Want a Mesa Mark tone, but need cheaper alternatives...

  • Thread starter Thread starter needsmoregear12
  • Start date Start date
Or you could get a studio preamp and plug it into the poweramp of your 5150 combo...
 
Rock what you got. Your amp should cover a lot of ground. are you gigging or just playing at home?
 
Want to start gigging. Now its more of home/ jamming at friends studio.

It seems like the Marks prices are getting higher and higher each year :thumbsdown:

I cant just buy the Studio Pre, those are pretty expensive and Id have to sell my peavey to get the money first.

If I decide to go with rack gear im probably getting an ADA MP-1 or MP-2, Probably a Peavey 50/50 power amp, and a 112/212 cab.

But setting all that up would be a hassle and can get pretty expensive.

Broken Fusion: Are you familiar with the 6505 212? Any tips you can give me?
 
Let's not overthink things...most people will agree that a move to a ADA rack setup is (at best) a lateral move.
You probably have a better base tone right now. The 5150/6505s have lots of cool mods available you could consider, as well as OD boost, eq in the loop, new pickups....you're going to take a bloodbath on flipping this amp, so I say keep it, make minor upgrades along the way, then when a decent job comes your way you could look into getting your Mark amp.
BTW, I picked up a used Peavey Ultra Plus head for $300, added some new tubes, and it gets some real creamy Mark-ish lead tones.
 
crankyrayhanky":3r7wza3a said:
Let's not overthink things...most people will agree that a move to a ADA rack setup is (at best) a lateral move.
You probably have a better base tone right now. The 5150/6505s have lots of cool mods available you could consider, as well as OD boost, eq in the loop, new pickups....you're going to take a bloodbath on flipping this amp, so I say keep it, make minor upgrades along the way, then when a decent job comes your way you could look into getting your Mark amp.
BTW, I picked up a used Peavey Ultra Plus head for $300, added some new tubes, and it gets some real creamy Mark-ish lead tones.
Click to expand...

I suppose your right...

Ive already found "my" pickups. Their ideal for the tone I want. Ive upgraded tubes.

I havnt boosted it or used an EQ in the loop...

I feel like the amp is VERY mid-heavy. Im not looking for a "Scooped" mid tone, but rather a flatter/lower mid.

Im guessing an EQ is my best bet.
 
I think the 5150 is very mid heavy also. A more scooped 5150 with more low-lows and more hi-highs is a Mesa Rectifier. I have them both, and they are very similar in gain texture, but the EQ is backwards on them.

I had a Mark III for years. It is a very different type of gain structure. Way more of a difference than EQ. The gain on them is a lot clearer, not as grainy, and way smooth. Not as fat, but more detailed in clarity.
 
Shask":3bxwtjvh said:
I think the 5150 is very mid heavy also. A more scooped 5150 with more low-lows and more hi-highs is a Mesa Rectifier. I have them both, and they are very similar in gain texture, but the EQ is backwards on them.

I had a Mark III for years. It is a very different type of gain structure. Way more of a difference than EQ. The gain on them is a lot clearer, not as grainy, and way smooth. Not as fat, but more detailed in clarity.
Click to expand...

I want a SLIGHTLY scooped 5150, clear highs, and not too much lows. Almost like a saturated Jazz Fusion-y tone.

Any suggestions on tube swaps in the 5150 with pedals to get closer to a Mark tone? Maby running a OD into the "Rhythm" channel+EQ in the loop+Lower gain preamp tubes?
 
Peavey Ultra Plus , no joke...a retube gets it 95% there

Try Winged C 6L6 in the power section too :D
 
If he's local to you offer him a trade for your for amp and cash on his end.
 
Hes about 45 mins out. I just spoke to him, hes only interested in cash. Im sure I could drop him down a bit on the price.

Is the Ultra very similar to the Ultra Plus? I found a video A/B the Ultra plus VS a Mark III. They sound VERY close.

If this amp is similar I can buy it now and then pay back my parents when my amp sells...
 
needsmoregear12":2gbamcnw said:
I found a video A/B the Ultra plus VS a Mark III. They sound VERY close.
Click to expand...
This the video? If so .....to me they sound pretty close. :yes:

 
That is it :yes:

So should I just drop my asking price to $520 and hope someone grabs it for that, get this guys 212 Ultra, then save up for a while, sell the Ultra, and get a Mark? :D
 
I had a few Mark III's and liked them alot. Never had a Ultra Plus. But it does sound pretty damn close in that clip to me. ;)
And the price seems to be right as well.
 
needsmoregear12":3nn9d56e said:
Shask":3nn9d56e said:
I think the 5150 is very mid heavy also. A more scooped 5150 with more low-lows and more hi-highs is a Mesa Rectifier. I have them both, and they are very similar in gain texture, but the EQ is backwards on them.

I had a Mark III for years. It is a very different type of gain structure. Way more of a difference than EQ. The gain on them is a lot clearer, not as grainy, and way smooth. Not as fat, but more detailed in clarity.
Click to expand...

I want a SLIGHTLY scooped 5150, clear highs, and not too much lows. Almost like a saturated Jazz Fusion-y tone.

Any suggestions on tube swaps in the 5150 with pedals to get closer to a Mark tone? Maby running a OD into the "Rhythm" channel+EQ in the loop+Lower gain preamp tubes?
Click to expand...
No, a 5150 will never be as smooth and clear as a Mesa Mark series...
 
Shask":yt0brwhf said:
needsmoregear12":yt0brwhf said:
Shask":yt0brwhf said:
I think the 5150 is very mid heavy also. A more scooped 5150 with more low-lows and more hi-highs is a Mesa Rectifier. I have them both, and they are very similar in gain texture, but the EQ is backwards on them.

I had a Mark III for years. It is a very different type of gain structure. Way more of a difference than EQ. The gain on them is a lot clearer, not as grainy, and way smooth. Not as fat, but more detailed in clarity.
Click to expand...

I want a SLIGHTLY scooped 5150, clear highs, and not too much lows. Almost like a saturated Jazz Fusion-y tone.

Any suggestions on tube swaps in the 5150 with pedals to get closer to a Mark tone? Maby running a OD into the "Rhythm" channel+EQ in the loop+Lower gain preamp tubes?
Click to expand...
No, a 5150 will never be as smooth and clear as a Mesa Mark series...
Click to expand...
+1 on this. ;)
 
Allright :(

So is the Ultra pretty much the same as the Ultra+?

This combo is just an Ultra, but I cant imagine there being that much of a difference...
 
They're not the same, but in the same ballpark from what I've read. Some say the Ultra is the best amp Peavey ever made..for 250, it's hard to go wrong....I know the UPlus is a beast!
 
I just picked up a III blue stripe, long head, fully loaded, with custom tolex, and voodoo footswitch for $650.:D Winged C tubes all around, AND it actually worked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top