Thinking of ditching my MKV

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stumplegriltskin
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Stumplegriltskin

Stumplegriltskin

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Seems the amp is not doing it for me. I tried EL34's and didn't notice much of a difference. I was kind of an idiot when I bought this. I figured 3 channels, endless options, but I only play one style, thrash really. I rarely do cleans or 80's hard rock. Also, the only channel that sounds 1/2 decent is crunch on channel 2. And without a boost in front of it, it just doesn't seem to have the gain I'm looking for. I'm using a Voodoo Labs Sparkle drive as my boost. It's got the 3 way mod, which ar all variations of the TS.

Channel 3 sucks for what I want to do with it. There's a severe drop in gain on Channel 3, IMO.

So I know, even though the amp is 2 months old, I'm going to eat it and be walking around with my pants down around my ankles from selling it.

So in the $1500 range, what amp heads should I be looking at. I love the tone of this thing,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVAt1Im4w9M

But that's going to be out of my range. I don't know what decent amp heads can be had for around the 1500 - 2k range that will have the gain and tonal characteristics I'm looking for.
 
If you still have the preamp full of those crappy JJ tubes, then you should swap those out before giving up on the amp.
 
I just sold an Uberschall for 1600.00
I think you can get one around that price .
They do metal killer !!!
Or the peavey 6505 they do metal well also .
A bit cheaper more bang for the buck !!!
 
What are some bands that have tone similar to what you're going for?

I have a Mark V and I would say that modern metal is its weakest area, but find it pretty solid for typical thrash metal tones (this is why I am asking what type of tones you're seeking - we probably have different definitions of thrash).

The Mark V definitely doesn't do the super saturated sound of a 5150 or a Recto. Even with a boost, it retains a very dry sound at its highest gain levels. The most modern high gain sounds from the Mark V are going to be in the vein of Chevelle & Lamb of God.
 
That Orange sounds like total shit in that clip. I'd take a Mark V anyday over that mess.
 
6505+ is a great choice. Maybe consider an EVH 5150 III as well.

Also, if you really dig the Orange Dual Dark 100 (I don't, but to each their own) you should be able to find one used if you have a budget of up to 2k.
 
Ok, so I've had both a Mark V and a Dual Dark at the same time.

First, the Orange has 4 stages of gain, while CH3 of the Mark V has 5. So, if you're having a drop off in gain from CH2, even boosted - either there is something wrong with your amp, or it's a settings issue. The thing to remember with the Marks is that there is gain in the gain knob, the treble knob, and the presence knob. To get the most gain, you have to keep the bass knob very low (around 8 o'clock) and get your bass from the GEQ. Treble should be at least 1'o clock if not higher. All the way up to 4 o'clock is fine if you set the GEQ right. Bright switch should also be on. Presence 9 o'clock to noon by taste. No boost needed. I've owned just about all the high gain amps, and on Mark IV mode (although I like IIC+ better for thrash) this will get you as much gain as about anything short of the 5153, which has more than anyone needs.

Second, the Dual Dark is not a thrash amp at all. Not to say it's a bad sounding amp, but you definitely have to use a boost to get it even close to tight enough. Even then, that style is not really its strength. It's tighter than other Oranges, but it's still a fuzzy dark kind of sound when you get down to it.
 
borninwinter":3q9y6odw said:
Ok, so I've had both a Mark V and a Dual Dark at the same time.

First, the Orange has 4 stages of gain, while CH3 of the Mark V has 5. So, if you're having a drop off in gain from CH2, even boosted - either there is something wrong with your amp, or it's a settings issue. The thing to remember with the Marks is that there is gain in the gain knob, the treble knob, and the presence knob. To get the most gain, you have to keep the bass knob very low (around 8 o'clock) and get your bass from the GEQ. Treble should be at least 1'o clock if not higher. All the way up to 4 o'clock is fine if you set the GEQ right. Bright switch should also be on. Presence 9 o'clock to noon by taste. No boost needed. I've owned just about all the high gain amps, and on Mark IV mode (although I like IIC+ better for thrash) this will get you as much gain as about anything short of the 5153, which has more than anyone needs.

Second, the Dual Dark is not a thrash amp at all. Not to say it's a bad sounding amp, but you definitely have to use a boost to get it even close to tight enough. Even then, that style is not really its strength. It's tighter than other Oranges, but it's still a fuzzy dark kind of sound when you get down to it.
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I agree with everything you're saying. The Mark V definitely has plenty of gain. I think when guys complain of a lack of gain, what they are really referring to is a lack of saturation. Even at max gain levels the Mark V is going to seem extremely dry compared to a Recto, 5150, etc. that is set to less than 50% gain.
 
borninwinter":39y2rh6e said:
Ok, so I've had both a Mark V and a Dual Dark at the same time.

