How to Dial in a Mark Series Amplifier

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Күн бұрын

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00:00 - Hello
01:04 - All Knobs at Noon
02:07 - Mark Series Tonestack
03:20 - A Better Starting Point
04:50 - The 750hz Slider
06:09 - Closing Thoughts

Пікірлер: 127

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

What's your favourite iteration of the Mark series design?

@hoosierdaddy2308 Жыл бұрын

Anything John Sykes used.. 😛

@marcosandron6081 Жыл бұрын

The Mark IV is a milestone. I like the 2C+ Too. Mark V and the new Mark VII seem to be great amps too, but my bank account still anchors my feet to the ground: “modelers are cool too and bla bla bla” 🤣

@hoosierdaddy2308 Жыл бұрын

@@marcosandron6081 They all sound greate too me. I wish I knew more about them, but alas, I don't..I just know that some of my favorite artists used / use them such as John Sykes, Stryper, and many more as I'm sure you know.. Good stuff. I wish they made a small 20 watt combo like this with the EQ.. Hell, they may I don't know about it.. 😛

@duck2587 Жыл бұрын

Mark IV and JP2C

@totc6196 Жыл бұрын

The best Sykes tone I have heard kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oLF5jdl936nMoo0.html

@peterharvin2775 Жыл бұрын

Stank-O-Cam is priceless, and actually quite useful as a measure of what sounds good. Even though I don't own a Mesa, this was really interesting

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

@reav3rtm Жыл бұрын

Though with Leon it is often difficult to judge whether he the tone hits or stinks;) His facial expressions may be misleading haha

@dominicgibson9529 Жыл бұрын

I’ve had 2, Road Kings…why 2, you ask, because I forgot how hard it was to get even a half decent tone out of the first one I had. It would be actually interesting to see if Leon could get one to work.

@paulschlachter4313 Жыл бұрын

I want a Stank-O-Cam plugin now.

@cactus-mcjacktus Жыл бұрын

i love how Steve Von Till used a mk4 in Neurosis, just the most glorious crushing tone.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Really? Didn't know that!

@cactus-mcjacktus Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd yeah, it’s been his go-to for heavy stuff since it came out really. Always with another amp (Fender Twin, Marshall JMP or Garnet Session Man) and a couple of RAT pedals.

@peterrovaniemi138 Жыл бұрын

Yeah! He makes his mark sound so glorious.

@joelsmith4816 Жыл бұрын

I got the Bluguitar Mercury Amp 1. And I freaking LOVE that little thing. Marshall heaven.

@SuperJiggawhat Жыл бұрын

This is a very helpful video. I have been playing a mark V since 2014 and I can say your video is spot on. It's seriously about time someone made a tutorial like this.

@heavybrett-al4082 Жыл бұрын

Yea that front panel does look intimidating! Especially if you have never messed with one, boogie's are the gain monsters though aren't they! I remember in the 90's my friends all drooled over the dual rectifier's.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Recto's are different animals again - wild beasts!

@constantinosmavroyannis9409 Жыл бұрын

lmao that stank-o-cam caught me off guard. btw i feel you have explained that method for mark series amps and the placement of the eq so many times you need to put it on a t-shirt if ppl still dont know 😄

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

hahaha yep!

@kaidemen156 Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated, I’m trying out a Mark IV a friend is selling before I buy it and this got me going in the right direction for dialing in a better tone.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Awesome to hear!

@kimmis15 Жыл бұрын

Stank-o-vision cracked me up xD I followed this vid using the axe fx mark IV, and it has pretty much the same results :D

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Yeah the Axe-Fx Mark series models are delightfully accurate

@marcosandron6081 Жыл бұрын

Got pretty similar results on the HX stomp model as well. Really useful tips as always!

