Mark V QUESTION ON HEAD OR COMBO

[CATSCANMAN]

Looking into getting a Mark V. I was wondering if I should get the HEAD to go along with my 2x12 Germino with 25 watt greenbacks or should I get the combo. Thanks for the insight and help in advance.

 

[rarebitusa]

Looking into getting a Mark V. I was wondering if I should get the HEAD to go along with my 2x12 Germino with 25 watt greenbacks or should I get the combo. Thanks for the insight and help in advance.

Curious what model of V are you considering? 25/35/90?

 

[CATSCANMAN]

Curious what model of V are you considering? 25/35/90?

 

[CATSCANMAN]

MARK V was on my list. Thanks

 

[rarebitusa]

MARK V was on my list. Thanks

Well there are 3 current models of the Mark V each with a different physical size and power rating. They all offer head or a combo versions.

Mark V 25W
Mark V 35W
Mark V 90W

The 25W/35W versions have el84 power tubes and will have a different sound.

Your dual greenback cab should be rated for 50W. A 25W or 35W head version will be fine with that. If you get a combo you have configuration options. You can always unplug the combo speaker and run the 2x12 by itself or run it together with the combo speaker as an extension cab.

The 90W version could work but you have to be careful with the volume levels. Hope that helps

 

[spawnofthesith2]

I prefer heads personally, especially because I do not care for high gain tones with an open speaker back

 

[DECEMBER]

With a 50W cab, you'd be limited to running the amp on the 45W setting. But I still prefer a head over a combo, especially with the Mark V 90W. The combo is really heavy, and you're stuck to a 1x12 cab. With a head, you can plug it into whatever cab and move it around easier. Even the head is quite heavy, but a combo is obviously much heavier.

 

[Fastforded]

Combo

 

[Elliot Twist]

Mark V Combo and Vertical 2X12

 

[Don McNevin]

Mark V 90 Combo and 1x12 Widebody Ext. Cab.
It's heavy, but man it's HEAVY.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Depends entirely on you, and what you are going to be doing with it. I am a fan of combos. Many famous amps used worldwide are only available as combos, such as many variations on Fender designs.

I do have some heads and cabs, but I tend to use those for different or more specific types of music. I am mostly an at home player for guitar, so sounding good in the room is most important to me, and I feel that open back combos and cabinets do that better.

 

[CATSCANMAN]

Thanks I am a home player and looking at the combo.

 

[Eevil]

Looking into getting a Mark V. I was wondering if I should get the HEAD to go along with my 2x12 Germino with 25 watt greenbacks or should I get the combo. Thanks for the insight and help in advance.

Personally I’ve burnt my fingers on the idea of combo many times.. every time I find myself wanting to have that kick of the closed back and after a while and trade steps there’s a 4x12 knocking on my door

Best of the combos i had was the Roadster because of the closed back cab.. the cab construction and speaker has huge effect on feel and tone of the amp. Find out if you like the tonality and feel of the open back or not. If not it will be an uphill battle.

But that’s just my ears and my poor back.

So my answer: get a head and add another cab to your collection

 

[rarebitusa]

Best of the combos i had was the Roadster because of the closed back cab..

2x12??? I've heard those are the heaviest combo Mesa ever made. Did you have a personal road crew to assist

 

[tbonesullivan]

2x12??? I've heard those are the heaviest combo Mesa ever made. Did you have a personal road crew to assist

They definitely are! Even heavier than the Road King combo!

To get back on track... I think one of my issues is that I tend to pretty much match an amp to a specific speaker. Maybe its an OCD thing, but if I get a new head I'll need a new cabinet that sounds exactly the way I want with that head. Getting a combo prevents this.

Unless it's a "marshall-style" amp, then I have the perfect cabinet for all of them.

 

[danielpasco]

I've owned a couple of V:90s. The last time around I bought a combo, and then ordered a head shell from Mesa as they are a snap to transfer the chassis over to.

I stand by my decision. I honestly use it in combo format the most, but sometimes I'll get tired of it and use it as a head with one of my cabs instead. The flexibility is great.

 

[spawnofthesith2]

They definitely are! Even heavier than the Road King combo!

To get back on track... I think one of my issues is that I tend to pretty much match an amp to a specific speaker. Maybe its an OCD thing, but if I get a new head I'll need a new cabinet that sounds exactly the way I want with that head. Getting a combo prevents this.

Unless it's a "marshall-style" amp, then I have the perfect cabinet for all of them.

absolutely. I think open back combos are ok for cleans or medium gain but I’ve never heard an amazing high gain sound coming from an open back. All the brutality just escapes out bsck there or something lol

When I got my Mark IV I attempted to be stubborn and keep it on combo format but that was very short lived before I did the head conversion lol. Very boxy and meh sounding for high gain. Even trying to do a combined thing with a closed back extension cabinet and micing the closed back only at a gig I still feel like the open back detracted from the tone

And yeah, playing around with different cabs and speakers in a lighter format is an absolute plus as well