Mark V

[lespaul3013]

I would suggest you consider the new 2010 Dual Rectifier instead of the Mark V for real versatile tone, or even the Roadster.

These amps do classic rock tones beautifully. Even Lindsay Buckingham uses a Dual Recto, and he's not going for the same tone as Metallica/Green Day/Linkin Park/etc...

Check out our in-depth review of the redesigned Dual Recto:

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/gui ... lRecto.php

Scott

Are the new ones really that much better? I haven't heard a Recto yet that I just loved the sound of...for my purposes at least. I don't really know if I need that "growly" distorted tone for what I'm playing.

 

[lespaul3013]

Cool, I'll probably just end up having to play one and decide. I hear Mesa's are pretty tricky when it comes to settings and all of that.

They come with a 'settings' sheet that's supposed to sit on top of an amp when it's on display... the settings are actually pretty decent for a generic starting point.... however the "V" that they show on the graphic EQ is excessively scooped and hollow sounding. I'd recommend experimenting the the "preset" knobs at first just because it simplifies things in the store. Failing that, ask for the manual as it has a bunch of suggested settings near the back of it.

Beyond that, I agree with the others... there's nothing 'thin' about crunch mode. Usually the problem is that it's a tad too fat sounding when compared to channel 3, which tends to be much more mid heavy. I find it sounds more like a tweaked Mark crunch rather than a Marshall crunch, but it's good nonetheless.

And on that note, Marks tend to sound mid heavy and rather honky on their own, but cut through a band mix with ease. In person channel 2 and 3 can sound rather unbalanced, with crunch mode being too fat/bass heavy and channel 3 being too thin/mid heavy/lacking in bottom. However this translates differently in a band mix where you have a bassist maintaining a constant low end as the fat crunch tone simply sounds full and channel 3 sounds cutting/aggressive.

"Thin" may have been the wrong word, I know Petrucci wouldn't use something that sounded thin. I am mainly concerned about the Mark V sounding good with other types of music that aren't as 'heavy'. I also play at church a lot, so I really can't have an amp that only does well with prog rock/metal/anything heavy...but as stated before, I like to have a lot of gain on tap for some liquid lead tones ala Petrucci.

I had also looked at the Bogner Shiva 20th, but I keep coming back to the Mesa for some reason, it really looks like it would be a fun amp to play with, and mess around with because of all the options.

have you thought about an Electra Dyne?

No, I really haven't...should I? haha

Yes you should. But when you try one out boost it with a good OD. To my ears, and IMHO, my Electra Dyne beat out an amp that is HIGHLY thought of on these boards that i just brought home today. I'm really suprised. The other amp starts with a D and it's not a DUmble.

I just listened to a few clips...I'm really not that impressed. Maybe it sounds better in person...

 

[Gooseman]

I would suggest you consider the new 2010 Dual Rectifier instead of the Mark V for real versatile tone, or even the Roadster.

These amps do classic rock tones beautifully. Even Lindsay Buckingham uses a Dual Recto, and he's not going for the same tone as Metallica/Green Day/Linkin Park/etc...

Check out our in-depth review of the redesigned Dual Recto:

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/gui ... lRecto.php

Scott

+1000

 

[Tone Zone]

Cool, I'll probably just end up having to play one and decide. I hear Mesa's are pretty tricky when it comes to settings and all of that.

They come with a 'settings' sheet that's supposed to sit on top of an amp when it's on display... the settings are actually pretty decent for a generic starting point.... however the "V" that they show on the graphic EQ is excessively scooped and hollow sounding. I'd recommend experimenting the the "preset" knobs at first just because it simplifies things in the store. Failing that, ask for the manual as it has a bunch of suggested settings near the back of it.

Beyond that, I agree with the others... there's nothing 'thin' about crunch mode. Usually the problem is that it's a tad too fat sounding when compared to channel 3, which tends to be much more mid heavy. I find it sounds more like a tweaked Mark crunch rather than a Marshall crunch, but it's good nonetheless.

And on that note, Marks tend to sound mid heavy and rather honky on their own, but cut through a band mix with ease. In person channel 2 and 3 can sound rather unbalanced, with crunch mode being too fat/bass heavy and channel 3 being too thin/mid heavy/lacking in bottom. However this translates differently in a band mix where you have a bassist maintaining a constant low end as the fat crunch tone simply sounds full and channel 3 sounds cutting/aggressive.

"Thin" may have been the wrong word, I know Petrucci wouldn't use something that sounded thin. I am mainly concerned about the Mark V sounding good with other types of music that aren't as 'heavy'. I also play at church a lot, so I really can't have an amp that only does well with prog rock/metal/anything heavy...but as stated before, I like to have a lot of gain on tap for some liquid lead tones ala Petrucci.

I had also looked at the Bogner Shiva 20th, but I keep coming back to the Mesa for some reason, it really looks like it would be a fun amp to play with, and mess around with because of all the options.

have you thought about an Electra Dyne?

No, I really haven't...should I? haha

Yes you should. But when you try one out boost it with a good OD. To my ears, and IMHO, my Electra Dyne beat out an amp that is HIGHLY thought of on these boards that i just brought home today. I'm really suprised. The other amp starts with a D and it's not a DUmble.

