Mesa Mark IV questions

[fingerace]

Hey guys..

I research the forum, but I couldn't find the info I was looking for. (I even found a thread so old that jeffb was teased that he had 666 posts)

Anyway...

Do you think that for someone who plays blues to classic rock and just a bit beyond should bother getting a mark IV rather than getting vintage amps?

By "just a bit beyond" I don't mean anything that a crancked marshall cannot handle.

I think there is a debate around this matter. IMO many blues-rockers ask themselves this question, the point is what do they go buy after thinking about this?

Personally I would hesitate to buy a mesa mark IV because I woudn't be sure that the tones in my head would be in there!

What do you think?

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

I am not a blues rocker but i do know that if you swap out one pair of 6L6s with a pair of EL34s and plug in a les paul type guitar and do some tweaking you can get some very Joe walsh like tones from it but this said you can spend all stinkin day tweaking that thing with all the push pull knobs and stuff. A more simple set up may be what your after. They are versital but as for giving you the exact tones in your head i can't even begin to say. I had one and ultimatly it was just not for me but i am more a metal and jazz guy and my road king does everything i want and then some. I would say if you can try one out. I know that if you run the amp an low power and have a pair of El 34s it wil give more marshallesque tones. Thing is you can't run 4 EL 34s in that amp and you can only run the two in certain sockets. Hope this helps a least a little.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Are you playing live or recording?

Do you use multiple guitars?

Do you play many different types of music?

Do you want instant gratification? Or do you like to tinker?

Are you afraid to fail?

Do you have to have "the tones in your head": or can you live with something that sounds good, maybe even great, but isn't exactly what you want?

Do you want a multiple amp set-up?

========================

The Mark IV is in some ways, the first modelling amp.

If you don't have patience, forget it. It's probably a better recording amp than a live amp, though I use mine live. It took me more than a year to get totally comfortable with it. Mark IIIs are more limited, but they are much easier to set up. Other than a modelling amp or pedal, there's more tones in a Mark IV than you will ever use. Every guitar I plug into it sounds great--the best that guitar can be. Rock, Jazz, Country, Blues, Metal,... this amp can do it all, within limitations. I use the 112 EVM small combo, with a 112 EVM Theile Cab--a nice, small but very potent, quarter-stack with a very small footprint. I play mostly in a "classic rock" cover band, but we play all kinds of music.

I have had a truckload of Marshalls, vintage Fenders, SUNN, Acoustic Control , and others over the years. I am truly happy with my Mark IV--and all of my Mesas. These are PRO-quality amps. I love my tone, and I get lots of compliments. I feel like I've found my amp.

Bill

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

I am not a blues player by any measure...lol, but that being said, the Mark IV does all the things I don't play and a few of the ones I do, which is why I bought it. The Recto does great lead sounds for me, while the Mark IV does nearly every vintage to modern tone I have ever messed with. Whether it be a cover song, or just messing around in certain styles - the Mark IV has it covered pretty well. I ocassionaly get the itch to go for that Metallica And Justice For All sound also. Aside from a Mark IIC+ into EL34 Marshall pwer amps, the Mark IV is as close as it gets (especially the A series)

It is a complex amp, and it is good to read the manual, then set it down and just turn knobs and see where it takes you. You almost need to own it for a while before deciding if it does what you need.

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Mark IV's are super versatile! You can pretty much get any tone you want from super clean jazz stuff to ultra thick metal gain out of them with the right guitar and pickups. And the added bonus of them having a simul-class power amp makes them even better! Doesn't matter if you prefer EL-34 or 6L6 tubes.
Overall, its just a great amp!
You can definitely get the tones you're looking for out of a Mark IV.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Loud as a bitch though, don't forget that. I gig with one, and I get a real nice thick raunchy classic rock tone (our band plays classic rock - think The Who, old punk - the The Clash, psychadelic - think early floyd). I dont use the rhythm 2 (orange) channel, I use the lead and clean channels only. I set the lead for low - mid gain, and use my Fulltone Fulldrive II to get more levels of gain out of it. For gigs, the amp is great, I love it. Thats for my main band though, I play jazz and blues at home (almost exclusively clean).

