So I've just scored a Mark V, Overwhelmed. Help?

[DrChaos]

So I've just managed to get myself a Mark V through a series of trades. Moving up from an express, simplified and got rid of a few guitars too. Down to a white falcon, tele, strat and a les paul.

Took it to band practice last night, was hoping to just plug and play but of course I didn't spend enough time tweaking before hand and I got buried.

So what i'm looking for are some suggestions to help me sort of get started. I don't even really know where to begin finding the tones i'm looking for.

I think i'm a little disadvantaged though (first world problems) because i'm mostly playing a white falcon, which is generally quite hard to eq to begin with as it's so bright.

Basically, what i'm looking for is something along these lines, sorry for the ghetto youtube approach.


Hoping to achieve something like this for 1st channel tones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3qGa45QYsM


2nd channel tones to be something along these lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl3mM1Cvvo0



hoping to achieve something like this for the 3rd channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8pNReUeq0w @ about 50 seconds.


How do I go about even starting to tackle this amp, it's so complicated. The guy I got it from suggested spending a week on each mode, really getting to know it.

 

[ryjan]

Think of each channel as a seperate amp. That will help.
Start at the factory recommended settings and branch out from there.
Don't mess with the eq or any effects until you are familliar with the channel.
Channel 3 hates the bass knob. Leave it under 12:00.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Hoping to achieve something like this for 1st channel tones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3qGa45QYsM

Tweed mode.

2nd channel tones to be something along these lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl3mM1Cvvo0

Channel 1, Tweed mode.

hoping to achieve something like this for the 3rd channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8pNReUeq0w @ about 50 seconds.

Sounds like a Marshall being boosted with a tubescreamer. Not sure how you'll pull it off exactly, but I'd start in channel 2's crunch mode and add a tubescreamer to the mix.

Alternatively, put channel 2 in Mark I mode.

How do I go about even starting to tackle this amp, it's so complicated. The guy I got it from suggested spending a week on each mode, really getting to know it.

Pick a mode for each channel and use it for awhile. It's easy to get option overload, so don't go crazy sampling all the options all the time.

Also, don't worry about each channel producing a smooth transition to the other channel when you're jamming on your own. Once you get the amp into a band mix the bass guitar will stabilize the low end so the band will sound more consistent when you change channels.

Based on your examples I'm guessing you probably wanted to use Edge mode in channel 2. I found edge mode disappeared in the mix when I tried using it at practice so I switched back to using crunch mode.

 

[toneseeker911]

2nd channel tones to be something along these lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl3mM1Cvvo0

Edge mode 45w with the master reasonably high if you want to leave channel 1 for cleans, else Tweed mode in channel one.

hoping to achieve something like this for the 3rd channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8pNReUeq0w @ about 50 seconds.

Crunch mode 45w, variac, tube rectifier with master/gain reasonably high. You may want to back off the presence if you have a bright guitar. A boost might help too.

How do I go about even starting to tackle this amp, it's so complicated. The guy I got it from suggested spending a week on each mode, really getting to know it.

I noted down a lot of settings for each channel from all over the place, including this forum. While they are a good starting point, your guitar, pickups and cab make a big difference. Finally, I read the manual... there are sections throughout the manual where they explain how each of the knobs work in different modes, not settings, but what each knob really does to the signal in terms of tone and feel. I copied all relevant sections to a document, printed that out and kept it with me while setting up each channel.... I had some of the best tones after spending just 15 minutes per channel.

 

[theroan]

Sit with a guitar, the manual and the amp and just play through it. There lots of ins and outs to each mode, so just be thorough, try the factory settings and go from there.

 

[RedKlouD72]

I could suggest something... I don't know how productive this will be for you, but...

start at the "Clean" amp on Channel 1. for a whole practice session just use "Clean" on channel 1. play some clean stuff, then find a fun overdriven sound with it by bringing up the gain knob and the master knob. play some heavy stuff with it... keep adjusting till ya find somethin useful... or maybe ya wont... but you'll know what amp 1 of 9 can do for you. dont let yourself get distracted by all the other stuff on there. Just become one with "Clean" then "Fat" then "Tweed" ....then "Extreme"

you'll be surprised. maybe. The "Extreme" amp has great settings for jazz. just bring that gain knob down to Earth. i guess like 8:00 or so... and you'll be able to figure out what I mean.