Mark V's all over the place.

[Inca Roads]

Just thinkin' out loud.
Is it me, or is there an influx of Mark V's
on the used market these days.
Seems like people don't think it's any improvement
over the Mark IV, they'd rather have the Mark IV instead.

 

[Digital Jams]

I think the amp is very cool and could live with one, already have a IV though and it makes me happy.

Lots of the Vs on sale are from people that are not Mark players anyways so I would not look into it that much.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I think the amp is very cool and could live with one, already have a IV though and it makes me happy.

Lots of the Vs on sale are from people that are not Mark players anyways so I would not look into it that much.

I don't know, me and Gibson5432 sold ours. And Jim Ansell sold his, we've all played plenty of Mark series amps. The V has as good a clean as the IV, and better crunch channel, but the lead channel...............agh.... it left me cold. And all the different modes are not needed, especially when Edge mode sounds like crap, Mark I mode sounds like a ton of mud is thrown on the speaker. I only ever used the fat clean mode on channel 1. And The extreme mode is supposed to be a Mark IV with the presence pushed in, meh, it wasn't soo extreme.
There are some nice bells and whistles like a footswitchable solo boost, tuner out, the prest EQ knobs, and the 10/45/90 selector for each channel.

But the lead channel is the most compressed sounding Boogie i think I've ever played, and yes it does have a boxy sounding tone especially with the E sliders being used.

I think for them to get the IIC+ tone right, they need an amp without all the excessive electronics packed in it. I know it's been said that amps with a lot going on inside them can sound great if the amp is put together right. But i figure with a much more simple amp there's a less a chance of the tone suffering. IMHO, the Mark V takes the IIC+ and just chokes the hell out of it.

Well see what it sounds like when the Mark V B version comes out. And you know it's coming.

As someone said, and I'm starting to feel the same way...RIP Mesa Boogie 1969-1991.

 

[Digital Jams]

Ansell is a 5150 player, I dont care how many mesa amps he buys cheap to sell to hcaf for profit

I agree Randall went nuts with the options, he should have tweeked the IV with what the people wanted. He should have consulted with the HOM

 

[putnut77]

I sold mine too.

Just not doing what I expected I guess

 

[Anonymous]

I can't think of one person so far, that has liked the V over the IV. I'm sure there's someone out there though.

 

[EXPcustom]

It seamed to me the Mark V was just one big compromise.

Either make the Mark II reissue or do a whole new amp.

When you try to pack all the features of the different mark series into one amp you wind up with one big compromise in tone.

 

[marvcus]

It seamed to me the Mark V was just one big compromise.

Either make the Mark II reissue or do a whole new amp.

When you try to pack all the features of the different mark series into one amp you wind up with one big compromise in tone.

I think that's a very true statement. They already reissued the Mark I. If you look at the old Mesa/Boogie catalogs when they last made the Mark III they said they "would have reissued it, but its fans wouldn't let it die."

Logically, that means to me that a Mark IIC+ reissue was not out of the picture. I mean, if they already said they'd reissue the Mark III, why not their most buzzed -about Mark amp ever? I just don't see why they don't reissue it as a staple. I mean, they had the Mark I reissue forever, but it was also "emulated" in the Triaxis, Heartbreaker, etc. Why not do the same thing with the IIC+? Reissue the actual amp and add it as a "in the spirit of the IIC+" option on other Mark amps/preamps.

Additionally, they said the IIC was in the Mark IV if you selected Midgain, Triode and whatever else on the back, but I had both at the same time and I don't care how you set the IV, it wouldn't do the IIC+ spot on. The feel was completely different than a IV. I suspect the same is true of the Mark 5.

 

[blackba]

I think the amp is very cool and could live with one, already have a IV though and it makes me happy.

Lots of the Vs on sale are from people that are not Mark players anyways so I would not look into it that much.

I don't know, me and Gibson5432 sold ours. And Jim Ansell sold his, we've all played plenty of Mark series amps. The V has as good a clean as the IV, and better crunch channel, but the lead channel...............agh.... it left me cold. And all the different modes are not needed, especially when Edge mode sounds like crap, Mark I mode sounds like a ton of mud is thrown on the speaker. I only ever used the fat clean mode on channel 1. And The extreme mode is supposed to be a Mark IV with the presence pushed in, meh, it wasn't soo extreme.
There are some nice bells and whistles like a footswitchable solo boost, tuner out, the prest EQ knobs, and the 10/45/90 selector for each channel.

But the lead channel is the most compressed sounding Boogie i think I've ever played, and yes it does have a boxy sounding tone especially with the E sliders being used.

