ok, so maybe im just a retard?

[bryan_kilco]

for as long as I've owned the IV, I thought my Lead channels eq didnt function properly.

the other day, i sat down and tweaked it. The Treble knob doesnt do anything when the Bass is up, but if the Bass is wayyy down (1-2), the Treble is fully functional. The mid knob doesnt seem to do anything though.

I really dont have much time to tweak at the practice space, but now that I brought the cab home, its a different story.

maybe my amp functions correctly after all, and I just never knew it???! I feel kinda dumb. I've owned the thing for probably 5 years now.

anyone else notice that the Mid knob doesnt really effect the tone? or does my amp need some servicing?

 

[dodger916]

From the manual Page 6:
"Lead Treble: This control along with RHYTHM 2’s PRESENCE control should be worked with together to produce the desired gain and brightness of the mode. Setting the TREBLE higher, as always, increases the gain of the mode and allows increased distortion and sustain. Lower settings allow the MID and BASS controls to become more dominant adding warmth to the sound.

Lead Bass & Lead Mid: Both of these controls add body and warmth without really affecting the strength of the signal. Merely dial in to your liking but note again that too much Bass combined with too high of a LEAD GAIN setting will take away from the tight, highly focused lead sound that this mode offers."

So, the lower the Treble, the more influence for Bass & Mid controls. The same is true for Rhy 1 & 2. Here's the link for the manual: http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/Mark 4.pdf.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Yep, if you crank one EQ knob the others become much less effective because the cranked frequencies 'hog' the signal so to speak. I bet if you turned your treble down that the mids would be more effective. Also, if you are scooping your mids on the GEQ then the mid knob is less effective of course. Keep tweaking!

EDIT: Dodger, you beat me to it and with the official source.

 

[MrMarkIII]

You are correct, sir!
All Marks act like that. ALL MARKS ACT LIKE THAT.
EVERY Mark manual states (and has always stated) that the Treble is the strongest tone control at 7 and above, but becomes weaker at 5 and below. Bass and Mids become stronger as the Treble weakens.
RIF.

 

[Restless Rocks]

From the manual Page 6:
"Lead Treble: This control along with RHYTHM 2’s PRESENCE control should be worked with together to produce the desired gain and brightness of the mode. Setting the TREBLE higher, as always, increases the gain of the mode and allows increased distortion and sustain. Lower settings allow the MID and BASS controls to become more dominant adding warmth to the sound.

Lead Bass & Lead Mid: Both of these controls add body and warmth without really affecting the strength of the signal. Merely dial in to your liking but note again that too much Bass combined with too high of a LEAD GAIN setting will take away from the tight, highly focused lead sound that this mode offers."

So, the lower the Treble, the more influence for Bass & Mid controls. The same is true for Rhy 1 & 2. Here's the link for the manual: http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/Mark 4.pdf.

Okay I've looked this over and had a look at the schematic as well. Why? Seems to be a slight missprint in the manual. It should read: "Lead Treble: along with the LEAD PRESENCE not the RHYTHM 2 PRESENCE. The R2 presence circuit is NOT ACTIVE while in the lead mode. Also Bryan here's something to try to see if your lead channel TREBLE, MID and BASS controls are working properly: Set the TREBLE, MID and BASS controls all to ZER0, yes turn them all the way off. Now play thru the lead channel with the lead gain and lead drive set at around 5, play your guitar and you should hardly hear any sound at all. OKAY, Now turn the MID control to 10 ? Sounds real midrangey doesn't it? TURN THE MID CONTROL BACK TO ZERO AND DO THE SAME WITH EACH OF THE BASS AND TREBLE CONTROLS. IF THEY ARE WORKING NORMALLY YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW. Remember that the TREBLE control will over shadow the mid and bass if you set it over 8.

 

[bryan_kilco]

thanks guys! though I have the manual here (2, to be exact), and have over it a bunch of times, i guess i just assumed that my lead eq section wasnt functioning the way it should.....im gonna tweak some more in a few.

 

[bryan_kilco]

well ill be damned.....i feel like such a *******. i really cant believe i've had a fully-functional amp the entire time and thought something was wrong.

thank you guys, really!!



but.....the Bass seems to add gain gain gain as well as the treble. the higher the treble, the crunchier the tone...tighter. but the bass seems to add almost a treble-ish-ness to it....i cant explain....

 

[mr_fender]

Keep in mind that the knob EQs on the MKIV are pre-gain tone stacks. They will be much less effective at overal tonal shaping that a post-gain EQ, like that of the Recto series and most Marshalls. Pre-gain EQ is better for shaping the harmonic content of the distortion. Post gain-EQ is more like a traditional EQ used for overall tonal shaping. With the graphic EQ being post-gain, you get the best of both worlds with the Mark IV.

 

[Fronzil]

i'm curious if my lead bass knob has a loose cap or something...the nob itself is loose compared to the rest, and i don't notice alot of difference even when treble is low..never gets too flubby..ill experiment with levels of treble too

 

[t0aj15]

Just remember, when all else fails read the instructions.