Played a Mark V Head Today

[mystidream]

Here are my thoughts on it:

Channel 1 - Amazing, chimey, bell-like clean tones. The reverb is amazing. The cleans can go from spanky to thick and lush all in the same breath.

Channel 2 - I wasn't digging the Edge mode at all. Its not my type of sound and I found it very harsh sounding. Mark I mode was pretty awesome, but like a lot of folks are saying, its pretty dark. However, it is a great sound and totally usuable. I wish I would've had my BB preamp to try out with that mode. Now on to Crunch mode. By far my favorite mode on Channel 2. And get can bluesy and gritty, and with some tweaking it can get pretty ballsy. I would actually use this as a heavy rhythm tone.

Channel 3 - Mark IV mode - Flat out godly. I think it kicks a regular Mark IV's ass all over the place. I especially loved the amp in this mode without the graphic EQ and using the preset knob. Extreme mode - Over the top gain and articulation. Amazing for those heavy chugging riffs where you want that extra gain but don't want to lose the definition and articulation.

IIC+ mode - A huge dissappointment for me. As someone who has played Mesa's for 8 years (mainly Marks, as well as owning 2 IIC+'s) I can say that this mode sounds nothing like a IIC+ at all. The gain wasn't there, and there really is just something about the IIC+ that you CANNOT replicate. The IIC+ mode was my least favorite of all the modes. It was very thin sounding for leads and rhythms (even when using the graphic eq and the preset knob, as well as disengaging both. I tried the settings in the manual with the amp on pentode/triode etc. and nothing would make that mode sing like a real IIC+ can.

Pros - Amazing amp with a ton of versatility. Excellent cleans and rhythms. Lush reverb. Solo boost. Priced very well.

Cons - Thin lead tones, very dissapointing in the IIC+ mode, Edge mode is pretty useless (IMO).

Overall its a very good amp for the money, and sounds wonderful, but don't think for a second that its gonna nail your IIC+ tones. Keep your IIC+'s. You'll regret selling them.

 

[Sebby123]

Here are my thoughts on it:

Channel 1 - Amazing, chimey, bell-like clean tones. The reverb is amazing. The cleans can go from spanky to thick and lush all in the same breath.

Channel 2 - I wasn't digging the Edge mode at all. Its not my type of sound and I found it very harsh sounding. Mark I mode was pretty awesome, but like a lot of folks are saying, its pretty dark. However, it is a great sound and totally usuable. I wish I would've had my BB preamp to try out with that mode. Now on to Crunch mode. By far my favorite mode on Channel 2. And get can bluesy and gritty, and with some tweaking it can get pretty ballsy. I would actually use this as a heavy rhythm tone.

Channel 3 - Mark IV mode - Flat out godly. I think it kicks a regular Mark IV's ass all over the place. I especially loved the amp in this mode without the graphic EQ and using the preset knob. Extreme mode - Over the top gain and articulation. Amazing for those heavy chugging riffs where you want that extra gain but don't want to lose the definition and articulation.

IIC+ mode - A huge dissappointment for me. As someone who has played Mesa's for 8 years (mainly Marks, as well as owning 2 IIC+'s) I can say that this mode sounds nothing like a IIC+ at all. The gain wasn't there, and there really is just something about the IIC+ that you CANNOT replicate. The IIC+ mode was my least favorite of all the modes. It was very thin sounding for leads and rhythms (even when using the graphic eq and the preset knob, as well as disengaging both. I tried the settings in the manual with the amp on pentode/triode etc. and nothing would make that mode sing like a real IIC+ can.

Pros - Amazing amp with a ton of versatility. Excellent cleans and rhythms. Lush reverb. Solo boost. Priced very well.

Cons - Thin lead tones, very dissapointing in the IIC+ mode, Edge mode is pretty useless (IMO).

Overall its a very good amp for the money, and sounds wonderful, but don't think for a second that its gonna nail your IIC+ tones. Keep your IIC+'s. You'll regret selling them.

Thank you for this! Assures that ill keep my Mark IV

 

[danyeo1]

I agree with everything you said except for your opinions on the IIC+ mode.

 

[fatbagg]

Doesnt nail them IV either...tinny in comparson.

 

[mystidream]

I agree with everything you said except for your opinions on the IIC+ mode.

Gotcha. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[hugsy41]

Is that why your IIC+ isn't for sale anymore?

 

[DaveDaveDave]

Possible bad preamp tube? "Thin" isn't how mine sounds in IIC+ mode. I had one bad preamp tube in V2, and I hear a little scratchy noise telling me another one might be going bad.

Dave

 

[danyeo1]

Doesnt nail them IV either...tinny in comparson.

DId you play a V and a IV in the same room. on the same cab, with the same guitar. And to be really fair, take the tubes out of the IV and load them in the V.

