Mark I, MKii and cascading gain question?

[mountain2012]

Hi could someone please tell me the tonal difference between the mki and mkii, especially when cranked?

Could you also please tell me the basic technical differences?

The Mesa MKi official reissue page claims it has "Original Multi-Stage “Cascading” Gain".
What is cascading gain?
Do Marshalls (Plexis, JCM800s) have this?

thanks!

 

[lesterpaul]

Hi could someone please tell me the tonal difference between the mki and mkii, especially when cranked?

Could you also please tell me the basic technical differences?

The Mesa MKi official reissue page claims it has "Original Multi-Stage “Cascading” Gain".
What is cascading gain?
Do Marshalls (Plexis, JCM800s) have this?

thanks!

pour some coffee and dive in...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CFIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ayanmusic.com%2Fhistory.htm&ei=afD8UaSRE4XU8wTetoFQ&usg=AFQjCNFzorvVuv90KexnagYnA5Yr4AlyoQ&sig2=Yqd4MPTpG2T1B4GTG2QEaQ

 

[mountain2012]

Thanks, lester. I read this last night and only came up with the Mark ii is tighter than the Mark i. The technical differences are all there though.

Could someone tell me the basic tonal differences?

 

[mikebu]

Cascading gain refers to how the preamp gain, Volume 1 setting, of the first channel is fed into the preamp gain, Lead Drive setting, of the second channel. Whether this is a advantage or disadvantage is up to you. Some people like Independent channels in their amps. Theoretically needing a very clean first channel could limit the amount of gain the second channel could get. In actual usage I don't think this is the case.

I'm not a big Marshal expert but Marshalls especially Plexi's get their distortion more from the power amp and require high volume to sound best. So I don't think most/all Marshalls would have cascading preamp gain but maybe some/newer models do...

 

[igfraso]

Please check below a Mark II-C preamp block diagram that I found in one of Mesa's old brochures.

http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/pipiva/CCF11282009_00000.jpg

Lead mode has a First Gain (Input) - Tone (and Treble shift)/Volume1 - Gain makeup - Lead Drive volume - First Lead Gain - Tone shaping - Second Lead Gain - Tone shaping - Mixer Amplifier Gain - Lead Master volume - Reverb (Rev. Driver & Rev. Return Amp) - Effects Send/Return - Effects buffer gain - Master1 Volume - Graphic EQ path

Rhythm mode has a First Gain (Input) - Tone/Volume1 - Gain makeup - Rhythm Tone shaping - Mixer Amplifier Gain - Reverb (Rev. Driver & Rev. Return Amp) - Effects Send/Return - Effects buffer gain - Master1 Volume - Graphic EQ path

I found it very useful, at least, for me.