Recto Player Buys A Mark V

[domct203]

Well, Uncle Sam was kind to me this year, so I ordered a Mark V Head yesterday. I've been playing Rectos since 2001 when I bought a Triple Recto, (in 2007 I upgraded to a Roadster) and wanted to add something different from the Mesa family.

Dealer says delivery will be 2-4 weeks. I waited 2 months for my Roadster so I'm not holding my breath.

Any tips for a new Mark V owner??

Dom

 

[Scary]

I waited almost 6 months for mine. A friend is now waiting for his (about 4 1/2 months now), you could get lucky.

 

[Hendog]

I received mine 3 days after I placed the order.

I found one in stock at Humbucker music.

 

[phyrexia]

Yah I could have shipped you the one we have at work on Monday

not that I am supposed to do this in threads. :lol:

 

[Shang Chi 66]

Well, Uncle Sam was kind to me this year, so I ordered a Mark V Head yesterday. I've been playing Rectos since 2001 when I bought a Triple Recto, (in 2007 I upgraded to a Roadster) and wanted to add something different from the Mesa family.

Dealer says delivery will be 2-4 weeks. I waited 2 months for my Roadster so I'm not holding my breath.

Any tips for a new Mark V owner??

Dom

First of all, congradulations on your purchase!

Look forward to being immediately impressed upon plugging in, and then be prepared to spend some quality time dialing in your ideal tones and becoming even more floored. The manual is easy to understand, and a great help with this...And (If you have'nt already done so), I would suggest downloading it to sort of get a headstart on things.

This june will be a year since I've had mine, and I still look forward to finding new tones almost every time that I plug in!

Theres just so much that can be done to get this amp exactly to your liking from channel to channel, mode to mode...the interactive eq, tube swapping, speaker/cab trying (for me anyways)

To me, trying an amp is one thing (especially one as comprehensive as a Mark). But once you actually own it, thats when you get to sink your teeth in and see how much you'll truly appreciate it.(or not)

Most folks here love theirs, I'm pretty sure that you will too!

 

[madryan]

As the former 15 year owner of a 2 channel Dual Rec (late '93) and numerous Marks I'll warn you that you'll probably fall in love with either/or. The attack and response of the Marks is so much more fulfilling than the Rectifiers that you'll be in danger of doing what I did which is basically after getting my Mark III Red Stripe back in the mid 90's I never really played my Dual much unless I specifically needed a Recto sound. I just couldn't get into the Rectifiers after owning a mark for a while.

My buddy got a Mark V and within a week sold his Road King II... :lol:

Awesome amps regardless. My only issue with mine has been the preamp tubes being slightly crap.

 

[SteveO]

My buddy got a Mark V and within a week sold his Road King II... :lol:

That's about how long my Roadster stayed with me after I picked up my Mark V.... Don't miss it at all...

 

[scott7d]

My buddy got a Mark V and within a week sold his Road King II... :lol:

I played a gig last night, and the house band was there watching us. Their guitar player uses a Road King Series I, and was joking around saying he was mad at me because now he wanted to dish it and get a Mark V :lol:

 

[microwerx]

Congrats on your Mark 5 purchase. I have a Road King II, a Mark V, and an Express 5:50. I can't imagine getting rid of any of them at this point. The Mark 5 does have a very different feel than the Road King II...but I love them all. =D BTW, my Mark 5 was a special order and it was ready in 2 and a half months. My Road King II was ready in 4 months. My dealer always says 4-6 months as a rule of thumb for Mesa though.

So tips for a new Mark 5 owner. Well, unlike the EQ on the Road King which is post gain, the EQ on the Mark 5 is pregain. So, you'll probably want to go a little easy on the bass control. The controls almost feel like it's more subtle tone shaping. The graphic EQ will help a lot....but also try playing with your amp with the EQ off to really learn how to shape your tone with them. Also, the preset contour control is pretty much the classic V shape when you have it cranked up...but the graphic EQ will let you scoop the mids just a little bit more than the preset.

The lead channel on the Mark 5 is extremely fast and detailed. I noticed that when I was recording my Road King and my Mark 5, the Mark 5 is a lot tighter while the Dual Rectifier is a lot spongier. But, the Dual Rectifier has a lot more bottom end than the Mark 5's lead channel.

I noticed you have the Roadster so you know all about the clean channels. Despite the mode names on the Mark 5, they really aren't exactly the same as the Roadster's. I noticed that my fuzz pedals sounds absolutely killer through my Road King II, but I'm not the biggest fan of them on the Mark 5...so try your pedals out and see which amp they go best with.