I've owned 3 or 4 Mark IV's and i don't miss them one bit. Overall the V smokes the IV easily.

 

[mystidream]

Possible bad preamp tube? "Thin" isn't how mine sounds in IIC+ mode. I had one bad preamp tube in V2, and I hear a little scratchy noise telling me another one might be going bad.

Dave

Possibly but I doubt it. All the other modes sounded great.

 

[mystidream]

Is that why your IIC+ isn't for sale anymore?

Yup. I'm just gonna save up and get a V.

 

[bpm91]

Doesnt nail them IV either...tinny in comparson.

DId you play a V and a IV in the same room. on the same cab, with the same guitar. And to be really fair, take the tubes out of the IV and load them in the V.

I've owned 3 or 4 Mark IV's and i don't miss them one bit. Overall the V smokes the IV easily.

I've played my IV (now gone) and V (now mine) in the same room, through the same cabs, same guitar, and both have truly owned. I didn't have any problems dialing in the IV's lead tone with the V. I didn't find any tinny tones unless it was EQ'd extreme or incorrectly, i.e. EQ settings for the Mark I DO NOT translate well to the Edge mode on channel 2.

 

[MarkIVwidebody]

[/quote]

Thank you for this! Assures that ill keep my Mark IV[/quote]
Huh? He said it kicks a Mark IV's ass but not the IIC+

 

[ryjan]

I was ready to trade in my Mark IV until my buddy finally got his MKV combo. I brought over my amp and cab and spent Saturday afternoon until Sunday night comparing, A/B ing, recording, (and of course drinking). And I gotta say, my Mark IV aint going anywhere. My amp was much more, I guess, cutting than the V. I cant really put my finger on it but to say that the IV just feels better. The V kicks ass no doubt, but the difference to me just aint worth the extra money.

 

[JohnDNJ]

I was ready to trade in my Mark IV until my buddy finally got his MKV combo. I brought over my amp and cab and spent Saturday afternoon until Sunday night comparing, A/B ing, recording, (and of course drinking). And I gotta say, my Mark IV aint going anywhere. My amp was much more, I guess, cutting than the V. I cant really put my finger on it but to say that the IV just feels better. The V kicks ass no doubt, but the difference to me just aint worth the extra money.

Smart man.

 

[Sebby123]

I was ready to trade in my Mark IV until my buddy finally got his MKV combo. I brought over my amp and cab and spent Saturday afternoon until Sunday night comparing, A/B ing, recording, (and of course drinking). And I gotta say, my Mark IV aint going anywhere. My amp was much more, I guess, cutting than the V. I cant really put my finger on it but to say that the IV just feels better. The V kicks ass no doubt, but the difference to me just aint worth the extra money.

Smart man.

To me i rather have a herbert and thats my next investment and suhr standard.

 

[ryjan]

Thanks. Im just glad I waited and had a chance to get really intimate with it before making a decision. Typically, thats not me. I am Mr. Impulse. :lol:

 

[mystidream]

Thanks. Im just glad I waited and had a chance to get really intimate with it before making a decision. Typically, thats not me. I am Mr. Impulse. :lol:

Its certainly not an amp for someone who doesn't know their way around Mesa's. I've owned 4 Mark IV's, 2 IIC+'s (one of which I still have), 2 Roadking's, 3 Recto's, Lonestar, Triaxis/2:90 and you know what? I was still f***ing intimidated by the V. And thats coming from someone who's been playing Mesa for almost 10 years now. Haha.

 

[ryjan]

Thats why I love Mesa, infinite possibilities. The MKV sounds pretty awesome. Very much a high end amp by any means. Like I said though, after tweaking non-stop on it for clost to 30 hours, it just didnt feel as good as the MKIV. Boy, I would have been pissed if I had sold my amp and waited all this time just to find this out.

 

[MarkIVwidebody]

The other dude in one night using a friend's head isn't going to find the best tone. And even though it's a Mark V try a boost in front. My modded Boss SD-1 makes any high gain channel on any stock amp sound better and thicker than without the boost. As far as I have found so far and that included a IV head and widebody combo. Plus a 10 band eq and BBE maximizer makes every tone better IMHO.

 

[ryjan]

The other dude in one night using a friend's head isn't going to find the best tone. And even though it's a Mark V try a boost in front. My modded Boss SD-1 makes any high gain channel on any stock amp sound better and thicker than without the boost. As far as I have found so far and that included a IV head and widebody combo. Plus a 10 band eq and BBE maximizer makes every tone better IMHO.

That sounds like a lot of work. This is why I sold off all my rack stuff. I'm trying to get to that magical place of just being able to plug my guitar into the front of the amp and turn it on. I dont mind tweaking the amp itself but when you throw in the eqs and the pedals...
I dont get that much time to play anymore so I have to keep it simple. :wink: