Supreeth said:
I have to pitch in here, and try not to hijack the thread because the talent and playing of Gibson5413 through the MKV he got today (or yesterday for some...it's 11:57 pm for me here) is what this thread is all about. Gibson, this was some of the best playing I've heard on "Only a matter of time."!!!
Shang Chi, I know you've been waiting for the Mark V for ages man, and I was worried too about how the MKV would sound based on the clips I've seen. I think Gibson mentioned a while ago that he was getting backing tracks ready for when the MKV came, and yup he delivered true to his word (kudos to you man!). We all know (or at least I'd like to think most of us do) that true tone is always in the fingers and not the amp or guitar or any other piece of equipment that we may own. I have days when I sound like crap playing through the same settings I saved when I thought I sounded great and that's because I am probably not feeling it in those days. There are amps out there that can make you sound good even when you're not feeling it......But the Mark V is not one of those. This amp screams honesty from its soul I swear. In the limited time I've had to play with it, it's driven me nuts, it's given me pleasure, and it's given me bliss based on how I'm feeling at the time. If you're not into what you're playing this amp will expose your weaknesses ruthlessly, and it will reward your playing from the heart with the best it can give you. I know you're still waiting for your amp and I think you'll love it man. It has all the tones you'll ever want. Just know that this amp is a fair judge of all playing and will sound sucky based ONLY on how you're feeling what you're playing.
I don't want to flame anybody here (and I will take all the flaming this will probably induce towards me) but noodling around with a bunch of scales on youtube is not a true measure of how an amp sounds. I would rather prefer a true audio recording of a song (like Gibson did) than someone showing off how they can play scales, and obviously the amp will sound awful in that scenario because where's the feel when someone's trying to show off rather than play???
Sorry for the rant, but it had to be said. Coming back to the spirit of this thread, I think most people will soon figure out what the MkV is all about..it's "Only a matter of time"
Peace my friends, and enjoy the wonderfully transparent amp the Mark V is, and the playing of Gibson5413 on his recording!
cheers,
Supreeth
Those are great points, and a wonderful observation my friend. No "rant" at all man, I hear ya! Thanks!
I sold my VHT Sig X last year, and while I liked alot of what that amp have to offer, I just never completely jelled/connected with it. Plus, it was more a upper mid voiced, Marshall type tone (I brought it sight unseen), and I,m more of a low mids, darker tone type guy. While it was not as notoriously unforgiving as other amps in the Fryette line, it still was not a compressed, play along with you, "sound good even on your off days" kind of amp either.
So, it allowed me to really concentrate on my chops & dynamics. You played thru that amp, and you were,nt fooling anybody, trust me!
I,m not expecting the Mark 5 to be more or less, I just wanted to be assured it was capable of the fluid Mark series lead tones of the past. And Gibson,s clip(s) did a great job of proving that!
After that, I agree with ya 100%, it,s up to the player to utilize, work, and get the most out of any amp, to make the amp
sing. The amp
works, and the player,
plays.
I think sometimes, a guitarist will expect a certain amp to make them sound more like their favorite player, or assist some deficiency in their technique. That,s certainly not what I,m after. Whatever I put in is what I want to (hear) get back. Like you said, an honest amp!
I,m no Petrucci or Di meola, but I,ve played afew sweet licks in my day, so I can,t wait to see how I fare on the Mark 5 myself!
You cats continue to enjoy your amps. One of good things of me still waiting is that I can pick ya,ll,s brains for tips & such until I get mine!