Which Mids-Heavy Amp?

[JakeAC5253]

I have a MKV and I would say its a great choice, however that being said I cant help but feel I really missed out on the older MKs, I know that the modes are only a glimpse of the amps they are designed after, I think some of my next amps will be a IIC+ or a MKI. Maybe somebody that has actually owned them can talk of the tone differences a little.

I totally feel you bro, don't want to be there myself. Answer honestly, when sitting in front of your MKV, do you feel that it is lacking? Or is it mainly just the product of curiosity about the older models?

 

[CaseyCor]

I would think the MKV would have the tranny tolerance and the proper screen resistors to handle KT style tubes. A quick call to Mesa should solve that!

 

[some dude]

I have a MKV and I would say its a great choice, however that being said I cant help but feel I really missed out on the older MKs, I know that the modes are only a glimpse of the amps they are designed after, I think some of my next amps will be a IIC+ or a MKI. Maybe somebody that has actually owned them can talk of the tone differences a little.

I totally feel you bro, don't want to be there myself. Answer honestly, when sitting in front of your MKV, do you feel that it is lacking? Or is it mainly just the product of curiosity about the older models?

IMO (and I don't mean to put words into gibson08's mouth... I'm speaking in generalities) some of it is truth and some of it is internet hype generating curiosity. I think a lot of it comes from Mesa's (IMO, rather poor) decision to name the modes after the I, IIC+ and IV. I mean, the Mark V is obviously not a I, IIC+ or a IV... so in a direct A/B comparison it'll be easy to tell that they're different. However if you stop comparing the differences and focus on actually dialling in the Mark V to sound like a V instead of a copy of some other older version then you're on the road to happiness.

In a way it's no different than other updates. I know dudes that still lament how Marshall ruined everything when they released the piece of shit known as the JCM800... and yet others put that amp up on an alter and sleep with it beside their bed at night. I'm sure there was some dude back in 1991 plugging into a Mark IV going "The lead channel sucks... sounds nothing like my (insert whatever Mark amp here) while some other dude is still bitching that the IIC+ ruined the sound of the IIB.

I went from a Mark III to a Mark V and I prefer the V. It sounds like what I wanted my III to sound like... but it doesn't sound like a III. In the end which Mark is better depends on your application.

 

[CaseyCor]

I agree completely with "some dude". I've been a Mark Series fan for many years, and played most of them. The V is no different than any of the previous updates. It's an update to the previous platform. Is that a bad thing? Not in my opinion. Some people want it to be something it isn't, thanks to Mesa marketing and labeling it as such.

I think you're best bet is to go with a Mark III or IV at first, and if you don't like it, give the V a try. You can get a III for pretty cheap these days, and you know their will always be Mark Series amps on sale in the used market, and plenty of V's new.

Oh, keep in mind Mesa's prices are going up starting next month.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Oh, keep in mind Mesa's prices are going up starting next month.

Is this true? Where did you hear this?

 

[droptrd]

yeah its true. the shop manager i was bitching about a few days ago told me this

 

[some dude]

Oh, keep in mind Mesa's prices are going up starting next month.

Is this true? Where did you hear this?

I heard the same thing. It's been 16 months or something like that since their last increase and the expectation is that the prices will go up $50 to $100.

 

[gibson08]

I have a MKV and I would say its a great choice, however that being said I cant help but feel I really missed out on the older MKs, I know that the modes are only a glimpse of the amps they are designed after, I think some of my next amps will be a IIC+ or a MKI. Maybe somebody that has actually owned them can talk of the tone differences a little.

I totally feel you bro, don't want to be there myself. Answer honestly, when sitting in front of your MKV, do you feel that it is lacking? Or is it mainly just the product of curiosity about the older models?

Do I feel it is lacking?,,Def not!, Its an extremely versatile amp with lots of great tones available!! That being said, it has probably doubled my curiousity about the previous models. Like I stated, I know that the IIC+ mode is not just like playing the original, even though it is named after it, I tend to play on the Tweed, MKI and IIC+ modes, so it makes me wonder what I missed out on by not owning one of those MKI-MKIII amps is all.