Best tip for you: Don't sell your Roadster. First, the tone on both are very different. Second off, you'll have a stereo rig if you want. I'm still getting used to the Mark series tone. My first introduction was the Express 5:50. Unlike the Express 5:50 where it's virtually impossible to get a bad tone, the Mark 5 can get awful sounds and great sounds together. It's going to take a really long time to get used to it. I've had mine since mid January and I'm still learning about the Mark 5. In fact, it's hanging by itself right now so I have time to get used to the amp. Anyways, my Dual Rectifier Road King II still blows me off my feet at the end of the day.

The Mark 5 is an amazing amplifier. It is a much tighter, mid-range style kind of amp than the rectifiers are, but it is an amazing player's amp. I don't think I've really reached the full potential on this amp, but it can go from super clean sounds to classic british rock sounds to metallica/megadeth style hard rock. It's got lots of attitude. Anyways, I love my Mark 5 and the rest of my Mesa collection.

 

[Jacko123]

I actually sold my dual rec (3 ch) before I received the Mark V ... sold if for $1,450US on Ebay :shock: ($1,450 Buy It Now / Best Offer). Buyer didn't even make a best offer. I suppose because I'm canadian, and he was too. It made sense for tax/duties purposes and because I was throwing in the backup tubes and and extra front plate.

But I digress ...

No regrets at all !!! congrats.

I waited for about a month for a combo from my shop, then asked them to see if they could find a head at other stores. They did (3!). I got it the following week and cancelled the combo order.

Good luck! You won't be disapointed.

 

[sean106alcon]

here in NYC they had em at Rudys and also one at my local GC. Bought it on the spot as usual when going into buy strings and walk out $2k Poorer. However I have been researchign it for about a month on the tube and was GASsing for it big time. But man I am loving it. I feel it responds so well to my EMG's. You will not be disappointed.

 

[domct203]

3 weeks and counting. Reading about all the love you guys have for your MKV's is not helping either LOL.

Being my third Mesa, I know it's worth the wait, but time seems to stand still when you're waiting for one of Randall Smith's masterpieces!

Oh well, back to drooling over the forum!

Dom

 

[Heritage Softail]

Hopefully it won't be too much longer till you get your amp. I was lucky enough to walk in a store with one in stock and walk out with it. I play mine in stereo with a Rectifier. Bet it will sound good with a Roadster, dark amp with strong mid amp.

 

[dmcguitar]

this tuesday makes 3 or 4 weeks waiting for mine.. i probably have at least another 4 weeks waiting.. oh well

 

[domct203]

Well, talked to my dealer today and he tells me my MKV is not expected in until the end of May.


Bummer...........

Dom

 

[scott7d]

I got lucky with mine as well. Decided I wanted one last summer, called a local dealer and said if they have any extras that come in with orders to call me and I'll take one. Had one 3 days after that call :twisted: :twisted:

But I can tell ya if I would have had to wait longer, it would have been worth it! It wasn't love at first listen for me, but now i will never get rid of this amp.

If you are used to Recto low end, try dialing the preamp bass down around 9:00-10:00 and boosting it generously on the 5-band EQ. I'm sure there may be other ways, but this gets me that thunderous Recto-ish bass.

 

[domct203]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Yea, I have become used to the Recto low end for sure. The bass player and I have just learned how to coexist

I'm sure she'll be worth the wait.

It just really sucks waiting LOL.

Dom

 

[domct203]

Finally, after 62 days I have a MKV on the way!

Scheduled delivery on 4/29, so only six more days to go.

Funny thing is it's not even from where I originally ordered it from. For the heck of it I googled "Mesa Mark V" yesterday and some how got a link to Haggarty's Musicworks in SD who showed one in stock. A quick phone call to confirm they still had it (still sealed in the box) and it shipped the same day!

My only fear is that it's in the hands of UPS for 1700 miles

Dom

 

[Heritage Softail]

Well, talked to my dealer today and he tells me my MKV is not expected in until the end of May.


Bummer...........

Dom

I just left Atlanta Discount Music. They have two MKV's. One exotic wood cab 1x12 combo and one head. No reason to wait unless you want to.

 

[primeholy]

Well, talked to my dealer today and he tells me my MKV is not expected in until the end of May.


Bummer...........

Dom

I just left Atlanta Discount Music. They have two MKV's. One exotic wood cab 1x12 combo and one head. No reason to wait unless you want to.

They dont list their prices online. Are they the same price as all the other dealers?