Does the Mark V just sound better on Boogie cabs?

[yngzaklynch]

Bro... I need to go play one agian. If you remember after I tired one I came home and typed a quick review. I loved it actually. I was very confused by all the negative things I've read about it. I thought it was a great amd, easy to dial in and was a blast to play. Yes i played it through a Mesa 4x12. I have little doubt that at some point I will own another Mk IV or V. They ain't perfect but there are fun as hell.


Jim

I miss the "fun" factor a bit regarding my old MK IV, damn that violin lead tone was cool to smoke on.

I am interested in these in and out revisions myself Wiz stated. BIg Rich's vids demonstrate an assload of usable gain and his is an early model.

I would say if, and it's a big if, that if you feel the mark V can sound as good as the Mark IV lead channel, or close to it, then the V is a better amp because the 2nd channel is a big improvment over R2.

The V i owned just sounded dull or stale overall. The one i played today definitely sounded better.

At this point the only conclusion I can draw is that there was possibly some QC issues early on or some bad tubes. The one I tried was smokin.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Everything sounds better through a Recto 4x12

I believe that at least 33% of a high gain sound is in the cab/speakers. The wrong cab design or speaker combination can ruin a person's experience with an amp.

I tried an Elmwood M90 through a Diezel front loaded V30 4x12 and it slayed at blistering volumes. I bought one. But through my greenback loaded Marshall 4X12 it either sounded to dull or to bright.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Everything sounds better through a Recto 4x12

I believe that at least 33% of a high gain sound is in the cab/speakers. The wrong cab design or speaker combination can ruin a person's experience with an amp.

I tried an Elmwood M90 through a Diezel front loaded V30 4x12 and it slayed at blistering volumes. I bought one. But through my greenback loaded Marshall 4X12 it either sounded to dull or to bright.

Funny how some amps sound KILLER with V30's and some don't. Same thing goes for Greenbacks.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I recently got a good price on a fairly new Mark V (in the 4800s) so I decided to give it a spin because I wanted to try it with el34s - which I didn't do before. I definitely think they made some stealth tweaks because I had the same thoughts. It sounds infinitely better than the one I had when the first released (in the 300s). The overriding nasally tone I remember on the last one I had is completely gone. I'm really liking it alot. Super easy to dial in a nice tone as well. I'm playing it through my Mills with v30s - same cab as I used with the last one I had. Mine is super quiet.

Yup. The newer ones (serial #4000 and up) have been "revised". Both inside and out.

Where are you getting your info from? And what exactly on the outside has been revised? They all look the same to me.

Could it be a bunch of early one's had a batch of shitty tubes?

My info comes from someone at Mesa that designs/assembles the amps. The tweaks are supposedly minor cap/resistor changes and something to do with the fan. The sound as you and others here can attest to, is much different/better than the earlier versions. The biggest change was to channel 3.

The very first batch had issues with the white lettering peeling off (bass-middle-volume printing), and more recently as mentioned above they switched to the silver, then more recently black anodized cage around the power tubes. Also the reverb pan is now Ruby, instead of the old Accutronics pan.

The newer models do ship from Mesa with a Mesa relabeled STR SPA 12AX7 in V1, which I'm not sure if the older models did or did not. Maybe someone can confirm?

Yup. The newer ones (serial #4000 and up) have been "revised". Both inside and out.

I figured they would be upgrading the mark V, I mean they have tweaked all the previous mark series amps, I just figured it would be a while. Do you have any info on the exact changes?

Nothing specific other than a few caps/resistors were changed that mainly effect the sound of channel 3. I guess they didn't want to publicly announce a Mark V Series II (like the RoadKing, Rectos, etc.) so soon after releasing the MKV. But the changes occurred with serial #4000 and newer.

 

[Anonymous]

it could be true. I hated the combo, but then I bought the head after hearing it through a mesa vertical 2x12..I borought it home and plugged it into my recto oversized cab and it sounds even better! Gain , sustain and shimmering cleans , not boomy at all.


But even though it's unpopular around here, I think the oversized recto cab is the greatest sounding 4x12 cab ever!

 

[blackba]

Have anyone tried any mark V through a 412 with MC90's or more specifically through one of the old mesa halfback 412's?

 

[Code001]

Have anyone tried any mark V through a 412 with MC90's or more specifically through one of the old mesa halfback 412's?

I wonder how many people even have those cabs anymore. I know you and Scott do, but I don't really think anybody else does. Dave sold his, IIRC.

 

[blackba]

Have anyone tried any mark V through a 412 with MC90's or more specifically through one of the old mesa halfback 412's?

I wonder how many people even have those cabs anymore. I know you and Scott do, but I don't really think anybody else does. Dave sold his, IIRC.

Those old Mesa halfback 412's seem to be pretty rare on this forum anymore. I love mine though, sounds good with all my amps, which is nice. I have thought about getting a mark V, I just would like some assurance it will be a good match for my old war horse of a cab.

 

[Digital Jams]

You can never have enough cabs

Those cabs are workhorses, very well made and who cares if ya beat them up. Mine has all mc90s.

So what does the boogie forum say about this MK V change? Mayeb the Wiz has the inside track within Mesa?

 

[JakeAC5253]

But even though it's unpopular around here, I think the oversized recto cab is the greatest sounding 4x12 cab ever!

They're popular with me!

