Which Mids-Heavy Amp?

[JakeAC5253]

I want to have at least one mids heavy amp and one more scooped amp. I've tossed this around for the past few months and I have narrowed it down to 5150 and Mesa Mark series. I also would like to build a Ceriatone Super Lead, but that's secondary, I am after modern tones.

I've never really liked the 6505+ of all the times that I have played it. I mean I liked it, but I've never loved it, but I've also never played it through my cab. I played the Mark V through my cab once and loved it. I've still never played an original 5150 and furthermore haven't played one through my cab. I own a Boogie Recto cab with V30's and I keep hearing how awesome the 5150 and Recto cab are together, that's one of the reasons I want to try a 5150 at some sort of length.

Like I said though, I've never really liked the 6505+ into the cabs that I've played it through, but these were shit cabs at Guitar Center and I don't want to write off a generally well liked combination based on something like that. The Mark series aren't really all that popular though, and they seem to get a lot of flak.

 

[Code001]

They're fairly different amps. The 5150 has tons of gain with lots of low mids. The Mark series has lots of "middle" mids, which is a big reason why the 750 Hz slider is pushed down so far. The best thing would be to try them extensively by buying both.

 

[JakeAC5253]

The best thing would be to try them extensively by buying both.

I like the way you think

 

[CaseyCor]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

 

[CaseyCor]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

 

[The Hoff]

Without a doubt, mark series.

5150s are a bit easier to dial in (more the type you can plug and play) where mark series amps typically need some tone shaping.

But ya, mark series

 

[Motorpud]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

Easy for me too And don't forget that the Mark series have some of the best lead tones you can get. I'm not really a 5150 fan though so my opinion is skewed. If you wind up getting a Mark I hope you're not afraid to tweak and push and pull knobs like some people are, otherwise you will have an endless head ache

 

[Shask]

I am always comparing my 5150 and Mark III, trying to figure out which one will go when he time comes I have to sell amps for money. I always go back and forth.

Honestly, they are quite a bit different. I pretty much always play high gain modern stuff, so thats all I really worry about. Honestly I don't really think the Mark sounds modern. I would call it thrashy. I think it is great at that early 90's thrash tone. the 5150 is much more modern.

The 5150 is more of an aggressive crunchy amp. Not many amps sound as pissed off as the 5150. I don't find it smooth, or to have great chord clarity, but it doesn't matter as this amp is for chugging IMO.

The Mark is much smoother, and has much more chord clarity. I honestly don't think it is that brutal, but it is a great lead amp as mentioned. It doesn't sound as big and mean as the 5150. It is more of a narrow, compressed beam.

Its hard for me to pick one or the other. Most of the time I prefer the 5150, but I have my days when I want something a little less extreme. But, I also have a Recto, which kind of sits in between these 2...

 

[glassjaw7]

I much prefer the Mark as well.

 

[gibson08]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

Yep. Which Mark is in consideration here??

 

[JakeAC5253]

Mark Series.


That was easy.

Yep. Which Mark is in consideration here??

I don't know much about Marks to be honest. I was thinking the newest because the three channels are isolated and the clean and crunch are supposed to be improved from past versions. I have a dedicated clean amp (solid state) but it would be nice to have a tube amp that did more than just a really good high gain rhythm/lead sound IMO. I also like the multi-watt and variac feature, if nothing else, it's neat. Although I've heard good arguments that the Mark III's and IV's have a better lead channel sound. And that would be the amp's function 95% of the time so.... I really don't know. Think my brain cells need to duke it out with my wallet for a while and see where I stand when it's all over.

I do think I am leaning toward a V though. At the moment. Maybe. I don't know.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Also something of note. I was looking at clips from a past amp shootout posted here of a 5150 and Mark through Recto cab mic'd with SM57 (essentially my recording rig with the two heads that I am considering, so major props to the OP) and I looked at them through a frequency spectrum analyzer and the 5150 EQ curve looks a lot like the dry takes of my current amp, and the EQ curve of the Mark looks a good deal like the finished product once I'm done EQing the guitars the way I like. Just a neat little observation, funny how it worked out like that. And yes, I looked at guitars through a frequency spectrum analyzer... because I'm cool like that.

 

[CaseyCor]

I am partial to the Mark IV myself, but the III can get the same tones for the most part. The only real downfall is the lack of channel specific controls. Make sure you get something with Simulclass, so you can experiment with tube types. In the past, I've been fond of 6L6's and EL34's in the outside sockets.

 

[CaseyCor]

Quick funny story: my above post is actually how I accidentally met Russ (Variable) here at RT. He was plugged into a Mesa Mark IV combo at a music store, and not digging the tones out of it. I walked over and helped him dial it in. When I got home, he had posted the story here at RT. Turns out I was helping a fellow member and didn't know it!

 

[reilly]

5150s are cool but i love my mark iv, way more versatility

 

[JakeAC5253]

Quick funny story: my above post is actually how I accidentally met Russ (Variable) here at RT. He was plugged into a Mesa Mark IV combo at a music store, and not digging the tones out of it. I walked over and helped him dial it in. When I got home, he had posted the story here at RT. Turns out I was helping a fellow member and didn't know it!

What, you mean you guys don't wear your handles around your neck when you leave the house? hmm... weird?

 

[JakeAC5253]

I am always comparing my 5150 and Mark III, trying to figure out which one will go when he time comes I have to sell amps for money. I always go back and forth.

Honestly, they are quite a bit different. I pretty much always play high gain modern stuff, so thats all I really worry about. Honestly I don't really think the Mark sounds modern. I would call it thrashy. I think it is great at that early 90's thrash tone. the 5150 is much more modern.

The 5150 is more of an aggressive crunchy amp. Not many amps sound as pissed off as the 5150. I don't find it smooth, or to have great chord clarity, but it doesn't matter as this amp is for chugging IMO.

The Mark is much smoother, and has much more chord clarity. I honestly don't think it is that brutal, but it is a great lead amp as mentioned. It doesn't sound as big and mean as the 5150. It is more of a narrow, compressed beam.

Its hard for me to pick one or the other. Most of the time I prefer the 5150, but I have my days when I want something a little less extreme. But, I also have a Recto, which kind of sits in between these 2...

A lot of people on here say that Mark's are for 80's music or they have that signature 80's tone or something. Its a real turn off whenever I hear that because I have no interest in 80's music at all. It's just one thing making me hesitant about them in general. Then again, if Metallica can record the Black Album, Lamb of God can make their entire career on Marks, and Ola Englund's can make his Mark IV video, then they must be pretty awesome metal amps. At least I think so.

 

[racerevlon]

Splawn Quick Rod?

 

[CaseyCor]

Quick funny story: my above post is actually how I accidentally met Russ (Variable) here at RT. He was plugged into a Mesa Mark IV combo at a music store, and not digging the tones out of it. I walked over and helped him dial it in. When I got home, he had posted the story here at RT. Turns out I was helping a fellow member and didn't know it!

What, you mean you guys don't wear your handles around your neck when you leave the house? hmm... weird?

I usually have mine stapled to my ass. My leather jacket covered it up that day though.