That final lead tone man... best amp ever. btw, I do have a v4 kraken preamp and it's awesome, but mark IV is just mark IV, I don't think it can be beaten!
i'm a little late to this video but having played a mark iv since 92 i can honestly say it's nice to hear the amp dialed in the way it's supposed to be on all channels. well done.
Great info and detailed. I have owned a Mark IV, purchased brand new since 1990. (Short body combo). Very easy to follow your logic when you already own the amp. I used to own a first run Mark IIA (1979), I should not have sold that one as would have been great to have both amps. Hindsight is always 20/20!...Be well and nicely done. Phil NYC Area
I am also a fan of the R2 mode. I recovered a guitar cover of Slowride by Foghat for fun and it nails that weird quirky pre Van Halen 70's rock tone ala James Gang or Fleetwood Mac. Use a couple of tracks and give one of them a doubler and it's very authentically 70's.
I’ve had mine for almost 10 years and while I’ve quite fallen out of love with it, I can’t bring myself to part with it, as much as I’ve wanted to sell it throughout the years. After I stopped playing metal and did more psychedelic rock and alternative stuff, it just felt too sterile for me. Keep hoping to fall back in love with it because I know as soon as I sell it I’ll miss it
I run my Mark IV with the Lead channel, treble and bass on 10, mid on 5, gain and drive around 7-8, and a tweaked V setting on the graphic eq. My guitar also has the Fishman Townsend set, and I boost it with a Precision Drive. I get super tight, yet super chunky palm mutes, and it's still perfect in a band mix.
I let a friend borrow mine for a gig. Ive owned it for 20 yearsband I know it back and forth. I got a call 1/2 hour before he went on and the panic in his voice was unreal. I went earlier than I was planning on going to help him get his particular tone. He now owns his own....
I just noodles for 2hrs with these settings. The RHY1 is dirtier than RHy2 which I thought was interesting, engage OCD on the latter makes for a nice tonal combination. Now for Lead settings with presence set at 2 and pulled, no graphic. Thought this was more of that 80’s you described. Lead with graphic is nice too. Overall, this video is probably the best best Mk IV tips video that I’ve found. I actually leaned more about my amp in 10mins, and I’ve owned it for 20yrs. Thanks for this very much
You explained this amp really well. Very informative on how to set each channel up for the best results. I've always admired this amp because of its versatility and the aggressive gain you can get from the third channel. This amp SINGS and SUSTAINS! I would have to say, Nick, the background music in your video when you're explaining how to use the amp is distracting. It's difficult to concentrate on the details you're giving with that style of music in the background. Other than that great review of this amazing amp!
Great tones...I have the JP2C but looking into a MK IV but...what made you choose the Kraken over the MK IV because I've been looking at those too. They sound great!
cool video brother!!! i have a 2008 mark IV ( may b one of the last made) and it is a beast!!! i'm a 50 yr old metal rhythm dude and i use the tweed power w pentode...ABY it with a EVH 50W stealth...the cleans with the wet/dry sound amazing!!! just subscribed!!!
What speakers? Also the real issue with R2 is the shared controls. You can get R2 to sound awesome but kiss your R1 clean tone goodbye, and vice versa. But on its own I LOVE R2, it’s mostly what I use.
ARSIS - Brandon Ellis (OFFICIAL PLAYTHROUGH).... The tone he gets on that jam is the most amazing I’ve ever heard anywhere ever!!!!... Check it out!!!..🤙😎🤘
@@samholloway9211 Both! I usually have the amp’s reverb dimed unless I’m looking for a tight riffing tone. It doesn’t actually add a lot of “reverb” per se, but it has a nice saturated midrange thing going on that blends well with the Mark IV’s crazy tightness. The main “reverb” sound you’re hearing is a Strymon Big Sky.
Got to play around with one of these for a day. I got one great sound out of it, and if I hadn't read the manual, I'd never even have gotten that. These are great tones here, I never knew it could do these.
Hey can you recommend how to dial in the channel master volume so you don’t have significant volume drops during channel switching? I am planning on playing this live but wanted to see if you had any advice on that. Thanks great video
I still have no idea why there is more talking and less playing in these tone videos. The video depicts guitar tone which is what you should hear throughout the majority of the video... we are dissecting guitar tone, not the tone of a human voice.
