Mesa Mark V owners? Saturation Mod?

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thiswaythatway

thiswaythatway

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A question? Have you guys performed the saturation mod? It's basically just a tube swap on V4 and or V6. You replace the 12ax7 with a 12At7. Here's a link to the Grailforum. https://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=73352

Those who have done the mod say it cures the trebly feel channel 3 when the FX loop is on. A few guys actually sold their JP2C and keep their V after the mod. Anyone here perform the mod?

Every time I play the Mark IV with my band I wish it had the V's versatility. If the mod really improves the tone of the V then I may revisit. While I visit both forums I like to get opinions off the Mesa Grailtone forum as well.
 
Interesting, I was just dealing with this last night. I thought maybe it was the delay doing it. ( flashback x4). I was you tubing videos on the flashback or setting the levels on the loop. This is something I’m defiantly going to try !!!
 
danyeo":3q04q7zc said:
A question? Have you guys performed the saturation mod? It's basically just a tube swap on V4 and or V6. You replace the 12ax7 with a 12At7. Here's a link to the Grailforum. https://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=73352

Those who have done the mod say it cures the trebly feel channel 3 when the FX loop is on. A few guys actually sold their JP2C and keep their V after the mod. Anyone here perform the mod?

Every time I play the Mark IV with my band I wish it had the V's versatility. If the mod really improves the tone of the V then I may revisit. While I visit both forums I like to get opinions off the Mesa Grailtone forum as well.
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Danny......V6 is where you want it. This is the loop return driver and 4th gain stage of Ch3. V4 is the second gain stage and reverb send driver, and won't have near the impact.
 
I’m gonna give this a shot. I have channel 3 dialed in with the effects loop activated. I love it. But who knows, I might dig it even more
 
I did this on mine, then went back to stock. Too bright for my PRS SC's
 
I don't understand how this would provide more saturation?

Throwing in a lesser gain tube to replace another?
 
maddnotez":2d1se1ma said:
I don't understand how this would provide more saturation?

Throwing in a lesser gain tube to replace another?
Click to expand...

It's supposed to tame the high end so that it allows you to crank the gain and treble knobs more than you normally would. I picked up a Mark V locally really cheap and it's loaded with EL34's. I've had mixed results at home, sometimes I love it, sometimes I want to hit it with a hammer. But at band practice up loud it comes alive. I don't use Bright mode on channel 3 and haven't had time to throw an At7 in but I'll try it.
 
I've had a V with 34's in it for a long time and honestly don't feel any need to try that. But I also haven't really been using the loop. I just started using the loop as a power amp for a Quad pre I got but that sounds killer so I guess unless I try the loop with FX it may be a mute point for me.
Agree about the volume where the amp comes alive. That's why I use an attenuator with it. Try Channel 1 on the clean settings. Get the gain way up, channel volume 2-3 O'clock at least and get the Master up and it's an awesome British hard rock tone.
 
Bump...

I don't see what low gain tubes do in V4 and V6. I didn't notice a tonal difference, just less gain.
 
I actually just did this to mine. With just an AT7 in v6 it made the 2C+ mode useable. I felt it was way too thin and lifeless before. After playing around with it, I also changed out the 6L6s for 5881s, and the combination of the AT7 in v6 and the 5881s have brought the amp to a whole other level, imo. It tamed all of the harshness, made channel 3 more dynamic, and thickened up the tone significantly. It also fixed some ~240hz resonance issues I was having. Basically, every complaint I had about the Mark V was fixed by doing the AT7 swap and using 5881s.
 
I have the amp and the tubes, just havent got around to this yet.
The mark V has an extra gain stage compared to the other marks, and it creates a buzzy trebly tone if the channel volumes are too high. Lowering the gain on the fx return stage means that stage doesnt clip and create the thing, so you can push the preamp harder without the artifacts.

Thanks for the prompt, will try remember this weekend
 
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