First, the Orange has 4 stages of gain, while CH3 of the Mark V has 5. So, if you're having a drop off in gain from CH2, even boosted - either there is something wrong with your amp, or it's a settings issue. The thing to remember with the Marks is that there is gain in the gain knob, the treble knob, and the presence knob. To get the most gain, you have to keep the bass knob very low (around 8 o'clock) and get your bass from the GEQ. Treble should be at least 1'o clock if not higher. All the way up to 4 o'clock is fine if you set the GEQ right. Bright switch should also be on. Presence 9 o'clock to noon by taste. No boost needed. I've owned just about all the high gain amps, and on Mark IV mode (although I like IIC+ better for thrash) this will get you as much gain as about anything short of the 5153, which has more than anyone needs.

Second, the Dual Dark is not a thrash amp at all. Not to say it's a bad sounding amp, but you definitely have to use a boost to get it even close to tight enough. Even then, that style is not really its strength. It's tighter than other Oranges, but it's still a fuzzy dark kind of sound when you get down to it.
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Thanks man, so I guess the Orange is not the right amp then. I'm just getting back into electric guys, so you'll have to bear with me as I have no idea what I'm talking about. I just know the tones that I like. I have minimal experience with tube amps. I had a recto recording preamp and a 2:90 at one point, didn't really care for it. I don't know how aht setup compares to a triple rectifier.

When you guys on here talk about tone, it's like me going to a wine tasting. They all taste the same to me because I've not been around tube amps enough to discern the subtle differences between them. What I said about channel 2 and 3 is that the volume seems to drop when going from channel 2 to 3. I did notice just a little before that turning the tone knobs slightly seems to affect the tone a whole lot.

So the stock Mesa tubes are actually just mesa branded, I get it. What do you guys recommend? I don't want to give up on the amp. There just seems to be something missing in the mid section.

This is the tone I'm going for. This is a tone I came up with in Bias. Actually the left channel is BIAS the right channel is a LePou Legion with an IR.

https://soundcloud.com/federalhog/metal
 
Based on that clip, I think you'd probably be happier with a 6505, 6505+, or EVH 5153.

To approximate that sound on your Mark V though, try this:

Channel 3 Mark IV mode, bright switch engaged:

Gain: 3 o'clock to max
Presence: 12 o'clock - 3 o'clock
Treble: 3 o'clock
Mid: 12 o'clock (adjust to taste from there)
Bass: 9 o'clock

Instead of using the 5-band, try using the preset EQ, set to around 12 o'clock or 1 o'clock. The preset EQ curve hits some different frequencies and can't be matched exactly by the 5 band. To me, you can get some more aggressive tones from the preset knob than with the 5 band.

Depending on your cab, you may have to tweak slightly from there but that should get you in the ballpark.
 
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.

 
The Mark IV mode is pretty saturated, but being a Mark IV, its tone stack comes after the 1st gain stage. Thats why Marks have the GEQ, so you can get bass latter the the circuit. All this together makes the design really stiff in feel but articulate compared to a cathode follower driven tone stack like a Marshall, Recto, Soldano type design.

Maybe the Mark is just not for you.
 
Well now the thing is screwed up. I got almost no reverb on channel 3. If I dime the reverb after a few seconds the amp starts squeeling. Shut the reverb off, it's fine. Reverb works ok on other channels.
 
I typically have the reverb turned off completely on Channel 3. I can test it out tomorrow to see how mine behaves with the reverb maxed out on Channel 3, but I can't see a situation where I would ever want to have that much reverb on that channel. I wouldn't be surprised if having the reverb maxed out induces feedback on the highest gain channel of the amp.
 
I tried it on mine with gain and reverb cranked, volume up on CH3 - no such problems, works as it should. Probably a preamp tube problem, but I'd give Mesa a call tomorrow.
 
Yeah I don't use that much reverb, I just noticed when I switched it on hardly anything was happening at 12:00. So I dimed it and it didn't really engage any more, then the squealing started. Now it's gone, but I'm still not getting the same amount of reverb out of channel 2 and 3. I hardly use reverb, just for one tune I'm working on and noticed it.

So I tried the settings like you said with the treble turned up, got it about 3:00, presence at high noon, bass at 9:00 and I think I'm on to something. I'm also using a guitar with a Bill Lawrence L500XL which is a little different than the EMG's in most of my electrics.
 
Channel 2 doesn't have as much reverb on tap as Channel 1 per the manual. The way the manual reads, it seems that Channel 3 should have the same amount as channel 1 though.
 
billsbigego":gpoubg18 said:
There's a severe drop in gain on Channel 3, IMO.
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There's something wrong with your amp. The Mark V has an assload of gain.
 
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