If you’ve gigged one of these for a while you’ve had the knobs break. The way the cabinet angles back the knobs are very vulnerable. I’ve replaced several pots on mine.
That final lead tone man... best amp ever.
btw, I do have a v4 kraken preamp and it's awesome, but mark IV is just mark IV, I don't think it can be beaten!
i'm a little late to this video but having played a mark iv since 92 i can honestly say it's nice to hear the amp dialed in the way it's supposed to be on all channels. well done.
Excellent review. As a mark 4 owner since the rev A, truly appreciate someone giving channel 2 some love..wildly underrated. Cheers!
Wow, Tone #2 is great! That's the one sound I've always struggled to get out of a Mark IV. And you did it out of the R2 channel! That's amazing!
I just bought a Mark IV off of Reverb and it should be here Thursday I can’t wait!
Great info and detailed.
I have owned a Mark IV, purchased brand new since 1990. (Short body combo). Very easy to follow your logic when you already own the amp. I used to own a first run Mark IIA (1979), I should not have sold that one as would have been great to have both amps. Hindsight is always 20/20!...Be well and nicely done.
Phil
NYC Area
I am also a fan of the R2 mode. I recovered a guitar cover of Slowride by Foghat for fun and it nails that weird quirky pre Van Halen 70's rock tone ala James Gang or Fleetwood Mac. Use a couple of tracks and give one of them a doubler and it's very authentically 70's.
I sold my Mark IV like an idiot . I recently bought a Mark III++ Green Stripe to fix my guilt lol. We all need a boogie in life
Which do u like better? Mark III or IV?
I’ve had mine for almost 10 years and while I’ve quite fallen out of love with it, I can’t bring myself to part with it, as much as I’ve wanted to sell it throughout the years. After I stopped playing metal and did more psychedelic rock and alternative stuff, it just felt too sterile for me.
Keep hoping to fall back in love with it because I know as soon as I sell it I’ll miss it
@@sugarnap245 it can be used to get weird man. Soundgarden had it doing sol alt stuff . Real tripped out
@@techdeathhippie6319 more into hiwatt cleans lately
My dream amp!! Great video dude 🙂
Beautiful tone and nice solo playing at the end man!
I run my Mark IV with the Lead channel, treble and bass on 10, mid on 5, gain and drive around 7-8, and a tweaked V setting on the graphic eq. My guitar also has the Fishman Townsend set, and I boost it with a Precision Drive. I get super tight, yet super chunky palm mutes, and it's still perfect in a band mix.
I let a friend borrow mine for a gig. Ive owned it for 20 yearsband I know it back and forth.
I got a call 1/2 hour before he went on and the panic in his voice was unreal. I went earlier than I was planning on going to help him get his particular tone.
He now owns his own....
Super nice sounds! Thanks a lot for making that great video. 🙂
The last Lead settings are probably the nicest all round i've heard for that channel.
I just noodles for 2hrs with these settings. The RHY1 is dirtier than RHy2 which I thought was interesting, engage OCD on the latter makes for a nice tonal combination. Now for Lead settings with presence set at 2 and pulled, no graphic. Thought this was more of that 80’s you described. Lead with graphic is nice too. Overall, this video is probably the best best Mk IV tips video that I’ve found. I actually leaned more about my amp in 10mins, and I’ve owned it for 20yrs. Thanks for this very much
great great video. i’ll definitely try these settings on my own Mark IV.
Well done - love my mark IV - with the 6x 6L6s.
Late to the show... brilliant video mate
Great tones and great playing!
I had a IV for a long time and sold it for a Royal Atlantic. Now looking to go back. Unfortunately they're worth a lot more now.
Wicked demo... nice to see someone using that R2 channel to the max!
It’s a great amp. Bet it belongs to someone with fantastic taste ;)
Great video, Nick! Thanks!
