"If you boost a Mark you're a 'tard."

[RevDrucifer]

I rarely boosted my Mark IV when I had it, when I did it was generally on one of those off days where everything felt stiff on my part and it lent a little forgiveness to the amp.

That said, I think the idea of telling someone else what they’re doing is wrong when it works for them to be one of the most TGP-ish things one can do. That’s like 3/4’s the reason I even view that place; to see people reach into the depths of their colon to tell someone else “Yeah, that thing you dig, it’s wrong and you shouldn’t actually like it. It doesn’t work for me so it automatically can’t work for you”

 

[anomaly]

I boost my IV sometimes too, but when I do I turn up the bass a tad (like 2) and I turn down the treble to about 5 or 6. This seems to keep it from thinning out too much and just sounding over-boosted. Give it a try instead of turning down the overall gain, cause the treble dial as you know is a gain control as well, but it has a tendency to get a bit things a bit thin sounding when turned up too high (with a boost).

 

[anomaly]

Big fan of boosting R2 of my mark IVA. I haven't had the best results with boosting the lead channel, but I also have not tried really turning down the gain, then boosting. To me boosting R2 is the secret to unlocking that channel on the mark IV. Will have to check out the clips later.

Yes, I do this with my Mark IVB as well, as it really is the secret to getting a great tone out of R2. It doesn't get it as aggressive as the lead channel, but it gets a really good hard rock/metal tone that is quite unique.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Alright here you guys go, same test & same riff, same gear, with the IIB.

We've established through consensus that the IIC+ & IV have better lead channel tone w/o a boost. What about the IIB? It definitely has a fatter (and more devastating) ass than the later Marks.

All amp 0:00
Fortin TS9 0:24
Boss OD1X 0:47

I don't think boosting a Mark is wrong at all, but did you dial in the tone for the unboosted amp rather than the boosted amp here? Because I think it gets a little overgained once you drop the boost in. The unboosted is a tiny bit undergained, but I think it's closer to what I'd want than the boosted tone, myself.

But yeah, I don't disagree with boosting a Mark if you like it. I personally wouldn't, but that's just me.

Honestly, as much as I can appreciate a good Mark tone, I'm more of a Recto/5150 guy.

 

[Qweklain]

Alright here you guys go, same test & same riff, same gear, with the IIB.

We've established through consensus that the IIC+ & IV have better lead channel tone w/o a boost. What about the IIB? It definitely has a fatter (and more devastating) ass than the later Marks.

All amp 0:00
Fortin TS9 0:24
Boss OD1X 0:47

I like this not boosted as well. The OD-1X sounds decent too as it still retains some of the natural "IIB-ness" but the TS9, to me, takes away what is so great about the characteristic nature of the IIB.

 

[messenger]

 

[midnightlaundry]

Fuckin' Tard..

 

[kmanick]

When I did have a mark IV (and a III) I remember boosting them both especially when I was playing 7 string
it just gives you a different tonal "palate"
shit I boost my Splawn all the time with different pedals and I don't play what you'd call "high gain"

 

[retrorack]

I tried boosting my Mark III. For my ears, the Lead channel doesn’t need tightening and there’s already enough mids and highs. On R2, though, a boost is required for it be really usable for me.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Something about this conversation that might need clearing up is that "boosting" isn't necessarily "boosting AND cutting low end." The two shouldn't be conflated, they're very different.

Adding a flat level increase is nowhere close to the same thing as hitting an amp with a tubescreamer or SD-1, both of which will lop off a ton of low end and totally change the character of the distortion.

 

[Sick Michael]

It's just a recipe, boost if you want, otherwise don't. I boost my Mesa mark. It's like saying don't use the colour green in your painting...

 

[Skolphy]

In these examples..I prefer the unboosted..but I did like the grindy mids the TS9 added....it was a bit harsher and didn't have the same girth..

OD1X just seemed to lose a touch of upper mid focus..and did clean up the overall low end a bit.

I have a Fireball 100, as we all know, only tards would boost one...I gotta say though...the OG Koko boost with it makes a kick ass tight pissed off tone even more tighter and more pissed off.

Your tone is your tone..however you get it is up to you.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

After all the stuff with the VII I was tempted and picked up a Mark IVb for cheap (very cheap) a few weeks back, right away didn’t feel it needed a boost but tried it anyways. Great amp.

Fortin TS9 - way too much mid range, overkill
SD-1 - same,
Dirty tree - worse
Focus - compression city

My trusty Boss GE-10 with a slight mid bump though, is an always on pedal for the lead channel for sure. No level boost, just a 500-2000hz tiny bump. Tighter, less of the low mid bloat and just a bit grindier. Just overall sounds a lot better with that in front. Also feels a bit better, a bit more of a ‘pop’ to the notes.

 

[Joey B.]

Played a 1978 Mark I 60/100 "HG" that had the "Post FX Level" mod done to it for many years. An old Boss OD-1 worked very well getting rid of the excessive low end that those amps have. Pure accident that I stumbled into this, with the Level maxed and the Drive just barely cranked, played through an old metal grille (1984) Laney 4x12 cab.

 

[Markedman]

Go to 12:28.