I always used R2 on my Mark IVs as either an extra clean channel with more grit/breakup, or as a fat crunch channel by running an overdrive out front.
I always wished that I could get R2 to act as a warmer clone of the lead channel, but as much as I studied the entire channel, there isn’t a way to do this without compromising the other channels.
R2 is nearly perfect for getting that AC/DC type of crunch, and if you goose the volume enough, it sounds very similar to Randy Rhodes’a tones from Blzzard of Ozz. At least mine does anyway, but try this...raise the treble somewhere between 8.5-10, back off the mids a little bit, and then play the beginning riff to “We Die Young”, and tell me that doesn’t sound closer to Jerry Cantrell’s “Snorkeler” than the last Marshall you played.
Somehow, to my ears, R2 sounds really similar to these great overdriven Marshall tones. So, even though the Mark IV’s Lead channel is one of the best tones for high gain rhythm and liquidy-smooth leads, and R1 has the cleanest, bell-like tones since the DRRI, R2 covers the middle ground of crunchy hard rock rhythm guitars, but falls short if you’re looking for a high-gain rhythm tone, but it’s perfect for hard rock rhythms. If you can’t use your lead channel for Rhythm and need more gain from R2, you’ll need an OD or Boost to get there.
I always wished that I could get R2 to act as a warmer clone of the lead channel, but as much as I studied the entire channel, there isn’t a way to do this without compromising the other channels.
R2 is nearly perfect for getting that AC/DC type of crunch, and if you goose the volume enough, it sounds very similar to Randy Rhodes’a tones from Blzzard of Ozz. At least mine does anyway, but try this...raise the treble somewhere between 8.5-10, back off the mids a little bit, and then play the beginning riff to “We Die Young”, and tell me that doesn’t sound closer to Jerry Cantrell’s “Snorkeler” than the last Marshall you played.
Somehow, to my ears, R2 sounds really similar to these great overdriven Marshall tones. So, even though the Mark IV’s Lead channel is one of the best tones for high gain rhythm and liquidy-smooth leads, and R1 has the cleanest, bell-like tones since the DRRI, R2 covers the middle ground of crunchy hard rock rhythm guitars, but falls short if you’re looking for a high-gain rhythm tone, but it’s perfect for hard rock rhythms. If you can’t use your lead channel for Rhythm and need more gain from R2, you’ll need an OD or Boost to get there.