Some background on this particular amp…started life as a very early (srl 2xx) MkIVa US domestic (110v) combo. When I got it and converted it to a head I also swapped the transformer to a later/bigger Mesa Schumacher „no a - no b“ export transformer (100-240V taps). Rhy2, which is commonly regarded as the bastard child channel in these amps, was tweaked/modded by my good friend Masahiro Lee of Lee Custom Amplification in Tokyo in order to make it more useable. Amp is defo in for a thorough cap job in the near future…I’m more into the techy nerdy stuff and can’t pull off 1/10 of what Carsten does on the geetar , but good to see and hear this beast in action 🤘🤘🤘
I would love to know the tweek to r2...yours did sound blazing...and revA usually suck on r2 (I have revb...it is better but still not what you are playing!!)
had a mkIV for 22yrs. my first real tube amp, always adored it. Stopped playing for like 5yrs to raise kids but when i got back into the gear madness, i noticed that i was constantly fiddling with it to find the tone in my head. i would be happy, then i wouldnt be the next time. then i had got my hands on a Rivera R Fifty Five, it was dialed in and set, boom done next, havent changed the knobs in 3yrs. Anyhow, sold the Mark IV in 2023 and havent looked back, except i watch the review videos like this one just to hear other players enjoy its glory ~~~ Rock ON!
Thanks! I totally agree. The Mark IV is an invitation to tweak fest. I'm happy that you found your amp! Never played a Rivera before! Guess I need to change that. 😁
I watched this and what stood out for me is this guy looks like he's having fun, that's what guitar is all about for me. I also want to give massive points for him saying essentially he was wrong about these amps, we are are all of us wrong about things in life but it takes a powerful mind to be dynamically adaptive and course correct and not dig their heels in. Respect.
hey man, I owned this amp for a couple of years, it is my biggest regret 😞 Try GAIN 8 pulled, TREBLE 8, BASS 0, MIDS 2, LEAD DRIVE 7.5, LEAD MASTER 3 (this is a MUST), and the classic V on the eq. Usually if you use the Presence pushed it will sound darker so it needs to be on 7, if pulled it lowers the volume a little bit, it reacts like a IIC+ Presence and 3/4 is enough.Great video as always, you are a fantastic player, really. Last but not least. Harmonics, Pentode, Simul class.
Great video. And kick ass playing. So accurate and sounding huge. I play my mk iv through a custom cab with a vintage 30 and a g12h Sounds killer! Thanks for sharing.
@@Penisdoll two different beasts...the mark IV has that tight percussive bite and the badlander is a little bit fuller in the low end, a lil more loose if you will...in stereo they sound awesome...run them with a mesa vertical 2X12 and horizontal 2X12...also just added a empress paraEQ mkII to the mix, its very nice...cheers!!!
Yup..I have ashory chasis head from 1994. Run it thru a recto os 412- nothing else like it. I profiled it on my emper Powerhead and it's all I use for all of m recording and live use.
What a coincidence! 🤘🙂❤️ This thing is absolutely insane! I just made some Kemper Profiles with it. Super stoked to have that sound at home now and not only at my rehearsal space. 🥳🎄
YOu said the equalizer is pre gain(in front of the pre amp)...Mesa uses different terminology for accuracy...the tone stack is pre gain and the equalizer is after the pre amp(I think after the effects loop, right before the power amp)
Geil Maannnn !!! Das ding hat so viel Eier, dass da deine Eierkartons nicht reichen :-D Kauf dir nen Mesa . Dann perfekte Metallica und Dream Theater Cover raushauen und bäääääämmmmm !😃 04:33 / 10:38 nailed the sound :-D
I’m scared to buy a new Engl because scepter studios covered their bad years versus their recent product. For all I know the one I had was considered “the bad years”. Regardless I just don’t want to buy one and get a bad product or one that doesn’t have the original sound I got out of it. It was BRUTAL. At the time I didn’t appreciate how high quality it was.
This is the first time that a Mesa Boogie has sounded good to me. They have always sounded too muddy to me. Especially the Kemper profiles. Perhaps one has to scoop the mids? But as you say, it’s probably how they have been set up. Well played! What is that small cabinet behind the amp? It almost looks like a KRK monitor inside a larger cabinet.
Thanks Jim! I'm still learning which Boogie does what and how to dial them in. 😄 That is a super old Carlsbro fullrange speaker. I'm glad you're asking. We were using them for vocals. For some reason the 2nd one disappeared. I need to check this. Thanks for reminding me! 😂
Two mesa amps that impressed me immediately. This one and the Studio Pre. The Studio Pre had such a unique lead tone... very.... mid range almost keyboard like... Never heard that from ANY OTHER mesa. The Quad Preamp also had a LOT of cool stuff and is forgotten about. You used to be able to get a mark 4 head for $1200. You can argue the mark 2c+ is better... but price for price a Mark 4 and maybe something else for clean tones (studio pre or lonestar) and you have a fucking RIG. With newer technology now (mark 7) ... I suppose you can just go that route if you really want to own an amp amp. At this point in my life though plugins / floorboards are sooooooooo good and quick that amps are sorta falling out of favor in my life
I'm really interested in the Mark VII. I'm also a huge fan of digital stuff (Kemper, Plugins etc) but it's fun to go crazy once in a while and just crank a good tube amp. ✌️
What year is the Engl cabinet? I never realized how next level that cabinet was until I sold it and listened to my recordings. I bought an orange 🍊 and yes it’s juicy but it’s totally different and honestly doesn’t come anywhere near what the v30 Engl did.
lol literally all you had to do was look at Fleming Rasmussen's notes during the black album sessions, dial it right in and just tweak to your taste from there.
