Mark III tones (no eq)

[dlpasco]

I made some recordings of a Mark III S (60 watts, no graphic eq, no reverb) from The Seattle Guitar Store and wanted to share them. Since I started working on these I've stopped using the eqs on my JP-2C and my Mark V. I like the tone better without them, especially in a two-guitar live setting.

Crunch channel (R2) - Immigrant Song http://dlpas.co/QVUF.mp3
Jazzy clean - Spooky http://dlpas.co/JgMU.mp3
Lead channel - Down http://dlpas.co/O5Rx.mo3
Lead channel - Breed clip http://dlpas.co/rma3.mp3
Lead channel - Them Bones (no solo yet) http://dlpas.co/gyEV.mp3
Clean/Lead Channel - Smells Like Teen Spirit http://dlpas.co/ERJZ.mp3
Lead channel - Hey Man, Nice Shot http://dlpas.co/iEj5.mp3
Lead channel - Plush http://dlpas.co/5hrL.mp3
Lead channel - Lamb of God - Laid To Rest http://dlpas.co/pMZP.mp3

The listing for the amp itself is here https://reverb.com/item/2164604-m but I think I've decided to buy it myself as soon as I move some other gear.

 

[GJgo]

Are you going to buy the Thiele? I've been looking for one with the EV in it.

 

[dlpasco]

Are you going to buy the Thiele? I've been looking for one with the EV in it.

I'd suggest giving them a call and making them an offer on it. I'm just interested in the head.

By the way, do these samples sound okay to anybody? I'd really appreciate feedback, one way or another.

 

[GJgo]

Ok I'll bite. I think on the tunes where you don't expect it to sound scooped, it sounds good. On the ones where you do expect it to sound scooped it sounds off. That said, I can tell it's a Mark III and not a Mark IIC or IV in the tone. Splitting hairs amongst Marks, of course.

Daniel because I don't know, have you owned a IIC / IIC+ yet? I just got my first IIC, it's off to Mike for the + treatment now. I have to say, as a Mark III lover, even the plain IIC destroys it. It even beats up on my JP2C pretty hard, at least in the feel department. It's by a long shot the best amp I have ever felt. If you're shopping for something new, knowing that you love to go through gear, I would hold out for a IIC / + with the right transformer. Otherwise you'll end up there eventually & spend more money along the way.

 

[dlpasco]

This is great - thank you. I'll post some more info in the morning but what you're saying certainly makes sense.

Thanks again,

-Dan

 

[GJgo]

Hey Dan, so to make it even more complicated do you want to buy my Tremoverb? I'm thinking about selling it!

 

[dlpasco]

Hey Dan, so to make it even more complicated do you want to buy my Tremoverb? I'm thinking about selling it!

AUUUGH. *head explodes* Right now I'm trying to figure out how to land this Mark III.

The points you made about the tone certainly made sense, but I'm finding that, in a live, two-guitar band setting, the Mark III sounds fantastic. I am sure that the IIC+ is the real deal, but I'm also talking about something that I'd feel good about taking to a small venue, possibly getting knocked around, and still getting killer tones out of.

I agree that the Lamb of God demo did not sound scooped. I have a hard time bringing myself to scoop my mids any more and keep them turned all the way up these days. I kept disappearing in the band mix and I've found that cranking the mids is really the only way to stand out in the mix without deafening everyone.

BTW, I just uploaded this video - Mark III Tone Shaping Discussion https://youtu.be/eUn0wdMxisA and another video demoing the tones I can get with "happy medium" settings (nothing optimized for any particular channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnko9lZxv7k

 

[GJgo]

Yeah my thing right now is I'm in the process of picking up a pair of IICs (I know, right?) and I figure I should probably sell either my Mark III or my Tremoverb to help pay for the mess. I LOVE both of them, and I had both serviced by Mike B. last year & are in top condition, but I have to be realistic. I love the IIC more. I know you've seen them both on my YouTube channel, let me know if you're interested!

The Mark III cuts like nobody's business. With 3 channels I think it's better in a band, but I still have the JP for live work, even though honestly I think the III cuts better & definitely sounds more raw.

 

[dlpasco]

Yeah my thing right now is I'm in the process of picking up a pair of IICs (I know, right?) and I figure I should probably sell either my Mark III or my Tremoverb to help pay for the mess. I LOVE both of them, and I had both serviced by Mike B. last year & are in top condition, but I have to be realistic. I love the IIC more. I know you've seen them both on my YouTube channel, let me know if you're interested!

The Mark III cuts like nobody's business. With 3 channels I think it's better in a band, but I still have the JP for live work, even though honestly I think the III cuts better & definitely sounds more raw.

Honestly, this guy, who got a Mark IIC+ and then eventually ditched it for a Mark IV, resonated a little too strongly with me.

His Mark IIC+ review: https://youtu.be/_HXFCDjTl3o
His Mark IV review, where he states that he sold his IIC+, and why: https://youtu.be/b-ANv1L9iTk

 

[GJgo]

I think this demo is pretty right on tonally. Which tone do you prefer?
https://youtu.be/Tj5DYsjq08o

 

[dlpasco]

I think this demo is pretty right on tonally. Which tone do you prefer?
https://youtu.be/Tj5DYsjq08o

The best tones are definitely in the original recording at the end

I've always thought that the Mark IIC+ sounded best out of the recordings, but that all of them sound pretty shrill and thin. The Mark III definitely sounds worse than it could - I don't know if the presence is too high, or if it's something else.

However, my understanding is that the appeal is less about the actual tone and more about the feel and responsiveness of the IIC+ itself. That can't be recorded and I've never sat down to work with one.

Honestly, this thread was really meant to be "hey, check it out, you can actually do some really good stuff with a Mark III, even a stripped down one", not "this demonstrates the superiority of the Mark III over all other Mark amps"

 

[GJgo]

Absolutely, all the Mark amps can sound amazing. So, are you going to pick that purple stripe up? With the cab?

 

[dlpasco]

Absolutely, all the Mark amps can sound amazing. So, are you going to pick that purple stripe up? With the cab?

I would really like to buy the head, but am not sure I can get it at the present without flipping something else. Not sure I can bring myself to do that.

 

[GJgo]

Since you already have a III I wouldn't.

 

[dlpasco]

Since you already have a III I wouldn't.

ha! here's the funny part: my other III is Imbuya and Wicker and my wife loves it, actually likes it in the living room. It's too night to take out, where as this little camper looks just rough enough to haul out to clubs without worrying about dinging it up.

Otherwise, yeah, I don't see a reason to have two, either.

BTW - I am super excited to hear about your IIC experiences. I hope we get more vids

 

[GJgo]

I'm such a Mark tone ***** I've thought about "collecting the whole set". Just an idea. But a fun one.

Here's what I'd do. Get a IIC for the Imbuya shell to keep at home. Put the Mark III chassis in a Tolex shell or combo, and drag it out to play with. Win!

Mike B. has my IIC now, I'll definitely do some vids when I get it back. I can't stress enough how good that amp FEELS to play.

 

[JOEY B.]

Mike B. has my IIC now, I'll definitely do some vids when I get it back. I can't stress enough how good that amp FEELS to play.

Wait until you get it back. :shock:

 

[dlpasco]

I'm such a Mark tone ***** I've thought about "collecting the whole set". Just an idea. But a fun one.

Here's what I'd do. Get a IIC for the Imbuya shell to keep at home. Put the Mark III chassis in a Tolex shell or combo, and drag it out to play with. Win!

Mike B. has my IIC now, I'll definitely do some vids when I get it back. I can't stress enough how good that amp FEELS to play.

Aaaargh.


I like the way you think.