When I'm practicing with my band, I never use the Mark IV. It doesnt sound that great at low levels IMO, so I just bring my Gibson GA5 and Deja Vibe (for the wierd psychadelic stuff we do) so I can get the power tube distortion at low levels. Clean channel sounds very good once u get the volume up too. Great friggen amp. From now on though, Im bringing my Tweed Twin amp to gigs and probably put an overdrive pedal in front so I can get my crunch sounds. But the Mark IV sounds very good too.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Thanks for the relpies guys...

jalguitarman, Unfortunately I cannot give the amp a shot.

Boogie Bill, what do you mean: "Do you want instant gratification? Or do you like to tinker?" The truth is that I don't have much patience with tone dialing. I imagine that it"s very frustrating trying to dial in your tone. Even someone like you (a good musician who I guess played through it everyday for a year) had a hard time with it.

My question somehow is, weather this amp is worth the effort if you are only going to play blues and rock.

Nite_Maresz_25 I may be able to get the tones I seek, but what is best if I am only going to play blues-rock anyway, the vintage of the mesa?

Gunny47 So you "abandoned" the mark 4 because your style does not require it. You can get what you NEED from a tweed twin and an OD pedal.

It is definately an amp worth considering... I ll try to find out if there is one in Cyprus, at least a mark III so that I can give it a shot. I know a studio has two mesas, but I don't know which two.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[tone4days]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

i'd suggest you play some other mesas .. specifically, the lonestar classic and the lonestar special ... for the music you play, you'll be in excellent territory with a much easier to set up amp

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

i'd suggest you play some other mesas .. specifically, the lonestar classic and the lonestar special ... for the music you play, you'll be in excellent territory with a much easier to set up amp

+1 i had forgotten about the lonestar or maybe the blue angel if they still make them.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

I play an old Mk II. I've tried the Mk IV several times, it's a couple of steps up as far a vesatility goes, but does requre tweaking.

I've tried a Lonestar Special several times, they are great classic rock-blues amps, & easier to dial in. Gerat bass response too due to the larger cab. Check one out.

Blue angels are out of production, the Lonestar Sp does have the ability to switch power ratings when changing channels.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

The F-series is a sweet amp for classic rock also (I even get some great Eric Johnson type tones)

 

[fingerace]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

the Lonestar Sp does have the ability to switch power ratings when changing channels.

And I think one operates only in class A while the other is 5 class A and 50 and 100 class A/B...

I checked them out... The new 5:25 5:50 look promicing too.

I haven't tried a mesa before, but is the versatality overkill for a blues-rock player?

 

[Tor]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

The F-series is a sweet amp for classic rock also (I even get some great Eric Johnson type tones)

Out of curiosity, what settings do you use for that?

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Out of curiosity, what settings do you use for that?

Do you mean for an EJ style tone? The lead channel without the contour on seems to be close already. The EQ operates in a pretty subtle fashion. A Strat, straight in, really reminds of a Cliffs of Dover tone.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

...

I haven't tried a mesa before, but is the versatality overkill for a blues-rock player?

I don't think so, but they are expensive, $1700. You don't have to use all the features, but it's nice to have them.

 

[Tor]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

Do you mean for an EJ style tone? The lead channel without the contour on seems to be close already. The EQ operates in a pretty subtle fashion. A Strat, straight in, really reminds of a Cliffs of Dover tone.

Ah, 'key. I have the F-50 too (and a Strat), and the tones out of this are great! Just thought you had a special setting for EJ tones that I might have wanted to know about.

fingerace, the versatility many Mesa amps can provide doesn't limit you as a guitar player (or blues rock player, for that matter), except the fact that you might fall into the trap of using more time on dialing in your tone rather than playing... I might have overlooked something, but why is your mind so set on a Mesa...? For such a "narrow" style you're playing in, I'd guess a Marshall or a Fender with an OD should be enough...?

