Which Mark V would be best for me?

[RasAlGhoul]

Hi Guys,

New to the forums here.
I've been looking for an amp upgrade recently and am fairly set on the Mark V. This would be my first tube amp.
I play mainly modern metal and melodic metal but also love to achieve great clean tones.

As of now, I don't have a band and am just producing music solo in my bedroom studio.
Now, I know this question has probably been asked a billion times, but should I be getting the combo version of this or the Head + Cab?

Through some research, for tone it seems like Head + Cab would be better suited. My only concern is that would it be too loud and overly much for what I need? I've read some say the combo version sounds like crap.
Some guy locally is offering the Mark V combo at $1400 and is a fairly good deal. But I'm unsure if this is the amp I would want exactly.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mikeishness]

FWIW - I started with a combo and ended up ordering a new shell and converted it to a head. I like the sound of the closed back cabs better than the open backed speaker in the combo. Also, the combo is heavier and takes up more space than the head.

On the other hand, nothing prevents you from hooking up an external cab to the combo. So you can look at it as a "best of both worlds" solution if you don't mind the extra size and weight of the combo vs the head.

 

[elvis]

+1.

Never believe it when people say something really nice "sounds like crap". Maybe they didn't like it. Maybe their friend's friend couldn't make it sound the way he wanted. Whatever. Reputable manufacturers don't ship crap.

Combo is heavier, but makes amp+cab a lazy man's load that you can move in one shot. Also, a lot of people really like the open-back cab sound. The small-ish combo cab volume makes it sound a bit shrill compared to a big (2x12 or 4x12) closed back, but adding a 1x12 extension cab makes a WORLD of difference. And you can split the sound on stage with a combo on one side and an extension on the other.

All of this is, of course, possible with a head as well. It gives you one more thing to carry, but you can choose your favorite cab, or mix and match depending on the venue.

I've moved entirely to heads these days and I have a good collection of cabs. It's nice to have a head when the venue has a backline.

 

[RasAlGhoul]

Thank you both for the input.

I went and tried out a 2x12 horizontal cab today locally.
Although I couldn't try the Mark V with it, I was able to try the Lonestar with the same C90s as a Mark Combo.

Verdict is that the Cabs sound way better to me and fits my tastes much more. The C90s sounded a little muddier and lacking low end mids (probably due to the closed end backs).

The only dilemma that is eating away at me is that it may be too loud for the bedroom.

Can you guys achieve a decent tone at bedroom levels with a Mark V + Cab?

 

[dlpasco]

I really like the head and cab option, simply for versatility further down the road if nothing else. You might start with a 1x12 and eventually upgrade to a 2x12 or a 4x12, and those options are not as easy if you're locked into a combo.

My advice is to pick that path best aligned with your ultimate ambitions. If you really want a head on top of a 4x12, get the head now and get something that can make sound with it. Work on your upgrade path later.

 

[Mikeishness]

Thank you both for the input.
The only dilemma that is eating away at me is that it may be too loud for the bedroom.

Can you guys achieve a decent tone at bedroom levels with a Mark V + Cab?

The Mark V sounds pretty decent with the master output turned down to bedroom levels. I don't think it matters much whether you have a combo or head + cab.

 

[4406cuda]

PSA, I will be posting my MARK V for sale in the classifieds.

 

[elvis]

Can you guys achieve a decent tone at bedroom levels with a Mark V + Cab?

Decent? Sure. Great tone? Not so much. But that is not a limitation of the V, it's a human hearing limitation. Louder is better (up to a point).

Either way, the Marks rely on the preamp mostly for tone, not driving the heck out of the power tubes. So it is a good bet for low-volume usage.

 

[Hypnotoad696]

The mark series is great at low volumes. Head + cab sounds a lot better, mainly the bass response is a LOT tighter than the combo. Really tho just go test them all out!!

 

[MBJunkie]

While a head and closed back cab will almost certainly be "better" for hard rock and metal sounds, it isn't the best option for the awesome open and airy cleaner sound offerings in the amp!
My MkV combo is ideal for the sounds that I am after.....including higher gain settings of Ch2 & 3, but that is just me! My MkV combo definitely doesn't sound like crap to me! :lol:

 

[siggy14]

Thank you both for the input.

I went and tried out a 2x12 horizontal cab today locally.
Although I couldn't try the Mark V with it, I was able to try the Lonestar with the same C90s as a Mark Combo.

Verdict is that the Cabs sound way better to me and fits my tastes much more. The C90s sounded a little muddier and lacking low end mids (probably due to the closed end backs).

The only dilemma that is eating away at me is that it may be too loud for the bedroom.

Can you guys achieve a decent tone at bedroom levels with a Mark V + Cab?

A head with a 2x12 cabinet is not going to be louder then a 2x12 combo, they will sound different do to speakers and the way the sound fills up the room.