Mark V vs both Lonestars
- Thread starter rjsc5
- Start date
Help Support The Boogie Board:
screamingdaisy
Well-known member
IMO.... (I own an LSS and Mark V)
Comparing cleans - The Mark V's "Fat" mode is the closest to the Lonestar's channel 1, however the Lonestar has much more gain available than the Mark V. I believe this is because Mesa intended that the LS's clean channel be used for clean to overdrive (like an old Fender), whereas they probably figured that the average user would want the Mk V's clean to stay much cleaner (like a Mark).
The Mk V expands this however with 'Clean' and 'Tweed' modes. Clean is a skinnier, cleaner clean that kind of reminds me of a JC120 kind of vibe. Tweed is crazy touch sensitive and tuned right it's like an old Fender amp getting the guts beat out of it. I don't have a lot of experience on Tweed amps, so I don't know how accurate it is to the real thing, but to my uneducated ear it sounds like the real deal.
As for the lead channel, IMO the Lonestar is basically an update of the Mark 1 lead. I've never A/B'd the LSC's lead against the Mk V's Mk I mode so I don't know how close they are. I use my LSS's lead with the gain set somewhat low in an effort to get a JTM-45 kind of vibe out of it, which the Mark V doesn't do.
Channel 3 on the Mark V is totally unrepresented on the LS. It's a different vibe.
Comparing cleans - The Mark V's "Fat" mode is the closest to the Lonestar's channel 1, however the Lonestar has much more gain available than the Mark V. I believe this is because Mesa intended that the LS's clean channel be used for clean to overdrive (like an old Fender), whereas they probably figured that the average user would want the Mk V's clean to stay much cleaner (like a Mark).
The Mk V expands this however with 'Clean' and 'Tweed' modes. Clean is a skinnier, cleaner clean that kind of reminds me of a JC120 kind of vibe. Tweed is crazy touch sensitive and tuned right it's like an old Fender amp getting the guts beat out of it. I don't have a lot of experience on Tweed amps, so I don't know how accurate it is to the real thing, but to my uneducated ear it sounds like the real deal.
As for the lead channel, IMO the Lonestar is basically an update of the Mark 1 lead. I've never A/B'd the LSC's lead against the Mk V's Mk I mode so I don't know how close they are. I use my LSS's lead with the gain set somewhat low in an effort to get a JTM-45 kind of vibe out of it, which the Mark V doesn't do.
Channel 3 on the Mark V is totally unrepresented on the LS. It's a different vibe.
dudleydawson
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2010
- Messages
- 119
- Reaction score
- 0
are you trying to replace your Lone Stars? or worried about being redundant to them?
i am a LSC --> MkV convert -
it's only been a week, but i can comment on the MkI mode vs the LSC drive channel.
i've spent all my channel 2 time in MkI mode so far... and i was happy to find that it can be very similar to the way i had always wanted the LSC to sound! (drive/gain at ~300 in 50W mode - lots of treble - less mids and bass). so far - i prefer the MkI mode.
as for cleans - i'm still messing with the fat clean mode to find a sound i can really bond with. definitely not as naturally thick as the LSC.
Daisy is right on (again!) - the LSC clean has more gain available - i ran the LSC with gain at ~300. to get close, i've been running the MkV fat mode with gain almost dimed.
(the sound i'm going for here is full and deep - thumpy even - but smooth and glassy when i climb the neck on the higher strings.)
i'm very close - i think i got it last night after a few glasses of wine. but for all i know - it could sound like bullfarts with fresh ears.
as for your LSS - i'm not sure how to mimic an EL84 sounding clean with the V. it's on my list of things to try!
i am a LSC --> MkV convert -
it's only been a week, but i can comment on the MkI mode vs the LSC drive channel.
i've spent all my channel 2 time in MkI mode so far... and i was happy to find that it can be very similar to the way i had always wanted the LSC to sound! (drive/gain at ~300 in 50W mode - lots of treble - less mids and bass). so far - i prefer the MkI mode.
as for cleans - i'm still messing with the fat clean mode to find a sound i can really bond with. definitely not as naturally thick as the LSC.
Daisy is right on (again!) - the LSC clean has more gain available - i ran the LSC with gain at ~300. to get close, i've been running the MkV fat mode with gain almost dimed.
(the sound i'm going for here is full and deep - thumpy even - but smooth and glassy when i climb the neck on the higher strings.)
i'm very close - i think i got it last night after a few glasses of wine. but for all i know - it could sound like bullfarts with fresh ears.
as for your LSS - i'm not sure how to mimic an EL84 sounding clean with the V. it's on my list of things to try!
boogieman60
Well-known member
Pretty much the same here. I was running Chan. 1 on Fat, went to Tweed, back to Fat.. If you are looking for cleans..stick with Fat, more head room...Try Bold switch too. But there is something addictive to that Tweed mode... all that Filth....ah so many choices...
theroan
Well-known member
I spent time in my local shop a while ago, I was able to duplicate the Lonestar clean with a Mark V, the Mark 1 sounds much better than the gain on the LS. If you have a Mark V, you've got a Lonestar.
babow2
Well-known member
What no one has mentioned, and which you seem interested in, is the MV's complimentary tones to the LSS/LSC. No one has mentioned the Edge and Crunch tones on Ch.2, which are Marshall-esque. There is absolutely nothing in the Lonestar series that gets close to those tones. Big, thick, crunchy rock tones abound. Likewise, Channel 3 has Mark IIC+ and Mark IV modes, which have way more gain and way more "Boogie" vibe than the Lonestar series, and Extreme mode is just more on top of that. All of that puts you in classic and modern rock tones, metal, etc..... where the Lonestars just boldly don't go.
So, while people are talking about comping the Lonestar clean tones in Channel 1, you do get the Tweed mode there which is a different animal, 2 modes in Ch2 which are a different species, and all of Ch. 3 which is from a different life form. Plus, you get the GEQ and presets, the pentode/triode options, the choice of 6L6/EL34's.... In my opinion, which is worth less and less, every day, the MarkV adds gobs of new and different tones and vibes to your amp toolkit.
FWIW
So, while people are talking about comping the Lonestar clean tones in Channel 1, you do get the Tweed mode there which is a different animal, 2 modes in Ch2 which are a different species, and all of Ch. 3 which is from a different life form. Plus, you get the GEQ and presets, the pentode/triode options, the choice of 6L6/EL34's.... In my opinion, which is worth less and less, every day, the MarkV adds gobs of new and different tones and vibes to your amp toolkit.
FWIW
