Who still loves the Mesa Boogie Mark IV?

[Little B]

I love my IV, III, and simul satellite head-runnin all 3 together..good tones!

 

[JimAnsell]

love em... i think i've owned more mark Iv's than any other amp.

would have a IVa if i didn't have a c+

 

[blackba]

Do any of you have to run the volume on R1 higher than on R2 & R3 to keep up? With the Master on 3 I have to run R1 at 5 to match R2 & 3 at 1.5 or 2. I bought this amp used off a fellow rig talker a few years ago and am starting to wonder if maybe there's something wrong with it.

I run r1 at about 5 and r2 and lead about 2 to 3, so yes this is normal, or at least my amp is similar in that way.

 

[DrThunder]

Love mine still. I'll never sell that amp.

 

[blackba]

Love my mark Iva. Have it for 13 years now. I even like r2 with a boost. Only quibble I have with it is that at lower volume, there is a volume drop and difference in feel when I engage the effects loop. I think that would go away if I could run the channel masters higher....

I had the same problem when running a DD6 and CE5 in the loop of my MKIV. I replaced them with a flashback and Chorona...problem solved!

So you went from 2 pedals with buffers to two true bypass pedals. Got it, I will try to cut the buffered pedals out and see if that helps....

I tried bypassing all the pedals in the loop and still noticed a tone change, but it was less. I then tried raising the channel masters and noticed less of a change, but then the amp became hard to control at normal practice volumes. As I suspected, I will just have to live with this if I want to use the loop. I don't mind the tone change as long as I keep the loop on all the time, its when I kick the loop on and off that I get slightly annoyed with it. With the loop on, it sounds more dead and not as aggressive.

 

[TX6Strings]

Love my mark Iva. Have it for 13 years now. I even like r2 with a boost. Only quibble I have with it is that at lower volume, there is a volume drop and difference in feel when I engage the effects loop. I think that would go away if I could run the channel masters higher....

I had the same problem when running a DD6 and CE5 in the loop of my MKIV. I replaced them with a flashback and Chorona...problem solved!

So you went from 2 pedals with buffers to two true bypass pedals. Got it, I will try to cut the buffered pedals out and see if that helps....

I tried bypassing all the pedals in the loop and still noticed a tone change, but it was less. I then tried raising the channel masters and noticed less of a change, but then the amp became hard to control at normal practice volumes. As I suspected, I will just have to live with this if I want to use the loop. I don't mind the tone change as long as I keep the loop on all the time, its when I kick the loop on and off that I get slightly annoyed with it. With the loop on, it sounds more dead and not as aggressive.

Maybe different patch cables?

I've got the same issue with my 5153 50 watt and have noticed this issue with most amps I've owned. I guess it's just a sacrifice we all have to live with to use time based effects with heavily distorted amps.

 

[glassjaw7]

My '05 IVB has been my main amp for a few years now. I consider selling it now and then and getting something like a Bogner (had an Ecstasy briefly and loved it) but there's something about the Mark that makes me hang on to it.

I've never had any trouble with the loop. I use a Carbon Copy or El Capistan in the loop and I really don't notice any tonal change when it's engaged, and I always notice "tone-suck" right away from loops. It's one of the better ones I've used.

 

[GtarLover]

My Mark IV was my #1 for years. Best of the Best. Been all over the country with it and NEVER a problem.

Actually, it hasn't been seeing much play time lately. My Mark V took over for the Mark IV and my Mark III is also collecting a bit of dust.
All the Boogies are in need of some love.
May be time to break out and have a Boogie weekend

 

[blackba]

My '05 IVB has been my main amp for a few years now. I consider selling it now and then and getting something like a Bogner (had an Ecstasy briefly and loved it) but there's something about the Mark that makes me hang on to it.

I've never had any trouble with the loop. I use a Carbon Copy or El Capistan in the loop and I really don't notice any tonal change when it's engaged, and I always notice "tone-suck" right away from loops. It's one of the better ones I've used.

Mine is a mark IVA from 1990, so they may have changed the loop on the later rev B models. As I remember going from A to B, the R2 got more aggressive.

 

[glassjaw7]

My '05 IVB has been my main amp for a few years now. I consider selling it now and then and getting something like a Bogner (had an Ecstasy briefly and loved it) but there's something about the Mark that makes me hang on to it.

I've never had any trouble with the loop. I use a Carbon Copy or El Capistan in the loop and I really don't notice any tonal change when it's engaged, and I always notice "tone-suck" right away from loops. It's one of the better ones I've used.

Mine is a mark IVA from 1990, so they may have changed the loop on the later rev B models. As I remember going from A to B, the R2 got more aggressive.

Yeah, I think I'd agree with that. My buddy has an A and mine seems to have a little more bite (although I am running 6L6/EL34). I set my R2 pretty clean and run a fuzz or a Bogner Red through it. Sounds pretty cool.

 

[glassjaw7]

Do any of you have to run the volume on R1 higher than on R2 & R3 to keep up? With the Master on 3 I have to run R1 at 5 to match R2 & 3 at 1.5 or 2. I bought this amp used off a fellow rig talker a few years ago and am starting to wonder if maybe there's something wrong with it.

I have to do the same with mine.

 

[TX6Strings]

UPDATE: So I finally got home and pulled the Radial EFX off my board which I had been using as a separate loop out front of my amps for my Micro Vibe. I placed the Micro Vibe in the loop master which I run in the loop of all my amps and BOOM my Mark IV came back to life! I don't know what it was but I'm in love with this amp again!! What a relief! She's definitely staying!

 

[scottywompas]

I don't see mine going anywhere soon. It was my dream amp for a long time. I finally pulled the trigger in '05 on a widebody 1x12 combo.