 

[fingerace]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

My mind is not set on a mesa by any means... I had an amp order (a tweed) but I delayed the order (didn't submit it yet) so that I can look into the matter...

I want to know if a versatile mesa is worth both the money and the trouble of bialing in. You are right that I can just use a crancked vintage amp and get my tone. The point is that I may be able to use a mesa and get my tone. So I am just considering my options!

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

You shouldn't be afraid of the MKIII, MKIV, or the Quad Preamp. They all have your sounds in there, with the tweaking. The thing I like about the new Boogie gear is they've made it easier to dial in tones, because they've built the tones into the knob settings to a certain degree. The MK's have knob settings that allow you to build tones from scratch, by varying the gain at different stages of the preamp, and essentially giving you pre and post EQ. I love what Boogie Bill said about the MKIV being the first modelling amp in a way. Decades later I can still create modern-day tones with my Quad Preamp.

However you go you'll be satisfied with the Boogie line from what I can tell. You'll be able to get your sound, but the newer, simpler amps may deliver it with less effort.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

On most of the new Mesa amps, like the Maverick, Lone Star Special and Classic, F-Series, Nomads, and even the big Rectos--you pretty much set all the knobs at 12:00 and make minor adjustments from there. About 90% of the best tones come from a fairly narrow range on the dials. That's not to say they aren't versatile--but that's where the sweet spots on those amps are. You might want to drop the mids a little more on the clean channels; or add a little more treble or presence for some extra cut; but the mid-range settings of the controls on many of these modern Mesas is right where you want to be for the best tones. On the older amps--any of the Mark Series, that's not the case. Sweet spots are all over the place.

What gets most inexperienced players into trouble with a Mesa amp--they try it with everything on 10, and then bitch when it squeals, feedsback and sounds bad.

You MUST read the owner's manual to get the most out of your Mesa. They have a differerent design philosophy than most companies: and in many ways, their amps are like driving a high performance sports car.

And you must be willing to keep it stocked with good tubes. I disagree with many player's comments that, "Mesas eat tubes!"; but I will say that a Mesa amp demands a very high quality tube, and it will mercilessly and quickly expose a bad or weak tube. Budget for tubes.

One member said he doesn't take his Mark IV to practice because it is too loud--I just use the TWEED POWER and then switch the power amp to TRIODE, and CLASS A. This is a really nice and creamy 15-watt setting--perfect for low volume operation. I use multiple guitars, so I like to play my solos on my G&L Legacy (Strat) on the LEAD Channel for a singing lead tone. If I switch to a Les Paul, I may only need to use the R2 Channel to get a great lead voice.

The point is, there are many, many tones available to you in a Mark IV. Not everybody needs that; many players aren't willing to take the time to really learn all the ins and outs of the various settings.

If you are not willing, there are some other great amps out there--the LoneStars, the new Stiletto and the Stiletto Ace; and some of the older amps like the Mark III, F-Series, Trem-O-Verb, Maverick and Heartbreaker that can provide great tones AND instant gratification.

The Mark IV is a SERIOUS amp, that requires effort and committment. It's not some POS amp that you're just going to throw around and abuse--you need to take care of it. Mesa amps ususally hold their value extremely well. If you are up to the challenge, it could be the only amp you ever need to buy.

Is it worth the time, the money, the COMMITTMENT?

Absolutely!!!

Bill

 

[firebirdV]

Re: Mesa Mark IV questions

I think that the Mark 2c would be a great amp for blues and rock. You can really do a lot with it and it isn't really too hard to get a great tone out of it. Crank the mids and you've got more of a growly distortion, flip to class A, get a good distortion, etc... I'm not talking about mediocre sounds either, my dad has a mark 2c+ and the thing is a killer if you know what you're doing with it.