 

[JakeAC5253]

I have a MKV and I would say its a great choice, however that being said I cant help but feel I really missed out on the older MKs, I know that the modes are only a glimpse of the amps they are designed after, I think some of my next amps will be a IIC+ or a MKI. Maybe somebody that has actually owned them can talk of the tone differences a little.

I totally feel you bro, don't want to be there myself. Answer honestly, when sitting in front of your MKV, do you feel that it is lacking? Or is it mainly just the product of curiosity about the older models?

Do I feel it is lacking?,,Def not!, Its an extremely versatile amp with lots of great tones available!! That being said, it has probably doubled my curiousity about the previous models. Like I stated, I know that the IIC+ mode is not just like playing the original, even though it is named after it, I tend to play on the Tweed, MKI and IIC+ modes, so it makes me wonder what I missed out on by not owning one of those MKI-MKIII amps is all.

What kind of cab do you like with your MKV?

Anybody else think the Mesa prices going up is a 'buy now' christmas thing?

 

[some dude]

Anybody else think the Mesa prices going up is a 'buy now' christmas thing?

Don't know. It's been a relatively low key price increase that most haven't heard about. If it was meant to scare people into buying now like Fender did a year or two ago they probably would've made a bigger deal over it.

And on another front, used Mark IVs have been floating a little over the $800 mark.

 

[gibson08]

I have a MKV and I would say its a great choice, however that being said I cant help but feel I really missed out on the older MKs, I know that the modes are only a glimpse of the amps they are designed after, I think some of my next amps will be a IIC+ or a MKI. Maybe somebody that has actually owned them can talk of the tone differences a little.

I totally feel you bro, don't want to be there myself. Answer honestly, when sitting in front of your MKV, do you feel that it is lacking? Or is it mainly just the product of curiosity about the older models?

Do I feel it is lacking?,,Def not!, Its an extremely versatile amp with lots of great tones available!! That being said, it has probably doubled my curiousity about the previous models. Like I stated, I know that the IIC+ mode is not just like playing the original, even though it is named after it, I tend to play on the Tweed, MKI and IIC+ modes, so it makes me wonder what I missed out on by not owning one of those MKI-MKIII amps is all.

What kind of cab do you like with your MKV?

Anybody else think the Mesa prices going up is a 'buy now' christmas thing?

So far its best with my old Trad cab. I bought a vert 2x12 that I am trying to find a great speaker combination for.As for the prices going up, I would not worry about that as there seems to a great used market for them.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Anybody else think the Mesa prices going up is a 'buy now' christmas thing?

Don't know. It's been a relatively low key price increase that most haven't heard about. If it was meant to scare people into buying now like Fender did a year or two ago they probably would've made a bigger deal over it.

And on another front, used Mark IVs have been floating a little over the $800 mark.

oh ok, I read wrong earlier. I thought 50 to 100 meant that what was once 50 will now be 100, a.k.a. price doubling! When I guess it is just a price increase anywhere from 50 to 100. hahahaha That's very manageable.

 

[JakeAC5253]

So far its best with my old Trad cab. I bought a vert 2x12 that I am trying to find a great speaker combination for.As for the prices going up, I would not worry about that as there seems to a great used market for them.

Brutal. V30's in that cab, or some other Mesa speaker? The only reason I ask is that lately I have been thinking that maybe V30's aren't the best speaker to use with a Mark, and that maybe MC90's or something would compliment it better. Just trying to poke around to see if it's true or not

 

[CaseyCor]

Anyone wanna trade a Mark IV for my Single Rec ?

 

[some dude]

Brutal. V30's in that cab, or some other Mesa speaker? The only reason I ask is that lately I have been thinking that maybe V30's aren't the best speaker to use with a Mark, and that maybe MC90's or something would compliment it better. Just trying to poke around to see if it's true or not

Depends on what you're after. I use V30s and MC90s and in general I like the V30s better.

