Thinking about selling newly acquired Mark V to buy Roadster

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

I'm still quite impressed by the Mark V but I've played and played and played with settings and still just can't get the high-gain sound I'm looking for. Unfortunately I can't accurately describe it either *sigh*. I can find awesome singing lead tones but not quite what I want for heavy rhythm and when I get a heavy sound it just doesn't have the presence I'm looking for (at least at the low volumes I'm forced to play it at). Switching from C90's to V30's helped a lot but still doesn't quite get me there. So, I went and played a Roadster at GC today during lunch and I was able to achieve the heavy Rhythm sound I'm looking for at low volume (this surprised me) in about 30 seconds.

Here's the hard part though. I know I want a Roadster now but I'm feeling really bad about just buying this Mark V and turning around to sell it. I would keep both but that's just not financially practical nor would it get played enough to justify keeping it honestly.

 

[Jedro]

It sounds like you've put in the time on the Mark V and it just isn't what you want, so don't feel bad. If you can make it happen, get the Roadster. If that's the amp for you, you'll be glad you made the swap.

Not every amp is for everyone.

 

[phyrexia]

If all you want to do is chug away with rhythms, then the roadster is probably a better choice. but you may find yourself missing the lovely lead sound of the V, which is IMHMFO unattainable on a rectifier amp.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Man, do what feels right and what you think will make you happy. I've been there done that! Roadster is great, but the Mark V's tightness and attitude just can't be beat. I had trouble keeping my Roadster tight enough - not the case with the V. Ha!

 

[screamingdaisy]

I have a Roadster and Mark V. I switch back and forth all the time because I like both yet they are quite different in terms of sound/feel.

That said, I actually really like the lead sound on my Roadster (Channel 3/Vintage with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 pushing it).

 

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

If all you want to do is chug away with rhythms, then the roadster is probably a better choice. but you may find yourself missing the lovely lead sound of the V, which is IMHMFO unattainable on a rectifier amp.

Actually, this is partly what I'm afraid of.

I have a Roadster and Mark V. I switch back and forth all the time because I like both yet they are quite different in terms of sound/feel.

That said, I actually really like the lead sound on my Roadster (Channel 3/Vintage with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 pushing it).

That's actually kinda funny, I was able to get a decent lead in the few minutes of tweaking I had in store on the Vintage setting. I'm a bit of a pedal geek so I'm not against getting a good lead tone via pushing it with pedals. Although, once I got the Mark V I pretty much only used Delay, Chorus, and occasionally a Compressor.


I have been saving for a EBMM BFR JP6 so theoretically I could use the funds I have set aside for that in a few weeks to probably purchase a Roadster Head and keep the Mark V. It seems a little excessive for me to have both though. I'll have to think about it more. Another option would be to just keep my eye out for a cheaper Mark IV since that's the mode I think I'll really miss on the Mark V.

 

[screamingdaisy]

While on the surface having both amps seems either excessive or expensive it's actually saved me a fair bit of money.

In the past, whenever the idiosyncrasies of an amp piss me off I would've started gassing for a new amp. Now I plug into the other amp and my gas is cured.

Not saying that will work for you... some people suffer from gas no matter what.

 

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

So, I may just be an idiot *sigh*.

I was watching the Petrucci settings video again on Youtube and my amp sounds drastically different. So I pulled in my wife who being a former vocal instructor has a better musical ear than I. I played the youtube Petrucci Mark V -Mark IV setting demo for her and then played my amp and she heard it too. I'm not getting any "chugga chugga" and it sounds too "narrow?" maybe?. Anyway, after some playing with the amp and her helping me with EQ I think I found the problem and it's really stupid... I've been running the preamp master at no more than 9:00 so that I could push the poweramp more and stay at nighttime bedroom levels. I turned the channel master to 11:00ish this time and slowly pulled in the main volume and it sounds MUCH closer to what I'm trying to achieve. It's no where near as narrow sounding, has more rasp to it, and I finally think I have my chugga chugga . I'll know more tomorrow afternoon when I can turn it up more since the kids are asleep right now.

I'll be SOOOOOO glad if I can get my Rhythm sound AND keep the awesome leads of the Mark V without having to spend a crap-ton more money

 

[eudaimonia02912]

If you want to add a Recto sound to your Mark V, get the Wampler Triple Wreck. It's a great pedal and comes as close to being a Recto in a box as I've ever heard.

 

[Neptical]

Evil; keep tweaking, you'll get there! I've heard a few Mark V's live now that have sounded huge and chuggy with those really nice singing leads. Of course guitar/pup/cab combination are a big factor as well. It's definitely not a Recto sound ( although still extremely aggressive), but I like it better anyways. I think it's the closest you can get to an all-in-one amp. Stick it out, you'll see!

 

[K-Roll]

what's your guitar/pickups?

I can definitely tell that with a bad guitar/PUP match you can make the mark 5 sound narrower and shrillier than what you'd expect it to be in its natural form.. I currently have a bright sounding 7 string guitar (mahogany+wenge top + loooots of ebony+rosewood neck) and I have a BKP painkiller which is a pickup with huge output with looots of upper spike and presence..

If you imagine the mark 5 being a bright sounding amp, focused in upper mids, you end up with a narrow and shrilly sound just like me at this moment..
That's why I'll shortly swap pickups to find something with more body and less output..
The mark series really lets your real guitar's sound shine through, that's why it sounds soooo different with a strat, LP, Superstrats etc etc..

I do not recommend ultra-high-output pickups with a mark series amp to be honest, just my 2 cents

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

Granted people all know the Mark V has great lead tone, but the Roadster IMO ain't no slouch either...

