Thinking of ditching my MKV

[the4thlast1]

I had similar feelings about the Mark V ...Didn't love it for Metal / Thrash. I also felt it lacked balls compared to several other amps I had at the time. As far as a volume drop from channel 2-3 goes its possible you have a bad preamp tube .If you might keep the amp I would buy a couple preamp tubes and swap some around to see the difference.

Otherwise I think a 6505+ or Evh 100 watt would be right up your ally... For metal they are killer amps that can hang with anything out there that costs twice the price. I've had many high end amps come and go but my 6505+ never gets sold.

 

[charvelstrat81]

I love the MESA stuff and the MK v is no exception but for all out metal
i always fire up my old 5150, they just have the it factor for extreme metal tones.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Your clip sounds like Marshall to me (which would make sense since that's the classic thrash amp anyway). I'd go with the DSL 100H for most bang for the buck. 6505 and EVH would definitely also work.

It's videos like this that make me just not trust what I see/hear on Youtube. I played that amp on more than one occasion and thought it to be a huge pile of shit, just hated everything about it. And there's a video of someone getting good metal tones, go figure. It makes me put soo much more stock in what I hear in person and and just saying good job to others that get gear that works for them, but not for me.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I love the EL34 vs. 6L6 videos. Get a guy, plays 4 minutes on the 6L6's then spends 5 minutes switching tubes then plays 4 minutes with the EL34's and you're supposed to be able to tell the difference.

But yeah, youtube clips are not the best means. You have to be sitting in front of it. I purchased a MKV sight unseen because I've always thought Mesa stuff was the best, or close to it, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with this amp. I'm just trying to figure out this reverb issue and why channel 2 seems to have a little more gain than channel 3.

Wish I knew someone that could come hear my amp and tell me if it's messed up or not because I don't know what I'm doing.

Even when I swapped the 6L6's in my MKV head to EL34's, because of the 5 or so minutes in between, I could not tell a single difference.

 

[midnightlaundry]

The squeeling is a microphonic preamp tube. Look at the tube layout. I bet the reverb driver tubes share the channel 3 gain stages. Swap out those tubes wash and rinse. Call me in the morning...

 

[anomaly]

You like the sound of that Orange vid? Sounds like a buzz machine to me... If that's what you like then go for a Peavey 6505 or 6505+ those are big time buzz machines, or an ENGL. They don't have near the clarity of a Mark V, but that ain't what you want, right?

 

[anomaly]

Your clip sounds like Marshall to me (which would make sense since that's the classic thrash amp anyway). I'd go with the DSL 100H for most bang for the buck. 6505 and EVH would definitely also work.

That sounds terrible.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

You like the sound of that Orange vid? Sounds like a buzz machine to me... If that's what you like then go for a Peavey 6505 or 6505+ those are big time buzz machines, or an ENGL. They don't have near the clarity of a Mark V, but that ain't what you want, right?

Well, like I said, I don't know what I'm doing first off. I did try the settings recommended earlier. I did not realize that the info about the 5 gain stages of the amp. I had the bass up too much on channel 3. So, besides the reverb issue, I have something to work with now.

I'll try the reverb tubes and see what happens.

 

[sjk]

You like the sound of that Orange vid? Sounds like a buzz machine to me... If that's what you like then go for a Peavey 6505 or 6505+ those are big time buzz machines, or an ENGL. They don't have near the clarity of a Mark V, but that ain't what you want, right?

Well, like I said, I don't know what I'm doing first off. I did try the settings recommended earlier. I did not realize that the info about the 5 gain stages of the amp. I had the bass up too much on channel 3. So, besides the reverb issue, I have something to work with now.

I'll try the reverb tubes and see what happens.

I have had around 30 amps and only 1 of those required reading a manual...yes you really need to read the manual to get the most of or even understand how the knobs work on the Mark V. Also as suggested you need a good healthy preamp tube somewhere in there that is likely neutering your gain on channel 3. After reading the manual it all starts to make sense and fall into place. And yes high bass setting on Marks is a real easy way to fuck up the sound Thought everyone knew that jk!

Now if you really want an amp that really rips with way more gain and aggression(not that the Mark V needs more gain imho) sell your Mark V and get a much cheaper old used Mark III from the 1980's, now those are some GOOD ass amps! I still got that one. Not very versatile on stage with the limited switching and shortcomings that come with it but it is just a killer amp.

 

[Badronald]

So now the 6505+ is a buzz machine?

No.

 

[jc986]

So now the 6505+ is a buzz machine?

No.

