Boogie Mark IV Question

[lhrocker]

I am probably going to trade my Framus Dragon for a Boogie Mark IV, but there are some questions that you guys could help me with before I do.

My favorite Boogie is the 3 channel Dual Rec and my least favorite is the 50 Cal +. The reason being the DR sounded great on all 3 channels at both bedroom as well as blasted. The 50 only sounded good with either the volume blasting or with a distortion pedal in front.

What I dislike about the Dragon is it sounded very trebly, even with no treble dialed at low volumes. I rebiased the amp to 36mv and swapped out the tubes. It helped a little, but not much. It was kind of fun to run loud, but I could never run that loud at home. Plus the high end made the lead channel too brutal for me.

So my questions are

1 - how does the Mesa compare to the Studio and the Recto?
2 - does it sound good at low volumes as well as high volumes?
3 - are the channels balanced so my cleans won't overpower my distortions and vice/versa?
4 - Would this be a fairly even trade? (Dragon and Boogie cab vs. Mark IV combo and extension cab.

Is there a way that I can get the Dragon to sound good? MY JVM and Randall RM100 sounded great at all volumes and is really easy to tweak. Is there something I am overlooking on the Dragon?

[nhspike]

1 - how does the Mesa compare to the Studio and the Recto?
2 - does it sound good at low volumes as well as high volumes?
3 - are the channels balanced so my cleans won't overpower my distortions and vice/versa?
4 - Would this be a fairly even trade? (Dragon and Boogie cab vs. Mark IV combo and extension cab.

Well, nobody seems to be taking a stab at this, so I'll toss in my two cents worth...

As far as Mark series amps, I've only owned II's and III's, but have played with IV's enough in the store to know they are cut from the same cloth.

That is, very nice low volume amps... probably the best bedroom amp out there, since you can dial in so much gain it's ridiculous, and throttle the output down so much.

They also breath very well at higher output... ear splitting in fact. In this regard, they have a true split personality. I would suggest an extension cabinet, since if you happen to be the poor soul that the speaker is aimed at in the audience, good luck hearing for the next day or two. Best to spread that shit out a bit.

Channel balancing is a different story. I always had trouble getting all three of the channels, or modes, to be balanced... mostly settled for two that were close enough.

Hope that helps somewhat my brother!

[jgcable]

Here is my take Pete.
#1. The Mark IV sounds nothing like the Rectifier. It is voiced more like the Caliber, the Steletto and of course the Mark III. It has a ton of gain but it is more organic. Very tweakable, lots of bottom end and not alot of sizzle. That is the difference between a Mark IV and the Rectifier. Sizzle.
#2. It sounds great at low volumes. Some people prefer the lower volume tone over the loud settings (which are #3 on the volume knob)
#3. The hardest thing about a Mark IV is balancing the channels. Even though it has multiple modes (channels) I was only ever to get 2 good ones dialed in that were balanced. I am sure it is possible.. I just couldn't do it.
#4. Regarding the trade... I think the other guy is getting the better end of the deal value wise.
With that said.. I kinda know your taste in amp tone and I didn't think the Dragon was gonna be your cup of tea. It is a very trebly amp with a super high gain modern voiced tone. You can tone it down with cabinet and speaker selection but its hard to tame that beast.
The Mark IV is certainly more up your alley. Also... keep in mind.. the Mark IV is one of the greatest amps ever made. Personally.. I prefer the head over the combo.
Another thing to consider is this... the Framus Dragon is a fad amp (sorry Dragon owners). The Mark IV is an industry standard tried and true amp used by pro's for decades. Last thing... you could always have a buyer (or trader) for it if you don't like it.... hint...hint.... wink...wink...

[markD]

i had one for quite a while - i agree with EVERYTHING john said about the amp. it is also VERY speaker dependant. i tried it with many cabs and speaker combos before i found one i liked. the options on tweaking the power stage are limitless. i liked mine with JBL speakers and 6L6/EL34 combination in the power amp.

it is VERY hard to get a equal sound between low volume playing and stage volume. your tone will change A LOT when you crank it up...i always found that i had an awesome bedroom tone, but an as-sucking stage tone....then i'd tweak it in practice at stage volume, take it home and it's sound like a pussy-fart at low volumes....

it really is NOT a 3 channel amp. it is a good 2 channel amp with options.

it IS a great amp but be prepared to spend WEEKS tweaking it - plus if you sneeze on a knob, your tone is lost for MONTHS!!!!!

[cookiemonster2]

I can only speak to question 2 - Yes

I have a JVM too, and I think the Mark IV can do a bit better at lower volumes.

