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

[assMan]

jzeijen,

Tough question.. I had the same dilemma and decided to go with a Swart mkii head (20w), using my now too loud MB DC5 as a cab. After exploring many options, and ruling out attenuators, my decision came down to three things..

1. Does the amp sound great with the gear I already have,
2. Am I willing to accept the fact that a lower wattage amp (necessary for bedroom levels) will not be perfect for all situations, and
3. Does the amp have a master volume control that sounds great at all volumes

I tried everything from 5w to 50w (and many brands) and found that a lower watt amp with master volume was what worked best for me. Running through my DC5 means that I can always get louder if I need, thus covering all of my bases (I hope).

Best of luck on this very nice problem that you have.

 

[luke2joey]

Hi,

There is a MB Mark V for sale in our country (Netherlands) in Oss, on Marktplaats.

Just FYI. Cheers.

 

[jzeijen]

Yes, made the decision to sell some stuff and just ordered a Mark V head. Can't wait!

 

[Miqueas92]

Congrats!!

I think you will find that you have made a GREAT decision. This amp is really 9, plus all that you can do inside each of the modes. I'm using the II C+ mode right now for the high gain channel and just rolling of the volume with all the switching options of my Reflex gives me so many tones. Then I turn off the GEQ and it's a whole different amp.

Dang!!

Not to mention 90-45-10 watts, triode pentode on ch.3, tube-diode rectification ch. 1-2, slider-knob eq, and the MK I channel is the bomb, reverb is great, and on and on.

Again, congrats.

Mick

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

Congrats! nice choice.

 

[jzeijen]

Congrats!!

I think you will find that you have made a GREAT decision. This amp is really 9, plus all that you can do inside each of the modes. I'm using the II C+ mode right now for the high gain channel and just rolling of the volume with all the switching options of my Reflex gives me so many tones. Then I turn off the GEQ and it's a whole different amp.

Dang!!

Not to mention 90-45-10 watts, triode pentode on ch.3, tube-diode rectification ch. 1-2, slider-knob eq, and the MK I channel is the bomb, reverb is great, and on and on.

Again, congrats.

Mick

Thanks, looking forward to really explore this thing! Do you have the combo or the head version? I orderded the head so I can always change the cabinet setup if needed.

 

[Music Man Dan]

I don't own this amplifier, however, I have auditioned it (the head version, into a Marshall slant 4 x 12" closed-back cabinet) several times in my local Long & McQuade's sound room, and being self-conscious of my playing abilities as I am, I barely had it turned on (10 watt setting, master volume at 8:00), and it still sounded smooth and creamy with sustain for days. I don't have enough gigging experience to say hands-down that turning it up louder and making the power tubes really work will make it sound even better...but everyone with gigging experience seems to have that opinion of every tube amp ever made.

 

[Warg Master]

I use my Mark V at home... but I have a basement and I crank it! heheh . Actually, with the loop active and using the master volume you can get great tones and bedroom volume with no tone sacrifice. To me this is THE amp to have. I've had a few in my time and currently have 3 amplifiers and it's the one I play the most....

 

[pmercado]

I have own this amp for about 7 months and it sounds amazing specially when played with JP6 with tone block, one piece of advice pick one mode in each channel and stick to it otherwise you will go crazy with all the options

 

[Lax]

I have owned it for two years with a 2x12 recto, I didn't feel the need of another amp since !
Setting it up is very tricky, each knob has a huge effect on the sound.
I should have settings for bedroom usage and one for gigs...It's loud at 90 watts but It's a lot of work ^^
Great amp, one of the greatest

 

[Miqueas92]

I have the combo.

But, I will sell it soon and go with a head and cab. Maybe a 2x12 3/4's back. So there is more openness. Maybe a 1x12 thiele, for the punch.

 

[mikebu]

I have the combo.

But, I will sell it soon and go with a head and cab. Maybe a 2x12 3/4's back. So there is more openness. Maybe a 1x12 thiele, for the punch.

You know you can purchase a head cabinet and move what you got into the new cabinet. And you can probably sell your old combo cabinet on The Boogie Board.

What you might do is purchase a 1x12 Thiele now, measure your current amp not sure if you need the wide body cabinet, and use that with your combo. Adding a Thiele to a combo amp is a real nice upgrade. Then if you still want to go head, which is easier to transport, you can also get a 1x12 Extension cab. MESA-COMPACT-CABINET-DESIGNS

I just ordered a custom color Thiele cabinet for my combo:

 

[jzeijen]

I have the combo.

But, I will sell it soon and go with a head and cab. Maybe a 2x12 3/4's back. So there is more openness. Maybe a 1x12 thiele, for the punch.

Cool, no doubt the combo is good too, but with the head you can get some more variety with different cabs/speakers.

I've ordered a Kool & Elfring 212 with it, it's a dutch company so I thought that was nice. And their cabs sound great too, of course.

 

[dannymusic]

I've been playing EBMM for about 7 years and just last year got a MK IV. Seriously... I wonder why I waited so long. It pleasures me always, home and away.
Will I buy a V ? Nah, from what I hear, they both are amazing, if you like one, you will probably be very happy with the other.

souunds VERY EROTIC at bedroom levels.

 

[Miqueas92]

I've been playing EBMM for about 7 years and just last year got a MK IV. Seriously... I wonder why I waited so long. It pleasures me always, home and away.
Will I buy a V ? Nah, from what I hear, they both are amazing, if you like one, you will probably be very happy with the other.

souunds VERY EROTIC at bedroom levels.

I had a IV fro 3-4 years before I tried the V. I was really happy. I gave the V a test drive and knew that the IV was gone ASAP.

The V is so much more! Is it the exact sound of the MKI, IIC+, LSC, MKIV, Marshall, etc.¿ Who knows, but, it is a killer amp and gives me so many options that there was no way I could pass on it.

 

[jzeijen]

Bump: to answer my own question: Yes it certainly is!!

Got a Mark V head secondhand for a good price and in perfect condition the day before yesterday!

I originally ordered a new Mark V at a Mesa Boogie dealer, but the store went out of business and the order got canceled..

I then bought an Orange dual terror because I had thoughts about the steep price of the Mark V. A nice amp, but I kept thinking about a Mesa (long time dream for me to own one). Then last saturday I saw this one on the web and immediately sent an e-mail. Turns out I mailed within an hour after the ad was put on the web! Talk about luck.
Went over, played it, checked everything and just bought it.

It does like to be played loud, but I can get very nice tones on a very acceptable volume. That's what I was looking for! This one will stay for sure.

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

congrats! it is such a killer amp!

 

[jzeijen]

congrats! it is such a killer amp!

Thanks, yes it is. It even looks good!

 

[Guitardom]

Thanks, yes it is. It even looks good!

It's a killer amp but I don't really like using it until I can crank it!! Look into some tube replacements for it. I used JJ matched sets from Eurotubes and it breathed a new life in it. Also depending on your style, El34's can be great in it. I keep a set that I put in when I need it. It's also the pickiest amp I have ever used about guitars. The tone and gain will vary so much from guitar to guitar, its almost strange.

 

[Hendog]

It sounds much better a very low volumes than most of the other big (around 100 watt) heads I have owned but it still doesn't give up the goods till it's cranked...