 

[gibson5413]

I didn't bond with the one I got (one of the first available when it was released). I may give it a shot down the road. I have zero amp GAS at this point in my life. The Cali mod does it for me. I would like to add some pedals to my setup. Right now, I am saving for a Mac. My PC has officially crapped the bed. As some of you can tell, I haven't been on as much lately. It is hard to check often at work (just plain busy). We just finished our basement so I haven't had a ton of time at home. Once I get my Mac I will post clips of my new man cave!

 

[thiswaythatway]

I recently got a good price on a fairly new Mark V (in the 4800s) so I decided to give it a spin because I wanted to try it with el34s - which I didn't do before. I definitely think they made some stealth tweaks because I had the same thoughts. It sounds infinitely better than the one I had when the first released (in the 300s). The overriding nasally tone I remember on the last one I had is completely gone. I'm really liking it alot. Super easy to dial in a nice tone as well. I'm playing it through my Mills with v30s - same cab as I used with the last one I had. Mine is super quiet.

Yup. The newer ones (serial #4000 and up) have been "revised". Both inside and out.

Where are you getting your info from? And what exactly on the outside has been revised? They all look the same to me.

Could it be a bunch of early one's had a batch of shitty tubes?

My info comes from someone at Mesa that designs/assembles the amps. The tweaks are supposedly minor cap/resistor changes and something to do with the fan. The sound as you and others here can attest to, is much different/better than the earlier versions. The biggest change was to channel 3.

The very first batch had issues with the white lettering peeling off (bass-middle-volume printing), and more recently as mentioned above they switched to the silver, then more recently black anodized cage around the power tubes. Also the reverb pan is now Ruby, instead of the old Accutronics pan.

The newer models do ship from Mesa with a Mesa relabeled STR SPA 12AX7 in V1, which I'm not sure if the older models did or did not. Maybe someone can confirm?

Yup. The newer ones (serial #4000 and up) have been "revised". Both inside and out.

I figured they would be upgrading the mark V, I mean they have tweaked all the previous mark series amps, I just figured it would be a while. Do you have any info on the exact changes?

Nothing specific other than a few caps/resistors were changed that mainly effect the sound of channel 3. I guess they didn't want to publicly announce a Mark V Series II (like the RoadKing, Rectos, etc.) so soon after releasing the MKV. But the changes occurred with serial #4000 and newer.

Interesting. I'm not suprised because i thought there was a clear difference in tone between the one i played yesterday and the one i owned.

 

[some dude]

So what does the boogie forum say about this MK V change? Mayeb the Wiz has the inside track within Mesa?

It's been discussed, but nothing that hasn't been mentioned on here.

I would be interested in knowing if the changes to channel 3 are across all three channels? Or if they were focused more on one mode or anther (ie, bringing Mark IIC+ mode to life a little more).

Interesting. I'm not suprised because i thought there was a clear difference in tone between the one i played yesterday and the one i owned.

There could be some manufacturing tolerances at play as well.

 

[ACShreds]

damn my V is #39xx, just missed out on the revision. i still think its sounds good though.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

God I love a good revision war, this should make for some good reading as soon as additional confirmations start to surface.

 

[Digital Jams]

God I love a good revision war, this should make for some good reading as soon as additional confirmations start to surface.

How hard can it be to find these changes?????

 

[JakeAC5253]

There could be some manufacturing tolerances at play as well.

In a simple circuit such as a Marshall with only a few vital components it's easy to see how a single component's tolerance can greatly cary the output voicing, but in an amp as complex and engineered as the Mark I don't believe it will have as audible an effect as other amps.

 

[some dude]

There could be some manufacturing tolerances at play as well.

In a simple circuit such as a Marshall with only a few vital components it's easy to see how a single component's tolerance can greatly cary the output voicing, but in an amp as complex and engineered as the Mark I don't believe it will have as audible an effect as other amps.

If changing the tube in the V1 can shift the tonality of the amp...


And on that note, mine (SN 300) came with a JJ 12AX7 in the V1 and V2... and I assume the rest of the preamp. I changed the V1 and 2 to TungSol a long time ago and I remember it brightening the amp up and opening up the response in a good way. I'd A/B them for the sake of this thread, but swapping the V1 is such a pain in the ass I can't be bothered.

 

[Mailman1971]

I only played a Mark V Combo a few months back. I thought my old IV and III sounded better then the V Combo.

Then again I didnt get a chance to rip it up but even the manager said the model he had in the store was a Dog.

They got a new V head in lately....
Might have to go down and check it out again.

 

[JakeAC5253]

If changing the tube in the V1 can shift the tonality of the amp...

Yes, but that's part of the gain structure. And a very important part as the effects of that particular tube cascade to all subsequent tubes. I'm just saying that if a Marshall has an RC filter that cuts lows at 720Hz using 470k resistor and 470pF capacitor and the resistor and capacitor are 20% tolerance, the values can fluctuate so much that the filter is no longer cutting at 720 Hz, but now at 500Hz. A huge change in the sound and feel of the amp and because of two components making up one half of a bandpass filter. The Marshall design has a few of these types of filters in various places so it's easy to see why all of the older ones sound different.

AFAIK, and I'm not trying to argue with you, just explaining my viewpoint, the Mark amps are relatively free of these types of filters and really the EQ knobs and sliders are the main tone shaping mechanisms. If the components related to these filters were changed then I could see how the sound of the amp could change, but the nature of these types of controls is such that it would still only change the sweep of the knobs, rather than the complete voicing change associated with the Marshall type of passive tone filtering.