Off Topic Mesa Boogie Mark V - suitable for home use?

[Dr.Strangenote]

Yeah, I can safely say the the Mark V will certainly melt faces..

 

[luke2joey]

The Mk V is a tone monster! You can switch it down to 10 watts and you will have a great tone. Hey, I know the beast. Have been playing with Boogies several years now, and believe me: the Mk V is the most versatile amp Mesa has ever built. It is very dynamic and the quality of your tone is outstanding. Whatever channel you prefer, you can get the tone you want.
For people who think it is complicated, they better stick to the Epiphone Tube 5 watt, which has one knob....
With the Mk V you can make your tone. If you want to play clean, growling blues or Dream Theater: each channel is prepared to make your own sound. It looks complicated, but is not. The layout is logical.
Never had any issues with whatever Boogie I had. The Mk V is built like a tank, compare it to M....l or P.....y and you know what I mean. I cannot stop raving about this amp, but go and try for yourself. Play with this tone monster and rely on your ears and judge for yourself.
For me it is the best amp ever. Period. Whether I use it at home (10 Watts), in the practice room, or on a big stage.
If the Mk V is the best amp for you however, I cannot tell.
Good luck in you 'queste'

 

[Spudmurphy]

Who many other amp companies will service their own amps?

Marshall do it.

I find the BJ a great little amp - handles pedals great too.

 

[Fro]

Another good Mesa amp that sounds great at low volumes is the Lonestar Special. I have both the MarkV and the LSS. I would say I use the LSS at home about 80% of the time but I use pedals. When I play my Mark V at home, or out for that matter, I rarely use any OD because it sounds so good on it's own. To be honest, even the 5 watt mode of the LSS and the 10 watt mode of the Mark V is going to be very loud if you turn it up but both amps have very good master volumes.

 

[auxren]

I love using my Mk III at home. Sounds great at lower volumes too, and I don't have the simulclass version. I even like to go for the Mk overkill and plug in my Rhodes Mark II keyboard into my Mesa Mk III. MARK MADNESS!!!!

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

Being worth the money depends on personal preference. It's a gigging machine and thrives in that setting. For home use, it's too much of a beast even in 10 watt mode. I've owned one. Channel 2 is horrid. Channel 3 is awesome and the channel 1 is passable. The guy who bought mine (craigslist by the way) ran into some issues with the footswitch and a couple of other things. I've heard similar stores of reliability issues. Another thing with the Mark V is it is just too complicated. They shoved so many switches, knobs, eq, etc in that thing that you really do need about 6 months with the thing just to figure out how to dial it in. I'd take 2 Orange lunchboxes (Dark Terror for dirty, and tiny terror for clean) an amp switch, and a small cab over the Mark V any day of the week if I had to do it over again.

You can't go wrong buying used because the warranty is transferrable. Just make sure you get the original receipt from the person you purchase it from. Even if Mesa can confirm it's within the 5 year period with the build date, they WILL NOT honor the warranty without that receipt.... that is if it was never registered with them in the first place. If it was registered, then no issues. However, someone might say it was registered just to make the sale which is why you need to make sure you get that receipt.

I really appreciate the insight. I've always just wanted to get a true "John Petrucci Tone" sound out of an amp. I assumed since he used Mesa that would be a step in the right direction. I'd only be using this amp for home use and recording within Logic Pro. Nothing crazy. If you're saying the orange Tiny terrors can deliver what I'm looking for at a fraction of the cost I'm all in! I'm going to start watching video reviews now!

 

[beej]

Personally, I'd say it's overkill at home unless you're really going to crank it up (garage/studio/etc.). Easier to get a good saturated tone at home with a smaller amp and pedals. At gig volume it's often a different story.