 

[CaseyCor]

EVM12L's and MC90's!

 

[gibson08]

So far its best with my old Trad cab. I bought a vert 2x12 that I am trying to find a great speaker combination for.As for the prices going up, I would not worry about that as there seems to a great used market for them.

Brutal. V30's in that cab, or some other Mesa speaker? The only reason I ask is that lately I have been thinking that maybe V30's aren't the best speaker to use with a Mark, and that maybe MC90's or something would compliment it better. Just trying to poke around to see if it's true or not

V30s in the Traditional and that sounds great, but the vert 2x12 also has V30s and they have to go, def a little too much mids and a little box like. What kind of cab are you thinking, or do you already have something?

 

[JakeAC5253]

So far its best with my old Trad cab. I bought a vert 2x12 that I am trying to find a great speaker combination for.As for the prices going up, I would not worry about that as there seems to a great used market for them.

Brutal. V30's in that cab, or some other Mesa speaker? The only reason I ask is that lately I have been thinking that maybe V30's aren't the best speaker to use with a Mark, and that maybe MC90's or something would compliment it better. Just trying to poke around to see if it's true or not

V30s in the Traditional and that sounds great, but the vert 2x12 also has V30s and they have to go, def a little too much mids and a little box like. What kind of cab are you thinking, or do you already have something?

Well I've been using a Recto V30 cab with my Marshall and Tube Driver heads and it sounds great with both of them. I am worried that the Mark (which has a very prominent low end) will sound overly bassy once you get it cooking because I haven't really been able to do so yet. And I haven't recorded with it yet either, that's on my mind as well

 

[some dude]

Well I've been using a Recto V30 cab with my Marshall and Tube Driver heads and it sounds great with both of them. I am worried that the Mark (which has a very prominent low end) will sound overly bassy once you get it cooking because I haven't really been able to do so yet. And I haven't recorded with it yet either, that's on my mind as well

Marks only have a prominent low end if you dial them in to have a prominent low end.

The MC90s have a more articulate midrange response than the V30s, but they also have more bottom end than V30s. The net result is that the MC90s tend to be a bit clearer in the midrange even though the V30s have a faster and more defined bottom end. I suspect that's why Mesa tends to use the MC90 in open back and ported enclosures, yet sticks to V30s in sealed enclosures.

For reference, I'm comparing a V30 Recto cab to an MC90 Thiele and MC90 open back cab. I was thinking about trying MC90s in a closed back cab, but I've been told MC90s tend to get a little muddy/bloated when used that way.

 

[gibson08]

So far its best with my old Trad cab. I bought a vert 2x12 that I am trying to find a great speaker combination for.As for the prices going up, I would not worry about that as there seems to a great used market for them.

Brutal. V30's in that cab, or some other Mesa speaker? The only reason I ask is that lately I have been thinking that maybe V30's aren't the best speaker to use with a Mark, and that maybe MC90's or something would compliment it better. Just trying to poke around to see if it's true or not

V30s in the Traditional and that sounds great, but the vert 2x12 also has V30s and they have to go, def a little too much mids and a little box like. What kind of cab are you thinking, or do you already have something?

Well I've been using a Recto V30 cab with my Marshall and Tube Driver heads and it sounds great with both of them. I am worried that the Mark (which has a very prominent low end) will sound overly bassy once you get it cooking because I haven't really been able to do so yet. And I haven't recorded with it yet either, that's on my mind as well

I have not played a V thru a Recto, I have heard a lot of "talk" about that subject, some say its too loose, I would find that hard to believe, stronger in bass response, yes probably, but that just means you back down the bass control or adjust the GEQ, I will be going to GC this weekend, ya, I know Black Friday weekend, but the guys there dared me to come in, plus I want to see how many times I hear the intro to Sweet Child of Mine, anyway they have lots of Recto cabs and a MKV head, I can hook'em up and try it out if you like, I play a Diezel Einstein thru it all the time and my old Budda SD80 head and both of those amps retain their feel and tightness and not overly bassy, so I am sure the MKV would sound excellent!