Uncle Muscles
Well-known member
So I had a chance to have both amps side by side for a while - well a few days anyway - and I think that they are both great amps. For me - though - the Road King 2 suits my playing style a bit more and so I had the chance to do a straight across trade - my Mark V combo for the RK2 combo and I had to do it. SO if anyone wants a Mark V combo that is bareley used and can't find one - PM me and I will tell you where to grab it at a discount price. It is NOT at Mesa Boogie Hollywood.
Anyway here's my $.02 FWIW
Clean channels cancel each other out - both are great - both are similar - Nuff said
Mark V combo sounds best with a closed back extension cab. The combo itself only produces half the sound quality available. I returned my closed back to Mesa Hollywood after making the trade - but it really did make a huge difference in the tone, instantly.
I was able to get very close to the Mark IV settings "liquid lead" sound using an Xotic BB on Vintage settings of Channel 3 on the RK2 and rolling back the bass. I could not duplicate the Road King drive channels on the MKV. The low end and growl.... is just not there even when plugged into a 4x12.
Using Diode rectifiers on the RK tightens up the bass quite a bit on channels 3 & 4 and I found that this was a cool feature to get closer to the Mark sound.
To get a Marshally sounding medium OD crunch rhythm tone - which is more my style - I found both amps can get there with pedals in Channel 2 "crunch" on the Mark V using the BB or a Carl Martin Plexi Tone (for a more accurate marshall sound). Channel 3 Vintage on the RK with the gain rolled back using the same pedals is pretty much straight up Marshall JCM 800 with a Rat. A Barber LTD also sounds pretty Marshally on both amps and very transparent. Adds that nice smooth midrange push that these amps seem to love.
Don't kill me for this - but I felt like the Mark V channel 3 (mark IV setting) was missing for lack of a better term - some bass frequencies - even when plugged into a 4x12 cab - and - that the RK2 was over the top with the bass - even as a combo. I am keeping the bass below 12:00 or right around there for most settings on teh RK and I had the V's settings pretty much like the Petrucci settings and the classic V with the highs a bit lower. Maybe this is how they are designed - had I thought about it I would have recorded them and put them on a spectral analyzer to see where they line up. Just didn't have the time. Perhaps the reason the Mark series channel 3 is so tight sounding is that there are frequencies that are just low shelved out. Turning up the bass on the V just adds flub. It feels tight - but also like a lot of the low end comes from the cabinet you are using not the amp itself. Almost like a Scholz Rockman Sustainer (I can already hear the flames) - which is a great unit as well. I'm not bashing - just making an observation. It sounds big - but it sounds upper mid big - not full range big.
If you are looking for the MK IIC+ absolutely correct vintage to a T sound and feel - then I doubt you'll get it with the RK. I could care less about it - because to me it just sounds like a lower gain "tighter" version of the Mark IV sound - so flame on if it makes you happy. It is just a sound that I don't use - but I quite like it when I hear other people play it. Go figure...
Seriously though - I love both of the amps - I wish the Road King was not so **** HEAVY. The Mark 1 sound of channel 2 is beautiful and musical - but I wish it was not so dark.
The Road King foot controller is wayyyy toooo loooooong. I love the Mark V's as a comparison.
The RK2 does occasionally POP when switching channels - where The Mark V didn't. At least mine didn't. Switching on the Mark V is faster and seems more seamless.
Ultimately I took the Road King because I could dial it in faster there are 2 FX loops and the 4th channel is a big bonus. The Mark V is a better looking amp (according to my wife) and way easier to transport. I miss it already after last nights gig. Now I need a chiropractor....
Anyway here's my $.02 FWIW
Clean channels cancel each other out - both are great - both are similar - Nuff said
Mark V combo sounds best with a closed back extension cab. The combo itself only produces half the sound quality available. I returned my closed back to Mesa Hollywood after making the trade - but it really did make a huge difference in the tone, instantly.
I was able to get very close to the Mark IV settings "liquid lead" sound using an Xotic BB on Vintage settings of Channel 3 on the RK2 and rolling back the bass. I could not duplicate the Road King drive channels on the MKV. The low end and growl.... is just not there even when plugged into a 4x12.
Using Diode rectifiers on the RK tightens up the bass quite a bit on channels 3 & 4 and I found that this was a cool feature to get closer to the Mark sound.
To get a Marshally sounding medium OD crunch rhythm tone - which is more my style - I found both amps can get there with pedals in Channel 2 "crunch" on the Mark V using the BB or a Carl Martin Plexi Tone (for a more accurate marshall sound). Channel 3 Vintage on the RK with the gain rolled back using the same pedals is pretty much straight up Marshall JCM 800 with a Rat. A Barber LTD also sounds pretty Marshally on both amps and very transparent. Adds that nice smooth midrange push that these amps seem to love.
Don't kill me for this - but I felt like the Mark V channel 3 (mark IV setting) was missing for lack of a better term - some bass frequencies - even when plugged into a 4x12 cab - and - that the RK2 was over the top with the bass - even as a combo. I am keeping the bass below 12:00 or right around there for most settings on teh RK and I had the V's settings pretty much like the Petrucci settings and the classic V with the highs a bit lower. Maybe this is how they are designed - had I thought about it I would have recorded them and put them on a spectral analyzer to see where they line up. Just didn't have the time. Perhaps the reason the Mark series channel 3 is so tight sounding is that there are frequencies that are just low shelved out. Turning up the bass on the V just adds flub. It feels tight - but also like a lot of the low end comes from the cabinet you are using not the amp itself. Almost like a Scholz Rockman Sustainer (I can already hear the flames) - which is a great unit as well. I'm not bashing - just making an observation. It sounds big - but it sounds upper mid big - not full range big.
If you are looking for the MK IIC+ absolutely correct vintage to a T sound and feel - then I doubt you'll get it with the RK. I could care less about it - because to me it just sounds like a lower gain "tighter" version of the Mark IV sound - so flame on if it makes you happy. It is just a sound that I don't use - but I quite like it when I hear other people play it. Go figure...
Seriously though - I love both of the amps - I wish the Road King was not so **** HEAVY. The Mark 1 sound of channel 2 is beautiful and musical - but I wish it was not so dark.
The Road King foot controller is wayyyy toooo loooooong. I love the Mark V's as a comparison.
The RK2 does occasionally POP when switching channels - where The Mark V didn't. At least mine didn't. Switching on the Mark V is faster and seems more seamless.
Ultimately I took the Road King because I could dial it in faster there are 2 FX loops and the 4th channel is a big bonus. The Mark V is a better looking amp (according to my wife) and way easier to transport. I miss it already after last nights gig. Now I need a chiropractor....