@tommmy911 Жыл бұрын

Gain: 2:30, Treble 1:00, Mid 9:00, Bas 10:30, Presance 10:30. Grafic EQ V-Shape

@SuperJiggawhat Жыл бұрын

Nice job

@jsullivan2112 Жыл бұрын

Use your ears and read the manual! :) This is a great intro. I dial mine in about the same, but with the Lead Drive backed off to around 6.5 (sounds rounder to me, maybe it's just my amp). I have a Version A bubinga combo from spring 1991. I bring the lead gain in around 7 or 8 to add harmonic content (the muted harmonics in Holy Wars right before Dave's solo or the intro of Tornado of Souls is a good gauge for me). 750hz is pretty much exactly like where you put yours, just south of neutral, and sometimes I'll drop 2200 down a bit if my ears are bothering me that day. I usually pull presence so it's not so in my face if I'm close to it, pentode simulclass, and usually harmonics mode, but sometimes Mid Gain. Rhy. 2 really doesn't get enough love, I think it's the perfect in-between. It's an amazing amp, a guitar player's dream if you like pretty much every genre of music. It can do everything.

@officialpoa3171 3 ай бұрын

*You get a THUMBS-UP just for the Stank-O-Cam!*

@jonbigg7385 Жыл бұрын

Love my JP2C and loved the Mark IV that I owned prior to the JP2C. Kinda wish I'd kept the IV around, but couldn't justify it. The JP2C just provides so much more flexibility with the 3 totally independent channels, two assignable EQs and the midi. To me it's the ultimate amp to pair in 4CM with an AxeFX III.

@jameslugo Жыл бұрын

I am heading to the Gibson Garage this morning to try a 7. This video is perfect timing!! Love you man.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

May the grease be with you!

@Greg-rd8qr Жыл бұрын

I understand way better now!! Awesome video man! Thanks!

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@carlroberge7535 Жыл бұрын

That midrange slider on neutral is your best friend for solos. Cuts through the mix like a knife 🤘

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

All the mids!

@dominicgibson9529 Жыл бұрын

Ooh, a little bit of TV trickery..."Stank-O-Cam"...love it😂

@scottchamley181 10 ай бұрын

I almost always use the pull fat, and have the presence pulled as well. It just sounds better in a mix to me. However, I really enjoy the recto kind of feel it has with the presence pushed.

@danluzanycia1494 Жыл бұрын

Channel 2 with an sd1. ... perfection!

@Jaidezilla Жыл бұрын

Best guitar sound I ever heard was when I was younger and listening to speak of the devil with Brad gillis using those Mark 2Cs. That's the sound of tried to use my whole life.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Gillis was on FIRE on that record

@Jaidezilla Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd when you put on that record symptom of the universe just punches you right in the chest with that Mesa boogie sound

@Terribleguitarist89 Жыл бұрын

Took me years to fully understand dialing them but I love my studio pre and mark III.

@RUHDD4HVN Жыл бұрын

MKIIIs Mr Mister sustain and wampum tone for days............. "Broken Wings"...."Kyrie"....ect ("The Lock And Key" from my channel)

@Dupdopy Жыл бұрын

Great tips. man!

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@MoreMeRecording Жыл бұрын

I found that the easiest way to setup a sound is presuming its new and you get the sample setting lay over, or you got it with a used amp, is start there! I tried a sample setting on the MKIV I bought in 93 and immediately sounded exactly like the opening chords in the the song Courage, by the Tragically Hip (who did use MKIVs at that time and I had no idea).

