Boogie MkIV vs MkV

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I use a MESA recto horizontal 2-12" cab.

[javert]

So, here are my settings for channel 3 along with a pic of the whole amp for good measure

IMG_0265[1].jpgIMG_0266[1].jpgIMG_0267[1].jpg

[Cliff]

There are many more tone's I'd like to get than just this, but this is definitely one I'm after:

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Mark_Series/mark5/mark5.html#p7GPc1_4

In particular the Channel 2 Mark I - Solo video.
For comparison, there's Galo's Latin Groove here:

http://www.fractalaudio.com/media.php

To me, the latter sounds a bit 'processed', but I guess there's a lot more going on than just the amp simulation. What does the panel think?

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

So, here are my settings for channel 3 along with a pic of the whole amp for good measure

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2746[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2747[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2748[/ATTACH]

The Master seems a little high if you're using the loop/solo/mute and seems deafening if you're not.

Seriously, when used with the loop, at least to me it seems to gain a certain harshness past 2:00 or so. Otherwise those settings are very close to the reference card. That should sound really good and heavy! Are you using Pentode? If you play palm-muted stuff IMO it's the way to go.

Mine is:
90 watt Pentode, sliders (pretty deep V, read on)
Extreme mode
Gain, presence, treble, mids all the way up
Bass at 12:00
Master at 11:00 (between 11:00 and 1:00 to balance with CH2)

I dial in plenty of treble and mids in the pre to get lots of gain, and then scoop the mids with the GEQ to taste, and roll off some highs with the 6K slider to taste.

This is a "bedroom" volume setup, i.e. I use it this way for recording when my wife is home so she doesn't want to stab me when I come out of my music room.

Oh, for the CH2 I use Crunch with everything turned up all the way except the Master which is again at about 12:00 and I use the same GEQ preset. It just sounds like a slightly less saturated version of the Lead channel with more mids - great for the more "classic" metal tones or hard rock, etc. I like a lot of distortion... This amp doesn't disappoint for me.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

There are many more tone's I'd like to get than just this, but this is definitely one I'm after:

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Mark_Series/mark5/mark5.html#p7GPc1_4

In particular the Channel 2 Mark I - Solo video.
For comparison, there's Galo's Latin Groove here:

http://www.fractalaudio.com/media.php

To me, the latter sounds a bit 'processed', but I guess there's a lot more going on than just the amp simulation. What does the panel think?

I have said I don't care for Mark I mode, but that's not true - it's beautiful for lead. If CH2 had more gain, I would use Mark 1 mode for lead and CH3 Extreme for rhythm. Mark 1 is sweet for soloing.

[javert]

The Master seems a little high if you're using the loop/solo/mute and seems deafening if you're not. . Seriously, when used with the loop, at least to me it seems to gain a certain harshness past 2:00 or so. Otherwise those settings are very close to the reference card. That should sound really good and heavy! Are you using Pentode? If you play palm-muted stuff IMO it's the way to go.

If I don't have the master that high, I lose the sustain. I think I'm using the pentode mode (I didn't touch that toggle for a long time). It does sound pretty nice and full and not too fuzzy as long as I keep the treble down. It's pretty much like one of Petrucci's settings, only with the gain and volume turned up higher. I'm pretty happy with those settings.

Mine is:
90 watt Pentode, sliders (pretty deep V, read on)
Extreme mode
Gain, presence, treble, mids all the way up
Bass at 12:00
Master at 11:00 (between 11:00 and 1:00 to balance with CH2)

I dial in plenty of treble and mids in the pre to get lots of gain, and then scoop the mids with the GEQ to taste, and roll off some highs with the 6K slider to taste. This is a "bedroom" volume setup, i.e. I use it this way for recording when my wife is home so she doesn't want to stab me when I come out of my music room.

Oh, for the CH2 I use Crunch with everything turned up all the way except the Master which is again at about 12:00 and I use the same GEQ preset. It just sounds like a slightly less saturated version of the Lead channel with more mids - great for the more "classic" metal tones or hard rock, etc. I like a lot of distortion... This amp doesn't disappoint for me.

I tried your channel 2 settings yesterday, and first I thought it was going to sound like ass, but it does actually sound like good classical distortion, so thanks for that I will try your channel 3 settings today. I'm a bit curious...

Speaking of recording, I recently bought a SM57 and a cab grabber and I've been experimenting a bit with recording at home, but I haven't managed to get a really good sound yet.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Interesting on the Master. I will play with that. I know on CH2 it gets harsh. I didn't need more gain on CH3 so I didn't try it that I can recall...

For recording, I use a USB interface, a M-Audio thing, with Pro Tools M-Powered, which comes with 11 Free.

I just use my Slave Out into one of the inputs, and turn the little "amp switch" off in Eleven, which just does a cab sim (pretty cool!) and it sound great with a little EQ! No mic required (I don't have one, I don't sing.)

[javert]

Jazz, I just tried your channel 3 settings and I must say that that's way too fuzzy for me. Do you use the normal or bright mode, by the way? Regarding the channel volume versus gain, I find that the sound actually gets less fuzzy if I use a lower gain and a high volume rather than the other way around.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I use the "normal" mode, with Extreme. I like a lot of presence, so I would expect it would be too fuzzy for you.

[javert]

Jazz, can you post some examples (i.e., recordings) of your settings?

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I have some stuff recorded but I don't have any way to post them or anything. :think:

[javert]

Hmmmm, there are sites dedicated to sharing sound files, but I'm not really familiar with any of them, so I don't know how they work and what the ramifications of posting there are...

[straycat]

Sound cloud.com

[Cliff]

So I took a trip to Guitar Center in San Francisco to try out a Mark V. I liked it a lot! This is only my second time in Guitar Center and I must say, despite all the negative comments I've heard about them, I've found them very helpful and knowledgable (pretty poor guitar selection, though).
The amp has a lot of versatility, and I found myself liking pretty much every tone I found. I'm sure it'll be awesome once I get used to it. We tried dialing back the gain and turning up the master to overdrive the power amp in 10 watt class A mode - it sounded gorgeous.
Now I've come back home and had a damned good play of the Studio 22 to try and convince myself I need the new one. By cranking it up loud, I found a lot of cool new sounds I've never gotten before, but it's certainly not as versatile as the Mk V. One odd thing, on the lead channel, even with the gain on full, the perception of gritty distortion seems to go down as the overall volume increases. Certainly the Mk V can get a modern, higher gain sound.
Anyway, now I have to decide whether I really need to spend all that money. Any of you guys ever get that? You more or less know you're going to do it, but you don't feel you deserve it? (It didn't help that I was sharing the practice room with a guy trying out a Les Paul who was a much better player...)

[Twitch]

Cliff, I believe youve got this all wrong. Its called GAS. There is no justification beyond you want it. If you have the scratch and the wifey wont give you the cold shoulder for who knows how long afterwards, BUY IT NOW while you have the means and the chance. tIts always nice to have options when it comes to tone.

No, thats not a typo.