Thank you for a very good review. Articulate and good explanations and nice tones too:)
You explained this amp really well. Very informative on how to set each channel up for the best results. I've always admired this amp because of its versatility and the aggressive gain you can get from the third channel. This amp SINGS and SUSTAINS! I would have to say, Nick, the background music in your video when you're explaining how to use the amp is distracting. It's difficult to concentrate on the details you're giving with that style of music in the background. Other than that great review of this amazing amp!
Nick this sounds absolutely incredible! What speakers were you using here?
Rhythm 2 is my base channel. Run most my pedals from it. It's versatile and warm.
me too!
Killer tone 💯 will have to use them
The best Mesa boogie amp. I will never part with it
Great tone!
Excellent video. I have watched it twice to better understand my Mark 4,lol. Blessings.
Goddammit I'm buying one. Great vid.
Love that first R2 tone you dialled in ! Just a bit of fur.
Great tones...I have the JP2C but looking into a MK IV but...what made you choose the Kraken over the MK IV because I've been looking at those too. They sound great!
cool video brother!!! i have a 2008 mark IV ( may b one of the last made) and it is a beast!!! i'm a 50 yr old metal rhythm dude and i use the tweed power w pentode...ABY it with a EVH 50W stealth...the cleans with the wet/dry sound amazing!!! just subscribed!!!
The clean is so musical and inspiring !
Fantastic review. You've got yourself a new subscriber
What speakers? Also the real issue with R2 is the shared controls. You can get R2 to sound awesome but kiss your R1 clean tone goodbye, and vice versa. But on its own I LOVE R2, it’s mostly what I use.
Outstanding. Love your guitarpaly and Videos.
My friend, Can you put this tones in NAM (Neural AMP Modeler)?
Tasty beautiful Sounds, specially the clean sound😄
ARSIS - Brandon Ellis (OFFICIAL PLAYTHROUGH).... The tone he gets on that jam is the most amazing I’ve ever heard anywhere ever!!!!... Check it out!!!..🤙😎🤘
Hilarious, look at reviews from back a few years... guys hated them. Now it’s loved.
Great demo nick 👊🙏🙏
cool review 👍 instead of all the metal video of it🤘😎
Are you using the reverb on the amp or something else?
@@samholloway9211 Both! I usually have the amp’s reverb dimed unless I’m looking for a tight riffing tone. It doesn’t actually add a lot of “reverb” per se, but it has a nice saturated midrange thing going on that blends well with the Mark IV’s crazy tightness.
The main “reverb” sound you’re hearing is a Strymon Big Sky.
@NickJennison I have a big sky as well I'll test that out with it. Great video. Really helpful. Thanks man.
@@NickJennison yeah my reverb on the mark iv has audible interference when using it. Dunno why. It's quiet without the reverb on.
Great vid I love my Mark iv. I missed it but did you have the graphic eq on while using the clean channel?
Got to play around with one of these for a day. I got one great sound out of it, and if I hadn't read the manual, I'd never even have gotten that. These are great tones here, I never knew it could do these.
Hey can you recommend how to dial in the channel master volume so you don’t have significant volume drops during channel switching? I am planning on playing this live but wanted to see if you had any advice on that. Thanks great video
What speaker config did you use?
Is he running class A, triode, pentode, simulcast? How are the tubes set up?
Simul class, pentode, all 6L6 - as nature intended.
Oh Man.... you killed the LEAD DRIVE :-(
I have jcm2000
Yuck!!
I own all these amps
Petriosi
Petrucci
I still have no idea why there is more talking and less playing in these tone videos. The video depicts guitar tone which is what you should hear throughout the majority of the video... we are dissecting guitar tone, not the tone of a human voice.
It’s quite a complicated amp, so there’s a fair bit of explanation required.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the video.
@@NickJennison Well, I just wish the amp got to speak as much as you did thats all.
I can't believe you'd make this video of an amp with a knob broken off of it. Have you no pride in the condition of your gear?
If you’d watched as far as 1:30 before commenting, you’d know that this amp doesn’t belong to me 😂
If you’ve gigged one of these for a while you’ve had the knobs break. The way the cabinet angles back the knobs are very vulnerable. I’ve replaced several pots on mine.
I can't believe you'd pass so much judgement on someone you know nothing about. Have you no pride in yourself? Or maybe too much!