peterc52
Well-known member
I’m very happy with mine.
Sick Michael
Active member
For further shits and giggles - Quad Preamp into 395
anomaly
Well-known member
According to Ola the VII's GEQ has more range than the original IIC+ and is capable of getting more low end. Tube's make a difference, it's just not as big as some of us think. Like if you have some old power tubes in an amp and compare them to brand new tubes you'll notice that the new ones produce more power, low end, highs. 6l6 vs EL34's, very minimal, slight increase in low end and highs in 6l6's, more mids in el34s.
GJgo
Well-known member
I guess Ola & I will have to agree to disagree.
GJgo
Well-known member
Alright here's the IV comparo project!
Full Mix- 0:00
Guitars Only- 2:01
My thoughts? I've spent a good amount if time AB-ing the IV and the VII. To my ears, they are very different amps. The IV can scoop way harder & doesn't have the mid hump of the II, III, VII and the xtra in the JP. Also the IV is more compressed like the V and the JP where the II, III & VII are more raw. Going for my high gain EMG style sound I just can't make the VII sound like the IV in the room or on the mic. It's pretty noticeable actually. I will say that while the IV's clean channel is OK, and its R2 is bad, the lead channel does this one KILLER high gain chunky AF clanky thiccc chug tone that NO other Mark can do. It also has AMAZING pinch harmonics only equaled by the no-GEQ IIC+. That being said, in every other way I believe the VII sounds better & is an overall better amp. It's light years easier to dial in a good tone both in the room & on the mic and I believe the little bit of mid hump shift in the VII's voicing will sit better in the band mix- hope to find out in a couple days at practice.
Now all of that out of the way- in my opinion, the VII's IV mode is still more raw like all the other channels and not voiced like a IV. It's voiced like a IIC++. It has the aggression and the mids of a C++, not of a IV. So, I spliced a couple C++ pieces in here so you can see what you think. If you watch my other video of the VII's C+ mode vs. a C+, I believe there's a direct parallel between a C+/ VII in C+ mode as to the C++ / VII in IV mode. To me that's actually pretty exciting. What do you think?
Full Mix- 0:00
Guitars Only- 2:01
My thoughts? I've spent a good amount if time AB-ing the IV and the VII. To my ears, they are very different amps. The IV can scoop way harder & doesn't have the mid hump of the II, III, VII and the xtra in the JP. Also the IV is more compressed like the V and the JP where the II, III & VII are more raw. Going for my high gain EMG style sound I just can't make the VII sound like the IV in the room or on the mic. It's pretty noticeable actually. I will say that while the IV's clean channel is OK, and its R2 is bad, the lead channel does this one KILLER high gain chunky AF clanky thiccc chug tone that NO other Mark can do. It also has AMAZING pinch harmonics only equaled by the no-GEQ IIC+. That being said, in every other way I believe the VII sounds better & is an overall better amp. It's light years easier to dial in a good tone both in the room & on the mic and I believe the little bit of mid hump shift in the VII's voicing will sit better in the band mix- hope to find out in a couple days at practice.
Now all of that out of the way- in my opinion, the VII's IV mode is still more raw like all the other channels and not voiced like a IV. It's voiced like a IIC++. It has the aggression and the mids of a C++, not of a IV. So, I spliced a couple C++ pieces in here so you can see what you think. If you watch my other video of the VII's C+ mode vs. a C+, I believe there's a direct parallel between a C+/ VII in C+ mode as to the C++ / VII in IV mode. To me that's actually pretty exciting. What do you think?
M
milin_im
Member
I much preferred the VII than the IVB in your clip, but the IIC++ sounds even better to me. I have a VII incoming. I'll probably use it for rhythm and my IVB for leads.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
If you are comparing older tubes that are on their last leg, sure. But comparing a new set of anything to some NOS or ANOS 34s, 6L6, 6550s it's simply no contest. A quad of Sovtek 6550s will sound flat as fuck compared to a nice set of GE 6550s.
