Mesa Mark IV

[jgcable]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Thanks John. I am gonna get one if I have to sell a majority of my current gear. I just threw my MTS3200 up in the classifieds because I still need to have more money when one comes up. I thought I would be able to score one for around $850-$900 but it looks like I might need to spend more like $1200.00

[Tooling]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

I've had three of them. Two new ones and an early one. The early one smoked both new ones in that there was an inherent warmth to the old one. I called Mesa to see what the scoop was between old and new. They would only confirm they had changed them in a think early '95 or so....probably a bias thing. I had a love/hate relationship w/ that amp for a long time and in the end hated it...it's a COLD BRITTLE sounding amp with an awful feel. I jacked w/ the settings alot and every now and again would find a good tone only to lose it the next morning when my hearing had changed. If you want the amp the MK IV has always wanted to be...look no further than the VHT UL, it is a perfected MK IV in every aspect from clean to dirty. I preferred EL34's and tried MANY of the ,"best" tubes both preamp and power....Svetlanas were the best with a mix of preamp tubes. I'm sure others can get a good tone and feel out of 'em due to their popularity....not me.

[Twisteramps]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Friend of mine had a Mk IV and a Bogner Ecstacy... we played the Mk IV and Ex right after each other. The IV sounded like it was gargling rocks, it was so gritty sounding compared to the Ex. I'm more of a smooth amp fan, and it may have been how the IV was tweaked, but it sounded really rough. If it wasn't for the problems with the 2nd channel and all the shared controls, I'd say the Mk III I had ruled the IV's I've played.

Pete

[jgcable]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Thanks Pete. 2 other people told me to look at Mark III's too. There is a really reasonably priced Nomad 100 head on Ebay and also a very nice .50 caliber head for around $500.00. I had a Nomad 45 and I thought it was great. It was a 1 x 12 combo. It didn't do high gain metal but it was really smooth.

[Endrik]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Mark III is probably my fav. amp ever, too bad it doesn't have the options that Mark IV has.

[Tooling]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

[ QUOTE ]
Friend of mine had a Mk IV and a Bogner Ecstacy... we played the Mk IV and Ex right after each other. The IV sounded like it was gargling rocks, it was so gritty sounding compared to the Ex. I'm more of a smooth amp fan, and it may have been how the IV was tweaked, but it sounded really rough. If it wasn't for the problems with the 2nd channel and all the shared controls, I'd say the Mk III I had ruled the IV's I've played.

Pete

[/ QUOTE ]


I now own , play, and love a Bogner Ecstasy.....go figure

Jg....there is obviously only one way to find out if it's you or not and it sounds like you're gassin' pretty bad....buy used and be prepared to spend 1K....you'll find one in great shape for that much...I like the long heads.

[taxistationary]

Re: Mesa Mark IV





John, keep up the search! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[FSU_Seminoles]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

is that a IIB ?

[jgcable]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

That is a Mark 3 Purple Stripe

[Fragle]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

and those are some seriously crazy EQ settings [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[taxistationary]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Have you ever tryed a Mark series amp? If you did, then you'd know that there are SO many variables that affect the tone, so just because my setting may look "crazy" to you, doesn't meen they sound "crazy" at all. I think I know what tone I like, and thats obviously expressed through my guitar amps settings. My amp sounds clear and punchy as hell, with a clean channel that compares to Fender's clean. Really sorry if that doesn't work for you, bro. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

Its that darn purple stripe that is messing with your settings. You should get rid of that dog of a Boogie and get a real amp.. I know a guy in Connecticut who will do you a favor and take it off your hands. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Fragle]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

whoa, cool man, cool. i didn't want to offend you. different strokes for different folks, i guess.
i just found the idea of cranking the low frequencies like that kind of weird...maybe the mk III is a different beast in this respect. if i set my dual caliber like this the low end would kill me, seriously [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
sorry once again

[nor]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

If you set a MKIII's eq like you would a Marshall - it sounds like ass. That's the main reason it takes most blokes quite some time to dial 'em in. But once you figure out the interactive EQ, you'll only use the graphic eq for lead boosts...

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Twisteramps]

Re: Mesa Mark IV

I always used the graphic EQ on my mark series boogies to try to take some of that 'nasal' tone out of the lead channel. Works great for solos, but sounded like ass for rhythm playing. Just my opinion, of course. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Pete