New Gear Weekend!

[TrueTone500]

I picked up a Fender RK Telecaster, and a Mesa/Boogie Mark IV(B) last Friday.

I'm not happy with the tones coming from the Mark IV. The midrange is sterile, the highs sound like tin, and the bottom-end is the most non-musical I've ever heard from a tube amplifier. Channel 2 (R2) is totally unusable! It might sound decent with help from a stomp-box, who knows? R2 sounds like there's a clean signal running in parallel that is polluting the gain tone maybe? Overall, this is IMO an awful sounding amplifier. When you play an amp that sounds as bad as this, all you can do is listen to some prerecorded music to wash the sound out of your ears.

The RK Tele is sensational! The neck is truly a Louisville Slugger, yet strangely comfortable to play? I've always favored signature guitars that are constructed to the player's requested specs, and the RK Tele is that.

 

[voodooel34]

That tele looks sweet. Too bad the Boogie isn't doing it for you. Was the amp an online purchase, or did you try have a chance to play it before you purchased it?

 

[John4021]

Sorry to hear the MKIV isn't your thing.
If this is your first Mark series amp,you have to figure out the tone stack.
Meaning the ALL feed off of one another.

All the Mark amps I have (owned) over the years were never a "set with your eyes amp".
Think a tube change perhaps?

 

[TrueTone500]

That tele looks sweet. Too bad the Boogie isn't doing it for you. Was the amp an online purchase, or did you try have a chance to play it before you purchased it?

Online purchase... Could be an issue with it, I don't know? The EQ switch doesn't always respond like it should, and one of the indicator lights goes dim whenever it feels like it. The shipper placed a single piece of bubble wrap under the amp, nothing else.

 

[311boogieman]

...

Congrats on your gear but I thought you were leaving Rig-Talk? That is was lame here and you didn't care for the mods?

 

[TrueTone500]

Sorry to hear the MKIV isn't your thing.
If this is your first Mark series amp,you have to figure out the tone stack.
Meaning the ALL feed off of one another.

All the Mark amps I have (owned) over the years were never a "set with your eyes amp".
Think a tube change perhaps?

No, it is not. I've owned a Mark IIC+ combo, a Mark IIC+ 60 watt head, and a Mark V, and a Dual Rectifier. I tried several tube iterations, which resulted in mild changes only. I fear nothing will help the R2 channel. Seems I dig Mesa amps up to the Mark IIC+, but nothing after that.

I personally think that Boogie Mark series amplifiers sound best through a 1x12 EVM 12L speaker enclosure. Maybe that's how Randall designed the first Boogie amp?

 

[Deleted member 21375]

Not sure why you bought a Boogie and not "the best amp in the world" by Willie B.

 

[lowmantotempole]

Not sure why you bought a Boogie and not "the best amp in the world" by Willie B.

Like

 

[RJF]

I like the mk3 better than the mk4.

 

[RG955TT]

Blades for the win! Mark IV takes some time to dial in....

 

[TrueTone500]

Not sure why you bought a Boogie and not "the best amp in the world" by Willie B.

Because I don't play hair metal. It's great sounding amp, but it's not my thing.

 

[TrueTone500]

I like the mk3 better than the mk4.

The closest I ever got to a Mark III, Mesa Quad preamp coupled with a Peavy Classic 50/50 power amp. That rig may actually have sounded better than my Mark IIC+ amplifiers.

I spent 3 hours trying to dial-in something I could work with, but no. The Mark IIC+ amps were two of the best rigs I've ever owned. It was a huge mistake selling them.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

Not sure why you bought a Boogie and not "the best amp in the world" by Willie B.

I wonder why he named the amp a FIREbolt......hmmmmm.......well at least you have a cool cup holder......

 

[Deleted member 21375]

Not sure why you bought a Boogie and not "the best amp in the world" by Willie B.

Because I don't play hair metal. It's great sounding amp, but it's not my thing.

Fair enough.