Mk V Channel switching delay Y/N? Reverb "fade in" Y/N?

[lockbody]

Can anyone who has played a Mk V report on whether or not there's any "lag" when switching channels? The one thing that irritated me about my Roadster was having to step on the footswitch a half-beat early to insure that things kicked in when they were supossed to. Conversly, my Mk IV and my DC-5 switch channels instantaneously like almost every other amp in the world.

And please tell me the reverb doesn't have that annoying fade in like the Roadster. I know Mesa's thinking behind it, but it still doesn't change the fact I, among others, don't like it.

 

[jvk]

I don't think any amp manufacturer has solved the delay that's necessary for tube-spring reverb circuits. For the benefit of those who don't know, the delay is necessary because when switching from a high gain channel to a clean channel, the distorted guitar signal doesn't decay away quickly enough (especially when the reverb is set high) and as a result the old nasty distorted sound from the last channel is heard for about 1sec until it dies down completely.

Mesas solution is to mute the sound for about 1.5 seconds, I'm not aware of the solutions other manufacturers have come up with. But I predict that if the MarkV has tube-spring reverb, it will most likely have the annoying fade.

I hope Mesa has learned from their previous mistakes with channel pop and the annoying footswitch cycle fix - which is caused by an elementary flaw in the switching circuit, and probably niosy JFETS transistors. Using better quality innert-gas filled relays would also help.

 

[jdurso]

I don't think any amp manufacturer has solved the delay that's necessary for tube-spring reverb circuits. For the benefit of those who don't know, the delay is necessary because when switching from a high gain channel to a clean channel, the distorted guitar signal doesn't decay away quickly enough (especially when the reverb is set high) and as a result the old nasty distorted sound from the last channel is heard for about 1sec until it dies down completely.

Mesas solution is to mute the sound for about 1.5 seconds, I'm not aware of the solutions other manufacturers have come up with. But I predict that if the MarkV has tube-spring reverb, it will most likely have the annoying fade.

I hope Mesa has learned from their previous mistakes with channel pop and the annoying footswitch cycle fix - which is caused by an elementary flaw in the switching circuit, and probably niosy JFETS transistors. Using better quality innert-gas filled relays would also help.

Just out of curiousity what kind of reverb does an amp like tremoverb or express use? Those amps dont seem to have any switching problems and to be honest i think their reverbs are 10x better than what i have in the Roadster. If it is a different reverb i think Mesa should shelve the tube reverb and go back to what works without having to build in a flaw.

 

[tubeydude]

I played the MK V at NAMM.

There was a slight delay when switching channels. I would say about 1/4 second or so. I honestly did not hear any delay in the reverb as I was playing it pretty dry.

There was however, no pops or clicks during the channel switches.

I've never played a roadster so I can't really compare them, but there you have it.

 

[jvk]

Just out of curiousity what kind of reverb does an amp like tremoverb or express use? Those amps dont seem to have any switching problems and to be honest i think their reverbs are 10x better than what i have in the Roadster. If it is a different reverb i think Mesa should shelve the tube reverb and go back to what works without having to build in a flaw.

The Tremoverb uses a tube spring reverb and no relays (more expensive LDRs instead) without a muting circuit, so it does suffer from the reverb decay problem when switching high gain > clean with the reverb on. Try it - play a power chord in ch1 and kill it suddenly at the same time as switching to the clean channel, you'll see what I'm talking about, a kind of a 'woof'. But since it uses LDRs there's no delay or popping.

I'm not familiar with the Express amps, not interested either :lol:

 

[jdurso]

Just out of curiousity what kind of reverb does an amp like tremoverb or express use? Those amps dont seem to have any switching problems and to be honest i think their reverbs are 10x better than what i have in the Roadster. If it is a different reverb i think Mesa should shelve the tube reverb and go back to what works without having to build in a flaw.

The Tremoverb uses a tube spring reverb and no relays (more expensive LDRs instead) without a muting circuit, so it does suffer from the reverb decay problem when switching high gain > clean with the reverb on. Try it - play a power chord in ch1 and kill it suddenly at the same time as switching to the clean channel, you'll see what I'm talking about, a kind of a 'woof'. But since it uses LDRs there's no delay or popping.

I'm not familiar with the Express amps, not interested either :lol:

That's weird I never noticed any woof when i had my tremoverb and i switched channels. Anyway, your missing out on the express.... amazing amp, with one of Mesa's best cleans.