@wolfsdenmusic9404 Жыл бұрын

Great video Leon! Mesa Mark series are either a mystery waiting to be explored, or a treasure trove...depending how you look at it. Even within the same model, there different variations (like the stripe colors on MKIII...not sure if MKII is the same). I like the MKIV, but I think the MKII and III are my favorites. All my favorite guitarists in the 80's were either doing Marshall (or some flavor of hot rodded Marshall) or Boogie MKII B, C, MKIII, or there off shoots (Coliseum, Studio Preamp, Quad Preamp). Or in the case of Brad Gillis, one of my favorites...pretty much all of them at one point or another. :)

@rgibson1hrg7a Жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks for sharing your Mark wisdom! You should do one like this for the recto as well.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Excellent idea

@sonicaids Жыл бұрын

wow i never knew this. thank you

@marcosandron6081 Жыл бұрын

Sweet 🤩

@reav3rtm Жыл бұрын

I set Drive to max and gain to 3, 4 for best clarity. I guess using some external EQ would allow setting gain to higher values. Built in EQ is fine for shaping sound but not enough to remove unwanted frequencies, fizz. Or I don't know how to use it properly. And thank you for helping me find good sound out of this amp years ago (with one of your videos) when I was shooting blind and hating it :)

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

It's the ultimate "roll your own" amp :D

@pvsnoir Жыл бұрын

So sad I had to sell my Mark IV but it was in a very poor condition (sounded perfectly but the electronic was 100% original from 1992 and some parts had to be renewed) and I had no money to do anything. I’m glad I still own my triaxis and 2:90 tones are also exceptional

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

The Triaxis/290 is iconic!

@pvsnoir Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd if I’m lucky I’m buying my mark IV back ! The guy who bought me it is selling it back and he just renewed the amp totally

@MalcaratMartinez Ай бұрын

I bought a Mark IV RevA combo a month ago, and I just ordered the 1x12 Thiele front ported cab. Couldn't be happier..........1st amp I have that sounds (and feels) right without the need of any external pedals. Just R2 channel is rather meh (can't have both R1 and R2 to sound right,,,,,, you have to choose). But only the lead channel and clean channels are enough for me, with a volume boost for solos.

@LeonTodd Ай бұрын

Congrats!

@User-jk8wq Жыл бұрын

I do not own a Mesa Boogie Mark series, and will almost certainly never be able to afford one, but this video was still captivating

@paulschlachter4313 Жыл бұрын

If you would try to replicate the graphic eq's neutral setting with a Marshall tonestack you would need to set it B:0, M:10, T:0 to get close. And to emulate a Marshall tonestack at 5,5,5 set the 750Hz at -5dB.

@Bluesplayer789 Жыл бұрын

I saw a Mark IV combo in Bunbury cashies a feed back for under $1800. Really should've pulled the trigger! Another great tutorial Leon!

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Pretty sure I know the exact combo. I often think about that combo and why i didn't pounce on it

@jsullivan2112 Жыл бұрын

$1800 AUD? That is definitely a steal in 2023. The average price right now is $25-2700 USD

@glaucosouza1971 Жыл бұрын

Mine favourite iteration is the MkIII. More agressive, open and clear sounding. And way more brighter than the MkIV, which is more focused and compressed. Rather different members of the same family. Having said that, the usual settings are in the same ballpark for both, oddly enough. Usually the settings for those amps are Treble: 5-8 Bass: 0-2 Middle: 4-6 Presence: 3-6 And apply the "Rule of 16" for the lead drive and lead gain (the sum of both cant pass 16). And thats pretty much it.

@nicktrierweiler3690 Жыл бұрын

Gonna have to check that out... What do you have pulled? Anything resembling hard rock marshall crunch?

@glaucosouza1971 Жыл бұрын

@@nicktrierweiler3690 actually those are for more heavier and typical mark tones on the lead channell (if the master is too low I pull the treble otherwise everything is normal, not pulled). For those Marshall tones I use channell 2 on both amps, but with the gain maxed (pull bass) and treble and mids very high around 8 and 6, sometimes with a pedal in front to squeeze it a lil more.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Had a chance to buy a MKIII a few years ago but didn't take it. Would love to try one!

