Mark VII vs IV

C

ClintN667

Well-known member
Have any of you guys compared the Mesa Mark VII to a Mark IV? I have a IV that I'm getting ready to ship to Mesa for service but I was thinking about bouncing the IV and getting a VII.

I love the Mark IV but I can't justify buying a VII without moving something. I've always gotten the recommendation to keep a IV over getting a JP2C. Wondering if that advice holds up against the VII?
 
ClintN667 said:
Have any of you guys compared the Mesa Mark VII to a Mark IV? I have a IV that I'm getting ready to ship to Mesa for service but I was thinking about bouncing the IV and getting a VII.

I love the Mark IV but I can't justify buying a VII without moving something. I've always gotten the recommendation to keep a IV over getting a JP2C. Wondering if that advice holds up against the VII?
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Currently, I own both of the amps and I feel having them both has checked off a lot of boxes for me.

I had compared them several times and I feel the Mark VII will be the one that I end up keeping out of the two amps (for the extra amp channel modes on the VII).

The IV on the VII sounds pretty damn good to me.

Disclaimers:

I always play these amps through a Fryette PS-100 so the tone of the PS-100 may be part of the reason I am leaning towards the VII.

I feel both amps get pretty loud quickly so the PS-100 helps me keep the amp volumes at a manageable level.

I have never played them in a band setting.

I have never cranked them without the PS-100 being connected to them.

The Mark IV is probably the best conditioned IV out there and I will hate selling it one day (it was pretty much a NOS amp when I purchased it about three years ago from a seller (I placed it in a rackmount and only played it a few times so the head shell still looks brand new)).

The IV has about 3-4 hours on it so I should probably spend more time with it before deciding to sell it.

The VII will be staying since the three channels each have at least "1" killer amp channel mode.
 
Vii has the big iron I always wished my iv would have.Ch 2 on the iv is not my cup of tea,no matter how u dial it.the vii to me so far has no real weak spots. But everybody hears and dials in thier amps differently.
 
pipboy90 said:
Nope, this is BS. The Mark VII is one of the best Mesa amps to come out in recent memory. The Mark IV is very limited in usage and tones in comparison to the VII.





The narrative that every old amp is magically better than new amps is overused.
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And there’s a very good reason that it is.
And I’m not talking about versatility and options, which are understandably a factor for some, I’m talking about sheer quality of tone. Older amps have a raw aggression to them that new amps just don’t equal.
 
If you were interested in a different mark amp I’d say get a mkIII ++ green stripe . I sold my others because I thought it was the perfect mark .
 
Really as these guys have said, what your goals are for the amp is a big factor. For bedroom / recording, the VII is very good, has a ton of tonal options & modern features. How does this rate to you against having the feels? I will say the VII has a pretty legit liquid lead sound and could make a guy very happy if the amp never leaves the house.

However, when you A/B the VII against a II, III or IV, the VII in comparison feels like a modeler in that the wall of sound is 2D and it doesn't command the movement of air. The volume is there, but no push. Is that important to you?

In the live band the IV is IMO one of the best Marks there is. That's important to me, and playing live is ultimately where the VII lost my interest due to the soft, mushy (relatively speaking) attack. The forward edge of the notes just smear in a way I did not care for when the whole band was at volume.

Long story short, definitely NEVER sell an old Mark to fund a new one. You have to find a way to get them both in the room & see which you prefer. I know guys that truly prefer new vs old even though I prefer old vs new so that's all good- you have to experience it for yourself. It would be a huge regret to sell an old Mark & then realize you effed up.
 
I only played a VII briefly but found it incredibly underwhelming I would rock a IV all day every day over what I heard. But I also love the IV clean channel and CH2 can get righteous with a boost or external EQ. I like amps that can cover a lot of ground. I’ve just never been a fan of amps that are just about high gain and crystal clean. The VII hit me as that kind of amp. Also found it had a grain to the distortion at any setting I didn’t like, where my Quad is smooth and face melting all at the same time…no idea how they did that.
 
LP Freak said:
I was just wondering what happened to the VII. It kinda died off fast
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I just don’t think it’s all that good and there’s some basic features they took away…you know like a Master Volume..lol that probably made it an ultimate no for some on the fence. Plus the spacing on the controls is asinine. You need to quickly grab a knob and not fuck with other knobs? Forget it. Throw in sweaty hands on a darker stage and you’ll be cursing the damn thing.
 
pipboy90 said:
The narrative that every old amp is magically better than new amps is overused.
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I don’t think this applies to every amp, but does to the mark series…. And rectos. Really Mesa in general, and I love Mesa. An example that the new is better than old IMO is My Uber ultra that I like more than any revision… and I’ve owned them all.

I will say that I do agree the VII is the best thing since the IV. The jp2c and V were boxy messes IMO.
 
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