Mesa Mark V Combo - Page 2

bulletbass man · 05-10-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally It wasn't supposed to be delivered till late may at the earliest because the combo the shop I ordered mine from was already taken. However that guy asked for Blonde tolex so when it was shipped with black it became mine.

Apparently my father must've taken the camera with him to my grandmother's home so I can't take any pics until he gets back which is monday I believe.

I'm still working on reviewing this amp. It has so many features and so many possible sounds it's rather difficult to review. I should get a few good chances to crank it in the next few days to better tell you about the high gain channels. I probably could give a crack at the clean channel. I'll atleast give you a brief summary for now.

The first channel has 3 main sounds. There is the clean, fat, and tweed setting. The clean setting is rather bright and while it sounds amazing for chords one must turn the treble down quite a bit for soloing. So far this is my favorite of the three channel one voicings. Fat is much like clean except with more low mids and bass response. Tweed is not much of a clean channel but more of a pushed low gain amp sound. It's a really interesting bridge between clean sounds and overdrive. All three modes sound absolutely fantastic. I haven't gotten much of a chance to mess around with the eq options on this channel (or even test the full capabilities of it's own preamp eq). However the choices of the clean channel do not stop there. Firstly there is the bold/normal switch. Bold basically gives the cleans more balls while simaltaneously seems to compress the cleans as well. Of course the cleans are still no where near in your face like a rectos (thank god) but it can definitely help you come thru on a particurally loud gig.
Finally there are the power amp options. Basically you can choose thru 4 different modes. The 10 watt multiclass, 45 a/b watt with an ss rectifier, 45 a/b watt with tube rectifier, and lastly 90 watt simulclass. So far i've found 45 with a tube rectifier to produce the best clean tones. It just seems to bring a little bit more life to the cleans. However don't matter what power amp options you use this amp has undoubtedly the best cleans on any mesa.

Also the reverb on this amp sounds absolutely amazing.

Bound · 05-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Today would be a good day for clips and pics.

kthxbye.

Love,
Bound

scott from _actual time_ · 05-13-2009, 03:44 PM

here are a couple new Youtube clips of the Mark V's high-gain channel (not made by me--this dude totally smokes my playing

).

MTech · 05-13-2009, 04:13 PM

Not the best sound quality in either of those videos..though i think these really show what I found playing one the other day. The amp seems to really have that rounded off/muffled high end it's almost kind of dull there's just not a lot of bite. It was REALLY ticking me off cause having heard the amp in person at NAMM when they did their demo it blew me away. It was able to do that nice smooth darker tone with the hi end rolled off, but than you could get loads of bite and sustain...so where was it hiding??? Than I noticed the bright switch and when you engage that this amp really comes alive revealing what I heard at NAMM. It gets lots of bite and all that dark rounded smoothness behind it... Truly an awesome amp.

Bound · 05-13-2009, 04:30 PM

Sounds good, but I thought the 'scooped mid' thing went out with the 80's.

MFB · 05-13-2009, 08:01 PM

I believe Lamb of God were using these last night and unfortunately, they too fell victim to a bit of the V EQ form

Pewtershmit · 05-13-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound

Sounds good, but I thought the 'scooped mid' thing went out with the 80's.

ya i know. I can't wait to get mine and make a nice tasty mid hump. must have mids!!

yingmin · 05-13-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound

Sounds good, but I thought the 'scooped mid' thing went out with the 80's.

Mesa has "scooped mid 4ever" written on their Peechee. Every stock picture I've ever seen of a Mesa with the EQ sliders, including the just-released Mark V, has the sliders scooped. Even the preset EQ curves on the Triaxis are different variations on a mid scoop.

bulletbass man · 05-14-2009, 01:42 AM

They ship with the V shape on the sliders.

The preset eq (switchable between that and sliders) is just a mid scoop.

Bound · 05-14-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFB

I believe Lamb of God were using these last night and unfortunately, they too fell victim to a bit of the V EQ form

I've seen them live a couple of times and they sounded great both times, so it's wierd that they'd do that. I can't speak for Will, but I know during Sacrement Mark was using 2 Mark IV's both EQ'ed differently. One he scooped, and one he had mid punched.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pewtershmit

ya i know. I can't wait to get mine and make a nice tasty mid hump. must have mids!!

tasty mids.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by yingmin

Mesa has "scooped mid 4ever" written on their Peechee. Every stock picture I've ever seen of a Mesa with the EQ sliders, including the just-released Mark V, has the sliders scooped. Even the preset EQ curves on the Triaxis are different variations on a mid scoop.