@nicktrierweiler3690 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@glaucosouza1971 Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd unfortunately we are 13.500 km apart, otherwise you will be more than welcome to try it at my place 😀👍

@michaelthompson3286 Жыл бұрын

Hi, Leon, would you recommend using a boost pedal into the effects loop for getting a solo over the band clearly? I've been using the EQ as a solo boost which probably restricts me from not using the EQ for an even better rhythm tone. I'm new to Boogies so this vid was a big help 🙌🏽

@ahmedtayseer8367 Жыл бұрын

Lead Gain: 6.5 / Treble: 8.5 / Bass: 0-1 / Mid 3 / Drive 7.5 & For leads then Gain: 7.5-8 / Tre:7 / Bass: 1 / Mid: 2 / Drive: 9 with GEQ V Shape

@RandyWillcox Жыл бұрын

I miss my MKIV. It was a 1x12 hardwood combo with the wicker grill. It was 1996 or 97 and I walked into the store and plugged in. It was perfect! I was floored because I knew even then that they were particularly tricky. I took a business card and made diagrams of the front and back controls. I bought the amp and kept the card in my wallet. Years later, long after selling the amp, I was at Rudy's in NYC and they had one. I asked to try it out and the guys said sure, but told me I was on my own. About 20 minutes later, I came out and they said, "that sounded great! Nobody's been able to get a good sound out of that amp!" I told him my story about drawing the controls on a card when I got mine. He said he was going to do that with my settings so they'd have better luck selling the amp. 😂

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Hahahaha that's gold. You should have got a commission.

@RandyWillcox Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd when I first bought the amp, none of the salespeople cared to help. I found a cable and plugged myself in. I had a brand new, very expensive Brian Moore and AFTER they saw it, one of them asked if I needed help. I just said I was fine. When I decided it was mine, I found a salesman and bought it. The one who asked if I needed anything came over trying to say it was his sale. I said that actually, nobody helped me, I just found someone who could ring me up. Then I said, "in fact, since nobody earned the commission on this, I should get it discounted off the price." It didn't happen, but I needed to make the point since someone had the nerve to claim he "helped" me.

@dominicgibson9529 Жыл бұрын

Stryper...God you snuck that in😂

@carmin1999 16 күн бұрын

Never saw a stank o cam. F yeah. Brilliant 😄😃😂

@LeonTodd 16 күн бұрын

🤣

@ronnieparfait Жыл бұрын

Funny how “Mark” from down under sounds a little Boston to me.. 🤘🏼✌🏼

@iganpparamarta8813 Жыл бұрын

There was this guy on youtube who was disappointed by mark V 25w tone, turned out the guy just didn't know how to dial it. He was exactly like me who got confused if an amp has more than one row of knobs lol

@777james777 Жыл бұрын

Would these setting techniques apply to modelers like the Line 6 Helix?

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

If the modeler accurately recreates the tonestack then yes. From memory the Helix Mark model is pretty good.

@totc6196 Жыл бұрын

I always think lamb of god when I see this amp. Cool demonstration! 🤘🏻

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

The tones on Ashes of the Wake are some of the best Mark tones ever

@totc6196 Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd Totally agree bro my favourite log album by far and tone! I have a wicked log patch with the USA lead on my fm3! I used willies settings from the killadelphia dvd.

@totc6196 Жыл бұрын

@Deconstruction 33 have a email ? Kinda hard to write it out here

@hoosierdaddy2308 Жыл бұрын

Wow.. So interesting.. I looked and our guy John Sykes used a Mark III it said, and Stryper who you talked about used / uses a Mark 2 it said. You're first example with the "Stank o cam".. hahahahahahah buhahahaha.. Was very flabby and you made it make perfect sense. I now know why when I tried one I wasn't able to get it to sound good at a music store! That's it! I tried one many years ago and it was sooo farty on the bottom end and I didn't know why. I actually thought there was something wrong with the amp.. 🤣🤣.. Shows how stupid I was.. 🤣🤣 My cousin has a mesa boogie head. I don't remember which one, but a modern one and he owns a studio near chicago and has a kemper. He setup the head for me and it sounded awesome. (He must have known what you do) and then he let me A / B it against his kemper. I couldn't tell any difference basically. I mean there might have been a little, but once you were loud, it was no difference. I can see why modeling is such a good solution and your tones always sound awesome with your modeling video's, live shows, etc. Just pristine and epic sir! Love the latest shows you put up with your trip across the (world hahaha) to melbourne. I want to visit there so bad man. Would love to see Perth and would love to visit Victoria as well.. What a cool country! Great demo sir. Thanks brother. It's always an interesting and educating source of info with you sir! Be well my friend!