I think for them to get the IIC+ tone right, they need an amp without all the excessive electronics packed in it. I know it's been said that amps with a lot going on inside them can sound great if the amp is put together right. But i figure with a much more simple amp there's a less a chance of the tone suffering. IMHO, the Mark V takes the IIC+ and just chokes the hell out of it.

Well see what it sounds like when the Mark V B version comes out. And you know it's coming.

As someone said, and I'm starting to feel the same way...RIP Mesa Boogie 1969-1991.

The mark V is starting to become the Sig-X or Marshall JVM. Love of hype/anticipation, but so far its not really lived up.

Do you think the lead channel on the mark V would have been better with a drive knob?

I was also curious why you picked 91 as the dead date for Mesa? Although my 1990 mark IVA just makes the cut

 

[sebby123]

Im happy i stayed with my IV now to buy a IIC+

 

[Digital Jams]

I think the amp is very cool and could live with one, already have a IV though and it makes me happy.

Lots of the Vs on sale are from people that are not Mark players anyways so I would not look into it that much.

I don't know, me and Gibson5432 sold ours. And Jim Ansell sold his, we've all played plenty of Mark series amps. The V has as good a clean as the IV, and better crunch channel, but the lead channel...............agh.... it left me cold. And all the different modes are not needed, especially when Edge mode sounds like crap, Mark I mode sounds like a ton of mud is thrown on the speaker. I only ever used the fat clean mode on channel 1. And The extreme mode is supposed to be a Mark IV with the presence pushed in, meh, it wasn't soo extreme.
There are some nice bells and whistles like a footswitchable solo boost, tuner out, the prest EQ knobs, and the 10/45/90 selector for each channel.

But the lead channel is the most compressed sounding Boogie i think I've ever played, and yes it does have a boxy sounding tone especially with the E sliders being used.

I think for them to get the IIC+ tone right, they need an amp without all the excessive electronics packed in it. I know it's been said that amps with a lot going on inside them can sound great if the amp is put together right. But i figure with a much more simple amp there's a less a chance of the tone suffering. IMHO, the Mark V takes the IIC+ and just chokes the hell out of it.

Well see what it sounds like when the Mark V B version comes out. And you know it's coming.

As someone said, and I'm starting to feel the same way...RIP Mesa Boogie 1969-1991.

The mark V is starting to become the Sig-X or Marshall JVM. Love of hype/anticipation, but so far its not really lived up.

Do you think the lead channel on the mark V would have been better with a drive knob?

I was also curious why you picked 91 as the dead date for Mesa? Although my 1990 mark IVA just makes the cut

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

 

[gibson5413]

Here is what I just posted at HCAF. A similar type of thread going on over there:

I have only seen a handful FS here and at Rig-Talk. In fact, I have only seen 5 or 6 for sale (including mine). I don't think it is any reason to panic and move it. It will fit the need for a lot of people. For those that had Mark series experience this amp was only about 75% to 80% there. Could I have been happy with it long term? Probably so. Am I glad I moved it and went with a tested and proven Mark amp (IIC+)? Yes.

On the Mark V, I loved Channel 2 Crunch Mode. Thick and juicy lead tone. Ultimately, I was disappointed in Channel 3 IIC+ and IV modes. I loved my Mark IV Lead channel and figured if the V could meet that and give me all the other flavors, great. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the Mark IV mode to sound like my faithful IV. Maybe I didn't give it enough time. I will say that the Mark IV mode did not sound bad. It sounded good, just not like my original. It was a tad more aggressive and not quite as smooth. I really liked the Extreme mode. To my ears, sounded great!

It is hard to pass on an actual IIC+ so I moved for a trade with my V. I think I made out well and so did the guy I worked with. He wanted a V and I wanted a IIC+.

I did like the V. It has great tones in it and don't necessarily agree with most that think it is a pile. I have never liked the Mark combos on their own. They beg for a 2x12 or 4x12 closed back cabinet. I would still have my V if I hadn't had the opportunity to trade for a IIC+. They are few and far between and have always wanted to try out the simplicity of this amp in comparison to the IV and V. I would gladly own a V again. I have a feeling the IIC+ will fit the bill for me. I was a little taken back by the difference between my Mark IV lead channel and the Mark IV mode of the V. It wasn't bad, just different.

I don't want anyone to get me wrong. The V is great. Simply jumped on this opportunity to own a IIC+. I will most definitely post pics and clips of the amp this week.