I cannot and will not relate to that philosophy. What would possess someone to cut out the most harmonically rich portion of the instrument right out. And in high gain land you can get some pretty gnarly chugs ripping with tasty tasty mids.

bulletbass man · 05-14-2009, 07:38 AM

most people don't use the sliders. A lot who do do so to make one channel better for both rthym and leads. If they have the mids cranked for leads it can make one a little overbearing on rthym so they'll use the mid scoop to cut back when playing rthym. Honestly I never really scoop my mids except a little bit on cleans (though not with the post eq). Honestly the standard Mark scoop can sound quite good, always has worked for Petrucci (only time i Use a mid scoop is when I'm playing Dream theater covers.)

CentaurPorn · 05-14-2009, 07:49 AM

The mark IV sounds like a Car horn if you don't scoop them a bit on the EQ for your rhythm. I always had mine slightly scooped on the Slider for rhythm and disengaged the eq for leads.

Unknown Doodl3.2 · 05-14-2009, 07:58 AM

The "V" disease doesn't apply as much on Mark amps. From my experience with them you still stick out pretty freakin' well even with some mid scoop. Besides, it just sounds ballsier then this new "fad" of djent mid hump crap which sounds just as bad (if not worse) then the old school "scooping and dissapearing in the mix" thing.

I'd love to try out one of the Mark Vs!!! My mark III is my pride and joy

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulletbass man

most people don't use the sliders. A lot who do do so to make one channel better for both rthym and leads. If they have the mids cranked for leads it can make one a little overbearing on rthym so they'll use the mid scoop to cut back when playing rthym. Honestly I never really scoop my mids except a little bit on cleans (though not with the post eq). Honestly the standard Mark scoop can sound quite good, always has worked for Petrucci (only time i Use a mid scoop is when I'm playing Dream theater covers.)

IIRC, Petrucci din't use the standard Mark EQ, he'd scooped the mids but had his high mids set above his highs. That's how I remember him setting up his Mark IV for Systematic Chaos, anyway.

HighGain510 · 05-14-2009, 08:01 AM

How are you digging the combo for the high gain rhythm Tom? Open back still keeping things tight enough for modern metal? I'm jealous, I really want to try one of these out.

Unknown Doodl3.2 · 05-14-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound

I cannot and will not relate to that philosophy. What would possess someone to cut out the most harmonically rich portion of the instrument right out. And in high gain land you can get some pretty gnarly chugs ripping with tasty tasty mids.

Have you ever played a Mark series amp? They are some of the most mid heavy guitar amps ever made.

HighGain510 · 05-14-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Doodl3.2

Have you ever played a Mark series amp? They are some of the most mid heavy guitar amps ever made.

This.

I still miss my Mark IV combo....

The cleans on that thing were AWESOME too!

Bound · 05-15-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Doodl3.2

Have you ever played a Mark series amp? They are some of the most mid heavy guitar amps ever made.

Yes I have played a Mark IV. A good friend has one and I definitely didn't have the 750k slider buried into the abyss. I wouldn't call them the 'most' mid heavy either. The mids can get wierd on that amp and you can dial in some strange for sure. There's a couple amps I've played that have impressed me more with punch in the mids than the Mark series, but this is really an arbitrary argument as everyone listens to different things when the play gear.That being said they are very nice punchy amps and I love them, I would just like to see some clips of a Mark IV owner that actually has some common sense about high-gain tones.

But I guess if Yngwie Malmsteems Rising Force is your idea of ultimate tone, than keep diving that 750k slider into nothing.

Mattmc74 · 05-15-2009, 07:48 AM

Congrats. I love Mesa's!

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05-10-2009, 03:10 PM	#26
bulletbass man Classical & Metal Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: King of Prussia Posts: 1,605 Thanked: 8 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Originally It wasn't supposed to be delivered till late may at the earliest because the combo the shop I ordered mine from was already taken. However that guy asked for Blonde tolex so when it was shipped with black it became mine. Apparently my father must've taken the camera with him to my grandmother's home so I can't take any pics until he gets back which is monday I believe. I'm still working on reviewing this amp. It has so many features and so many possible sounds it's rather difficult to review. I should get a few good chances to crank it in the next few days to better tell you about the high gain channels. I probably could give a crack at the clean channel. I'll atleast give you a brief summary for now. The first channel has 3 main sounds. There is the clean, fat, and tweed setting. The clean setting is rather bright and while it sounds amazing for chords one must turn the treble down quite a bit for soloing. So far this is my favorite of the three channel one voicings. Fat is much like clean except with more low mids and bass response. Tweed is not much of a clean channel but more of a pushed low gain amp sound. It's a really interesting bridge between clean sounds and overdrive. All three modes sound absolutely fantastic. I haven't gotten much of a chance to mess around with the eq options on this channel (or even test the full capabilities of it's own preamp eq). However the choices of the clean channel do not stop there. Firstly there is the bold/normal switch. Bold basically gives the cleans more balls while simaltaneously seems to compress the cleans as well. Of course the cleans are still no where near in your face like a rectos (thank god) but it can definitely help you come thru on a particurally loud gig. Finally there are the power amp options. Basically you can choose thru 4 different modes. The 10 watt multiclass, 45 a/b watt with an ss rectifier, 45 a/b watt with tube rectifier, and lastly 90 watt simulclass. So far i've found 45 with a tube rectifier to produce the best clean tones. It just seems to bring a little bit more life to the cleans. However don't matter what power amp options you use this amp has undoubtedly the best cleans on any mesa. Also the reverb on this amp sounds absolutely amazing. My Pickup Thread http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/pic...ew-thread.html http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/gui...rg-7621-a.html

