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[mbenigni]

Nice! They do list another Mark V on their site unless it's yours and they have not removed it yet.

They've got a couple, yeah. But I'm a little gunshy about buying a massively complicated amp from a shop 300 miles away at the moment.

 

[JiveTurkey]

It's not out of the question. But the amp would have to be perfect and the price even... perfecter.

Honestly, after this recent go 'round, I'm of a mind to just forget about big tube amps altogether. Between the expense, and the weight, and the propensity for failure/ complications... it's just a massive ballache. I've purchased 6 of these damn things in the last ~2 years and the only one that's worked properly is a boring DSL100 I use as a power amp for my modeler. (Fun fact: 3 of the 6 that didn't work properly were also DSL100's.)

I might be letting FOMO and nostalgia get the better of me.

You could parlay the profits from not buying another amp to grab an AM4 so you can have the best Mark fix you can get in the digital world

 

[mbenigni]

Great news and what I expected from all I have heard about that shop.

Not counting my chickens just yet, but yes, it tracks. :)

 

[mbenigni]

You could parlay the profits from not buying another amp to grab an AM4 so you can have the best Mark fix you can get in the digital world

I have been considering the AM4 on and off...

But after this minor debacle, I'm more inclined to sell a bunch of shit, settle on the right power amp (which I probably already own) and get back to work with the QC. I've been pretty damn happy with that setup for 5 years or so, and it just recently got significantly better. Which begs the questions: why am I going to all this trouble and why do I hate myself so much?

 

[JiveTurkey]

I have been considering the AM4 on and off...

But after this minor debacle, I'm more inclined to sell a bunch of shit, settle on the right power amp (which I probably already own) and get back to work with the QC. I've been pretty damn happy with that setup for 5 years or so, and it just recently got significantly better. Which begs the questions: why am I going to all this trouble and why do I hate myself so much?

Honestly; the old "if it ain't broke..." mentality works great when you have something you dig. Which you really do.

 

[mbenigni]

Who am I kidding? I'm probably gonna cool off and buy another Mk V in a couple of months.

(But it's going to be local, and it's going to be cheap, and it's going to be stock goddammit.)

 

[Genghis]

Who am I kidding? I'm probably gonna cool off and buy another Mk V in a couple of months.

(But it's going to be local, and it's going to be cheap, and it's going to be stock goddammit.)

That’s the right attitude!

 

[Mongillo19]

Who am I kidding? I'm probably gonna cool off and buy another Mk V in a couple of months.

BUY A 3RD QC

 

[Dez]

It's not out of the question. But the amp would have to be perfect and the price even... perfecter.

Honestly, after this recent go 'round, I'm of a mind to just forget about big tube amps altogether. Between the expense, and the weight, and the propensity for failure/ complications... it's just a massive ballache. I've purchased 6 of these damn things in the last ~2 years and the only one that's worked properly is a boring DSL100 I use as a power amp for my modeler. (Fun fact: 3 of the 6 that didn't work properly were also DSL100's.)

I might be letting FOMO and nostalgia get the better of me.

There’s a single rectifier for sale in CT on FB marketplace for a grand

 

[newholland]

if ya like iib mode... just get a iib

in all honesty, ive had the exact opposite experience of my stock mesas. super resilient, and never take a day off in thirty years. just feed em power tubes!

 

[László]

I don't necessarily agree with that.

Amp	Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3
Clean / Low gain modes
V	Clean / Fat / Tweed	Edge / Mark 1	-
VII	Clean / Fat	Fat	IIB
Mid / High gain modes
V	-	Crunch / Mark 1	IIC / IV / Extreme
VII	Crunch	Crunch / VII	IIC / IV

I think it kinda evens out. I threw in the Mark 1 twice because it truly can be both a good lower gain tone as well as a high gain singing lead. While VII allows two of Fat / Crunch settings, the V has a few unique modes with their own character.

IMO either amp can do great for purely lower gain tones, if you just dial its channels like that. Maybe V's IIC mode becomes your lead overdrive etc.

It just comes down to how you'd prefer working with it. Having multiple identically voiced channels can be really useful, but that doesn't mean you can't get kinda similar tones out of e.g the V's Crunch to the IIC/IV modes if dialed right.

My favorite mode on the Mark VII is the IIB. On the Mark V it was the clean channel Tweed setting and I had a difficult time with the gain especially on Channel 3. It was too much for me.

Could be that I didn't spend enough time dialing it in, and maybe I'd feel differently now than it was 10 years ago when I had mine. Been a while. But...that's my take on it.

 

[László]

if ya like iib mode... just get a iib

I like the IIB mode, but I've got the Mark VII, and I like a lot of its other modes and features, so I'm sticking with it.

Also...when I have ad clients over or on a remote session, I like to have a new amp - or one I've owned from new and taken care of from new - because I want the sessions to go perfectly, and I just don't like some of the surprises that come with used amps occasionally.

I realize one doesn't have to do that with lots of Mesas, but I'd rather not push my luck. I've seen sessions at other studios go sideways with clients if something doesn't work. So...I stick with new gear.