Agreed...My 6505+ isn't buzzy. If anything, my Mark V has a tendency to sound buzzier than my 6505+.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

You like the sound of that Orange vid? Sounds like a buzz machine to me... If that's what you like then go for a Peavey 6505 or 6505+ those are big time buzz machines, or an ENGL. They don't have near the clarity of a Mark V, but that ain't what you want, right?

Well, like I said, I don't know what I'm doing first off. I did try the settings recommended earlier. I did not realize that the info about the 5 gain stages of the amp. I had the bass up too much on channel 3. So, besides the reverb issue, I have something to work with now.

I'll try the reverb tubes and see what happens.

I have had around 30 amps and only 1 of those required reading a manual...yes you really need to read the manual to get the most of or even understand how the knobs work on the Mark V. Also as suggested you need a good healthy preamp tube somewhere in there that is likely neutering your gain on channel 3. After reading the manual it all starts to make sense and fall into place. And yes high bass setting on Marks is a real easy way to fuck up the sound Thought everyone knew that jk!

Now if you really want an amp that really rips with way more gain and aggression(not that the Mark V needs more gain imho) sell your Mark V and get a much cheaper old used Mark III from the 1980's, now those are some GOOD ass amps! I still got that one. Not very versatile on stage with the limited switching and shortcomings that come with it but it is just a killer amp.

Did you type that wrong?

 

[borninwinter]

Did anyone listen to the soundcloud clip OP posted? It sounds like classic Marshall thrash. DSL is a budget amp but not bad sounding. It does need a boost. Want more deluxe get a jcm 800 and boost or get a jvm. Any one of those is going to sound more like the soundcloud clip than 6505 or EVH, although being Marshall-derived can also get those sounds. The Mark V can get something on the ballpark, but just the ballpark.

 

[jc986]

I did listen to the clip, and I think you can easily nail that sound with a 6505 or 6505+. I don't have direct experience with the DSL, so can't really comment on it.

 

[sjk]

You like the sound of that Orange vid? Sounds like a buzz machine to me... If that's what you like then go for a Peavey 6505 or 6505+ those are big time buzz machines, or an ENGL. They don't have near the clarity of a Mark V, but that ain't what you want, right?

Well, like I said, I don't know what I'm doing first off. I did try the settings recommended earlier. I did not realize that the info about the 5 gain stages of the amp. I had the bass up too much on channel 3. So, besides the reverb issue, I have something to work with now.

I'll try the reverb tubes and see what happens.

I have had around 30 amps and only 1 of those required reading a manual...yes you really need to read the manual to get the most of or even understand how the knobs work on the Mark V. Also as suggested you need a good healthy preamp tube somewhere in there that is likely neutering your gain on channel 3. After reading the manual it all starts to make sense and fall into place. And yes high bass setting on Marks is a real easy way to fuck up the sound Thought everyone knew that jk!

Now if you really want an amp that really rips with way more gain and aggression(not that the Mark V needs more gain imho) sell your Mark V and get a much cheaper old used Mark III from the 1980's, now those are some GOOD ass amps! I still got that one. Not very versatile on stage with the limited switching and shortcomings that come with it but it is just a killer amp.

Did you type that wrong?

yes meant to say one weak 12Ax7 in there could weaken gain. Google and download the manual and it will also show the differerent preamp tube positions and which ones are used by channel 3. Very simple to check and may be your problem although for some dumb ass reason they do make the preamp tubes harder to reach than any other amp I"ve ever had lol. these things aren't that complicated, you gotta do some troubleshooting.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Yeah I swapped them around now channel 3 has hardly any gain. So I'm looking at the chart and 1,4,5,6 pertain to channel 3 so I guess I'm going to have to buy 4 fucking tubes because I'm a retard.

 

[jc986]

Before spending any money, if this is a new amp, definitely give Mesa a call. If new, tubes are under warranty for 6 months, and Mesa's customer service is excellent in my experience. They'll probably send you a new set of preamp tubes.

 

[borninwinter]

Just buy 1 tube and swap 1 tube at a time until you find the bad one. Having a few backups is good though.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Just buy 1 tube and swap 1 tube at a time until you find the bad one. Having a few backups is good though.

I would do that, but a few of them are a nightmare to get at. Got 4 of them, 1 of which is a SPAX7, which I thought doesn't have as much gain.

 

[jc986]

I don't think the SPAX7 tubes are supposed to be any lower gain than Mesa's standard 12ax7. They are just less likely to become microphonic. I would think they would be ideal for the V1 spot.