 

[ShreddySmurf]

I really appreciate the insight. I've always just wanted to get a true "John Petrucci Tone" sound out of an amp. I assumed since he used Mesa that would be a step in the right direction. I'd only be using this amp for home use and recording within Logic Pro. Nothing crazy. If you're saying the orange Tiny terrors can deliver what I'm looking for at a fraction of the cost I'm all in! I'm going to start watching video reviews now!

Just a warning from my end:

If you're chasing Petrucci's tone, keep in mind that he uses a ton of modulation effects including delay, reverb, chorus, flanger and phaser, to achieve that saturated "swirly" effect with lots of pre-amp gain. To replicate that tone live, you'll want an amp with an effects loop (since running modulation effects into the front of the amp and cranking the pre-amp gain isn't going to work). The Tiny Terror is a great amp, but has no effects loop and might not work for your needs.

If all you're going to be doing is recording the amp pretty dry into Logic, you can always add the modulation after that so you'll be cool. But you won't be able to recreate the same sounds live without the loop.

My 2c.

 

[guitarp77]

Mk V is awesome.

I have one and have been enjoying it madly.

However, the amp really lives and breathes in the 45-90 wtts. mode. 10 wtts. Sounds great, but nowhere near the other settings.

If you're just looking for a bedroom amp, si think the MkV is a giant shoe and you can get other great and cheaper amps (even from Mesa). BUT, if you gig once in a while, or have space to cranck it up, then go for it.

It ain't the easiest amp to use, but you can find lots of settings on forums and on the manual to get started right away. You can't be afraid of that.

 

[spkirby]

It ain't the easiest amp to use, but you can find lots of settings on forums and on the manual to get started right away. You can't be afraid of that.

One of the reasons why I advocate simpler amps...its easy to find decent tone when you have one volume and one tone, a fact that took me many years and amps (incl Mesa) to realise. A decent 5E3 circuit based amp is heaven at home and manages small gig volumes too. Just saying

 

[DrewH]

I really appreciate the insight. I've always just wanted to get a true "John Petrucci Tone" sound out of an amp. I assumed since he used Mesa that would be a step in the right direction. I'd only be using this amp for home use and recording within Logic Pro. Nothing crazy. If you're saying the orange Tiny terrors can deliver what I'm looking for at a fraction of the cost I'm all in! I'm going to start watching video reviews now!

Tone is in the fingers though. I certainly didn't have JP tone with my mark V...even with his settings.

The tiny terror isn't very high gain. The dark terror and the Jim root terror are extremely high gain and very simple to use...with effects loops and variable wattage settings too. The TH30 is a higher wattage option that has 2 channels, effects loop, and wattage that can be kicked down to 7 for home use.

I've also been looking at the Marshall JVM 1 watt that is very hard to find but if you see the demos for it, it's hard not to like the thing as a full featured all tube 2 channel high gain home amp.

 

[James C]

I use an Engl Special Edition EL34 through an oversized 4x12 at home... Just sayin'.
Why? Because race car. ... Because rockstar?

 

[sballow]

Yesterday, I actually got a Mark V and I must say that with my THD attenuator it is perfect for home use. It is actually far better than I even imagined it could be.

 

[acwild]

The Output volume knob can really get you down to low volumes with the Mark V. Great amp at a wide variety of volumes. For those looking for Petrucci's tone, you won't get it from the combo. If you dial in your amp as he does in the youtube videos, you'll need a closed-back Mesa cab loaded with V30s to get his sound. The open-backed cab of the combo with the Black Shadow speaker won't do it. You can get in the neighborhood though.

I used to hate Channel 2 until I dialed up the Channel 2 Master volume up. If it's anywhere less that about 11 o'clock, it'll make the amp sound thin in a bad way.

Some people complain about a loud popping noise when channel switching. A way to tame it is to turn the amp on with the channels set to 90 watts while on mute, then cycle through the channels with the foot switch. One cycle will do. If you do this in the 10 watt mode it can make loud pops. The key is to use the 90 or at least 45 watt modes to cycle.