 

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

what's your guitar/pickups?

I can definitely tell that with a bad guitar/PUP match you can make the mark 5 sound narrower and shrillier than what you'd expect it to be in its natural form.. I currently have a bright sounding 7 string guitar (mahogany+wenge top + loooots of ebony+rosewood neck) and I have a BKP painkiller which is a pickup with huge output with looots of upper spike and presence..

If you imagine the mark 5 being a bright sounding amp, focused in upper mids, you end up with a narrow and shrilly sound just like me at this moment..
That's why I'll shortly swap pickups to find something with more body and less output..
The mark series really lets your real guitar's sound shine through, that's why it sounds soooo different with a strat, LP, Superstrats etc etc..

I do not recommend ultra-high-output pickups with a mark series amp to be honest, just my 2 cents

EBMM JP6 (DiMarzio Liquifire / Crunch Lab)
Charvel Wild Card #6 (Seymour Duncan STK-1 / JB SH4)
Ibanez JS1600 (EMG 85/81)
Ibanez RG-PR1 (DiMarzio Air Norton / Tone Zone)

Although it's still very hard to put in words what I was hearing that was wrong. I'm pretty confident that it was just the preamp master being too low. Granted internet videos are no way to judge how an amp should sound but I was WAY off. Try bringing your CH3 master to 9:00 or below and keep the main master volume at the same place and I have a feeling you'll hear what I'm talking about as well. Also, it was worse going through C90's than V30's at this volume.

 

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

I went home during lunch and played it again. The channel master being too low was definitely the problem I was having. After playing with it a bit more I've found a chunky but tight heavy Rhythm sound I really like . I'm now running ch3 at 45W to help get the volume down a bit but it still sounds great.

So, I've decided that I'm definitely keeping the Mark V! Although I might save up for a Roadster later as well

Thanks for the comments and words of encouragement.

 

[Neptical]

I do not recommend ultra-high-output pickups with a mark series amp to be honest, just my 2 cents

I have high output pups in both my PRS that I use with my Marks. Still after two years, it seems to be the perfect combination that has kept me very much satisfied (and more addicted to playing actually!). Beautiful crunch with singing leads, while rolling back the volume cleans up extremely nice.

 

[Neptical]

I went home during lunch and played it again. The channel master being too low was definitely the problem I was having. After playing with it a bit more I've found a chunky but tight heavy Rhythm sound I really like . I'm now running ch3 at 45W to help get the volume down a bit but it still sounds great.

So, I've decided that I'm definitely keeping the Mark V! Although I might save up for a Roadster later as well

Thanks for the comments and words of encouragement.

Evil; Sweeet man, glad to see you got some killer tones going on! You have an amazing amp that has tons of tones waiting for you in there! On the other side, there's nothing wrong with having a Mark V and a Roadster.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Evil: I have a standard JP6 and used to own a BFR. Call me crazy, but I prefer the standard! The BFR looks great of course. My issue was the mahogany just seemed to make the bottom end sound kind of muddy. The standard has a tighter, more focused tone which I prefer. I also prefer the playability of the unfinished neck. Just my .02

I agree - channel master plays a big role in dialing in your tones! Glad you are keeping the V.

 

[HaggertysMusic]

Glad you're getting the Mark V figured out. Do you have the combo or head? Speaker cabinets will make a world of difference in overall tone.

FWIW I think the Mark V is a much better low volume amp than the Roadster. Rectifiers don't sound right until they are loud.

 

[EvilEmuOfDoom]

Evil: I have a standard JP6 and used to own a BFR. Call me crazy, but I prefer the standard! The BFR looks great of course. My issue was the mahogany just seemed to make the bottom end sound kind of muddy. The standard has a tighter, more focused tone which I prefer. I also prefer the playability of the unfinished neck. Just my .02

I'm caught between a JPX or a Roasted Maple JP6 (although technically a BFR, it's got a standard body). I do enjoy the unfinished neck though. I think it's stupid that all the BFR's have painted necks.

Glad you're getting the Mark V figured out. Do you have the combo or head? Speaker cabinets will make a world of difference in overall tone.

FWIW I think the Mark V is a much better low volume amp than the Roadster. Rectifiers don't sound right until they are loud.

I have a Head and got it from another forum member. I'm currently experimenting with cabs. I have a 1x12 Recto that had a G12M Greenback in it that I just installed a V30 into. I also have a 3/4 back 2x12 that currently has Black Shadows installed but I have 2 V30's that I think I'm going to swap in this weekend to test out. I have a friend who is selling a 2x12 Recto cab that I'm going to test out as well.

BTW, the Haggerty's Mark V video's helped me out a TON. To the point that I felt a little guilty not buying a new one from you guys What do you recommend for low volumes? I'm curious about the 1x12 Roadster cab, any experience with it?

Edit: I just realized those are YOUR videos, so um, thanks!

 

[HaggertysMusic]

BTW, the Haggerty's Mark V video's helped me out a TON. To the point that I felt a little guilty not buying a new one from you guys What do you recommend for low volumes? I'm curious about the 1x12 Roadster cab, any experience with it?

Edit: I just realized those are YOUR videos, so um, thanks!

No worries! Glad the videos were helpful. Haven't had a chance to play a 1x12 Roadster and I'm curious as well. Interestingly it has the exact same size dimensions as the Stiletto 1x12 but with a ported back. The Roadster 1x12 is three lbs heavier though... Not sure where the extra weight is coming from.

You won't be sorry getting the Rectifier 2x12. That's my favorite cabinet they make. For low volumes and the Mark V... master up, output down really helps open it up and you'll need to add some top end to your settings too.