Newby question

[cust22]

HI,
I have had the Mark V for about 2 weeks now. I have dialed in some nice sounds. But just wondering if anyone else thought there wasn't quite enough gain in channel 3. I have it set on extreme mode w/ the gain maxxed, classic v eq using the sliders. I'm in the 45 or 90 watt mode and have tried full power and spongy. My guitars are various PRS guitars all w high output pickups.(hfs, and sc250 pickups)

Just wondering because im looking for a bit more of a saturated sound. My band does covers of Creed, alter bridge and Metallica and just doesn't seem to have enough gain. Petrucci's sound s seem to have more saturation as well. I was Playing along w their new cd just to check my sound.
Thanx in advance

 

[ifailedshapes]

HI,
I have had the Mark V for about 2 weeks now. I have dialed in some nice sounds. But just wondering if anyone else thought there wasn't quite enough gain in channel 3. I have it set on extreme mode w/ the gain maxxed, classic v eq using the sliders. I'm in the 45 or 90 watt mode and have tried full power and spongy. My guitars are various PRS guitars all w high output pickups.(hfs, and sc250 pickups)

Just wondering because im looking for a bit more of a saturated sound. My band does covers of Creed, alter bridge and Metallica and just doesn't seem to have enough gain. Petrucci's sound s seem to have more saturation as well. I was Playing along w their new cd just to check my sound.
Thanx in advance

Throw an OD in front of the amp. A lot of the sounds in your head that you're trying to replicate have an OD in front of the amp to kick the preamp in the nuts. The most popular options from what I've noticed would be a Tube Screamer, OCD, BB Preamp, TImmy, and Barber Direct Drive.

 

[DudewithFr0]

What cab are you using? Ive noticed some cabs kinda choke some of the gain on channel 3.

 

[JOEY B.]

How loud are you playing? Channel Master and Output settings? When I tried the MarkV, we had to set the channel master fairly high to make the sound as thick as the old C+. http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37701 Not to mention that in the studio, the microphone will pick up more of the saturation than your ears, standing in the same room with the cab. Food for thought.

 

[MesaManBoogie]

HI,
I have had the Mark V for about 2 weeks now. I have dialed in some nice sounds. But just wondering if anyone else thought there wasn't quite enough gain in channel 3. I have it set on extreme mode w/ the gain maxxed, classic v eq using the sliders. I'm in the 45 or 90 watt mode and have tried full power and spongy. My guitars are various PRS guitars all w high output pickups.(hfs, and sc250 pickups)

Just wondering because im looking for a bit more of a saturated sound. My band does covers of Creed, alter bridge and Metallica and just doesn't seem to have enough gain. Petrucci's sound s seem to have more saturation as well. I was Playing along w their new cd just to check my sound.
Thanx in advance

To saturate a little more on any mode or channel. I've found that the best way is to keep the gain around 2:00-3:00o'cl and start messing with the master volume , treble and presence. There is gain-saturation hidden in these three controls
On channel three the Mark IV mode has the most gain of all the modes, you might want to start there. I've done many covers with channel 3 mark IV mode, that includes Metallica, killswitch, AIC, DT, Slipknot, Lamb of god, and all this without external pedals.

If you go to channel # 2 mark 1 mode, put the Master volume all the way up and start adjusting the other controls to your preference.

Good luck

 

[cust22]

Thanx for the replies. Alot of things you guys mentioned I really didn't take into account. My master was at about 9 oclock. So I'll definatly trying raising it tomorrow. And I might give the od pedal a go. I did not J Petrucci had a TS9 and a Zakk wylde od.

 

[madryan]

The stock tubes Mesa has been shipping in these are a trainwreck. Absolute crap so you might want to swap some known good tubes in to see if that helps. Also, remember that the treble acts like another gain knob.

 

[phyrexia]

first, replace v1, v2, and v3.

then, keep in mind that Extreme mode has less gain than IV, and maybe even a little less than IIC+, but the voicing is different.

 

[Scary]

Sometimes less gain is more. Wherever you set the gain knob, you're going to need to set up your basic tone w/o the EQ and get the right balance of cut/bass/mid. Then add in the EQ for the FULL sound. It's not easy but take your time and pay attention to dial the mids for body, bass to avoid flubby unfocused tone, and treble to get the right cut without fizzy highs.

 

[cust22]

The stock tubes Mesa has been shipping in these are a trainwreck. Absolute crap so you might want to swap some known good tubes in to see if that helps. Also, remember that the treble acts like another gain knob.

How does the trble effect gain and how should I be using it?
What preamp tubes are good?


And I thought extreme had less gain, but thought it was my imagination!

 

[yarzo]

Also, keep in mind that the sounds you hear on records those guitars have been at least double, triple, or maybe even quad tracked. Many times with different guitars and amps. This adds significant gain, saturation and thickness. In reality each guitar was probably tracked with 1/2 the gain you think or perceive. As Scary already mentioned "sometimes less gain is more", I totally agree with this.

Check out some of the settings of Hetfield's amps on some of the early stuff or even Petrucci's settings, the gain knob is rarely past 1:00. But, once you add all those guitar layers it makes a world of difference.

Another great solution to increase that saturation with just one amp/guitar as already mentioned, is running an OD or boost pedal in front of the amp.

 

[madryan]

Here's how mine's setup for my living room. If I'm playing loud with the band I tweak it a bit but this'll get you started.

 

[scott7d]

You know, I thought I was crazy when I thought Mark IV mode sounded like it had more gain. Glad to see a few other people think so, too. Extreme mode just gets "louder" and has a little more chunk. I like the darker, tighter focus of Mark IV mode.

My settings are almost just like madryan's settings, but with a little less bass. I am using a Custom 24 with the HFS/Vintage stock pups, and it's doing the heavier tunes just fine.