NAD: Mesa Mark V head

[ratherdashing]

I've had my Stiletto Ace head for nearly 4 years now. It's been a great amp for me, but lately I've been feeling it's time for a change. The band is really starting to branch out and I'm starting to itch for something a little more versatile and just ... different.

So, long story short, I got a Mark V head. Yay!

I've spent a few hours with it on the Stiletto 4x12. Here are my impressions at the moment:

- Clean channel (channel 1) absolutely kills the Stiletto's. I kind of suspected that going in, what with 6L6's vs. EL34's etc, but so far it's the most impressive channel for me, which is weird considering we're talking about a 90W Mesa head. I have it on Fat mode, 45W, tube rectifier, and it sounds heavenly.

- I found my medium gain happy place almost immediately by using the Crunch mode on channel 2. Works great in 45 watt mode for a true "vintage" experience, or in 90 watt mode for a big wide open crunch.

- Channel 3 is unfamiliar territory to me, as none of the modes of this channel sound anything like the Stiletto, or any other amp I'm really familiar with. Mark IIC+ mode reminds me a lot of the DC-3 combo I had 10 years ago, which is a good thing. I alternate between loving and hating the Mark IV mode. The Extreme mode is actually very well balanced, and I may stick with that if I don't fall back in love with the other two. I'm having a lot of trouble dialling this channel in, as even a slight change to the gain or EQ controls can have unpredictable results.

- The graph EQ is a VERY powerful feature, and can do a lot of harm and good, especially on channel 3.

- Haven't really used 10 watt mode yet, but the few times I've flicked to it out of curiosity I've been quite pleased. Not enough headroom for me to realistically use it in a rehearsal or gig situation, but I can see it getting a lot of use when recording.

- All three channels respond well to the Raptor overdrive (especially channel 2), but the amp does not like the Distortron. That's ok - the Distortron has mostly been made redundant by channel 2 anyway (I used to use it to add an "in between sound" to the Stiletto).

- The Mark V is very unforgiving of sloppy playing. It tracks so well even at high gain that every bum note comes through strong. I have a feeling that I'm going to be a much better guitarist if I keep at it with this amp.

In brief: I'm in love with the first two channels, but I'm still trying to work out the kinks of channel 3. I'm sure with time I'll get it.

I'm not posting pictures - it looks exactly like every other Mark V head.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Nice amp. I would love to run one side by side with the Recto for some pretty twisted sounds.

So have you sold the Ace?

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Nice amp. I would love to run one side by side with the Recto for some pretty twisted sounds.

So have you sold the Ace?

Not yet. When the Mark V's "probationary period" is over I'll put the Stiletto on craigslist. It will be sad to see it go, but I'm not Scrooge McMoneybags so I can't afford to hold onto them both.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Cool man, I'm sure you will make it sound good.

Also, you are an electronics tweaker - the Mesa Mark Series heads are made for guys like you (and specifically not for guys like me) - you understand how a few subtle changes in the signal path can work together to create a pleasant result. I am frustrated that my amp has knobs at all, because I am a caveman and I just want it to be on or off.

I am excited to hear how you sound with it brotherman!!!

 

[mwalluk]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

New Gear Rox

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Cool man, I'm sure you will make it sound good.

Also, you are an electronics tweaker - the Mesa Mark Series heads are made for guys like you (and specifically not for guys like me) - you understand how a few subtle changes in the signal path can work together to create a pleasant result. I am frustrated that my amp has knobs at all, because I am a caveman and I just want it to be on or off.

I am excited to hear how you sound with it brotherman!!!

Thanks!

It's an absolute monster to dial in, even for me. Part of it is that it's like owning nine amps, which sounds like Mesa marketing-speak but it's not far from the truth. That mode switch COMPLETELY changes the character of the channel - it's not just a gain boost or EQ tweak.

So, this kind of thing happens:

"I like this tone a lot, but I'd like a bit more high mid bite and turning up the treble isn't helping ... let's see what the other mode sounds like ... ok, now I have too much bass so let's dial that down ... whoops, need to back off the presence now ... not bad, but needs a touch more gain ... crap, now it's too muddy, I'm going back to the other mode ... well, now it's even muddier ..."

I need to be a bit more methodical with this thing. I can't just spin knobs and hope for the best.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Congratulations!! Did you trade in the Stiletto or keep it too?

 

[d1dsj]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

So, this kind of thing happens:

"I like this tone a lot, but I'd like a bit more high mid bite and turning up the treble isn't helping ... let's see what the other mode sounds like ... ok, now I have too much bass so let's dial that down ... whoops, need to back off the presence now ... not bad, but needs a touch more gain ... crap, now it's too muddy, I'm going back to the other mode ... well, now it's even muddier ..."

I need to be a bit more methodical with this thing. I can't just spin knobs and hope for the best.

Congrats on what should be a totally awesome amp but this /\ /\ /\ is exactly why I stick with my trusty old amp. I'm not a tweaker but wish I had at least a little patience.

 

[DankStar]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

You don't mess around with your NADs.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Congratulations!! Did you trade in the Stiletto or keep it too?

Not yet. When the Mark V's "probationary period" is over I'll put the Stiletto on craigslist. It will be sad to see it go, but I'm not Scrooge McMoneybags so I can't afford to hold onto them both.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

from one awesome amp to another!

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Thanks for the solid review. I'd love to own one of these, but I am as of yet no rock star.

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

Nice! Congrats man

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

from one awesome amp to another!

Yeah, I have asked myself more than once why I think I need a new amp when my current one is doing well. The only answer I can come up with is "it's time for a change".

Thanks for the solid review. I'd love to own one of these, but I am as of yet no rock star.

Neither am I ... I'm just a guy with expensive taste and enough money to buy (most of) what he wants.

 

[Al.C]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

I have had my MK5 for over 2 yrs. I instantly fell in love with the clean channel but have flipped around several times to find my favorite lead and rhythm settings. Initially I used the MK1 setting for my lead but never really settled with any of the 3rd channel settings for a 'classic rock' rhythm. I have finally switched to the crunch setting for my rhythm and the extreme mode on the third channel for my lead. I actually use the 10 watt setting with it set to triode for most of my lead playing at home and recording. It took a while but I have finally found settings I like for what I do. That being said I have a Lonestar Special head on order from boogie as we speak. Something about EL84's that I just love. Prior to ordering my MK5 I a/b the MK5 with the Lonestar for a couple days. I went with the MK5 because I thought the 3 channels would be more versatile but truth be told I think I always liked the tones from the Lonestar better. The clean channels are very similar but the lead channel on the Lonestar easily got the lead sound I like (old boogie). Heck pedals will get me any rhythm sound i want. Oh well now I will have both ( in addition to a MKIIc+ sitting in the corner that I never play and a couple other custom amps that I need to dust off). Man maybe there is therapy for this gear addiction (LOL).

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

:headbang:

 

[everdrone]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

nice

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

I just got back from Coloured Animal rehearsal. The Mark V is definitely a keeper

The most telling moment was after we played "604" (available on iTunes, Amazon, and anywhere fine MP3's are sold ). I had the following conversation with Kev, the singer:

K: "You did a lot of cool stuff in there!"
M: "I ... I just played what I've always played, same as every other time we've done this song."
K: "Well that's the first time I've actually heard any of it."

I sat better in the mix on all three channels (the other guitarist has an Electra Dyne FYI) without being louder or piercing. The guys told me that the Stiletto had a high mid bump that was a bit piercing at times, and in comparison the MkV is very balanced and round. The mix really opened up, and my parts stood out nicely without the need for blaring volume.

It tracks magnificently at any gain level. Fast, low riffing came through like a cannonball and leads sounded fat and present. Everyone was very happy with how I was sounding, and I think the band played stronger as a result. The accuracy of this amp definitely forced me to play a lot better, since every single note I was hitting was coming through strong.

I landed on the 2C+ mode for channel 3. The rich, chewy harmonics work really nicely for my style, and I got great tones with and without the EQ. I leave the EQ off for a thick, chunky lead tone, and turn the EQ on for a heavy scoop.

It was a great day. Any doubts I had about the suitability of this amp are long gone, and the Stiletto's going up for sale with minimal regret (I'm going to offer it to the other guitarists I know before I throw it up on CL).

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

I just got back from Coloured Animal rehearsal. The Mark V is definitely a keeper

The most telling moment was after we played "604" (available on iTunes, Amazon, and anywhere fine MP3's are sold ). I had the following conversation with Kev, the singer:

K: "You did a lot of cool stuff in there!"
M: "I ... I just played what I've always played, same as every other time we've done this song."
K: "Well that's the first time I've actually heard any of it."

I sat better in the mix on all three channels (the other guitarist has an Electra Dyne FYI) without being louder or piercing. The guys told me that the Stiletto had a high mid bump that was a bit piercing at times, and in comparison the MkV is very balanced and round. The mix really opened up, and my parts stood out nicely without the need for blaring volume.

It tracks magnificently at any gain level. Fast, low riffing came through like a cannonball and leads sounded fat and present. Everyone was very happy with how I was sounding, and I think the band played stronger as a result. The accuracy of this amp definitely forced me to play a lot better, since every single note I was hitting was coming through strong.

I landed on the 2C+ mode for channel 3. The rich, chewy harmonics work really nicely for my style, and I got great tones with and without the EQ. I leave the EQ off for a thick, chunky lead tone, and turn the EQ on for a heavy scoop.

It was a great day. Any doubts I had about the suitability of this amp are long gone, and the Stiletto's going up for sale with minimal regret (I'm going to offer it to the other guitarists I know before I throw it up on CL).

:headbang:

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: NAD: Mesa Mark V head

There's nothing better than having your buying decision affirmed. I'm glad to hear that it met with everyone else's approval, too. To live up to your responsibilities as the guitarist, you do need to melt their faces with its sheer volume at least once. Your amp needs to mark (npi) its new territory.