Mako Mak4 clip on YT

[rlord1974]

hey, does the footswitch have four separate 1/4 connectors for each channel or what. the reason i ask is that i would prefer to do a midi setup. with separate 1/4 switching i could use my access labs to control the switching for the midi.

I think you meant "does the rear of the preamp have four separate 1/4 connectors for each channel or what?"

See opening post here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67859&hilit=mak4&start=0

 

[bubbastain]

I don't believe I saw the dimensions listed anywhere. How about the depth. I wondering if it will fit in a shallow depth rack case. 12" without lids. Also, to anyone that has one already ( or the Mako maker) Please post clips, pics or vids daily to help me from hanging myself while i wait for mine. I gotta start looking for a rack case (cheap) now. Shallow depth at least 8 but maybe 10 spaces.

 

[rlord1974]

I gotta start looking for a rack case (cheap) now. Shallow depth at least 8 but maybe 10 spaces.

ttosh is selling a clean OSP 10-space shockmount right now in the classified section for $200, including shipping. That's a killer deal!

EDIT: Just cause I'm bored.....

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=73124

 

[bubbastain]

I gotta start looking for a rack case (cheap) now. Shallow depth at least 8 but maybe 10 spaces.

ttosh is selling a clean OSP 10-space shockmount right now in the classified section for $200, including shipping. That's a killer deal!

EDIT: Just cause I'm bored.....

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=73124

Saw that. Thanks. But it's overkill for what i need it for. I'm not touring with the thing. Plus I want to find a shallow depth case and even cheaper

 

[Erock]

thanks guys, really happy people liked it. Andrew gets the credit though, a monkey could dial in this pre. Very simple and effective control layout

what guitar did you use?

hey, does the footswitch have four separate 1/4 connectors for each channel or what.

the reason i ask is that i would prefer to do a midi setup. with separate 1/4 switching i could use my access labs to control the switching for the midi.

the footswith has one cord, however, it has 4 x 1/4" connectors on the back for midi ch switching. I used a Tremonti II with Bareknuckle Painkillers, and the cab was a Mills Afterburner 412B.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

thanks guys, really happy people liked it. Andrew gets the credit though, a monkey could dial in this pre. Very simple and effective control layout

what guitar did you use?

hey, does the footswitch have four separate 1/4 connectors for each channel or what.

the reason i ask is that i would prefer to do a midi setup. with separate 1/4 switching i could use my access labs to control the switching for the midi.

the footswith has one cord, however, it has 4 x 1/4" connectors on the back for midi ch switching. I used a Tremonti II with Bareknuckle Painkillers, and the cab was a Mills Afterburner 412B.

i love the tremonti 2 guitars. i actually got three of em now.

not too happy with the the bridge pickup.

how different do the painkillers sound in comparison to the stock bridge?

 

[robertkoa]

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

 

[Sixtonoize]

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

The Clean and Crunch channels are perfect for more vintagey-type saggy tones.
The MakoPlex and Dorado channels are more or less pure modern metal (and super tight), but the 2 lower-gain channels have a good amount of looseness.
The Crunch channel is a bit darker than the standard Marshall tone, but it reminds me a lot of the NMV JTM45 clone that I owned for a while (only with the addition of a MV). The Crunch channel isn't as aggressive as a JCM800...it's more vintage-flavored than that.

Also, it really depends on your power amp. Even the Crunch channel sounds tight through the ultra-tight section of my UltraLead, but through my Carvin T-100 (loaded with 5881s), it's a lot more loose and big.

 

[Erock]

i love the tremonti 2 guitars. i actually got three of em now.

not too happy with the the bridge pickup.

how different do the painkillers sound in comparison to the stock bridge?

yeah, I really like those guitars, I want to pick up another down the road.

I wasn't that happy with the stock pup either. Lots of output, but it seemed to be a bit muddy with the huge chunk of mahogany. The PK controls the lowend a lot better without losing any the punch, tighter with a lot more clarity. It also brings out a real growl in the midrange that the stock pup didn't have. I really love the combination.

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

it does have a dedicated crunch channel for that purpose actually. I haven't messed around with it much, but it reminds me of an old Marshall. I've been too busy with the Makoplex and Dorado channels though to really explore it. The makoplex channel can also get into that territory with the gain down, but it's more like a super hotrodded marshall. Believe it or not, so can the Dorado with the gain dialed way down and some vol control on the guitar. I've heard some great clips of the Dorado doing more classic sounding tones, just using the vol control on the guitar.

as far as the sag and tightness factors, I think you'll find the poweramp you pair it with changes that quite a bit. The Dorado is a pretty tight metal machine any way you slice it, but I'm diggin the hint of sag the Herbert powersection gives it. The Makoplex can also be dialed to give some sag, and I really prefer it thru my SE EL34 powersection.