 

[Supreeth]

+1 on the Express cleans. I had an Express 5:25 1x12 for about 4 months and it had the best cleans I've had on an amp. It was the closest I've heard a modern amp come to the cleans of the blackface. Sadly I had to sell it when I got the Triaxis.

 

[lockbody]

I played the MK V at NAMM.

There was a slight delay when switching channels. I would say about 1/4 second or so.

That's unfortunate, a good 1/4 second too long.

 

[lockbody]

Just out of curiousity what kind of reverb does an amp like tremoverb or express use? Those amps dont seem to have any switching problems and to be honest i think their reverbs are 10x better than what i have in the Roadster. If it is a different reverb i think Mesa should shelve the tube reverb and go back to what works without having to build in a flaw.

The Tremoverb uses a tube spring reverb and no relays (more expensive LDRs instead) without a muting circuit, so it does suffer from the reverb decay problem when switching high gain > clean with the reverb on. Try it - play a power chord in ch1 and kill it suddenly at the same time as switching to the clean channel, you'll see what I'm talking about, a kind of a 'woof'. But since it uses LDRs there's no delay or popping.

I'm not familiar with the Express amps, not interested either :lol:

That's weird I never noticed any woof when i had my tremoverb and i switched channels. Anyway, your missing out on the express.... amazing amp, with one of Mesa's best cleans.

I don't really notice any "woof" when I switch from dirty to clean with my DC-5, either. I like to use a lot of reverb on my clean channel too, but none on my dirty. If there was some, then it was really unnoticeable, or maybe I wasn't doing it right. :wink:

 

[bryan_kilco]

hmmm never really noticed a delay on my IV....

 

[jvk]

See this post on the reverb fading thing:

http://www.forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=32278

 

[lockbody]

Yeah, I remember all the discussion on the subject however, my personal opinion is that "reverb backwash" wasn't that much of an issue with the majority of players until Mesa told us it was.

 

[JLBoogie]

Its funny, I have had lots of amps and the Mesa's are the only ones with a delay in the reverb that I noticed. They say you get used to it but I haven't and ended up putting a processor in the effects loop for reverb but as we know, using Mesa's effects loops degrades you tone, what to do. I always wondered when they say you get used to it does that also mean your listeners should also?

 

[Jmango]

I don't think any amp manufacturer has solved the delay that's necessary for tube-spring reverb circuits. For the benefit of those who don't know, the delay is necessary because when switching from a high gain channel to a clean channel, the distorted guitar signal doesn't decay away quickly enough (especially when the reverb is set high) and as a result the old nasty distorted sound from the last channel is heard for about 1sec until it dies down completely.

Mesas solution is to mute the sound for about 1.5 seconds, I'm not aware of the solutions other manufacturers have come up with. But I predict that if the MarkV has tube-spring reverb, it will most likely have the annoying fade.

I hope Mesa has learned from their previous mistakes with channel pop and the annoying footswitch cycle fix - which is caused by an elementary flaw in the switching circuit, and probably niosy JFETS transistors. Using better quality innert-gas filled relays would also help.

Just out of curiousity what kind of reverb does an amp like tremoverb or express use? Those amps dont seem to have any switching problems and to be honest i think their reverbs are 10x better than what i have in the Roadster. If it is a different reverb i think Mesa should shelve the tube reverb and go back to what works without having to build in a flaw.

BINGO. I agree. I never had this issue when I had a TOV. Great amp. I think this whole reverb wash thing is horse ****.

 

[jdurso]

I just don't understand why they continue to use tube spring reverb if they can't cure the wash while at the same time not building in a switching delay. I'm sure we'd all rather have seemless switching rather then a great built in reverb... plus the reverb on the Roadster isn't even that great. Personally i like the reverb on the express 100x better but would even go as far as to say I'd rather have a Roadster with seemless switching and no reverb, and just use an external reverb unit.

 

[nomad100hd]

using tube reverb and tube fx loops are all for hype anyways.

 

[jdurso]

using tube reverb and tube fx loops are all for hype anyways.

agreed on the reverb but not so much the fx loop. Through the right preamp tube in there and you'll be shocked. Try something like a Mullard 12at7 and you'll get a warmer response from everything you throw in the loop. Try a GE 12at7wc 6201 and you get a crystal clear, no noise signal.

 

[lockbody]

Just bumping this again to see if there are any new opinions from some of the new owners.

 

[t2mike2]

i dont notice any delay but i do notice the tails of overdriven reverb when i switch to clean.

~mike~

 

[phyrexia]

i dont notice any delay but i do notice the tails of overdriven reverb when i switch to clean.

~mike~

That sounds like they just sucked it up and got rid of the delay.