Mark V head for $1500. Good deal?

[EOengineer]

They've always been high. I can't ever recall seeing a great deal on one.

I guess it depends on how far back you wanna go.

I bought my first SP in 2007 for $400. That was fairly typical used pricing then, though I was still very much of the opinion that the SP was a total steal at $400 for the tones it could nail. I’d love to have those prices again.

I bought my current one from GC last year for $650 but to your point, the going rate seemed to have cleared $1k last year and continues to skyrocket. I guess I’m glad I grabbed one when I did. It’s really a great sounding preamp if you like the Mark tones.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I guess it depends on how far back you wanna go.

I bought my first SP in 2007 for $400. That was fairly typical used pricing then, though I was still very much of the opinion that the SP was a total steal at $400 for the tones it could nail. I’d love to have those prices again.

I bought my current one from GC last year for $650 but to your point, the going rate seemed to have cleared $1k last year and continues to skyrocket. I guess I’m glad I grabbed one when I did. It’s really a great sounding preamp if you like the Mark tones.

D'OH!! I'm sorry; I was thinking of the Rec Pre.

 

[EOengineer]

I just looked on Reverb and it is DUMB

Yeah sorry, that wasn’t great advice. I knew they’d come up in price. I did not expect they’d come up into the $1400+ range.

if you keep on GC’s used inventory one pops up about once a quarter, and since GC only hires the best and brightest, sometimes they won’t know how these work, will assume it’s broken, and will let it go at a steep discount. That’s how I got mine.

Given you have that power amp hanging around it really does present an interesting possible scratch to your Mark itch. You should be able to find one in the $700 range if you’re patient.

It’s honestly hard to figure out the second hand market right now. Things are sitting. Prices aren’t budging. Good luck.

D'OH!! I'm sorry; I was thinking of the Rec Pre.

Oh man I hear you. I’d been deal hunting for one of those to compliment the SP and you rarely see them under a grand.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I guess it depends on how far back you wanna go.

I bought my first SP in 2007 for $400. That was fairly typical used pricing then, though I was still very much of the opinion that the SP was a total steal at $400 for the tones it could nail. I’d love to have those prices again.

I bought my current one from GC last year for $650 but to your point, the going rate seemed to have cleared $1k last year and continues to skyrocket. I guess I’m glad I grabbed one when I did. It’s really a great sounding preamp if you like the Mark tones.

Speaking of steals...., About 3 years ago I happened onto a listing on C/L for a Tri Axis, 2:90, & the Abacus FS (I think that's what it was called) up in NY for $1500. I must've been in the right place at the right time.

Called the dude and he was the original owner, but the TA had a couple LED lines that were out, but at that price, I did NOT care. He even agreed to take $200 off since I didn't need the FS (have an FB1010.)

It was a 5hr (total) drive for me, but still well-worth it! I was so happy, since I'd always wanted one, but after buying my MP-1 brand-new in 93 for $500, I could never justify the price. The Tri Axis alone was like $1800 when discontinued!

 

[TSJMajesty]

Oh man I hear you. I’d been deal hunting for one of those to compliment the SP and you rarely see them under a grand.

Yeah they must've been really rare, and/or just freaking amazing-sounding, cuz I don't think I've ever seen one less than like, 1300 bucks. I think they were $2000 brand-new.

 

[EOengineer]

Speaking of steals...., About 3 years ago I happened onto a listing on C/L for a Tri Axis, 2:90, & the Abacus FS (I think that's what it was called) up in NY for $1500. I must've been in the right place at the right time.

Called the dude and he was the original owner, but the TA had a couple LED lines that were out, but at that price, I did NOT care. He even agreed to take $200 off since I didn't need the FS (have an FB1010.)

It was a 5hr drive for me, but still well-worth it! I was so happy, since I'd always wanted one, but after buying my MP-1 brand-new in 93 for $500, I could never justify the price. The Tri Axis alone was like $1800 when discontinued!

That’s such an epic deal. I can’t think of anything that beats that.

Did you keep the MP-1 around? Back when I was gigging a triaxis/2:90 (also FCB1010, they live forever!?) I’d wondered about adding an MP-1 for a cool stereo rig. I’ve always liked that preamp.

 

[TSJMajesty]

That’s such an epic deal. I can’t think of anything that beats that.

Did you keep the MP-1 around? Back when I was gigging a triaxis/2:90 (also FCB1010, they live forever!?) I’d wondered about adding an MP-1 for a cool stereo rig. I’ve always liked that preamp.

