want better tone at the expense of a little versatility.
I want better tone at the expense of a little versatility.