@DaronMacke Жыл бұрын

Stank-O-Cam 😂😂😂

@paullowder7932 Жыл бұрын

Does the same approach work on the Axe FX?

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Yeah

@coalfacechris1336 Жыл бұрын

Have Mkiii Green Stripe Simulclass head, and a Strategy 500 Poweramp. After being a Marshall guy for life, took a punt and traded a Ceri Yeti for the Mkiii. Took a while, and thought I'd bought a POS, but unlike a Marshall-style amp - where we all know what we are going to get - the Mk is more like letting one zero in on what they want. But that doesn't suit everybody, and why there are more Marshalls and Fenders players around generally.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Good way to look at it. Definitely one for the stylists.

@markholmes2665 Жыл бұрын

I've always wondered why the Mark IV lead channel has a "lead gain" and a "lead drive" controls.....while I understand what they should do, why does the Mark IV have both?

@RL10 Жыл бұрын

Super Leon, how would you dial in a good clean tone with your mark IV?

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Rhythm 1 channel is very black panel Fender to my ears. use the good old "Magic 6" settings as a start (bass 2, mid 3, treble and drive at 6)

@RL10 Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd Perfect, thank you very much!!!

@collinreardon79 Жыл бұрын

I always love your Mark series videos, but I have a huge pet peeve that you cut the 240 hz slider every time. Boost that shit, just a tiny bit. It doesn’t need much. But it fills out the low mids so nicely, especially in a mix it really makes the guitar stand out. I know it’s preference but it sounds so much better that way imo, especially the IV or the IV modes.

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Yeah it's definitely got a "woody" character about it that is instantly recognizable.

@rendyandrian7149 Жыл бұрын

I watch this video because I can't get good tone from NDSP Boogie suite. After watching this I realize even a real Mark IV isn't easy to dial in. Strangely, I can dial a good tone more easily from MLS Fluff2C and ML5 after watching a few Mark V videos. Heck..I even can get a feel on how to dial in Mark VII after watching a few videos.

@fedboy21 Жыл бұрын

Any different between mark4 and dc5. From the looks it has the same layout panel. Have u ever try boogie dc5???

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Yeah there's circuit differences as i understand it. Never tried a DC5 but i'm quietly looking for one :p

@fedboy21 Жыл бұрын

@@LeonTodd nice....pls find and try it soon, ive been eyeing one in my local guitar market. But still not sure if its good for the price and for my music

@vpekkakervinen Жыл бұрын

Does this apply also to Mark V ?

@LeonTodd Жыл бұрын

Yep.

@jimlund4845 Жыл бұрын

LOL Stank O Cam!

@Turboy65 10 ай бұрын

I had a Mark IV for two years after having already owned Mark II and Mark III models, and traded the IV for a Mark V which I consider to be a much better amp because the Mark V is the one that finally gave each channel its own set of tone controls that aren't shared between channels. Those shared controls are the achilles heel of all the previous Marks. That being said, the IV could of course generate some great tones even though the controls were never very intuitive to operate. I've now owned every Mark, if you include an SOB as a reissue of a Mark I, other than the Mark VII which I will eventually have. But so far, the best metal tones I've ever gotten, out of ANY amp, have come out of a blue stripe loaded Mark III head. That is THEE ONE for the most savage metal tones ever.