LSS or MK IV

[BluesProf]

Thanks for your opinions on the previous thread, just a couple of last questions before I finally decide on my Boogie of choice. I LOVE the beautiful, DrZ like clean and clapton esque drive channel, will an LSS in a 112 combo form with either an EV or JBL be good enough for small/medium gigs, without mic-up? Also, I am still wondering whether to go for the MkIV, can I get the LSS cleans from it, and how much will I benefit from its EQ and extra contols? Finally, with regards to volume, I read a review on Mesa's website of the LSS saying class A is much louder than class AB, therefore a 30 watt class A compares with a 50/100 watt class AB, is this true? Finally how much volume difference is there between an LSC 112 with C90 and an LSS 112 with and EV/JBL? This set up is for Blues, blues and a bit more blues.
Thanks guys

 

[srf399]

It's a totally different beast. 6L6's vs. EL84's I owned the MKIV for a few years and it won't get you anywhere near the DR. Z sound. In fact the Stiletto's with EL34's will get you a lot closer to a Dr.Z than a MKIV. I played a LSS for awhile and to me it seemed like a dark voicing for an EL84 based amp. The cleans on the Stilleto stage II's can be very jangly & chimey. Fat Clean is a vintage Fender blackface type of preamp sound through an EL34 Marshall style power section with tube rectification & variac added = very similar to a DR.Z sound)... add a bit of gain break up and it's a very convincing DR.Z country sound. The LSS might do it but I didn't spend enough time on it to really know. I do knoe that the MKIV will never get it. Maybe the LSC with yellowjackets could as well.

 

[srf399]

I don't think the EQ on the MKIV has anything on a good GEQ in the loop.

 

[ToneAddictJon]

The LSS with an EV will be plenty loud for most small-medium gigs, and if you need anymore than 30 watts and an EV, well then that venue better be micing up cabs. I've used a Maverick with a single EV in an open back cab, and that was plenty loud for anything. I would suggest the LSS over the Mark IV for what you're looking for, but the stiletto ACE might be something to look at too.

 

[srf399]

+1 on the LSS volume. It can be loud.

 

[RocksOff]

REALLY LOUD. as a matter of fact, it will get as loud as you want it to.

 

[jjboogie]

Thanks for your opinions on the previous thread, just a couple of last questions before I finally decide on my Boogie of choice. I LOVE the beautiful, DrZ like clean and clapton esque drive channel, will an LSS in a 112 combo form with either an EV or JBL be good enough for small/medium gigs, without mic-up? Also, I am still wondering whether to go for the MkIV, can I get the LSS cleans from it, and how much will I benefit from its EQ and extra contols? Finally, with regards to volume, I read a review on Mesa's website of the LSS saying class A is much louder than class AB, therefore a 30 watt class A compares with a 50/100 watt class AB, is this true? Finally how much volume difference is there between an LSC 112 with C90 and an LSS 112 with and EV/JBL? This set up is for Blues, blues and a bit more blues.
Thanks guys

You will definitely not get even close the clean tones of the LSS out of the Mark IV!!!

You want the LSS clean tones then buy the LSS.....

The LSS is much easier to use but does not have the same amount of features as the Mark IV........The MarkIV is quite versatile and more powerful but does not sound nearly as sweet......The drive on the Mark IV can be pretty killer though......but with a tube screamer or something in addition to the drive on the LSS is pretty amazing too!

I have owned a Mark IV but hated the clean channel so much I got rid of it.....The LSS is the absolute best sounding clean tone Mesa has made in my opinion.......

 

[ja22y]

BluesProf,
If you love DrZ, you may or may not find that LS is good enough. I have heard comments from both camps. If possible, do a side-by-side before making the final decision. We all have different perspectives.
As for volume between LSC/LSS you will get much more clean headroom with the LSC. Whether you like that clean or the LSS clean, you decide. If volume is a concern, you can get the 2x12 combo or get an ext cab for larger venue and use the 1x12 combo for portability for small gigs.
As for blues, I prefer 6L6 or 6V6 amp, Fender-ish. El84 amp would not be my 1st choice for blues.

 

[Leroy the Massochist]

I do not believe like many that LSS1*12 is a bedroom amp and perhaps that is why some might say its gain sound is a bit muddy.

Using the drummers volume as the benchmark, for a standard drummer your sweetspot sound will be too loud. I find my volume has to be at 10.00, at 9.00 the gain is a bit fuzzy, doesn't sustain as well and I have problems managing the highs and mids (and that's using the 15watt option)

If you have a really loud drummer so that you can run it at 10.00 it will pur, a real classic sound - eg Lil Devil by the Cult.

With lots of mucking around you can get the clean to match at that volume but the interaction of the gain and volume controls on the front and back take a lot of mucking around to get the headroom and minimise the compression. It has taken me 18 months to get my sound. Now peoples mouths drop when they hear what comes out of this beast (I am always being asked to turn down but how can I when I am in the sweet spot, I tell the drummer to grow some balls and hit louder)

 

[jerseydrew]

I've owned both. Now I only own the MkIV. Yes the LSS clean is **** good, but the MIV clean isn't too shabby either. Channel 3 on the MKIV absolutely kills the LSS and since the MKIV has an additional channel (channel 2), it's much more versitile.

IMO

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I say go for the MKIV!

 

[twally]

I've owned both and kept the LSS. I play mostly Country and Southern Rock (Skynard, ZZ Top, etc.). THe muddiness in CH.2 gose away when you dial the Bass off. I keep the bass on CH.1 just under 0900. I have a 4/10 cabinet and have plenty of bass.
The Mark IV is a more versatile amp. However, the sound of the LSS is much better to my ears.
I have played with heavy handed drummers and the LSS (even in the 15 watt Mode) keeps up. Boogies really sing when you get the volume up there. I could never turn my Mark IV up past 0400 on the Master. The LSS can reach its' potential without killing small animals.

JMHO,

TW

 

[mrd]

Get them both and slave them into each other and run it into a fullstack and you won't even know what hit ya.