Your Mark III settings

[Seanboy]

I'd like to start a thread that is only Mark III settings. There's several posts with a setting here and there, but it takes a lot of searching to find them. Use the attached link and then post the setting you use most often. State what kind of music you use it for, and what kind of guitar you typically use, single coils / humbuckers ect.

It would be nice to have a quick thread to go to for settings.

http://www.chain-metal.nl/mark3/?bg=0&d1=85&d2=70&d3=20&p3=1&d4=70&d5=20&d6=50&d7=50&p=0&g1=50&g2=50&g3=50&g4=50&g5=50&t=Starting+Point

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Seanboy]

Here's my current setting.

 

[megavoice]

All pulled, exept the bass.
But the louder I play, the more I diminish treble, (presence) and lead-drive.

Volume1: 7
Treble: 7
Bass: 1 1/2
Middle: 1
Master:1-3
Lead Drive: 6
Lead Master: 1-8
EQ very rare. At live acts for enhancing loudness for solo.
Mostly Class A, but I've discovered A/B sounds more clear at higher volumes and the "singing" seems to be better.

You see, very similar to yours.

 

[Vigo1999]

All pulled, exept the bass.
But the louder I play, the more I diminish treble, (presence) and lead-drive.

Volume1: 7
Treble: 7
Bass: 1 1/2
Middle: 1
Master:1-3
Lead Drive: 6
Lead Master: 1-8
EQ very rare. At live acts for enhancing loudness for solo.
Mostly Class A, but I've discovered A/B sounds more clear at higher volumes and the "singing" seems to be better.

You see, very similar to yours.

almost 99% of the mk III users settings stays on that ballpark (mine is almost exactly like that, except that I use the middle at the 4-6 range).

and yes, against all odds, we all sound different, similar, but not equal :mrgreen:

 

[megavoice]

All pulled, exept the bass.
But the louder I play, the more I diminish treble, (presence) and lead-drive.

Volume1: 7
Treble: 7
Bass: 1 1/2
Middle: 1
Master:1-3
Lead Drive: 6
Lead Master: 1-8
EQ very rare. At live acts for enhancing loudness for solo.
Mostly Class A, but I've discovered A/B sounds more clear at higher volumes and the "singing" seems to be better.

You see, very similar to yours.

almost 99% of the mk III users settings stays on that ballpark (mine is almost exactly like that, except that I use the middle at the 4-6 range).

and yes, against all odds, we all sound different, similar, but not equal :mrgreen:

But we have also to note that there had been made mods through the years within the different stripe-colours steadily.
This I've been told by Mesa 1 year ago.
My second red that is some some hundreds higher in serial number sounds a bit brighter than the first that sounds warmer.

Sometimes I also vary within the "Middle". But its effect amount increases the more you lower the Treble and the Basses

 

[megavoice]

I'd like to start a thread that is only Mark III settings. There's several posts with a setting here and there, but it takes a lot of searching to find them. Use the attached link and then post the setting you use most often. State what kind of music you use it for, and what kind of guitar you typically use, single coils / humbuckers ect.

It would be nice to have a quick thread to go to for settings.

http://www.chain-metal.nl/mark3/?bg=0&d1=85&d2=70&d3=20&p3=1&d4=70&d5=20&d6=50&d7=50&p=0&g1=50&g2=50&g3=50&g4=50&g5=50&t=Starting+Point

Thanks,
Sean

As for your further questions, I'm playing mostly classic rock 70/80s and I've a '85 LP Custom ALL GOLD and a '01 Standard '58 Reissue Custom Shop, both with Burstbuckers No.3 in bridge-position.
But through all that years I often questioned if a Strat type would be a better fit as 6 years ago I let my guitarplayer go into with a Musicman Strat type and it sounded great. The same with a Levinson 20 years ago.
Actually I'm staying now in a lurk to gripe the right ash-body Strat for new experiences.

 

[Markedman]

Presence? I'm a 10 otherwise my settings are close, lead drive 4.5, 750 a little higher, (I play in a band) my black dot breathes fire and slays all other amps at any price, period! When a dedicated Marshall man plays the Mark III they're shocked into getting Boogified. There is no going back to conventional amplifiers.

 

[Heady Jam Fan]

I almost never use R2 so I think of the (input) volume control as a dynamics control for R1. I have it around 7 right now, but I change often depending on other factors. If I do use R2, the volume control works best around 7-9 IMO - nice crunch on R2 and even volume transition between channels.

I also have the volume knob pulled currently. At home or recording, I don't need the extra treble, but gigging or playing with a band, it helps to cut through and add some bite.

I have my treble at 5. Again, sometimes I keep it lower playing at home or recording for a smooth tone.
This knob is also pulled for my upper-mid gain on the lead channel.

My bass is always set between 0-2 - at 2 its more bass than I like (especially with the EVM, but its a good amount with a Celestion), but just sounds/feels right: I think the preamp just functions better with a bit of gain in the lower frequencies.
This not is not pulled.

Midrange at 5.

Master to taste. Right now, its between 1-2 playing at home.
Not pulled.

Lead Drive is around 3 - this is still pretty clean, I get my drive from a TS or Rat and end up with a really smooth, fusiony lead tone, but I need the treble high on the lead channel. Sometimes I crank it up to 5+ for more grit (with or without a dirt pedal).

Lead Master is between 1-2 right now IIRC.
I have this knob pulled, but if I really crank my amp up for, ie, an outside gig, I might need to adjust the treble (turn it down).

I keep my presence between 0-3. At 0 the amp gets a bit dark and lost in the mix, but I find the presence circuit adds some noise. Above 3 just causes ear fatigue IMO.

Reverb at 3.

I just switched back to using the GEQ on auto rather than using the GEQ always on and an EQ pedal for a lead boost. The GEQ + Lead channel just sounds awesome. I have mine set the opposite of most of you: I have an upside-down V with the 750hz slider the highest. I keep the upper-mid and treble above unity, lower mids at unity, bass below unity.

I'm also currently just using Class A with EL34's - I prefer the creamy mids from the EL34's when using my EVM. But with Celestion speakers, I like adding in the punch and articulation of 6L6's.
I use a Hollowbody with PAFs.
Think Trey Anastasio: early 80's TS9's > Black Ross Compressor, plus I also pop on an early 80's AD9 with my leads.

 

[kdorsey]

Here's a recently gigged cranked class A setup.

This was in a medium-sized bar, thru a 1x12 (WGS ET65) with the other guitarist playing a Heartbreaker + 4x12. Despite the rather high bass setting, it worked really well.

 

[Heady Jam Fan]

Here's a recently gigged cranked class A setup.

This was in a medium-sized bar, thru a 1x12 (WGS ET65) with the other guitarist playing a Heartbreaker + 4x12. Despite the rather high bass setting, it worked really well.

Looks like someone played a trick on you!
The EQ is on and the sliders are all down - SILENCE!

 

[kdorsey]

Looks like someone played a trick on you!
The EQ is on and the sliders are all down - SILENCE!

Heh! To specify, the GEQ was NOT used. :wink: