Mesa Mark III/IV questions

[emperor_black]

What the diffence between Mark IV ver. A and ver. B?

Oh no! I've opened up a can of worms! :ROTF:

Well, there's pages and pages of debate about the tonal difference. Some say the Type A's have more low-end than the Type B's and are more closer to some of the late Mark III's. Of course we all know some of the mark III's are voiced close to the mark IIC+'s.

The type B's are supposed to be voiced slightly darker than the A's. but its still a big debate which one is better. Since the IV's are very complicated amps, an A/B comparison still wont yield good results. Given the age of the A's, a comparison with a newer type B is not a valid comparison. The A's were discontinued sometime late 94 or 95 I think. Mine is a Type A serial 4xxx.

Other than the tone, there is a difference in the fx loop. The type A has two sets of fx loops but the B has one set of fx loop, but a stereo one. Some other such small differences really.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Although the MK V has all the "sounds", the consensus on the Boogie board

Pfft. There is no consensus on the Boogie board about anything.

[Endrik]

I'd say IV is more of an metal amp than III, specially for more modern stuff.

III is more open and warmer, it's quite a rock'n'roll (Stones, Who, Santana etc.) amp as it's a thrash metal amp.

[emperor_black]

Pfft. There is no consensus on the Boogie board about anything.

Tru dat! But some of those guys know their amps in and out. They're talking changing capacitors, adding bias pots, etc.

I'd say IV is more of an metal amp than III, specially for more modern stuff.

Hmm, not really. It can come close, but cannot match stuff like Bogner, ENGL or even a DR. But with an MXR 10 band in the loop and a BB Preamp in the front, it can get very very close.

On the other hand, the Bogner, ENGL and DR cannot do what the MK IV can do. If you want (almost) fender like cleans (with the right preamp tubes), a AC/DC crunch to metallica type tones, the MK IV can do it all.

[/QUOTE]

[Endrik]

Hmm, not really. It can come close

close to what?

[Grandturk]

What the hell is a "metal" amp anyway - because my Mk IIA kills for metal!

[srommes]

My .02. If you are looking for a gigging amp, then I would go Mark IV or V. They will give you the versatility you need live and both sound great(although I prefer the IV over the V). If you are using more than one amp live then I would go with the Mark 3 as I think it has a more raw, organic tone and isn't quite as compressed as the IV/V. However, the shared EQ is tough to deal with if it is your only amp because you really have to compromise between your clean and dirty sound. If you are looking for the ultimate Mark tone for the studio or to combine with another amp live, the Mark IIC+ is the "be all end all". I've owned them all, like/love them all but the IIC+ has a character that none of them can quite match. It comes with a price-tag but it's well worth it if what you seek is the ultimate Mark tone.

[emperor_black]

What the hell is a "metal" amp anyway - because my Mk IIA kills for metal!

IMO, this is a "Metal" amp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA1O5FK5y9s

[Grandturk]

Well that doesn't help me here behind my firewall... what is it?

[emperor_black]

Well that doesn't help me here behind my firewall... what is it?

oops, sorry. Its a clip of someone playing a Bogner Uberschall through a framus 2x2. Sounded wicked!

[Grandturk]

I'll check it when I get home. Its probably a bit too modern-metal for me. I've never played one outside of the Uber model on PODs. I don't need much more metal than a modded 800/JCM 900 sound.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Tru dat! But some of those guys know their amps in and out. They're talking changing capacitors, adding bias pots, etc.

Don't care... Go over to the Warmoth boards and listen to all the douche bags rant and rave about how a Mahogany Strat will never sound good, cryo-treated bent-steel saddles are the only way to go, etc.

"I have a Mark IV, and I've determined that it is better than the Mark V"

Ah, I'm just giving you crap. But seriously, "I read over on <some forum>" means very little to me.

[emperor_black]

yeah, you're right, there!

[etepbbb]

I went and tried an older Black or Purple M III today, and it didn't do much for me. I don't know if the tubes were getting old, or what. This place also had a M IV, and it was cool. I'm surprised though, I kind thought the M III would have been more exciting, after listening to some of the youtube clips. This one definitly didn't sound that great, as far as Marshalls I've tried the 800 KK one and the 900, and neither really rocked me to much. The 900 I tried with a couple different OD/Dist. pedals and it still didn't work for me. Anyone ever put a tubescreamer or something similar in front of there M III/IVs?

[Endrik]

The mesas don't need any boosting. It could be tubes but I don't know how much experience you have with the Mark series amps but the settings are pretty important and they work totally different than most amps.