Got a Mesa MKIV today

  • Thread starter Thread starter magh8
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magh8

magh8

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love the lead and clean channel...not digging the crunch any suggestions?
suggestions for all 3 ch would be appreciated too...
 
Only suggestion for channel 2 is just pretend it doesn't exist...

....no I'm not joking... always considered the Mark IV a 2 channel amp... the 2nd channel is garbage...
 
Mizati20":24eyavvx said:
Only suggestion for channel 2 is just pretend it doesn't exist...

....no I'm not joking... always considered the Mark IV a 2 channel amp... the 2nd channel is garbage...
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lol I will keep that in mind. not even a boost wil help that ch?
 
Totally depends on what you're trying to get out of it. It takes fuzz pedals REALLY well. I can also get a nice classic breakup type of crunch out of it with a BB pre or lovepedal eternity with gain about half-way and presence pulled on RHY2. With the gain set very low on RHY2 and a hefty amount of gain on my od pedal, as well as a Carbon Copy in the loop I get a nice alternate lead sound. Sounds similar to the Lead ch, but not as tight. Has its own character.

I used to hate ch 2 but after messing with it for awhile and experimenting with pedals, I really dig it. Oh yeah, it sounds amazing with a Fulltone Octafuzz too!
 
You can get a nice classic rock tone out of channel 2. I use it on Funk 49 (James Gang) and it nails that tone pretty good.
 
Yeah R2 isn't that great, it's ok with a boost. That's one thing that's better on the Mark V. The Crunch on the V is nice but Edge and Mark 1 are lame IMHO. V's are really inconsistent which I've said over and over. I played one about 2 weeks ago and you know what? It rocked! The lead channel was rippin, then a few days later I played another one and it sounded like garbage. :confused: The IV lead channels to me were pretty consistent.
 
danyeo":dnzqlm3j said:
Yeah R2 isn't that great, it's ok with a boost. That's one thing that's better on the Mark V. The Crunch on the V is nice but Edge and Mark 1 are lame IMHO. V's are really inconsistent which I've said over and over. I played one about 2 weeks ago and you know what? It rocked! The lead channel was rippin, then a few days later I played another one and it sounded like garbage. :confused: The IV lead channels to me were pretty consistent.
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I'm glad to see this. I mean I played one and thought it was really great!!! Then I read countless negative reviews. I know this much... at some point I have to own another Mk IV or V. They are simply to fun to play through not to have one.
 
yngzaklynch":2rcmvn62 said:
danyeo":2rcmvn62 said:
Yeah R2 isn't that great, it's ok with a boost. That's one thing that's better on the Mark V. The Crunch on the V is nice but Edge and Mark 1 are lame IMHO. V's are really inconsistent which I've said over and over. I played one about 2 weeks ago and you know what? It rocked! The lead channel was rippin, then a few days later I played another one and it sounded like garbage. :confused: The IV lead channels to me were pretty consistent.
Click to expand...


I'm glad to see this. I mean I played one and thought it was really great!!! Then I read countless negative reviews. I know this much... at some point I have to own another Mk IV or V. They are simply to fun to play through not to have one.
Click to expand...

Loved the Vs I've played! Must've been good ones. :)
 
Congrats on the Mark IV! I've owned one of all the Mark series and the IV is the most useful bang for the buck of the bunch. Personally, I like it better than the Mark V I had and sold. The only advice I would give is remember the tone controls are really powerful. It doesn't take much of a knob turn to make your tone much better or sound lousy.

Many moons ago I didn't like Mesa Mark amps because I thought you could set the eq knobs like I was used to doing on a Marshall and get a good tone. I learned later I was approaching it all wrong.

Experiment and be patient. I'm sure you'll get the most out of your Mark IV! :thumbsup:
 
glassjaw7":37cpmqpg said:
yngzaklynch":37cpmqpg said:
danyeo":37cpmqpg said:
Yeah R2 isn't that great, it's ok with a boost. That's one thing that's better on the Mark V. The Crunch on the V is nice but Edge and Mark 1 are lame IMHO. V's are really inconsistent which I've said over and over. I played one about 2 weeks ago and you know what? It rocked! The lead channel was rippin, then a few days later I played another one and it sounded like garbage. :confused: The IV lead channels to me were pretty consistent.
Click to expand...


I'm glad to see this. I mean I played one and thought it was really great!!! Then I read countless negative reviews. I know this much... at some point I have to own another Mk IV or V. They are simply to fun to play through not to have one.
Click to expand...

Loved the Vs I've played! Must've been good ones. :)
Click to expand...
I have had the same experience...I have owned 2 MKV's I was forced to sell the first one but still have the second. I did play one in a GC and didn't like it but that happens 90% of the time in a GC. I will normally buy an amp and if I don't like it with my own gear return it. the 2203 kk I owned sounded like ass in the store but sounded great in my old practice spot
 
I did a little demo of the R2 channel a couple of years ago. I struggled with it at first too. With the MKIV you have to let go of where you think the settings should be and turn the knobs until you get what you like. It's a different animal than most amps.

The Treble on the R2 channel needs to be pretty high, the presence too. It doesn't sound shrill or harsh though, the range is way different than most amps

http://www.rockguitarlife.com/2009/05/m ... -demo.html

Scott
 
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