Mako owners (or just people who know about amp/preamps) help

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mr11

mr11

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So I recently picked up a Mako Mak 4 and always heard owners of this unit describe the gobs of gain the dorado channel has. My issue is that I don't feel my Dorado channel saturates very well. With the gain set to noon on both my Makoplex and Dorado channel I feel they are equal gain wise, the Makoplex might even have more gain. I believe they both share the same preamp tube so I'm not sure what is going on here.

I'm playing through a VHT 2/50/2 at relatively quite, but above conversation volume. From what I understand most of the gain comes from the preamp tubes in this set up anyway so it's not like lack of powertube saturation or volume is the issue. This inability to saturate is present on both A and B amps on the VHT so I don't think the issue lies in the poweramp.

I suppose this could all be in my head but I definitely don't feel the Dorado channel is overloaded with gain. My Mesa Mark IV has more saturation.

So if you can decipher this rambling post, I'd appreciate the help.
 
something is wrong. I can't get the gain up more than about just shy of 1/2 way on either makoplex or Dorado without the feedback and extraneous noises becoming unmanageable. Usually run my gain on both channels at about 1/3 the knob. I'd maybe replace the preamp tubes involved as a first step. I had the tube layout around here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

If something is wrong other than a tube hopefully you can get hold of Andrew. He seems to have gone incognito for the last year or so. Hope things are going OK with him. No one seems to know anything.
 
I appreciate the help, I found your post from an early thread with them listed out:
V1: global input
V2: dorado and mako plex gain
V3: clean gain and tone
V4: crunch gain and tone
V5: mako plex and dorado tone
V6: global out

I tried switching tubes at v2 but that didn't do it. I'll try the other positions when I get home today.

Where to you set your output controls for each channel?
 
about the same position. about 1/3 or maybe a little higher. Except the clean with is way over at about 3/4 the dial. I have a meter on my effects unit. I basically set my gains then turn up the output until it starts to clip the meter with the input trim set about halfway or more. Then I back it off till it just clips when I really lay into it. I set my power amp volume way up and use the output trim on my effects unit as my volume control.
 
Alright, I tried switching out tubes in all positions with no discernible difference to amount of gain or saturation. One thing I noticed was the board is particularly squeaky/creeky at the V2 position when switching out tubes, don't know if that is indicative of anything.

I set the output to 1/3, I normally have it at 1/4 and have tried at various levels and that didn't seem to do the trick.

It's bizarre, it's not like there isn't any gain, it gets a pretty solid rock tone but I have to dime it to get saturated enough to even consider doing palm-muted single note riffs without it sounds weak and having all my notes die.

Do you notice a discernible difference in gain between makoplex and dorado when set similarly?

I'll try to get ahold of Andrew or just take it to a local tech. The problem with these is most people haven't had one so it's hard to know what it is "supposed" to sound like.
 
Most certainly a discernible difference between these two channels.

Absolutely different feel, tone, gain, everything...
 
Definite difference in makoplex and dorado in terms of voicing. I think of it like modded marshall vs boogie dual rec. As far as diming the gain to do single note lines, I can't imagine ever running the gain up that high on mine. I'm guessing there is something going on wrong with it. No idea what it might be. I'd rule out whatever I can. Try a different cable, get rid of any effects pedals, try a different guitar, etc. You know, make sure it's really the preamp before you get it looked at.
 
I could be wrong but, I recall reading you can tell which version by the color of the channel indicator lights. Something like one version has all red lights and one has a green light on the clean?
 
Yup, something is up... Like Ventura says, there is a completely different feel from the makoplex to dorado channels. Careful of the local techs unless you have a good reason to trust them. A really good tech like Jerry at FJA, Trace at Voodoo, Dave Friedman etc would probably be able to find your problem fast enough if you can't get hold of Andrew.

I have a V1 Mak4 and I've been thinking of sending it to FJA to help me with the dorado channel, but if I can send it to Andrew that would be the obvious choice.

Edit: correct the silly iPad autocorrect typos...
 
MichaelG":27bgafus said:
Yup, I something is up... Like Ventura says, there is a completely different feel Fromm mako plex to dorado channels. Careful of the local techs unless you have a good reason to trust them. A really good tech like Jerry at FJA, Trace at Voodoo, Dave Friedman etc would probably be able to find your problem fast enough if you can't get hold of Andrew.

I have a V1 Mak4 and I've been thinking of sending it to FJA to help me with the dorado channel, but if I can send it to Andrew that would be the obvious choice.
Click to expand...


I would send it to FJA. It took me months to get my Dorado back from Andrew and that was before he went missing.
 
Crunchtime":3nljzqhn said:
MichaelG":3nljzqhn said:
Yup, I something is up... Like Ventura says, there is a completely different feel Fromm mako plex to dorado channels. Careful of the local techs unless you have a good reason to trust them. A really good tech like Jerry at FJA, Trace at Voodoo, Dave Friedman etc would probably be able to find your problem fast enough if you can't get hold of Andrew.

I have a V1 Mak4 and I've been thinking of sending it to FJA to help me with the dorado channel, but if I can send it to Andrew that would be the obvious choice.
Click to expand...


I would send it to FJA. It took me months to get my Dorado back from Andrew and that was before he went missing.
Click to expand...


Thanks, absolutely makes sense. I love my mak4 and to me it is worth the investment of Jerry's services.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. I have tried it through 2 different cabs, different cables, different guitars, and through the fx loop of my mesa with similar results. It's almost like the gain nob isn't changing the gain much from off to dimed. There is certainly some change but once it gets past 10 o'clock or so the difference isn't huge from there to being maxed out.

The one I have is the V2, all red LED's. I doubt he would have tamed the Dorado this much, but again I have never heard another Mak 4 in person so it's difficult for me to know if there is a real problem or if it's just in my head.

Could volume play any part with this? I'm not able to crank it and I know an amp's character comes out when it's opened up. I'm curious if the difference in makoplex and dorado channels is hiding behind my low volume set up. I play a little louder than conversation volume currently.

I'll look into FJA, thanks for the tip on that one. Are there any schematics of this unit around? I haven't come across any.
 
Mine is V2 and no, he didn't tame the dorado that much. He basically did something to help with the noise because not everyone runs a noise gate like he had originally planned. Anyway, the gain is really obscene and I can't imagine you every needing to turn it up that much or your notes dying like you stated. Even if you are into some kind of extreme metal or something really crazy I don't think the amount of gain available is usable. My bet is something is messed up. Good luck getting if fixed. Make sure you use a tech you know and trust. Did you say you just got it? sucks when something new isn't working right.
 
threadkiller":18byuxsr said:
Mine is V2 and no, he didn't tame the dorado that much. He basically did something to help with the noise because not everyone runs a noise gate like he had originally planned. Anyway, the gain is really obscene and I can't imagine you every needing to turn it up that much or your notes dying like you stated. Even if you are into some kind of extreme metal or something really crazy I don't think the amount of gain available is usable. My bet is something is messed up. Good luck getting if fixed. Make sure you use a tech you know and trust. Did you say you just got it? sucks when something new isn't working right.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll probably sent it to FJA since it seems like he's at least been around Mako's before, unlike any local tech here.

Yeah I got it about a month ago, I just recently starting thinking something might be wrong with it though as I continued to tweak and tweak to no avail.
 
I should mention I got this checked out at a tech and actually put some volume behind it and it sounds great. Some more eq tweaks and patience did wonders. I haven't played through a tone of tube amps and this one is just reacts differently than what I'm used to.
 
I had both a makoplex and a Dorado at the same time. Didn't think either saturated at all. Great amps, just not for me.
 
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