To V or not to V

[Geiri]

Hello there boogie bro's and ho's

Long time since I've posted here, good to be back.
I've been trying to assemble a wicked digital rig and up until to day I was ready to buy an axe fx. Then it hit me, All I ever do with modellers is trying to emulate my mk4. The mark voice is my voice and the only true vessel for my expression in music. I don't know why but ever since I first heard the lead channel of the mk4 some 20 years ago I knew that this was my sound. It was love at first hearing hmmmmmmm .............

Anywho to the point then

For the price of an axe fx here in Iceland I can buy a Mark v combo brand new and prolly m9 to go with it. But the downside is that I would have to sell off the IV. And I'm not sure that I'm ready to trade my beloved mk IV for a modeller being axe fx or not. So If anyone would be so kind as to tell me about the effects loop of the mk v and how well or badly it plays with the most common brands out there, boss, line6 etc and if a 1x12 thiele under it will give me some added bass.

I used to have an express 5:50 and as I recall it the thiele I tried with that one didn't make a whole world of difference to me.

C'mon guys sell me the V and keep me in the boogie family.

 

[SteveO]

I was going to buy an Axe-FX, even had the money set aside for it, until I tried a Mark V. I'm like you, I have always really liked the Mark sound ever since I spent some time with a friend's Mark IV back around 1993 or so. The loop in the Mark V works really well with almost everything I have put into it (except a BOSS DD-3). I currently have a G-System, but I still also have a TimeFactor and ModFactor. All of them work great in the effects loop.

 

[Geiri]

Hi steve and thank you

I guess my next step in this process is to go go my local mesa dealer and spend a day or so with the V. To bad I'm working overseas and won't be home for a month or so. I guess I'll just keep gassing

 

[thunder100]

I own both Mark V and Axe Fx.It a question of what you do and what you need.

The Axe-Fx can do Mark IV extremely well.As posted here and at Harmony Central in the endless discussions of modeller quality,I can tell you that my bandmate, a hardcore mark IV lover(Does anything else exist ??) could not,playing himself, pick correctly wether he now is on his Mark IV(head ) or on the Axe FX(both play through his 2 x 12 Vertical).

But even as Mark V is 9 Amps and compared to my Silverface very time consuming to dial in-it is still a fraction of the time you need to dial in the Axe FX

Look to the parameters to dial in JCM800 for sertain voicing







Here is the thread

http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threa...ng-a-preset-JCM800-Major-Twist-for-ANY-Preset

But on both side you have a great community to help you

Point is is it just MarkIV-->Then keep it-->Although cannot be played (easily) at bedroom + levels
If it is more then this but in Tweed to Mark's to Rectifier ballpark-->get Mark V
If you play seriously cover maybe you need the Axe

I have both(in fact + 6 other amps) as I love them,will never part with most of them and if you have very(very) good ears the picking response of any Modeller is different that (not worse!! different)of a tube Amp.

And there is no substitute to the feeling when you play with a Mark V CH2 Mark I mode Smooth or Corazon Espinao at 90 watts(and house is empty and a bit far away from neighbors)

Roland

 

[Geiri]

Hi Roland and thank you.

This is what started to become pretty clear to me when I thought I was ready for an axe. I use three basic sounds clean crucnh and lead. Mostly crunch and lead. And for flavour I like a little verb, some delay and when I'm wearing my spandex suit with the hairspray in I like to throw in a little harmonizer or pitch shifter.

So in all honesty I think the axe is an overkill for my needs. I still love the mark sound and try to emulate it on every modeller I have ever owned.

When I play live I never copy the original sound of a guitarist, I always play the song with my tones.

So when I think about it, the only piece of equipment that stopped me from looking for a better tone was my mk IV. But every modeller I've had has only cured the gas for a little while.

Tell me, what are the external switching options on the V ? If I wanted to change channels via external unit, g system for example.

 

[thunder100]

Reading what you write and if you dont need the bedroom level,I would stay with Mark IV -->great amp and a bit different tone(bass) to Mark V

But V may open annother world to you.

On cover I 50/50 agree/disagree-->the BEAT IT solo can only be played(f..king difficult) accurate-->others may allow interpretation

Roland

 

[Geiri]

Hey roland we are in agreement regarding the beat it solo, but what I meant was even if I play things note for note I'm not trying to copy the exact sound. I play things with the sounds I feel comfortable playing with.

Tell me about the different bass response between the V and the IV.

Geiri

 

[Geiri]

Roland could tell me what the main difference in the bass response is between th 4 and 5 marks. I need bedroom volume more these days so I'm seriously thinking about the V.

 

[thunder100]

I feel/hear that bass is stronger more feelable at my friends Mark IV(with same V30).But community here knows much more then me.Pls bear in mind as the Mark's are handmade ,not 2 amps are really same.Mark V is more sensitive to guitar pickups,tiny differnce changes tone a lot

Bedroom level.Mark V has a very good master control-->On of the reasons I bought,Initially I thought I will play just 10 w at bedroom but now its mostly 45 w

copyright -->eudaimonia02912

Knob::What it does when turned up

Gain:: Adds gain
Master: Adds volume and sometimes gain and compression
Presence: Adds sizzle and high end, but also decreases compression
Treble: Adds gain, compression, strengthens the signal, and adds some high end
Mid: Adds some fullness and stiffness to the tone
Bass: Adds a little low end fatness, but too much and the tone will turn flabby and loose.

This is 100% true and even more so at low levels

Roland

 

[Geiri]

Ok thank you Roland.

I'm fairly familiar with the V but have not done any a/b comparisons between the two.