mesa mark V 25/35, and 4x12 vs 2x12

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mowgli

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Hi all,

first post here so bear with me.......

for about 15 years I've been trying to find an amp to make me sound like james hetfield. I was about to give up until I plugged into a Mesa Mark V:25 (I had it on top of a recto slant 4x12) a few months ago, and walked out the guitar shop with sore fingers about 3 hours later! Epic piece of kit!

John Petrucci ran his Mark V (getting this info from the review he does on the amp) on the 90W setting, even when using at home.
I will be playing almost entirely in my own house, not gigging, and maybe occasionally jamming with friends.
My question is, if i can get my hands on a Mark V: 35, for the same money as the 25 (and I can,) am i going to be at a disadvantage, considering i will almost never have the amps cranking above volume 2-4?! the 35W mode uses 4xEL84's instead of the 25W 2xEL84's.

My other question is similar, but regarding cabs. A 4x12 is total overkill for a house, but i'm only buying this rig once, love the look of one, and it seems to be a better height for adjusting settings when sat or standing than the tiny 1x12.
The 2x12 vert cab would be the other option, easier to move around, but I've never played through one?? I have an ESP Eclipse with 81/60's.

Any advice is welcome (unless you're going to tell me to buy a digital practice amp).......

Cheers
Ben
 
I'd say find a used Mark III or Mark IV. I just like them more than the new crop of Mesa's. And go 4x12. As far as floor space a 2x12 takes up about the same space and there's no comparison as far as tone, even for low volumes. I'm not gigging right now and I have a OS 4x12 and a Mark IV and it's really good at low volumes.

Not my video but here's a Mark IV doing Metallica. This guy sounds more like Metallica than Metallica does now. :lol: :LOL:

 
I still think the Mark III is the best sounding heavy tone that Mesa ever made. I know there are different versions, and all of that..but if I were looking for that Mesa tone...Mark III.
 
thanks danyeo, yeah i've seen that clip before, he's nailed that tone! I played a MkIV combo before, I just prefer the usability of the new amps, and the amount of tones available. And if the exact Mk IIC+ and MkIV circuitry is in these new Mk amps, that's good enough for me I guess.

never played a MkIII though......
 
Do you need any other sounds on top of the high gain Metallica thing? That would help narrow it down a bit.
 
Hi Casey
No not really, the clean tones were lovely on the new mini mark, the heavy one is what I've always been searching for. It's just the 25 vs 35 for home use I'm wondering about.......?
 
While 4x12's are cool, they're not the most practical. And some say they have almost the same footprint as a 2x12, but I disagree when it comes to the vertical 2x12's. I almost exclusively gig with my Mesa vertical 2x12 nowadays and there have been quite a few gigs where fitting a 4x12 on stage would be harder than the 2x12.

Also, especially at home, a 4x12 will be so much overkill. If the prices are the same, get the V:35, 'cause you'll have the footswitchable solo volumes. And I go for a vertical 2x12. And you may wanna swap out one of the speakers (Vintage 30s) at some point for something thicker/smoother sounding; like a G12-K100 or a G12-65.
 
If you have the space I'd get the 4x12 and the Mark head of your choice. I'm working on collecting the whole set myself. LOL Personally I'd get a full size one because it really takes a bunch of 6L6s to get that percussive heaviness. Also, they all have switches to run lower wattage when needed. If you're not gigging you probably won't use all the Mark V features anyway.

The Mark II & III are more vintage sounding, the V is more modern sounding, the IV kind of in between but I'd call it more modern leaning than vintage.

Also- The Recto cab with V30s will be the Black album sound, while a Marshall 1960 with the G12T-75s will be the Puppets / Justice sound. Either can be found used cheap at GC.com, the last one I got they shipped for $25!!

I have various tone comparo videos that might help you out. For the grand that you're going to spend on a used Mark Five 25 or 35 you can get a big boy Mark III or IV.
https://www.youtube.com/user/fast13b/videos
 
Thanks guys!
I'm definitely going to stick with the newer amps. I'll go and test both through various cabs to see if there's a noticeable difference. JP loves the 1x12 recto's. Problem with the 2x12 vert seems to be that they're less popular, so for resale or testing one out no one in the UK seems to stock them! I have the space for the 4x12, so that's no issue.....
 