I just listened to a few clips...I'm really not that impressed. Maybe it sounds better in person...

The Electra Dyne is a great amp. Although, I wouldn't recommend it for what you are looking for.....not near as versatile as say the MKV, which I think you'd be better off with.

 

[lespaul3013]

So Reborn Rectifier vs. Mark V? Maybe I'll just start another thread haha, I feel like that would be a good one.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Channel 2 sounds amazing with EL34s

 

[some dude]

So Reborn Rectifier vs. Mark V? Maybe I'll just start another thread haha, I feel like that would be a good one.

I have a Roadster and a Mark V. They're both awesome... and just about as different as you can get whilst somehow maintaining the "Mesa" sound.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The crunch of the V is much better than the R2 channel on the IV. However, compared to other amps the crunch on the V is kinda average. Compare it to a good Marshall and there's no comparison at all really. The versatility of the V is the attractive thing though, it can do a lot.


Of course Mesa will say the crunch on the V raises the bar to a new height and treks into a new realm of Brit inspired crunch that will set a new standard. And i say, i want whatever drug it was that the guy who wrote that took.

 

[scottkahn]

Are the new ones really that much better? I haven't heard a Recto yet that I just loved the sound of...for my purposes at least. I don't really know if I need that "growly" distorted tone for what I'm playing.

YES. Channel 3 Modern is very similar in terms of delivering the most famous "signature" Dual Recto sound cleaned up with subtle refinements, but Channel 1's clean tone was radically improved to be closer to the Lone Star/Road King circuit, which is fantastic. If you use effects in the fx loop, that circuit was significantly improved too.

Many players only know the Dual Recto line for its high gain sound. But players who really know Mesa/Boogie tone know that this amp is the furthest thing from a one-trick pony, so to speak. Very diverse tones can come out of it.

It's hard to demo these amps at big stores like Guitar Center because there are so many switches and options on both the front and rear of the amp that it can very easily be dialed in for "bad" sounds, especially if the guys in the dept. haven't taken time to get to understand Boogie gear. If you read our review and make some notes for yourself on how you might want the channel set before you head to the store, you'll have a better experience. Also, go to Mesa's website and download the huge manual for the amp. It will tell you a ton about the amp.

And if you've never owned a Boogie amp, the one major piece of advice: do not turn the Bass knob on any channel up past 11:00. Your tone will get muddy and flubby. Mesa amps have significantly stronger bass response than a Marshall or Fender, so don't assume you'd dial in your sounds like on your other amps.

 

[scottkahn]

...the crunch on the V is kinda average. Compare it to a good Marshall and there's no comparison at all really.

I could respond to that with "of course there's no comparison! The Marshall amp sounds like shit compared to the Mesa/Boogie."

I mean seriously, the tone of a Recto or Mark series Mesa amp is significantly different than the tone from any Marshall DSL or JVM type amp. To say the Marshall tone is better or worse than the Mesa like that is not really helpful.

The other recent post was more practical... the guy who commented that the Recto and Mark series amps are significantly different sounding yet both have that signature Mesa tone. That was right on the money. But let's not turn this into a Marshall vs. Mesa thing. Each of them have great tones, and each appeal to different players.

 

[thiswaythatway]

...the crunch on the V is kinda average. Compare it to a good Marshall and there's no comparison at all really.

I could respond to that with "of course there's no comparison! The Marshall amp sounds like shit compared to the Mesa/Boogie."

I mean seriously, the tone of a Recto or Mark series Mesa amp is significantly different than the tone from any Marshall DSL or JVM type amp. To say the Marshall tone is better or worse than the Mesa like that is not really helpful.

The other recent post was more practical... the guy who commented that the Recto and Mark series amps are significantly different sounding yet both have that signature Mesa tone. That was right on the money. But let's not turn this into a Marshall vs. Mesa thing. Each of them have great tones, and each appeal to different players.

It's Mesa Boogie who's saying 'Brit inspired' every other line in their catalog. And I'm not talking DSL or JVM. Mesa spent years telling us how much better 6L6's were than EL34's, now ever since 2006 or so, all they're doing is trying hard to copy a Marshall. They even claim the 2nd channel of the V ushers in some kinda of new era? They really like to stroke themselves over this stuff. I think the Electra Dyne is a great amp but the Stiletto's were a big failure.

 

[Tone Zone]

...the crunch on the V is kinda average. Compare it to a good Marshall and there's no comparison at all really.

I could respond to that with "of course there's no comparison! The Marshall amp sounds like shit compared to the Mesa/Boogie."

I mean seriously, the tone of a Recto or Mark series Mesa amp is significantly different than the tone from any Marshall DSL or JVM type amp. To say the Marshall tone is better or worse than the Mesa like that is not really helpful.

The other recent post was more practical... the guy who commented that the Recto and Mark series amps are significantly different sounding yet both have that signature Mesa tone. That was right on the money. But let's not turn this into a Marshall vs. Mesa thing. Each of them have great tones, and each appeal to different players.