On the other hand, it looks all but certain the Mark V is coming out at NAMM and the high gain channel will have a 10 watt switch. Might want to wait for that. Apparently will be $2200.

[surfreak]

One more thing on the MKIV combo, the actual cabinet size and material make a big difference.
I used to own both a standard 1x12 MKIV combo and a widebody, the widebody obviously sounded bigger, not just at stage volume, but still not quite "right" to my ears.
A few years ago I bought a used 1x12 combo with the hardwood cabinet (maple), and it just sounds spectacular!

Perhaps it is just that semi-random combination of cap and resistor tolerances and tubes, or maybe it is indeed because of the solid wood cabinet resonance, but it sounds better than any of the MKIV's I've owned or tried.

[RR05xx]

I will add this. I really dont consider anything made by Mesa to be true "bedroom" materal because the power tube section really needs to get cooking before you can get the amps true potential (unless you use a Hotplate or the like). The other thing I will say is that most Mesa' need to be matted to a decent 4x12 to really get it going on - I prefer the Marshall 1960 lead personally as it balances out the sound compared to using whatever Mesa recomends to pair it with.

[nhspike]

I will add this. I really dont consider anything made by Mesa to be true "bedroom" materal because the power tube section really needs to get cooking before you can get the amps true potential (unless you use a Hotplate or the like). The other thing I will say is that most Mesa' need to be matted to a decent 4x12 to really get it going on - I prefer the Marshall 1960 lead personally as it balances out the sound compared to using whatever Mesa recomends to pair it with.

Hmmm.
Been playing these Mesa's since about 1985, and I will have to respectfully disagree with you here.

I guess it boils down to what you consider "true potential".

I've miked my Mesa at "bedroom volumes" right into the PA for rather large crowds, and always felt/sounded like I had the true tone of the amp in my favor.

Peace.

[Joelski]

The Mk IV is IMO one of the best, most versatile amps ever made; a total tone bringer! The thing the Boogie has over every amp out there is the ability to clean up; it's not the uber-gain, face melting amp a Bogner or ENGL is, but it holds its own and owns those amps for clean tone. Yes, it's hard to tweak and takes a lot of fiddling to get "your sound", but the reward is glassy,sparkling cleans and roaring, honkin' chunk. Throw that amp in front of a 4x12" with two EVM12L's and two V-30's or sidewinders and you can get the best metal tone ever created! The best thing is it's the absolute best, most versatile combo amp around. I gave up lugging stacks around a long time ago. Wheel that boogie up on the stage, lift off the top of the ATA case and throw a mic in front if you need to; as stated, it will blow you away for a "little" 85 watt 1x12" amp. It's fun as hell to wipe the smile off them SS, full stack totin' punks faces when you plug in and give them a 7 or so on the master.

[RR05xx]

Hmmm.
Been playing these Mesa's since about 1985, and I will have to respectfully disagree with you here.

I guess it boils down to what you consider "true potential".

I've miked my Mesa at "bedroom volumes" right into the PA for rather large crowds, and always felt/sounded like I had the true tone of the amp in my favor.

Peace.

Really. I also first started playing Mesas in the 80s (and I still play them live in clubs these days). I did not say that they sound bad. Only that for what I want to do with them, I have only been able to get them to sound good with the tubes cooking alittle. Its the bottem end/huge warm sound that I am talking about. I think they sound thin and less articulate otherwise. Absen that, it kinda defeats the purpose of using them IMHO.

[roodyrocker]

Really. I also first started playing Mesas in the 80s (and I still play them live in clubs these days). I did not say that they sound bad. Only that for what I want to do with them, I have only been able to get them to sound good with the tubes cooking alittle. Its the bottem end/huge warm sound that I am talking about. I think they sound thin and less articulate otherwise. Absen that, it kinda defeats the purpose of using them IMHO.

I have to agree with the above too. My Mesa Dual Recto needs to be turned up a bit to sound good. Doesn't necessarily have to be cranked mind you but at bedroom levels I've never been happy with it. Not the easiest to dial in either but once you do it does sound good indeed.

[nhspike]

Well, considering I live in the woods, and don't worry about how loud I play, maybe it boils down to what I consider bedroom volume.

[toejam]

Well, considering I live in the woods, and don't worry about how loud I play, maybe it boils down to what I consider bedroom volume.

If you crank your Mesa in the woods, does anybody hear it?

[nhspike]

I do!!!
LOL

[Endrik]

If you crank your Mesa in the woods, does anybody hear it?

it sure does pisses the cuckoos off