Mesa Mark IV users

[prolead]

I am looking for opinions from those who have used this head or currently use it.I am looking for a versatile aggressive head to go with a Bogner oversized 2X12 cab.I play mostly metal but would love an awesome clean channel also.I have read the reviews at Harmony and it seems a lot of tweaking is needed but worth it in the end.I owned the Powerball which was an awesome amp but I felt it was missing something.I would love to hear basic opinions,thanks for any help.

[markD]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

when it's dialed right it sounds great. breathe on a knob, or worse accidentally touch one - the magic tone can be lost forever. the clean channel is pretty good, the lead channel is great, but the rythym channel is shit. it's supposed to be a three channel amp, but it's really a 2 channel amp. the assignable effects loops is killer. the reverb sounds great. it sounds really good with 2 el34 and 2 6L6 power tubes. it's light weight but sounds heavy. the tweakable options are almost endless. but be preapred to work for a sound. also be prepared for midrange!!! it almost effortlessly gives the Santana lead tone. also very easy to get the sound Fates Warning uses on "Parallels" and "Inside Out". great amp.

[taxistationary]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

I have a purple stripe Mark III (basically a Mark IV). The thing is very verstile and sounds amazing. Be prepared to stop yourself from throwing it through a wall. The tweaking is so addicting. The tone is there, it's just a matter of squeezing it out of the amp. I'd never sell it though.

[Tetsuo]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

Kev I have owned both amps in the Powerball and the Mark IV.. Tweaking indeed I think all three channels sound great but there are a lot of options. I liked the Mark IV but I always get rid of the ones I owned. I think overall for just metal you are better off with teh Powerball IMO

[prolead]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

Thanks for the opinions guys.The Powerball was easy to dial in and had great tone,I just had a difficult time getting a nice lead tone.I don't want to spend all my time tweaking so I will either pick up another Powerball or try a VHT UL.Thanks again!

[Tetsuo]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

LOL Kev I just traded my Powerball for the VHT UL and I think that the Mark IV has the best lead tones no doubt... I think the UL lacks some of the balls of the Powerball w/o question but it is like a Mark IV on steriods... The UL requires a ton of tweaking.. My only complaint about the powerball was the lead tone

[Endrik]

Re: Mesa Mark IV users

personally I would take the Mark, very versatile amp.