Volume weirdness in Mark V 25

[Rectifried]

Ok just watched Ola's video again (I still wish he would have done a better job on the crunch mode but i digress) and unless he reset his miking levels between the 2 channels it seems like there is probably some issue with your amp.

I hope you get it sorted out soon.

 

[ryjan]

Have you tried swapping some preamp tubes? You may have a higher or lower gain tube in one of the sockets causing the difference.
If not then I'd be willing to bet that it's just a difference in pot values between the two channels and nothing to really worry about.

 

[elvis]

I have swapped V1 and V4 so far. Ran out of time. Swapping is a pain as you have to pull the chassis. I will continue that though for sure.

I also found that the volume seems to taper much differently between the two channels. Ch1 seems to drop volume a little over most of the pot range and then drop off very quickly near zero. Ch2 seems to have a more even taper such that it gets a smooth change from zero to max.

Hopefully Mesa can shed some light on that.

 

[Vigo1999]

Now that you mention it, they work on the Electradyne as well.

But not to lose sight of this, I am finding it pretty frustrating that I have to run the ch1 master at almost zero. This doesn't seem like a viable approach. Using ears or not, zero master is weird.

That's really odd. but it's a usable volume?? i mean, you can play in a band and be heard??

 

[elvis]

Gig levels in the first post here http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=68481

 

[jetdriver]

The Master Level is relative to the amount of Gain, and also the amount of pre-gain EQ that is dialed up. They are not necessarily going to be at equal settings to achieve the same volume level. Thanks!

Maybe, but not enough that it would cause this. Also, I ran everything at noon with GEQ off.

Anyhoo, if this is normal, I will just get used to it. Not a problem so much as I wanted to make sure the amp is OK.

This has never, ever, ever, been a "normal" setting for any Mesa amp.

Ever.

See the manual. There are no suggested settings with all knobs at noon. I haven't even seen the manual and know this.

Actually, Mesa suggests settings things at noon as a starting point in the the RA100 manual. In fact, they say the sweet spot for both channels lives in noonish territory. I'd copy and paste an except from the manual, but I'm too lazy. I agree though, use ears not eyes.

 

[dbagchee]

Forgot I took a pic of my rig at rehearsal. These were my settings.

Full size image here: http://imgur.com/ZUuajuG

 

[Rectifried]

I'd be curious if other MV25 owners are seeing the same thing...

edit - I see your pic dbagchee but cannot make out your master volume level on channel 1, but it seems like your settings are much more like we'd expect.

 

[Rectifried]

ok I figured out how to see the full size image, thanks

I still think your settings seem more reasonable than Elvis's. But you are using the graphic on both channels, no?

 

[rich]

Doesn't look like is using the g-eq for channel 1 which might explain why that channel is a bit lower.

I got my mini last week and although there is a vol discrepancy between the channels (as with most boogies ive had) its not as extreme as the OP indicated, i hope its tube related and not an issue with your amp.

-Rich

 

[dbagchee]

Yeah sorry about the glare if you go to the link you can access the full res pic. Settings are:

Channel 1 (Fat)
Gain: 10:00
Treble: 12:00
Mid: 9:00
Bass: 1:00
Presence: 11:00
Master: 9:30

Channel 2 (IIC+)
Gain: 12:30
Treble: 1:00
Mid: 11:00
Bass: 10:00
Presence: 1:00
Master: 11:00

The biggest difference from Elvis is where I have my Channel 1 gain set. No GEQ enabled.

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

those settings seem weird as well, unless it's just a completely different sweep on the pot. Again, with my Mini Rec, with clean or pushed gain at noon and master at noon it's not as loud as even Vintage channel gain at noon and volume at 10:00. Like I said though, if it's just a different sweep on the volume put, it's not a problem, just not what we expected. How many amps have you seen guys complain about going from whisper volume to too loud with just a slight nudge on the master, on the clean channel, and getting too loud to play at home a 1.5 on the master, etc. Maybe the clean channel just opens up really fast on the master like those amps. It's not like that on the Mini Rec though for sure.

 

[Rectifried]

I wonder what happens in crunch mode? Having it go from 0 to 100mph at 8:30 on the dial would not be very good

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

know what you mean, but there are a lot of amps that do that. That's why I sold my first tube amp (Classic 30). It went from "bedroom volume" to "to loud to play at home" in about 1/16 inch sweep on the clean channel volume. Then they hit full volume by 4 and after that you only add more saturation, even on the clean channel. Elvis description of the clean channel above sounded similar to this. My Mini Rec is perfectly linear in the sweep of it's volume pot on either clean or pushed. Just perfect in this respect. Maybe the pot value and sweep of the V25 is more like the C30 and others I've seen this complaint on.

 

[8d2studios]

I don't see any weirdness on the settings, there are no standard settings for any one at all, Boogies are completely influences by the guitar and pickups, pedals you have etc, then its the cab and speaker you are using and then how you play the instrument!.

 

[dbagchee]

I think it's also related to how the two are wired. If I understood the manuals correctly, the Mini Rec master knobs are actually sends to the power amp. This means the power amp is always at full volume and you are adjusting how much pre amp you feed into it. The Mark 5:25's masters are return levels from the power amp so you're controlling the combined preamp/power amp volume (so the gain knob is more like the send level). I'm not sure it's too big a deal though (for me anyway).

I did a quick video - the audio is a bit compressed from the phone mic, so it may not come across as well but the clean is quite a bit louder with the gain at noon. Note that the mid knob on channel 1 is at 9oclock because of the special mid boost function it has, that should be closer to true noon. The xtreme mode is a good bit louder (something to do with negative feedback) and I'd say is a bit closer to the clean volume.

http://youtu.be/ePKsS8-O6d8

 

[Rectifried]

That was great, thank you for taking the time to do that, dbagchee. It does seem like its balanced with the Xtreme mode, which makes sense, as it is the loudest of channel 2.

Now, is elvis's the same...

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

Thanks dbagchee. Looks like it's not an issue with the amps, just the pot values that were chosen.

 

[MBJunkie]

I had the opportunity to audition the mini mark today! :mrgreen:
IMO there is nothing at all wrong with your amp.....don't @#$% with it!
Personally, I am delighted that the clean sound offerings in Ch1 can easily compete with Ch2 high gain sounds with this amp.
Also, for those of you that might worry that Ch2 modes can't provide fantastic LOUD high gain sounds.....have no fear! :wink:
Btw.....I also love the sound offerings of the Crunch Mode of Ch1!! Very cool amp!

 

[dbagchee]

I'm in love!