When my Mark IV dies someday...

[BABMusic]

Should I pick up a Mark V or a VII? I might have another 10 years or more to enjoy with my 30 year old Mark IV, but I might also have less than a year. I just never know when this amp will have a problem not worth fixing.

Anyway, back to the topic of this thread. Is there really a big difference between the V and the VII? I know both amps will let you swap in four EL34 tubes, which is what I would do. I know neither amp does simul-class (not a big deal to me), and both have a Mark IV mode (most important high gain tone for me). However, is there anything hugely beneficial about the VII that I would be missing in the V? I am not interested in the V 35 as I just found they weren't the same as the 90 watt versions.

At least for today, I am good. Someday though, it will be a sad day when I have to consider an upgrade.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Owned a V. It had Simul-Class.. I prefer SC. Don't buy it for the 2C because they used smaller coupling caps and it sounds thin. I ran the IV mode as my Lead and it was good. Extreme is an after thought by removing negative feedback and it sucks..
Yellow channel was MEH.. Edge sucked..
The Clean is the dogs ballz.. Really good.
The EQ preset knobs are unusable. Total newb shit curves..

The V probably has all or mostly metal film resistors which are quieter with less hiss.. Your original might have a lot of carbon comps that have more noise.

Go ahead. I dare you to service this thing..

Sometimes less is more. No reason you can't keep you IV alive.

 

[diezelduder]

ooph i don't know if i like this conversation,

i sent my mark iv prior to i guess mike stopped or gibson stopped taking in amps?

and was lucky to have it all looked it,

when it happens, that hyper nest of convoluted wired awesomeness is going to be fucking useless

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

Mesa still services mark IV’s. Send it in and you’re good to go for probably the rest of your life.

But between the V and VII - I think it has to be the VII. Neither will have that original mark amp texture to it but the VII is a fantastic - just a more modern sound overall

 

[Beyond Black]

Mesa still services mark IV’s. Send it in and you’re good to go for probably the rest of your life.

But between the V and VII - I think it has to be the VII. Neither will have that original mark amp texture to it but the VII is a fantastic - just a more modern sound overall

This…Send it in for a full service and it’s a non issue.
Especially if your amp has the big brown caps that are known to blow and leave an awful mess to be cleaned up.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Yeah, worth fixing always.

Between the V and VII, the VII is a more accurate representation of the IV.

 

[BABMusic]

The Clean is the dogs ballz.. Really good.

I'm going to have to remember this next time someone asks me how it sounds. LOL!

Appreciate this response and I get your points. My amp was last serviced about 8 years ago. It's been rock solid since, but I always have those capacitors in the back of my mind.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

The Mark V isn't a bad amp but the Mark VII is incredible.