Yep, I still have it. I fire it up once in a while, and it still holds its own! I gigged with that thru my 50/50 into a pair of Marshall 4x12's for many years. Had all sorts of presets dialed in on it for our cover songs. One day I was thinking..., hmm, if this thing goes down, I'm dead in the water, so I bought a spare one used, since sold off though.

I've kept most everything I've ever bought, cept for a MIM Strat which I just couldn't get along with.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Yeah sorry, that wasn’t great advice. I knew they’d come up in price. I did not expect they’d come up into the $1400+ range.

if you keep on GC’s used inventory one pops up about once a quarter, and since GC only hires the best and brightest, sometimes they won’t know how these work, will assume it’s broken, and will let it go at a steep discount. That’s how I got mine.

Given you have that power amp hanging around it really does present an interesting possible scratch to your Mark itch. You should be able to find one in the $700 range if you’re patient.

It’s honestly hard to figure out the second hand market right now. Things are sitting. Prices aren’t budging. Good luck.


Oh man I hear you. I’d been deal hunting for one of those to compliment the SP and you rarely see them under a grand.

No worries. Everything is dumb right now, price wise.

 

[Orvillain]

My Mark V cost me £1900, which is about $2500. So $1500 sounds like an absolute steal to me.

 

[laxu]

My Mark V cost me £1900, which is about $2500. So $1500 sounds like an absolute steal to me.

A bit less than that for my combo. $1500 is a bargain.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Spoiler

 

[Allexi]

Spoiler

View attachment 49472

@JiveTurkey congratulations!!!! Waiting for your verdict

 

[laxu]

Spoiler

View attachment 49472

Congrats on the amp!

But I am triggered by those settings. "We built this city...we built this city on HONK HONK HONK!"

 

[Mikael Dez]

 

[Badonkey Kong]

Good luck with this one JT... Hopefully its the Goldilocks...

 

[spawnofthesith]

Most excellent, congrats!!!

 

[EOengineer]

Spoiler

View attachment 49472

Congrats dude can’t wait to read the report!

 

[AlbertA]

Spoiler

View attachment 49472

 

[JiveTurkey]

Lordy. Marks are killer but they are sooooo different than the Rectifier. I have to really pull the two amp styles and associated feels when playing apart.


Instant impressions. I didn't try all the modes because I knew what my plan was going to be.:
1. Clean is beautiful. Just like the Multiwatt. I don't do clean but if I did; this would cover it Tried Fat mode for a minute; it was fine.

2. Crunch mode is great. I think Edge is probably going to work out quite nicely as well? This amp is like the Badlander in my mind that I feel like the perceived gain will increase as volume increases.

Crunch boosted with my Micro Amp 2 is RAT clone was great with it as well.

3. IV and Extreme modes are great but definitely need some different dial-ins. Marks for me always seem like they are lacking "liquidity" in their gain structure. Dry, barky and punchy as FUCK are how I would describe them. I could see doing a Helmet tribute with one and being right on the money, tonally. I need to try IIC+ mode. This channel loved the Micro Amp2 with some tweaked settings.

Using a 212 loaded with V30s. I am getting a Boogie cab (maybe with something else) at some point. Hopefully I will stick to my promise.

This amp is a keeper. I can see how you could run it as a channel switcher much more than the JP or VII felt? Imma keep playing on it and work on discovering my own vibe with it as time goes by

 

[texhex]

Lordy. Marks are killer but they are sooooo different than the Rectifier. I have to really pull the two amp styles and associated feels when playing apart.


Instant impressions. I didn't try all the modes because I knew what my plan was going to be.:
1. Clean is beautiful. Just like the Multiwatt. I don't do clean but if I did; this would cover it Tried Fat mode for a minute; it was fine.

2. Crunch mode is great. I think Edge is probably going to work out quite nicely as well? This amp is like the Badlander in my mind that I feel like the perceived gain will increase as volume increases.

Crunch boosted with my Micro Amp 2 is RAT clone was great with it as well.

3. IV and Extreme modes are great but definitely need some different dial-ins. Marks for me always seem like they are lacking "liquidity" in their gain structure. Dry, barky and punchy as FUCK are how I would describe them. I could see doing a Helmet tribute with one and being right on the money, tonally. I need to try IIC+ mode. This channel loved the Micro Amp2 with some tweaked settings.

Using a 212 loaded with V30s. I am getting a Boogie cab (maybe with something else) at some point. Hopefully I will stick to my promise.

This amp is a keeper. I can see how you could run it as a channel switcher much more than the JP or VII felt? Imma keep playing on it and work on discovering my own vibe with it as time goes by

Don’t let the 10W setting slip by on you. Some of my favorite tones from this amp are when it’s set to 10W. Really. Oh yeah, CONGRATS!