Dialing in the amp is relatively simple. The eq's add gain, so start with the treble and mid knobs at zero. Start the bass knob at about a quarter way up (or you'll have no volume). From there, dial to taste for tone. After you have your desired tone, then work the gain knob.

Anyone who is buying a Mark V expecting to be able to get Marshall tones will probably be disappointed. While switching the tubes to EL-34s and swapping speakers might do the trick, I'm not so sure. I'm thinking about getting one of those new Marshall JMP1 amps for my home Marshall needs.

 

[meckintosh]

I`m playing a Mesa Mark V at home and on the road .. sounds amazing in every single situation.

At home I use a german attentuator the "sucker" from Redstuff Amps. Even has a headphones out, that I actually don`t use but that little thing wors merely perfect with the Mark V.

Will I ever sell out on the Mesa? Maybe...when I get a Mark VI..

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

The Output volume knob can really get you down to low volumes with the Mark V. Great amp at a wide variety of volumes. For those looking for Petrucci's tone, you won't get it from the combo. If you dial in your amp as he does in the youtube videos, you'll need a closed-back Mesa cab loaded with V30s to get his sound. The open-backed cab of the combo with the Black Shadow speaker won't do it. You can get in the neighborhood though.

I used to hate Channel 2 until I dialed up the Channel 2 Master volume up. If it's anywhere less that about 11 o'clock, it'll make the amp sound thin in a bad way.

Some people complain about a loud popping noise when channel switching. A way to tame it is to turn the amp on with the channels set to 90 watts while on mute, then cycle through the channels with the foot switch. One cycle will do. If you do this in the 10 watt mode it can make loud pops. The key is to use the 90 or at least 45 watt modes to cycle.

Dialing in the amp is relatively simple. The eq's add gain, so start with the treble and mid knobs at zero. Start the bass knob at about a quarter way up (or you'll have no volume). From there, dial to taste for tone. After you have your desired tone, then work the gain knob.

Anyone who is buying a Mark V expecting to be able to get Marshall tones will probably be disappointed. While switching the tubes to EL-34s and swapping speakers might do the trick, I'm not so sure. I'm thinking about getting one of those new Marshall JMP1 amps for my home Marshall needs.

The popping going from 90W Simulclass/45W Class A/B to 10W Class A is inevitable. It is mentioned in the manual that such popping would happen because of multiple internal switchings happening...

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

To the OP, if you run it in 10W mode, it works just fine for bedroom settings. 45W is also quite manageable. You can also opt to put in 6V6s in your Mark V. That will bring down the output further...

 

[ScoobySteve]

I'm just gonna dig in my last .02 here,

If you can live with the Mark V at 10 watts for the majority of your use, and THAT is the tone you want, you should definitely go for it.

However, just keep in mind the Mark V is designed as world class touring amp, and tubes really do shine when they're pushed. From a practical standpoint you're spending a large amount of money and only using a fraction of what it can do.

There are many "home studio" designed amps out there, and many will deliver awesome tone at similar to lower costs. I've been there before, and it gets frustrating after a while, when you have a big tube monster that just wants to be pushed, and has all this unused potential.... not being used.

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

It's like locking a beast in a cage, then teaching it to whisper. But sure, it's still worth it! My Mark V is sitting right here, it gets play time only outside of it's warm and comfy home. I look at it from a value perspective too. In 10 years, the Mark V will hold it's value, the Axe FXII (let's just say), will loose it's value, once the next thing come around that supersede it. I'm not making it a modeler vs MarkV thread here, just using that as a perfect example of value lost over the course of a decade.

 

[luke2joey]

You are so right. Ten years ago, the Line 6 Pod was a hit. Now: Fractal; in 10 years?
I know people who get more money for their second hand Mesa's than they have ever paid for (think of the Mark IIC!).
I am sure it is easier to dial in your tone with a Mark V than the whole process of searching through the modelling menu's.
Besides that, the combination Music Man/Boogie is....outstanding..