2011 Mesa/Boogie Mark V

Specs

  • 3 Channels

  • 90w Output

  • 4x 6L6 Power Tubes

  • 7x 12AX7 Preamp tubes

  • 1x 5U4 Rectifier tube

  • Serial effects loop

  • Spring reverb

Overview

I purchased this amp on hype alone, after falling in love with my Mark IV, I figured what could be better than that?

Similar to the Mark IV, this amp has 3 channels, except it’s more of a journey through the history of the Mark amps. Channel 2 has a Mark 1 mode, which is very bassy and full sounding, great for smooth mid-gain leads. Channel 3 has a Mark IIC+, Mark IV, and “Extreme” modes, designed to emulate the most famous of Mark tones. Channel 1 has 3 variations on clean tones, although some grit is possible especially in the tweed mode.

I initially was wowed by all of the options, and sold my Mark IV, which I later regretted. I think this amp does some incredibly tones, but a replacement for a true Mark IV (or any of the other models it replicates, most likely), it is not.

This amp also offers a tube rectifier, much like an original Mark I. This tube can be switched into the circuit in 45 watt mode for channels 1 and 2 (no tube rectification is possible on channel 3, but you can select pentode or triode power tube operation instead). It also has a very deep sounding spring reverb tank, much better sounding than any Mark IV’s reverb that I’ve heard, and more transparent as well. The IIC and IV modes sound like you might expect - similar but not precise copies of those amps - but Extreme mode is quite different with much more prominent mids and lower mids.