mark iii to mark v: what to expect?

[holy-diver]

I am mainly interested in the lead channel at volume. How do they compare, what to expect if I get a v. I know the clean and crunch channels are a lot diffferent. I have played a mark v a bunch of times but never full volume and never in a band...

 

[screamingdaisy]

The easiest way I can think of to describe it is that the III is more raw while the V is more refined. It's like Mesa listened to recordings of earlier Mark amps and created an amp that can produce those tones straight out the cab... however it doesn't have the raw edge of the III.

I like the V better myself, but the III is still a great amp.

 

[holy-diver]

What about the amount of low end? I am mainly concerned of the low end and the tightness or percussiveness at volume. Thanks!

 

[screamingdaisy]

What about the amount of low end? I am mainly concerned of the low end and the tightness or percussiveness at volume. Thanks!

What stripe/version of Mark III are we talking about? Big difference in low end between triode and pentode, as well as 100w A/B vs 75w Simul-Class.

My Mark III was a red stripe Simul, and I think the Mark V does the tight low end modern metal thing better. My III was more crunchy, along the lines of Metallica, and not so much chuggy, along the lines of Lamb of God. For actual low end both the III and the V can easily compete with a Rectifier, however the V sounds more natural at it. My III used to sound like it had an artificial "Bass Boost" thing going on if I slid the 80Hz slider up too far.

 

[holy-diver]

I have owned a black 60/100 a simul red and now own a blue coliseum, all had the geq.

 

[Bullen]

As a owner of both a red stripe Mark III and a Mark V, I would say that the III is capable of more low end (deep and bass shift) and is slightly "stiffer"/faster in the lows. A bit more percussive. The V, depending on the mode (IIC+ mode is super tight, like the III with deep and bass shift pushed in), is a bit "saggier" in the lowend. It´s still very focused and tight so there´s no recto sag/mud. But it does have a different feel to the lows compared to the III (or IV).

Otherwise, screamingdaisy is right. The III is more raw and aggressive and the V is more refined and smooth.

Both are great. I prefer my III for Metallica-esque metal tones and the V has really sweet lead and clean tones and is way more versatile.

 

[Bullen]

What about the amount of low end? I am mainly concerned of the low end and the tightness or percussiveness at volume. Thanks!

What stripe/version of Mark III are we talking about? Big difference in low end between triode and pentode, as well as 100w A/B vs 75w Simul-Class.

My Mark III was a red stripe Simul, and I think the Mark V does the tight low end modern metal thing better. My III was more crunchy, along the lines of Metallica, and not so much chuggy, along the lines of Lamb of God. For actual low end both the III and the V can easily compete with a Rectifier, however the V sounds more natural at it. My III used to sound like it had an artificial "Bass Boost" thing going on if I slid the 80Hz slider up too far.

I agree with your "bass boost" comment. On the III there seems to be more lows from the start and you have to be more careful with the 80 slider.

 

[Neptical]

As an owner of 2 Mark III heads ( red stripe/purple stripe), for a fact I'm going to say that the III is certainly more aggressive. I had a chance to get a V, but opted out and got another III some time back because I love the tone of them. The thing you'll miss on the III over the V is all the options. The V gives you seperate eq'ing between channels, whereas the III you have it all shared. That to some may be the ultimate defeat with a V. The lows on the Mark III can get extremely deep between bass knob,pull deep, and the 80hz slider. It can be even more extreme depending on the cabinet you use. I just bought an Orange PPC412 HP and that cab alone has a ton of bass, so I have to back off the bass on my settings more then I would on my Marshall cab.

The other guitarist of my band uses a 6505 and the blending of the amps and cabs sound pretty gnarly. And that's playing a heavier/djenty techy jazz mix. The III can keep right up there with the amps of today. Bottom line is really what you want to do with the amp.


~Nep~