Makes me sleep better at night. The ad music business is tough enough as it is. At least my sessions go well. I figure I can depend on a factory-new Mesa. At least, that's been my experience since the early '90s when I got into the biz full time. Granted, it could simply be a feel-good thing, but I'd rather feel good!

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

I like the IIB mode, but I've got the Mark VII, and I like a lot of its other modes and features, so I'm sticking with it.

Also...when I have ad clients over or on a remote session, I like to have a new amp - or one I've owned from new and taken care of from new - because I want the sessions to go perfectly, and I just don't like some of the surprises that come with used amps occasionally.

I realize one doesn't have to do that with lots of Mesas, but I'd rather not push my luck. I've seen sessions at other studios go sideways with clients if something doesn't work. So...I stick with new gear.

Makes me sleep better at night. The ad music business is tough enough as it is. At least my sessions go well. I figure I can depend on a factory-new Mesa. At least, that's been my experience since the early '90s when I got into the biz full time. Granted, it could simply be a feel-good thing, but I'd rather feel good!

Making your living on gear totally makes new and not digging in the bargain bin the smart choice.

 

[newholland]

I like the IIB mode, but I've got the Mark VII, and I like a lot of its other modes and features, so I'm sticking with it.

Also...when I have ad clients over or on a remote session, I like to have a new amp - or one I've owned from new and taken care of from new - because I want the sessions to go perfectly, and I just don't like some of the surprises that come with used amps occasionally.

I realize one doesn't have to do that with lots of Mesas, but I'd rather not push my luck. I've seen sessions at other studios go sideways with clients if something doesn't work. So...I stick with new gear.

Makes me sleep better at night. The ad music business is tough enough as it is. At least my sessions go well. I figure I can depend on a factory-new Mesa. At least, that's been my experience since the early '90s when I got into the biz full time. Granted, it could simply be a feel-good thing, but I'd rather feel good!

oh man. our use cases are different- i was more referring to mbenigni and his wishes to simplify! despite the silliness of appearances- i know youre right about it in that world though!

i only meant to say that ive had ZERO issues with big tube amps, particularly my 40 year old mesas! and the simpler olders are resilient suckers!

 

[László]

oh man. our use cases are different- i was more referring to mbenigni and his wishes to simplify! despite the silliness of appearances- i know youre right about it in that world though!

i only meant to say that ive had ZERO issues with big tube amps, particularly my 40 year old mesas! and the simpler olders are resilient suckers!

You're right, I'm a pretty weird use case. Sorry I jumped in, wasn't sure who you were referring to!

A 40 year old Mesa can be fantastic and inspiring, especially if maintained and well-treated, inspected for bad parts, etc. Like you, I LOVE big tube amps. Tons of headroom for gigs that require it, and really, there are lots of viable options to be able to use them in quieter settings when need be, from good master volumes, to attenuators, to things like the OX Box, Captor, the Fryette, and many others.

But I'm a worrier.

 

[newholland]

You're right, I'm a pretty weird use case. Sorry I jumped in, wasn't sure who you were referring to!

A 40 year old Mesa can be fantastic and inspiring, especially if maintained and well-treated, inspected for bad parts, etc. Like you, I LOVE big tube amps. Tons of headroom for gigs that require it, and really, there are lots of viable options to be able to use them in quieter settings when need be, from good master volumes, to attenuators, to things like the OX Box, Captor, the Fryette, and many others.

But I'm a worrier.

haha.. yeah, i play around with the mkii to stay current in what i like about it- but i keep it around for LOUD banding and easier hauling in a car . i have other more volume flexible amps for playing at home.. which i do mostly anyhow these days.

i fully get failsafes though. gotta work when the call comes in- and best to look and act pro when you turn up!

mesa: for when it positively absolutely has to be destroyed TODAY. :lol: totally dating myself with ancient fedex ad copy stolen by the marines ..

 

[mbenigni]

if ya like iib mode... just get a iib

in all honesty, ive had the exact opposite experience of my stock mesas. super resilient, and never take a day off in thirty years. just feed em power tubes!

I've long wanted another Mk IIc+, and part of me just thinks, spend the $3600 on a reissue, like tearing of the Band Aid, and get it over with. (Then the sane part of me has his say.)

My fave mode on this particular Mk V is actually the Mk I, which I didn't see coming. I wonder if I'd enjoy an actual Mk I the same or more (assuming I could find one.)

 

[mbenigni]

oh man. our use cases are different- i was more referring to mbenigni and his wishes to simplify! despite the silliness of appearances- i know youre right about it in that world though!

i only meant to say that ive had ZERO issues with big tube amps, particularly my 40 year old mesas! and the simpler olders are resilient suckers!

Well, between my fishing around for the very cheapest Marshall imports and affordable used Mesas, you might say I'm getting what I paid for. I'm not pretending that a very good (or well-serviced) tube amp can't be the right tool. Unfortunately, a lot of those tools fall in price ranges I simply can't justify.

Also, when I called big tube amps a "ballache", I was still pretty hot from finding out mine wasn't a stock V as expected.