 

[rlord1974]

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

I'm not knocking the MAK4, 'cause it sounds killer. But you should maybe look into a Peters preamp if you want classic rock tones.

http://www.petersamplification.com/preamps.htm

Particularly, listen to the clips of the HALO channel (comes with every version of his preamp and can go from clean to some nice vintage grit/crunch tones), POLARIS and GRYPHON channels.

http://www.petersamplification.com/soundclips.htm

Yeah, they're a little more expensive than the MAK4, but they sound great for what you are looking for.

If you are really convinced you want to stay under $1,000, look at a used Mesa Rectifier Recording preamp as well - you can coax some great classic rock tones out of those!

 

[Erock]

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

I'm not knocking the MAK4, 'cause it sounds killer. But you should maybe look into a Peters preamp if you want classic rock tones.

http://www.petersamplification.com/preamps.htm

Particularly, listen to the clips of the HALO channel (comes with every version of his preamp and can go from clean to some nice vintage grit/crunch tones), POLARIS and GRYPHON channels.

http://www.petersamplification.com/soundclips.htm

Yeah, they're a little more expensive than the MAK4, but they sound great for what you are looking for.

If you are really convinced you want to stay under $1,000, look at a used Mesa Rectifier Recording preamp as well - you can coax some great classic rock tones out of those!

that's another amp I really want to get my hands on. At some point this year, I'll be ordering a Hydra from James. Another killer amp maker and all around cool guy.

Love the Peters suggestion, but man, I had one of those Recto Recording Pre's, and really hated it. I thought it sounded pretty good thru it's matched 2:100 Mesa poweramp, but every other poweramp I tried didn't sound too great IMO. The direct recording was also a huge dissappointment for me, which was one of the reasons I bought it. I guess it could be what I was trying to use it for though, did not buy it for classic rock tones.

 

[rlord1974]

I had one of those Recto Recording Pre's, and really hated it. I thought it sounded pretty good thru it's matched 2:100 Mesa poweramp, but every other poweramp I tried didn't sound too great IMO.... I guess it could be what I was trying to use it for though, did not buy it for classic rock tones.

Yeah, I hear what you are saying. The 'Modern' channel doesn't sound too good without the 2:100 power amp, but you can still set it up for a good british-inspired tones with any good power amp:
* Channel 1, set for Brit, which will give you some nice crunch and 'edgy' tones
* Channel 2, set for Vintage Hi Gain, which will give you some nice saturation

 

[robertkoa]

Hey guys- I know it's probably not intended for this but does the Mark4 do classic rock and warmer medium gain tones or would it with a tube swap or two?

I ask because there are very few all tube pres made and none in this price range etc.

I suppose the main problem would be the "tightness" versus "sag" whereas Metal guys want/need the tightness and ClassicRock/Fusion guys want the more relaxed , blooming, saggier type tones. Can it do these by dialing in more bass, mids ?

I'm not knocking the MAK4, 'cause it sounds killer. But you should maybe look into a Peters preamp if you want classic rock tones.

http://www.petersamplification.com/preamps.htm

Particularly, listen to the clips of the HALO channel (comes with every version of his preamp and can go from clean to some nice vintage grit/crunch tones), POLARIS and GRYPHON channels.

http://www.petersamplification.com/soundclips.htm

Yeah, they're a little more expensive than the MAK4, but they sound great for what you are looking for.

If you are really convinced you want to stay under $1,000, look at a used Mesa Rectifier Recording preamp as well - you can coax some great classic rock tones out of those!

Thanks! Just listened to the Halo and the others and the Gryphon with the Halo would be extremely versatile, the Halo cleans are great but it also overdrives with a nice "harmonic response" and the gryphon goes from Blues to Gilmour and Hard Rock etc.- A very good response for what I said !

I like the HiFi aspects of the preamp as well - mostly for recording.

I use a noise modded MP1 that actually sounds really good for medium gain stuff but I think the Peters may give another level of tones.

Thanks for responding as well everyone on the Channels 1 and 2 of the Mako- but the Peters could be a great pre for my purposes- let's hope it's only $1200.

 

[RedB4Black]

Thanks for responding as well everyone on the Channels 1 and 2 of the Mako- but the Peters could be a great pre for my purposes- let's hope it's only $1200.

I think its gonna be around $1,500 or so. There was a thread that JP implied a higher price than $1,200 - I can't remember where I saw it.