Mesa/Boogie Mark V 25

[jkkkjkhk]

I'm excited for this, really gasing for it now. Might have liked it more if they replaced the crunch mode with the Mark I mode but is awesome either way.

 

[Rockinloud]

Sounds great and less than 17lbs. I like this!

 

[gtr31]

for el84s the MK4 mode with the drop tuned les paul is impressive .It's pretty tight and chunky.
Throw in the verbs, cab clone, a lot of amp for the cash IMO

 

[philb]

Cool amp. I still have my Mark V and it's not going anywhere.
But I can see why this amp would sell.

 

[PBGas]

Couldn't resist! This is exactly what I have wanted for a long time! Ordered!

 

[dgaemc2]

Cool beans PBGas, I did too and can't wait!

 

[LPMojoGL]

Sounds decent, but I just can't do el84’s.

Agreed, especially in a high-gain amp.
I like the stripped down Mark V preamp section, just give me bigger tubes.
I feel the same about the mini rec that plenty of people enjoy. It sounds small to me, and not better than a regular size dual rec as some claim. I run out of headroom quick on that amp.

 

[Schaf]

I'd still rather have it stripped down with no modes on it, and El84's wouldn't be my first choice. But if Mesa insists on multiple modes at least allow the amp to footswitch through some of them. Also, since Mark series amps are so good at low volumes not sure I'l bother with this since you can buy a used Mark IV for cheaper that sounds better.

While I probably will pass on it I can see Mesa selling a lot of these.

I see your point but the amp only weighs 17 pounds and has the cab clone. I think they are going to sell quite a few for people that want a compact setup. I mean pair this with a 1x12 cab and you have a good sounding, versitile little setup. They said there was no plans for a combo, which I didn't get. I thought the demo sounded pretty damn good. The range on this amp is impressive. Personally I don't care what kind of tube it has in it as long as it sounds good. Lots of people are bitching about the el84 use on TGP. But as far as I'm concerned, if it sounds good, it sounds good and that cabclone feature is pretty cool on this amp which makes it more appealing to the gigging musician.

 

[jsp]

Sounds decent, but I just can't do el84’s.

Agreed, especially in a high-gain amp.
I like the stripped down Mark V preamp section, just give me bigger tubes.
I feel the same about the mini rec that plenty of people enjoy. It sounds small to me, and not better than a regular size dual rec as some claim. I run out of headroom quick on that amp.

If you need big tubes, get the full amp and not the mini

 

[jkkkjkhk]

AH! The more I think about this the more I want it!! Black with wicker grill with 2 matching mini recto 1x12's making a fullstack.

 

[shredi knight]

 

[glassjaw7]

That's a great clean tone!

 

[stephen sawall]

TGP always has people complaining about gear they have no actual experience with.... I would expect that there.

I can hardly tell the difference in sound or feel between el34 & 6v6 on my Egnator Rebel 20. They sound very different on my Bivalve.
So it is the whole design more than the tubes being used in my experience.

 

[MESA/Boogie]

TGP always has people complaining about gear they have no actual experience with.... I would expect that there.

I can hardly tell the difference in sound or feel between el34 & 6v6 on my Egnator Rebel 20. They sound very different on my Bivalve.
So it is the whole design more than the tubes being used in my experience.

MESA amps don't rely on power section characteristics the same way many amps do. If you have a simple front-end, the power section can make much more of an impact on the end result...but with our complex preamp sections, we voice the amp in the front end and rely on a clean power section to amplify it. Those of you who think the EL84's will separate this amp from the traditional Mark line are in for a big surprise! Thanks!

 

[Badronald]

I'm not concerned about the tubes either. Either an amp sounds good or it doesn't.

 

[mentoneman]

that clean demo was sweet

i miss having a boogie and this would be a great one to put me back in the boogie fam!

-and i like el84s after owning a mojave coyote-

 

[tech21man]

TGP always has people complaining about gear they have no actual experience with.... I would expect that there.

I can hardly tell the difference in sound or feel between el34 & 6v6 on my Egnator Rebel 20. They sound very different on my Bivalve.
So it is the whole design more than the tubes being used in my experience.

