The Mark V keeps getting better

[rmcfee]

Maybe it is my ears or maybe the amp is actually getting better, but the tone is continuing to be MORE satisfying after 2 months of using this.
It truly is a real achievement in amp design. Lots of amps have tons of options but in this case every tone is amazing in it's own right. The Extreme mode is the only one I haven't really bonded with I'm sorry to say.
The rest is just pure tube ecstasy from clean to ripping distortion. Great reverb too. So glad I traded in my Marshall 410H (I do miss it though, a bit).

 

[jjboogie]

Maybe it is my ears or maybe the amp is actually getting better, but the tone is continuing to be MORE satisfying after 2 months of using this.
It truly is a real achievement in amp design. Lots of amps have tons of options but in this case every tone is amazing in it's own right. The Extreme mode is the only one I haven't really bonded with I'm sorry to say.
The rest is just pure tube ecstasy from clean to ripping distortion. Great reverb too. So glad I traded in my Marshall 410H (I do miss it though, a bit).

Did you get the combo? Maybe the speakers are getting broken in on top of you getting to know your amp better.

Good news though since I have only had mine a week!

 

[Scary]

It's the gift that keeps on giving. Better than the jelly of the month club!

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I'm having the same experience with my combo. I think it partly has to do with speaker break-in, and partly with knowing more and more how to dial in tones. I'm getting to the point where I really understand how to use the different settings, including wattages.

 

[rmcfee]

In my case the speakers are well broken in already (2x12 Marshall cab with Celestion G12-80) so whatever the reason I am really loving this amp.
I have not tried the amp with the loop bypassed yet. That should be fun!

 

[pathos45]

Tubes break in too as well. 2 months would be about the time a avg. players tubes would start breaking in and sounding their "best". I noticed this as well after i retubed it and i was playing at band one day and litterly my tone when from one awesomeness to an compleatly other awesomeness in one jam it was pretty epic i must say lol.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Tubes break in too as well. 2 months would be about the time a avg. players tubes would start breaking in and sounding their "best". I noticed this as well after i retubed it and i was playing at band one day and litterly my tone when from one awesomeness to an compleatly other awesomeness in one jam it was pretty epic i must say lol.

I could see that. My amp tech (not literally mine, but some guy that does amp work in exchange for money) told me not to judge a new set of tubes until I gave them some time to burn in.

Kind of makes you wonder when you see people who pop new tubes in and form an opinion within a few minutes.

 

[DudewithFr0]

Maybe it is my ears or maybe the amp is actually getting better, but the tone is continuing to be MORE satisfying after 2 months of using this.
It truly is a real achievement in amp design. Lots of amps have tons of options but in this case every tone is amazing in it's own right. The Extreme mode is the only one I haven't really bonded with I'm sorry to say.
The rest is just pure tube ecstasy from clean to ripping distortion. Great reverb too. So glad I traded in my Marshall 410H (I do miss it though, a bit).

Extreme mode can be a little on the bright side on its own...but in a band mix it sounds BROOTAL!!!!
Also try it with a seven string. The extra brightness in the amp really helps bring out the low B string.

 

[jb's 52]

Shoot...I've been strictly using a tele for the last three months that I've had it mine
and it's been a pure joy.

The last two weeks (and practices), I broke out my forgotten-was-gonna-sell
ESP/LTD EC1000 and the Mark V loooooves the humbuckers. It's like finding a
lost $20 in the dryer!!! 8)

 

[MBJunkie]

I totally agree rmcfee! I have owned my MkV combo for 9 months and absolutely love the great sounds I get out of this thing in all channels and modes using single coils and humbucker pickups.

Give it some more time, and I am sure you will gain an appreciation for the Extreme Mode as well! After all, I have owned my amp 7 months longer than you (not that it took me 7 months to achieve great sounds out of the Extreme Mode because it clearly didn't)!

 

[Mark Fore]

I bypassed the loop in my MV head last weekend for a gig and I'm never activating the loop again. It sounds so good without anything in the loop or out in front. I wish I tried this a lot sooner.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I bypassed the loop in my MV head last weekend for a gig and I'm never activating the loop again. It sounds so good without anything in the loop or out in front. I wish I tried this a lot sooner.

Never liked the sound of the loop bypassed. It's the same with my LoneStar, and my Dual Rectifier. Even if there's nothing in the loop I found they sound better with the little bit of treble bleed having the loop engaged causes.

Your mileage may vary obviously...

 

[dmcguitar]

@Mark Fore
have you tried just turning the master master up full and then controlling the volume with the channel masters, as if the loops was bypassed? does that sound different?

 

[Deaj]

My MkV seems to get better as I continue to use it. I attribute this primarily to two factors:

1. The speaker is likely beginning to break in. The C90's I've used in the past all improved after break-in. I think they sound great new as well but I do think they get better with use.

2. As I continue to play through the amp I am learning to better utilize its strengths for more expressive variation. A great amp is like an extension of the instrument and may be played like an instrument using dynamics to control the expressive traits of the amp. The Mark V is this times nine!

 

[scott7d]

I was ready to sell my V until I bought a used Rivera 4x12 that had lots of playing time on it. I had no idea V30's could actually sound smooth and pleasing to the ear!!

I am also liking the V more and more as time passes. And I am not one of those people that automatically likes something just because I own it. I've had 4 Mesa's, and never really clicked with any of them until the V.