New Mark V Head

[J-mo]

Ordered a new Mark V head from Sweetwater (black with gold jute). The head arrived late yesterday and I had some time last night to put it through its paces. For reference, I am gigging musician and usually play out with a JVM 410H or Rivera Fandango. First thing I can say..holy crap this thing exudes tone. I bought this amp on a whim, I have never played on a Mark series amp and this is actually my first Mesa amp ever. All I can say is I found it extremely easy to dial in some killer sounding tones on all 3 channels, I really don't understand some people saying this is a confusing amp. In my opinion it laid out really well and is pretty straightforward in terms of tone shaping & control. Looking forward to using this at my next gig and leaving the JVM at home :mrgreen:

Next up I'm looking at ordering a cab to match, either the Mesa 1x12 widebody or a Forte 3D 1x12.

 

[Scary]

It only gets better J-mo! Wait till you break it in. 8) The best part is the tone is still there at low volume, so enjoy.

 

[golfnguitarz]

Welcome and congrats!

 

[jb's 52]

I have never played on a Mark series amp and this is actually my first Mesa amp ever.

Mine too!!!

...and fortunately, it's the sound I've always heard in my head for years.
So glad, I finally found it!!!!

 

[Neptical]

Welcome to the Mark series. The last amp you will ever need.

~Nep~

 

[mxr2000]

Some old marks are difficult to dial a good tones or even get the same tone using the same settings like mark 3, I believe The mark V is the easier so far to dial a good tone .. enjoy your amp...

 

[Neptical]

Some old marks are difficult to dial a good tones or even get the same tone using the same settings like mark 3,

:roll:

Only to someone who doesn't learn how to use the amp. There's so many people that have/had/still use the Mark III that would cause that statement to fail abruptly.

~Nep~

 

[mxr2000]

Some old marks are difficult to dial a good tones or even get the same tone using the same settings like mark 3,

:roll:

Only to someone who doesn't learn how to use the amp. There's so many people that have/had/still use the Mark III that would cause that statement to fail abruptly.

~Nep~

My friend I owned on the past almost all mark series amps and the mark 3 was the most harder not because was difficult to get a good sound but because it was difficult to get the same sounds twice even using markers and untouched the amp settings, when you turn off that amp just for the few hours the turn it on again, the amp wont sound the same for some unknown reason.Maybe the amp didn't like me. :lol: But later learn that some other Mark iii users with the same problem so i decided to sale the amp.. maybe thats why from all the mark amps is the less expensive to get..

 

[Barry]

I suspect your new MV looks like mine ?

 

[J-mo]

Yep thats it Barry, that looks sweet :mrgreen:

You mind telling me how much that cab cost with the custom grille, I am curious if Mesa upcharges for that or not? Still trying to decide which cab to go with. I like the size & weight of a 1x12 for gigging purposes but still considering a 2x12 from Forte.

 

[Neptical]

Some old marks are difficult to dial a good tones or even get the same tone using the same settings like mark 3,

:roll:

Only to someone who doesn't learn how to use the amp. There's so many people that have/had/still use the Mark III that would cause that statement to fail abruptly.

~Nep~

My friend I owned on the past almost all mark series amps and the mark 3 was the most harder not because was difficult to get a good sound but because it was difficult to get the same sounds twice even using markers and untouched the amp settings, when you turn off that amp just for the few hours the turn it on again, the amp wont sound the same for some unknown reason.Maybe the amp didn't like me. :lol: But later learn that some other Mark iii users with the same problem so i decided to sale the amp.. maybe thats why from all the mark amps is the less expensive to get..

I've heard of those issues before (not with just Mesa's either), but I don't get it. Was this happening in Simul-Class or Class A? Was it a fully functionable amp? Did it need any service? Were the tubes 100% up to par? There's so many variables. I own (2) Mark IIIs and I've never had those issues at all.

~Nep~

 

[Barry]

Yep thats it Barry, that looks sweet :mrgreen:

You mind telling me how much that cab cost with the custom grille, I am curious if Mesa upcharges for that or not? Still trying to decide which cab to go with. I like the size & weight of a 1x12 for gigging purposes but still considering a 2x12 from Forte.

Have you ever tried the recto 2X12 horizontal cab ? Its off the chains good .

 

[mxr2000]

I owned in the past 3 Mesa Boogie mark III One head without EQ and Reverb that was Purple stripe and Two Blue stripes.. One Combo with EV with all the futures and a head, There was a lot of gain on this blue stripe amps. Believe it or not the one I liked more was the Purple stripe without almost no futures, It was more in my ball park. on any mode was hard to keep up with the same settings looking for the same sweet spot as the day before..

 

[mxr2000]

Neptical: you want the best Mark III sounds you should look for a Quad preamp besides you would get mark IIC sound damn close to C+, the Quad most be the best Preamp so far of Mesa Boogie the quality of the sound its very PRO,The Studio preamp most be not so far behinde the Quad, the clean on the Studio is the Best from all the Boogie preamps, almost fender Twin like but fatter..

 

[Neptical]

Neptical: you want the best Mark III sounds you should look for a Quad preamp besides you would get mark IIC sound damn close to C+, the Quad most be the best Preamp so far of Mesa Boogie the quality of the sound its very PRO,The Studio preamp most be not so far behinde the Quad, the clean on the Studio is the Best from all the Boogie preamps, almost fender Twin like but fatter..

Not trying to steal away the thread folks...bare with me for a sec.. :wink: :lol:

Hey, MXR---Actually, I'm extremely happy with the tones on both my Mark III's..like..alot, and for what I use them for ( jazz/metal/fusion). I'm running them both with all NOS 12AX7s, and almost all NOS power tubes (6L6's & EL34's). The tone is 'magic', and everything I'd want in an amp. Excellent for me at practice (and bedroom ) volume--but when cranked it just opens up HUGE. These amps really start to sound something fierce when driven and getting those power tubes roasting. It definitely keeps up with my buddies Bogners and 5150s with no problem. It has very nice round (and fat) sparkling cleans--which I use just one of the heads for--and the other for leads/rhythm. I use to play through a Studio Pre many years ago...very nice preamp. Pretty spot on sounding to the IIC+. I've never thought the Mark III was that far behind in those regards. I really dig the aggressiveness once I pop them into Simul-Class,pull deep,soft 'V' on the GEQ and pull *most*. It has a monsterous tone that still retains clarity and definition in all the notes and chords.


~Nep~

 

[dbsens03]

I say get a vertical 2x12 recto cab with the custom grille. That'd be quite the eye candy!