But they also cost a shit ton these days. Glad I hoarded up on these tubes in previous years.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
Great comparo! They all sound really good; the VII is without a doubt the amp to get if you don't want to pony up 6K+ for a C+. The IV I tried 6 years ago did sound very good; and more C+ -like than the JP that was next to it. But at the end of the day, Mesa knocked it out of the park with the VII imo.
GJgo
Well-known member
To me, after having a IVa and a couple IVbs, they're like a hot chick that's kind of complicated yet kind of dumb, and does one thing really well- the lead channel. If you're on a desert island together you're great. But as soon as you compare her to another hot chick that does lots of things well & is easy to be around the shine wears off in a hurry..
Tone Monster
Well-known member
There is the IIC++ oomph I always talk about. So good! The VII sounded nice too, the IIC++ frequencies just sit in the perfect spots.
anomaly
Well-known member
I don't know about that. The IV is definitely more versatile than the IIC+ IMO. R2 loves to be boosted, and it's got a great clean tone, and the lead channel can go from Chevelle to Dream Theater to Lamb Of God to Neurosis with some different and unique settings. A IIC+ can't pull off the more modern tones Chevelle gets with the IV's. I mean just listen to their latest album NIRATIUS, that was recorded with mainly a IV and it sounds huge. I guess you gotta own one for a long time to learn how to really dial them in. I've had mine for 9 years now so I know most of the tones it can produce, but I still learn something new about it every so often.
I think your latest IV clips are very lackluster, which is odd cause I heard you dial in your previous IVb really well. It sounded really good, even compared to your IIb. I don't know what's wrong with this one or what you're doing wrong but it sounds thin and your palm mutes don't even stand out at all.
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C
Candiria
Well-known member
I don't know if the EQ has less range, but the sweep is definitely different. It felt like less range to me as well, but it could have just been a more gradual change?
It's clear to me the focus of the VII was user friendliness. Much less finicky to dial in outside of (ironically) the VII mode.
GJgo
Well-known member
Regarding VII mode- pretend it's like a Recto, boost it, and go home happy.
C
Candiria
Well-known member
I didn't really like it setup that way. I got it to sound very close to the Mark IV mode using the GEQ, but with a brighter top end. It took a decent amount of time to fine tune it though.
B
Bxlxaxkxe
Amp ho
This is exactly right. Was just A/Bing VII mode with a recto the other day. Bet I could trick a good number of people. I wouldn’t sell my recto but it’s surprisingly close considering it’s a mark amp. I keep the gain well below noon and boost.
That mode is tricky because it is so completely different from any mark sound. Play iic or IV mode for 20 minutes and switch to 7 mode and it almost sounds fucked up. But that’s exactly what it’s like to A/B back to back with a recto and mark.
glpg80
Well-known member
Going to be honest, I like that the VII in IV mode sounds like an improved IIC++ that’s just more musical and will cut better in a mix.
I’m honestly torn between checking out a mark VII or a diezel Herbert mkii next.
I’m honestly torn between checking out a mark VII or a diezel Herbert mkii next.
P
pipboy90
Well-known member
I recommend the Mark VII. Way more sounds to dial in and it sounds raw, in a good way.
PBGas
Well-known member
Still enjoying my Mark VII ! Just a great amp. Have used it on a lot of gigs at this point and it works and sounds great.
G
grrr_me_scary
Active member
I feel the VII covers enough of the tones for me from my IV and V where I probably don't need to play them very often.
GJgo
Well-known member
Alright guys, I've done all the reamping I need from the VII, played it as much as I wanted to including at band practice, and now it's time for it to find a forever home. Just posted it in the classifieds if anyone wants to be the next guy in the Pay It Forward chain.
I do have a couple more reamp comparos that I'll edit & post when I have the bandwidth. The next one will be the VII high gain modes compared.
I do have a couple more reamp comparos that I'll edit & post when I have the bandwidth. The next one will be the VII high gain modes compared.