I will agree with Dan. There was a weird boxy feel/sound to it. I love Mesa amps but this one was a tad underwelming. Here's to hoping the IIC+ hits the mark!

 

[FixXxer]

I think the amp is very cool and could live with one, already have a IV though and it makes me happy.

Lots of the Vs on sale are from people that are not Mark players anyways so I would not look into it that much.

Agree here.

I sat down with the MarkV Saturday for about 30 minutes, and thought is was very cool. Being a recto guy, I pretty much love the MESA tones and the sounds that I get from the duals.

That said, I don't think I a a MArk guy, but wa able to get KILLER cleans a marshallesque grind on channel 2 and a nice Mark distortiona nd extreme was very close to recto glory..

I don't know what else to say. You need to play it first though, if you don't like Mark's this may not be your bag.

 

[cyndicate]

I still have my Mark V, not sure for how much longer but so far I think it's probably staying for awhile, always wanted to try a real IIC+ but not gassing enough to get rid of the V yet. So far it's been pretty easy to dial in a nice tone, mostly using the IV or Extreme modes atm, don't really care too much for the IIC+, like the more saggier feel of the IV than the immediate response of the IIC+ mode.

 

[killertone]

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

Yup. It seems the Mark V sell-off happened a lot faster.

I agree that Boogie should just build a IIC+ already....geez, what is the effing deal with Randall refusing to do one? It makes no sense. He is such an engineer that he has to keep adding shit insteading of subtracting. I guess building a IIC+ is going backward for him but it seems it is what the people want.

 

[mysticaxe]

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

Yup. It seems the Mark V sell-off happened a lot faster.

I agree that Boogie should just build a IIC+ already....geez, what is the effing deal with Randall refusing to do one? It makes no sense. He is such an engineer that he has to keep adding shit insteading of subtracting. I guess building a IIC+ is going backward for him but it seems it is what the people want.

I thought I heard there were a few key parts for the IIC+ that are no longer available and that was what was preventing a re-issue...

 

[blackba]

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

Yup. It seems the Mark V sell-off happened a lot faster.

I agree that Boogie should just build a IIC+ already....geez, what is the effing deal with Randall refusing to do one? It makes no sense. He is such an engineer that he has to keep adding shit insteading of subtracting. I guess building a IIC+ is going backward for him but it seems it is what the people want.

I thought I heard there were a few key parts for the IIC+ that are no longer available and that was what was preventing a re-issue...

So you find someone to reverse engineer those components and manufacture them again. Its just a matter that they don't want to be bothered, not that they can't do it, IMO.

The JVM did hold out longer, but it was the first 4 channel marshall. Its not like the TSL100 was highly praised either, so it had something good going for it out of the gate. The Mark V is just a beefed up mark IV, so didn't bring as much new to the table. I just wish I could get the mark V channel 2 wedged into my mark IVA.

 

[sebby123]

Several of us that were in the RT JVM buy still have ours and others owned them for over a year, the JVM did better

Yup. It seems the Mark V sell-off happened a lot faster.

I agree that Boogie should just build a IIC+ already....geez, what is the effing deal with Randall refusing to do one? It makes no sense. He is such an engineer that he has to keep adding shit insteading of subtracting. I guess building a IIC+ is going backward for him but it seems it is what the people want.

I thought I heard there were a few key parts for the IIC+ that are no longer available and that was what was preventing a re-issue...

Its not that there not available its that the power sections cost so much to make from what ive read.

 

[Les Zombie]

Overall I really like the mark v and consider it one of my favorite amps I ever played, I have never owned a mark series before it and after reading alot of other people posts I'm thinking that I might like the Mkiv even better. I know how to dial it in and I have some nice tones on my mkv but I almost feel like I'm missing out by not playing a IIc+ or Mkiv.
I decided to spam my amp and I'm gonna try a couple other amps and if they don't do it for me then I'm gonna get another mkv. I have been very open about how much I like the amp and I'm not selling because I don't like it or anything like that, I just have to itch to see what I'm missing in the other marks or maybe even try a newer vh4.
I'm one of the few that really liked the mkv.

 

[Shark Diver]

How many Bogner Fish reissues hit the used market weeks after they came out? People buy into the hype, buy without ever being able to hear it, and then find it doesn't work for them. The same would happen with a CII+ reissue. Not that either aren't great, but if you can't lay your hands on one, you have to buy to try. And if it doesn't work out the door it goes.

Scarcity creates buzz, so a CII+ reissue might kill that buzz about the "Legend". Scarcity creates demand, just ask Mark Cameron - how many people want those without ever trying them.