Author Topic: Mesa Mark IV's (Read 7286 times)

maliciousteve · « **on:** March 29, 2006, 12:54:35 AM »

Hey guys. For my bands new CD, we're playing with my 7 string Ibanez through our producers Mark IV. The sound is just amazing. It's a very dynamic and smooth sounding amp and handles 7 strings stupidly well. Even when turning the volume down on the guitar, the clean sound is awesome (using an EMG 707). Although i can't afford one of these, is there any amp out there that can do things like the Mark IV? that won't cost me an arm and leg?

P.s, i'm still happy with my ADA MP-1 through a Peavey Classic power amp, but i can't resist the Mark IV's sound.

genocidal tendencies · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2006, 01:12:11 AM »

It must be pretty good if it can drag good cleans out of an emg. What kind of budget are we talking about? I'd hate to just suggest another amp you can't afford...

maliciousteve · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2006, 11:08:16 AM »

realisticly i have nothing. But i can save up. But maybe, nothing over 900?

Spleen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2006, 04:58:11 PM »

The Mesa Boogie mark IV is one of the nicest, most versatile amps I've ever heard. It's too bad they're ridiculously expensive. The Road king is also a very impressive (and expensive) piece of kit.

I'm afraid I have no real advice on a cheaper solution. Actually i just thought of something. It won't give you Mark IV tone but Line 6 have a fairly OK Mesa Boogie rectifier emulation on their amps. The Flextone 3, or perhaps even a PodXT with a fairly "transparent" amp might be a cheaper solution. It's what I did. I didn't have the money for a Mesa Boogie so I bought a Flextone. The Vetta II sounds great but is as expensive as a Mesa Boogie.

That being said, I find the guitar sounds in Guitar Rig 2 much more accurate than my Flextone 1. That is an incredible program.

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2006, 05:35:10 PM »

I haven't tried the mark IV, but going by the other mesas I've tried, i'd look into a laney vh100r (or maybr a gh, but i haven't tried those).

I have no idea if it'll get close though.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2006, 11:46:29 AM »

I wanted a Mark IV, i got an ENGL Screamer 50.
it's no Mark IV but it's deffinatly getting there.

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2006, 12:43:32 PM »

^hmmm. Aren't engls kind of brighter than mesas though? (darn fine amp though, i own an engl, and don't own a mesa, lol- but if he wants the mesa tone...)

but yeah, for around about £900, and having not tried the marks ( :lol: ), what i'd probably look into is:

those laneys i mentioned.
engl screamer/thunder (try both, they're probably voiced differently)
mesa f30

ashdown fallen angel combo (haven't tried, and have heard dodgy things about the reliability, but it's meant to sound kind of between a marshall and a mesa. at the price though (just over £300), i'd assume the others would eat it alive...)

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2006, 01:29:46 PM »

You won't find anything that sounds like a Mesa, except a Mesa.

Also, if you've grown accustomed to a real MkIV, a Line 6 emulation just won't cut it.

The thing to remember is that the whole Mesa Mark series are basically a hot rodded and revoiced blackface Fender Bassman....hence their surprisingly good cleans.

I'd like to be able to help, but I'm affraid the closest you'll come is one of Boogie's budget amps.....50 Cal, DC series, Studio .22, ect. Most of these are designed to be stripped down (ie, cheaper) versions of the full blown Marks. A friend of mine uses a DC10 and it's a great amp.

Also, depending on what they cost over there, the MkIII is in considerably less demand than the MkII and MkIV, and therefore is usually cheaper. They're just as good sounding as both the MkII and MkIV, but they lack in the "famous User" department, thus why they're in less demand.

I own a couple Mesas and a Laney GH100TI. I think the Laney sounds killer.....very natural/organic sounding high gain.....but it doesn't sound anything like a Mark.

maliciousteve · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2006, 01:46:42 PM »

Quote from: JamesHealey

I wanted a Mark IV, i got an ENGL Screamer 50.
it's no Mark IV but it's deffinatly getting there.

I have to agree. The Screamer 50 was incredibly versatile and was close to the mark IV.

I guess i would have to keep my eyes open.

fatbob · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2006, 02:09:20 PM »

I played a through a markIV a few years back, when trying out a few guitars. Didn't like any of the guitars, but the Mesa was amazing- remains the benchmark amp for me, wish I had the £2k for one!
Getting to the point though, if they are based on a souped-up fender, would a HR deluxe/deville come close? (never tried one myself)

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2006, 06:40:05 PM »

^well, i haven't tried a mark, but i tried an HRD a few years ago, and the OD sucked, IMO- nothing like a mesa. Cleans and blues tones were good though.

Bainzy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2006, 07:13:23 PM »

£2000 for an amp? The profit mark-up must be huge on those amps.

Ratrod · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2006, 07:15:21 PM »

The MIV is still on my wish list. If I can ever miss that huge amount of money, I'll get one. It was the heart of Metallica's sound in their good days.

Walter Trout also played one, if my memory serves me well.

Dakine · « **Reply #13 on:** April 07, 2006, 07:18:26 PM »

Agggghhhh! :twisted:

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2006, 08:30:37 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

It was the heart of Metallica's sound in their good days.

*cough* Mark IIC+ *cough*

:D

Quote from: Bainzy

£2000 for an amp? The profit mark-up must be huge on those amps.

Particularily outside the US.

Quote from: fatbob

if they are based on a souped-up fender, would a HR deluxe/deville come close?

No. The old "Blackface" Fenders used to have a decent overdrive to them. Modern "Silverface" Fenders are designed to be ultra high headroom and ultra clean.

Author Topic: Mesa Mark IV's (Read 7286 times)

maliciousteve

genocidal tendencies

maliciousteve

maliciousteve