Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

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BluesGuyJ

New member
Well I had a Mark III Blue Stripe a while back and enjoyed it but was always disapointed in the fact that all 3 channels shared the same tone controls and graphic EQ. While one channel sounded good, the others would suffer.

I am looking into getting a Mark IV and was wondering, do all 3 channels have their own tone controls as well as independent graphic EQs? The descriptions somewhat confuse me. Also, does the Mark IV series have switchable power settings and if so, down to what wattage? Which models come with 6l6s and which come with EL34s?

Thanks a ton and most of all, what do you think of these?
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

R1 and R2 share common Bass and Midrange. R1 is clean and R2 is crunch. It is not really that significant because on the Mark, the treble and presence and the graphic eq have more effect than anything else and these are independent for all three channels. It is a great amp. I have mine for about 6 months and have gigged out with quite a bit.

edit:
Don't know why I worded it like tis... The graphic EQ is common to all three channels... Just didn't want to say that the treble and and the presence have the most effect without including the graphic eq because it has a lot of effect when it is on for all three channels.

I use a midi switcher to control the amp and have patches to switch the eq on and off as needed.


BluesGuyJ said:
Well I had a Mark III Blue Stripe a while back and enjoyed it but was always disapointed in the fact that all 3 channels shared the same tone controls and graphic EQ. While one channel sounded good, the others would suffer.

I am looking into getting a Mark IV and was wondering, do all 3 channels have their own tone controls as well as independent graphic EQs? The descriptions somewhat confuse me. Also, does the Mark IV series have switchable power settings and if so, down to what wattage? Which models come with 6l6s and which come with EL34s?

Thanks a ton and most of all, what do you think of these?
Click to expand...
 
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Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

Guitarded: so you are saying the Mark IV is setup so that the R1 and R2 channels share the same bass and mid controls but both have their own treble controls and all 3 channels have their own graphic EQ? That doesn't follow what Tone said in his post.

BluesGuyJ = further confused...
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

The EQ can be switched in and out via the footswitch for each channel, not an independant setting for each channel.

Footcontroller gives you 6 buttons: R1 - R2 - Lead - Lead+EQ - EQ - FX/Loop

I set the clean the way I want, adjust the independant controls for R2 to something useful and Lead is an independant channel - so it is really a 2.75 channel amp + EQ
 
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Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

R1 and R2 share their midrange and bass controls. As has been said, however, they have their own presence and treble controls. The lead channel's EQ controls are all independent.

There is only one graphic EQ, and it is global. However, it can be switched on and off via the footswitch. There's also a master switch on the back for the graphic eq with three settings: "ON" disconnects the EQ footswitch, and runs the graphic EQ for all three channels. "OFF" makes the graphic EQ footswitchable for all three channels. "Auto R2" automatically engages the graphic EQ for the R2 channel, but not for the lead or R1 channels. There's also a "Lead EQ" button on the footswitch that automatically engages the EQ on the lead channel.

It all sounds a little confusing, but its really pretty simple to work. I found that the R1 and R2 channels didn't really need the graphic EQ to sound good. I set mine in a slightly lopsided V shape so it'll really rock on the lead channel ;).

The switchable power settings on the Mark IV are a little tricky...on the power switch there's a switch between "full power" and "tweed power". Tweed power "works like a built in variac: lowers power, creates spongier vintage feel, increases tube life". On the back there's a switch between Simul-class, and class A modes. Class A switches off the center two tubes. There's also a switch on the back so you can choose between pentode and triode, those effect the power of the amp as well.

Mesa/boogie's got a manual for download on their site...you might wanna check that out as well. Its helps to make sense of things.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

One other thing I didn't like about the Mark III was that the R1 and R2 channels shared the same preamp control. That preamp control in turn effected the amount of gain on tap for the lead channel. Does the Mark IV still use this same configuartion? Do the R1 and R2 channels share the same preamp/gain control?

On the Mark III, I would have to sacrafice distortion for R2 to keep R1 clean. Me no likey.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

+2000 for the recommendation to download the Mark VI manual.

If you have ADD, the Mark IV is not for you.

If you are a "turn every knob on 10" kind of player--don't bother.

