Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

I've been thinking about selling my XXX and Jackson and picking up a Mark, not sure yet, just an idea, but I was wondering what were the differences tone wise between the II and IV? I know I really really dug the IV I played, and I've only heard good things about the III. I don't need all those insane options and channels on the IV, and could live without the almost doubled price. Are the III and IV similar on high gain? Or totally unrelated?

On that note, I've always heard the V-twin described as MKIII like. Would it sound like a Mark running it through the poweramp of my (6L6) Peavey? If it would, that would be alot more cost efficient and I'd still have the XXX when I wanted the buzzier type of gain.

 

[mrid]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

If you wanted versatility, then I'd go for the Mark IV. It's a bit more tame in the gain department than the Mark III, but you can set and forget all three channels and have usable tones to switch between. The Mark III is more agressive than the Mark IV (and more than the IIC+, I think), but when you try to tweak one channel it messes up the tone of another channel.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

Ah, that's what I was afraid of. I know I could run an EQ in the loop and change it when I changed channels, but that would be a bit of a hassle, as I hate running pedals. What's the cheapest you've seen IV's go for on ebay? I've seen as low as 1000, and that's about as high as I'd like to go budget wise. Do you think my ghetto v-twin into peavey poweramp plan would get me my Mesa fix? I plan to go try one out, but if it did work...that'd be killer.

 

[mrid]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

Ah, that's what I was afraid of. I know I could run an EQ in the loop and change it when I changed channels, but that would be a bit of a hassle, as I hate running pedals. What's the cheapest you've seen IV's go for on ebay? I've seen as low as 1000, and that's about as high as I'd like to go budget wise. Do you think my ghetto v-twin into peavey poweramp plan would get me my Mesa fix? I plan to go try one out, but if it did work...that'd be killer.

I just passed up a nice Mark IV shorthead on Ebay for less than $900 shipped. Honestly, I really do not like the V-Twin. IMO, it doesn't really sound like a Mark II/III/IV at all...at least for the tones I like (face-melting high gain :laugh2: ).

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

I just passed up a nice Mark IV shorthead on Ebay for less than $900 shipped. Honestly, I really do not like the V-Twin. IMO, it doesn't really sound like a Mark II/III/IV at all...at least for the tones I like (face-melting high gain :laugh2: ).

It's very subjective. I would usually agree with Mrid, but not on this. It depends on what kind of amp that you're running it through and the tone that you're trying to achieve. I happen to love the V-Twin through most of the tube amps that I've run it through. As long as you have plenty of clean power to work with, I love it.

That being said, there's a reason that I have a Mark II and a Rectoverb. They are very different and desirable, each in its own way.

The V-Twin doesn't perfectly replicate the Mark series tone, but it's close enough for most folks. The point is, you won't know until you try it for yourself.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

I hear all the time that MkIII's have more gain than IV's... But between my two amps the IV has more gain. Not a ton but it has more... I've been told that this is due to my MKIII being a green stripe... Which i'm not sure on as I've never compared side by side to other stripe models... Either amp I think has plenty of gain... If you need versatility the III can be a pita... I basically use mine as a single channel amp... I havent ever had that problem with the IV granted channels 1 and 2 share bass and mid controls but I've never found it had to be compromised... just my 10 cents...

 

[Grandor]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

Mark IV's go as low as 800 on ebay.
Mine was 1100 immaculate 2001 model.

I had my first gig with it tonite and it was awesome. perfect amp i love it.

 

[mrid]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

I hear all the time that MkIII's have more gain than IV's... But between my two amps the IV has more gain. Not a ton but it has more... I've been told that this is due to my MKIII being a green stripe... Which i'm not sure on as I've never compared side by side to other stripe models... Either amp I think has plenty of gain... If you need versatility the III can be a pita... I basically use mine as a single channel amp... I havent ever had that problem with the IV granted channels 1 and 2 share bass and mid controls but I've never found it had to be compromised... just my 10 cents...

The outer sockets of the green stripe Mark III's are wired in fixed pentode mode in the outer sockets...that's why you're getting extra headroom and less breakup. I bet you run your Mark IV in triode mode, right?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

Ah thanks much guys. 900 shipped is actually alot better than I expected, and I'd prefer the shorthead.

Now I just need to go crank one up, and decide whether or not I like it better than my XXX...

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Mesa Mark III & IV Differences?

The outer sockets of the green stripe Mark III's are wired in fixed pentode mode in the outer sockets...that's why you're getting extra headroom and less breakup. I bet you run your Mark IV in triode mode, right?

Actually no I dont like the sound of triode... its usually on Simul-Class and Pentode sometimes Class A not often though. But I do use tweed power most of the time so maybe thats the difference...

You wouldnt happen to know where I could find the differences between all the different stripes in the MKIII's would you?