The 4X12 will sound better at lower volume. I just does. I have many cabinets and use an open back 1X12 with a theile 1X12 for portability reasons but prefer the sound from 4 speakers instead of 1. The new Mesa amps are so easy to dial in compared to the old Marks, you need to need an old Mesa before you should entertain owning one. They're a MFer to dial in and they never sound the same from day to day. They're more organic than bionic and do sound incredible once dialed in that's why I'll never sell my old guy but I rarely play it.
 
FWIW, I got the JP-2C in part (compared to say a Mark V) because it has a headphone out so I can still play after the kids are in bed. The Mark five 25 & 35 also have this, but they won't have the balls to make a 4x12 sound its best. Don't get me wrong it will sound great, at least until you play a full size rig. If you have space & can on occasion play loud I'd get a full size rig. If you honestly think you will never play that loud I'd get the smaller Mark head with a vertical 2x12.
 
GJgo":1dl6t5zy said:
If you honestly think you will never play that loud I'd get the smaller Mark head with a vertical 2x12.
Click to expand...
Like I said.... :yes:

And it looks good too!

 
Fantastic thanks guys.
Part of me just wants to own a Mesa 4x12, for the look as much as anything! Sure a 1x12 would be plenty, but I'm only doing this once so I figure I may as well do it properly.....
I know the sensible among you are correct with the 25 and 2x12 vert combo though. Damn you.

Any preference with or without castors at home??
 
mowgli":2g7xa5wv said:
Fantastic thanks guys.
Part of me just wants to own a Mesa 4x12, for the look as much as anything! Sure a 1x12 would be plenty, but I'm only doing this once so I figure I may as well do it properly.....
I know the sensible among you are correct with the 25 and 2x12 vert combo though. Damn you.

Any preference with or without castors at home??
Click to expand...
Without will give more low-end, because of coupling with the floor.
By the way, if the V:25 and V:35 are the same price, might as well get the few extra features of the V:35 then, plus it fills out the top of the 2x12 a bit better.
I went with the V:25, partially because the V:35 wasn't even out and because I wanted something small and light for home-use.
I regularly gig with my Mesa vertical 2x12, but the 1x12 Mini Recto cab stays at home with the V:25.
 
I had a Mark V 25 that I used with a Mesa Vertical Slant 2x12 which sounded amazing. I only used it at home. It was a great setup. I had to see the Mark V for some cash but I'll be using that 2x12 probably forever. It's pretty nice.

The 2x12 are nice and easy to move too if you ever do take it any where. It fits in the trunk of my car with tons of room to spare.
 
Thanks again guys. I'm leaning towards the 2x12 plus MkV:35, if only because I'm getting more amp for the money!
If only the UK prices were the same as state side!
I have however found a recto 4x12 slant for only £100 more (new) than the 2x12, so that may make me go for that option for the same reason (more for the money, and good for resale value too.....)

When I played the V:25 on top of a 4x12, it looked a bit ridiculous, but that didn't seem to matter when I started playing the thing! the 35 definitely looks more proportioned though.....
 
that is one seriously good looking set up!
i wish i could customise the finish like that, but it would cost a fair bit for the uk!
plus no deals on the V:35 or 4x12
that head looks much better on the 2x12 there....
 
mowgli":1ngqf5s6 said:
that is one seriously good looking set up!
i wish i could customise the finish like that, but it would cost a fair bit for the uk!
plus no deals on the V:35 or 4x12
that head looks much better on the 2x12 there....
Click to expand...

I only play in my house and this head and 2x12 are WAY more than enough. It's crazy loud in a house setting. I have a Pink Taco on a Bogner 4x12 and it's also just crazy loud. I run my DSL into a Suhr Reactive Load and into my DAW so I can play it silently. If you're looking for a house rig, a Mark V at 90 watts would be a waste IMO. Good luck!
 
oh i totally agree. I know that a 5:25 and even a 1x12 is more than loud enough for now! it's only the attractive price of the 5:35 and 4x12 slant that is pulling me in an overboard direction, especially when you consider resale (although i doubt that will happen!)
 
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