It's Mesa Boogie who's saying 'Brit inspired' every other line in their catalog. And I'm not talking DSL or JVM. Mesa spent years telling us how much better 6L6's were than EL34's, now ever since 2006 or so, all they're doing is trying hard to copy a Marshall. They even claim the 2nd channel of the V ushers in some kinda of new era? They really like to stroke themselves over this stuff.

Yeah, I don't buy into the BS about the MKV's 2nd channel bringing in some kinda new era. I just think it's a lot better than the 2nd channel on the MKIV. Although, I really think they got it right with the Electra Dyne.....when speaking of them trying to cop a genuine british flavor.

 

[some dude]

Personally, I've always felt that Mesa's version of "Brit" leaned more Hiwatt than Marshall, and a number of their amps can cop a bit of a Vox vibe when dialled in for it.

 

['63-Strat]

...the crunch on the V is kinda average. Compare it to a good Marshall and there's no comparison at all really.

I could respond to that with "of course there's no comparison! The Marshall amp sounds like shit compared to the Mesa/Boogie."

I mean seriously, the tone of a Recto or Mark series Mesa amp is significantly different than the tone from any Marshall DSL or JVM type amp. To say the Marshall tone is better or worse than the Mesa like that is not really helpful.

The other recent post was more practical... the guy who commented that the Recto and Mark series amps are significantly different sounding yet both have that signature Mesa tone. That was right on the money. But let's not turn this into a Marshall vs. Mesa thing. Each of them have great tones, and each appeal to different players.

It's Mesa Boogie who's saying 'Brit inspired' every other line in their catalog. And I'm not talking DSL or JVM. Mesa spent years telling us how much better 6L6's were than EL34's, now ever since 2006 or so, all they're doing is trying hard to copy a Marshall. They even claim the 2nd channel of the V ushers in some kinda of new era? They really like to stroke themselves over this stuff. I think the Electra Dyne is a great amp but the Stiletto's were a big failure.

To Scottkahn: He has every right to say that in his opinion there is no comparison, and frankly I agree 100%. You clearly like Mesa and that's fine, many on here do, I'm not one of them in general fwiw. Mesa has *definitely* been trying to imply that they can cop Marshall tones for quite some time in their advertising and that's why such a comparison is valid IMO.

For the OP, it depends where your needs and tastes really lie. If you primarily want the amp for that mk series high gain thing but need some crunch tones for church than I'd say of course it could do it just fine. But if you primarily need a marshall crunch type amp with occasional high gain leads than I would look elsewhere but I'm sure you already understand that if you're familiar with mark series amps.

 

[some dude]

On the topic of the Mark V's "Crunch" mode, it's a IIC+ with less gain, more bass and a notch in the midrange.

You can dial the two modes in to sound virtually identical, although they'll never be 100%. The actual IIC+ mode has more upper mids and gives a more aggressive, more in your face crunch tone. Crunch mode has less upper mids, so a stronger low mid sound that's a little more laid back (scooped) sounding.

 

[DEWD]

I love my Mark V and I wouldn't trade it for any amp and I've owned a lot of amps that people praise on the forums. I will say that channel 2 is NOT some Marshall killer though. I can get good rock, hard rock and classic rock tones out of it but it isn't going to replace anyone's collection of Marshalls anytime soon. I'm not saying it's the best amp ever but it works for me better than anything else out there that I've tried.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I love my Mark V and I wouldn't trade it for any amp and I've owned a lot of amps that people praise on the forums. I will say that channel 2 is NOT some Marshall killer though. I can get good rock, hard rock and classic rock tones out of it but it isn't going to replace anyone's collection of Marshalls anytime soon. I'm not saying it's the best amp ever but it works for me better than anything else out there that I've tried.

And at the end of the day this is what counts.

 

[scottkahn]

I'm not anti Marshall, even if I prefer Boogie tones for myself (and actually, my primary rig today is ENGL despite having a few Boogie rigs). I just found it inappropriate for a boogie-bashing comment to be thrown into a discussion of whether or not the Mark V was the right amp for the original poster and was making a joke of it. No offense meant.

If any of you love Marshalls to the extreme, you'll appreciate that the other guitarist in my band has a vintage non-master volume Marshall that was gifted to him by his acquaintance, Al DiMeola. It was custom modded back in the day and was heavily used during the Return to Forever years. We actually used it on one track on our 2009 release, The Sky Is Falling (from Days Before Tomorrow, produced by the legendary Ron Nevison), even though it wasn't our typical tone, because "we just had to." We put a Fulltone OCD in front of it and wow! Tremendous. We also couldn't be in the same room with the thing it was so loud .

 

[lespaul3013]

My friend just showed me a video of Peter Thorn doing a solo with Melissa Etheridge...it was sounding seriously good. My concern with the Boogie is that it would be able to handle some of the "saggier" Marshall tones; I know its not a Marshall, and it won't ever sound like a Marshall...

Man, I am striking out on my hunt for an amp...its tougher than I thought

 

[scottkahn]

Flip the low power sag switch on the back of the recto and its whole demeanor changes. It will give you great vintage flavor.