MESA amps don't rely on power section characteristics the same way many amps do. If you have a simple front-end, the power section can make much more of an impact on the end result...but with our complex preamp sections, we voice the amp in the front end and rely on a clean power section to amplify it. Those of you who think the EL84's will separate this amp from the traditional Mark line are in for a big surprise! Thanks!

I understand that but, 25 watts are 25 watts. When you push, won't the power section come into play (how far can it stay "clean")? I had several EL84 dynawatt of your amps and whatever preamp gain I set up in lower volumes, in loud situations it became squash city and I had to back off. Which is not the case with more watts or headroom. I loved the dynamic interplay of that but ultimately it robbed me off bass and headroom to get more clean level boosts be it for clean or lead sounds.


I am still intrigued by the mark V 25 though. I have tried several times to run studio preamps and my old triaxis in EL84 power amps (some mesa in combos) and always liked the results-a lot.


By the way will the mark V have a tiny output transformer like the other EL84 mesa do? They must have some of the smallest transformers I've ever seen on some amps. But sound really good so...(there are benefits to small transformers of course).

 

[MESA/Boogie]

TGP always has people complaining about gear they have no actual experience with.... I would expect that there.

I can hardly tell the difference in sound or feel between el34 & 6v6 on my Egnator Rebel 20. They sound very different on my Bivalve.
So it is the whole design more than the tubes being used in my experience.

MESA amps don't rely on power section characteristics the same way many amps do. If you have a simple front-end, the power section can make much more of an impact on the end result...but with our complex preamp sections, we voice the amp in the front end and rely on a clean power section to amplify it. Those of you who think the EL84's will separate this amp from the traditional Mark line are in for a big surprise! Thanks!

I understand that but, 25 watts are 25 watts. When you push, won't the power section come into play (how far can it stay "clean")? I had several EL84 dynawatt of your amps and whatever preamp gain I set up in lower volumes, in loud situations it became squash city and I had to back off. Which is not the case with more watts or headroom. I loved the dynamic interplay of that but ultimately it robbed me off bass and headroom to get more clean level boosts be it for clean or lead sounds.


I am still intrigued by the mark V 25 though. I have tried several times to run studio preamps and my old triaxis in EL84 power amps (some mesa in combos) and always liked the results-a lot.


By the way will the mark V have a tiny output transformer like the other EL84 mesa do? They must have some of the smallest transformers I've ever seen on some amps. But sound really good so...(there are benefits to small transformers of course).

It has little to do with watts when you're talking about 6V6's vs. EL84's...but rather the characteristics of the tube when driven. 6V6's are known for the bloom and wide tubby response when driven - which works great in certain circuits. We can use EL84's to stay tighter and faster, without the tubbiness under high gain. Thanks!

 

[Tone Zone]

TGP always has people complaining about gear they have no actual experience with.... I would expect that there.

I can hardly tell the difference in sound or feel between el34 & 6v6 on my Egnator Rebel 20. They sound very different on my Bivalve.
So it is the whole design more than the tubes being used in my experience.

MESA amps don't rely on power section characteristics the same way many amps do. If you have a simple front-end, the power section can make much more of an impact on the end result...but with our complex preamp sections, we voice the amp in the front end and rely on a clean power section to amplify it. Those of you who think the EL84's will separate this amp from the traditional Mark line are in for a big surprise! Thanks!

I disagree. For those that have a good set of ears, you can clearly hear a difference at high gain settings with an amp that has EL84's than with an amp that doesn't. Hell, I can hear it in that clip alone. I'm not even saying that it sounds bad, but for high gain, I can hear the characteristics of EL84's that is displeasing to my ears. And, that goes for every EL84 amp I've ever heard or played through. Really, it sounds good for a number of other styles. That one clean tone clip is damn good. But, for high gain...I'd stick with the regular MKV. In fact, I'm considering getting one again, as I find myself missing the one I had.

 

[lowmantotempole]

I'll wait for one in the classifieds. Should be about 3 weeks.