If you get impatient with your 2 y.o. child; if you get frustrated in rush-hour traffic; if you roll your eyes every time your GF takes more than 30 seconds to decide what to eat or what to wear--then save your sanity, and DON"T BUY A MARK IV.

I had mine for a YEAR before I really had the amp where I could get the tones and the power settings down.

Personally, I have two Mark IIIs and find them easy as pie to get great tones out of. The Mark IV will take a lot more work, but it offers a lot of power-amp options not available in the Mark III.

Bill
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

Krank, thanks a ton for that info, helped a ton!

Boogie Bill: I have the patience. The Mesa Mark III was my first tube amp so having a complicated tube amp doesn't worry me too much and it just allows for further tonal options IMO.

So going to the tweed setting, what wattage does that bring you down to? Would just turning off 2 of the powertubes bring the wattage down but not allow the amp to go into a more "squishy" tube tone? In other words, can I bring the wattage down a good bit but not lose tightness or definition?

Thanks a ton for all the help guys, I really do appreciate it.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

BluesGuyJ said:
Guitarded: so you are saying the Mark IV is setup so that the R1 and R2 channels share the same bass and mid controls but both have their own treble controls and all 3 channels have their own graphic EQ? That doesn't follow what Tone said in his post.

BluesGuyJ = further confused...
Click to expand...

The graphic eq is common to everything. It is switchable.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

If you have patience the Mark IV will reward you for the time you put in. Small adjustments make for completely new tones, not "old tone with bumped midrange." Tweaker's paradise, you do just have to take a lot of time to get to know it. You can get that awesome mesa tone without having to deal with rectifier fizz!
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

Mark IV owner for a long time, it's a super versatile workhorse, never had any issues with it. There are heavier rhythm tones out there, but the MkIV has one of the better shred lead tones out of the Mesa line.

As with any Mesa, read the manual carefully since the descriptions are invaluable in helping learn how the controls work. For example going in and turning the Treble to 8 and then wondering why the Bass/Mid don't do anything no matter how high or low you set them.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

Hmmm, am I the only who thinks they sound waay too nice? All smooth and fine, no edges in the sounds like a flat-out running marshall.
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

I found it responds a lot different to different kinds of guitars and pickups. What you are describing is what it is what I get when I run Les Pauls through it. I use R2 for a smooth yet ballsy rhythm sound. Put a good OD pedal in front of that and whoooaaa.... The Lead tone is where this thing is unlike any amp I have played. It is like 9.999999 out of 10. It cuts thorough like butter... and has a real musical quality to it.

On R2 my Superstrats get a little more punchy and my Tele gets more dynamic with great response to the guitar controls.

I can't say enough good things about this amp. I was using borrowed Dual Recto before I bought this and it was OK.... but not ideal for my Classic Hard Rock Band, and my leads just didn't cut through in a way that complimented my playing. Still a great amp for the right use, but the Mark covers a lot more ground.


Axl H said:
Hmmm, am I the only who thinks they sound waay too nice? All smooth and fine, no edges in the sounds like a flat-out running marshall.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

Might you also want to consider the new Mesa Express 5:25 or 5:50? The 5:25 is EL84 and the 5:50 is 6L6. I have a 5:50 and it is switchable for 5 or 50 watts. It has two channels with separate gain, treble, mid, bass, reverb and contour for each channel. Each channel also has two modes ... channel one has clean and crunch and channel two has blues and burn.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Express/Express.htm
 
Re: Mesa Boogie Mark IV, talk about it!!!

wilerty said:
Might you also want to consider the new Mesa Express 5:25 or 5:50? The 5:25 is EL84 and the 5:50 is 6L6. I have a 5:50 and it is switchable for 5 or 50 watts. It has two channels with separate gain, treble, mid, bass, reverb and contour for each channel. Each channel also has two modes ... channel one has clean and crunch and channel two has blues and burn.
Click to expand...

The new Express Series are nice amps, but they are NOT Mark IVs. The preamp is much more flexible in the Mark IV, as is the power amp. The advantage of the Express is its ability to get a variety of tones relatively quickly. The Mark IV offers a level of sophistication that makes it truly a dream amp--but you have to be willing to master a steep learning curve to get to all the places this amp will go.

Bill
 
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