05-13-2009, 11:39 AM	#27
Bound SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woostah Mass! Posts: 917 Thanked: 14 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Today would be a good day for clips and pics. kthxbye. Love, Bound my mother.... she never loved me. She always says she wishes shes was a raped by someone else ~Borat

05-13-2009, 03:44 PM	#28
scott from _actual time_ grumpy old man Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 20 reviews	here are a couple new Youtube clips of the Mark V's high-gain channel (not made by me--this dude totally smokes my playing ). _actual time_ : prog/math/metal/???? on myspace download our EPs free at actual-time.com

05-13-2009, 04:30 PM	#30
Bound SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woostah Mass! Posts: 917 Thanked: 14 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sounds good, but I thought the 'scooped mid' thing went out with the 80's. my mother.... she never loved me. She always says she wishes shes was a raped by someone else ~Borat

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05-13-2009, 04:13 PM	#29
MTech Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,594 Thanked: 14 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Not the best sound quality in either of those videos..though i think these really show what I found playing one the other day. The amp seems to really have that rounded off/muffled high end it's almost kind of dull there's just not a lot of bite. It was REALLY ticking me off cause having heard the amp in person at NAMM when they did their demo it blew me away. It was able to do that nice smooth darker tone with the hi end rolled off, but than you could get loads of bite and sustain...so where was it hiding??? Than I noticed the bright switch and when you engage that this amp really comes alive revealing what I heard at NAMM. It gets lots of bite and all that dark rounded smoothness behind it... Truly an awesome amp.

05-13-2009, 08:01 PM	#31
MFB I'M A MONSTER! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 7,404 Thanked: 84 Feedback Score: 12 reviews	I believe Lamb of God were using these last night and unfortunately, they too fell victim to a bit of the V EQ form (´･ω･`) *In space, no one can hear you bree.* - Metal Ken

05-14-2009, 01:42 AM	#34
bulletbass man Classical & Metal Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: King of Prussia Posts: 1,605 Thanked: 8 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	They ship with the V shape on the sliders. The preset eq (switchable between that and sliders) is just a mid scoop. My Pickup Thread http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/pic...ew-thread.html http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/gui...rg-7621-a.html

05-14-2009, 07:38 AM	#36
bulletbass man Classical & Metal Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: King of Prussia Posts: 1,605 Thanked: 8 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	most people don't use the sliders. A lot who do do so to make one channel better for both rthym and leads. If they have the mids cranked for leads it can make one a little overbearing on rthym so they'll use the mid scoop to cut back when playing rthym. Honestly I never really scoop my mids except a little bit on cleans (though not with the post eq). Honestly the standard Mark scoop can sound quite good, always has worked for Petrucci (only time i Use a mid scoop is when I'm playing Dream theater covers.) My Pickup Thread http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/pic...ew-thread.html http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/gui...rg-7621-a.html

05-14-2009, 07:49 AM	#37
CentaurPorn ss.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Fredericton NB Posts: 1,024 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The mark IV sounds like a Car horn if you don't scoop them a bit on the EQ for your rhythm. I always had mine slightly scooped on the Slider for rhythm and disengaged the eq for leads.

05-14-2009, 08:01 AM	#39
HighGain510 Cold As Ice Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12,479 Thanked: 226 Feedback Score: 31 reviews	How are you digging the combo for the high gain rhythm Tom? Open back still keeping things tight enough for modern metal? I'm jealous, I really want to try one of these out.

05-15-2009, 07:48 AM	#43
Mattmc74 SS Contributor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 13,941 Thanked: 325 Feedback Score: 14 reviews	Congrats. I love Mesa's!

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