tukk04

I've played quite a few and they do enough for me, I change styles by playing differently and using different pups and rolling off the tone along with changing how I'm playing and those changes and a decent overdrive are enough for me if I had to go without any other pedals, throw in a good distortion or fuzz and I can give ya metal too.

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Ian_the_fox

I've played a few V3's in person and a used V3m in GC. The tubes make a massive difference.

The V3 is much more focused and has a more clear/robust sound. The EL84's in the V3m simply kill everything. I really don't get why so many lower-watt amps targeted towards hi-gain players are loaded with them. They sound horrible for metal.

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311ZOSOVHJH

^ you need a disti pedal on a Mark to do metal?

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mmolteratx

The MTS series is really what you want, though you could do something like a 6505+ combo and Deluxe Reverb in stereo, which would be super hawt.



I've owned or played all of the very highly regarded high gain pedals and not one can touch my Diezel, CEC or Boogie. Especially through an HRD, which I also used to own. The guys got a budget of $1500, why the hell would you settle for an HRD and a mediocre pedal with that much money? Not to mention the HRD is even lousier at low volumes.

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bassmastamitch

My rig (in my sig) consists of a Hot Rod Deluxe as the main amp, and the awesome Wampler Triple Wreck for all of my dirt. The distortion channel of the HRD is absolutely useless. For anything. It's really just bad. The cleans are quite good; a good platform for pedals, and with the right ones, it can sound really good. But tube distortion coming from the amp, especially with dat budget, will nearly always sound better.

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R45VT

Mark V is very versatile but its not really a high gain monster. Gain needs to be damn near maxed out on channel 3.

The 90/45/10w deal on the mark V is more then just a lower wattage for headroom. When you are in 10w mode it operates in class A. Simply amazing and would be great for your studio recording.

Each channel has 3 modes, three different cleans from mid cleans to fat cleans to dirty(awesome). Channel 2 is the "crunch OD channel" which I really like. I surprised the shit out of me. It really ads to the versatility.

Channel 3 was almost a let down. You really have to EQ the crap out of it. MKIIC+ and MKIV modes are my favorite. Heavy and full sounding when done correctly. EQ must change between MKIV and MKII which is a PITA. Need to write it down/take a picture so you don't lose your favorite. It also has a memory for the graphic EQ. Extreme channel is brighter but higher gain. Clarity is amazing and makes other amps look foolish.

Does it cover british sounding amps? No. Almost everything else minus super high gain blurring chords distortion.




EDIT: My brother has either an RM or MTS- I can't remember- they are a great value, esp used. Just get a different amp module and you have a new amp practically. Absolutely love them. The versatility is your choice. Also there is forum dedicated to mods that can be done to the premaps. One of the guys here posted some clips and they were amazing. I think his name was kylendm or something.

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311ZOSOVHJH

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R45VT

It comes with 6L6. You can get EL34 and flip a switch for the bias. It might make you happy.

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Ippon

The TremOVerb might hit most of mdh2861's requirements although I'd feel more comfortable with the RoadKing II, for a few $ more and a heap more watts.

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Tempoe

I'd probably go modelling amp if you won't be gigging. I think most of the tube amps mentioned won't sound too great set on 1, they need to be up a bit. If you can make some noise where you live, then that's different.

R45VT

I use my mkv in my bedroom. Sounds great, even in 90w mode.

For modeling AxeFXII or Kemper. Cheaper alternatives: Line6 HDpod or elevenrack.

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311ZOSOVHJH

I think I actually got a bit horny when I read that

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mdh2861

WOW, thanks for all the GREAT replies. Im seriously considering the mark V now, as I suspected. Seems like it does everything, except the possible blistering rip your face off dual recto nu metal stuff..... Wierdly, when paying 2500 for an amp, I want that too... Someone tell me it gets close and im sold! I really want this to be MY amp. I dont care how much I pay for it anymore, I just want it to be "it". I know this is all a never ending battle for ALL of us.

So.. combo? Or head & 2x12??

Dont worry ill change my mind tomorrow!!

trashedlostfdup

i would go for a head and a cab. i have a MKIV and i love it, haven't played one yet but a lot of people like the V i just always liked the IV and didn't want to drop $2.5k

one thing to consider or may not matter at all is that Lamb of God from where i read that they didn't want to use the V's and wanted to stay with the IV's, but mesa didn't want them to so LOG went to another head.

my IV long head ($875) gets pretty heavy. its a different type of heavy than a Rec or a 5150/6505, but it does get up there.

i would go with the V if you have the money and want to spend it. (based on clips and demos), again my GC never has any new mesas, i don't think they sell them, but used Recs pop in every once and a while.

you could also look at it as picking up a IV for a grand and get another amp. for example i paid $1,000 for my Splawn Nitro, and paid $875 for the MarkIV. my $1875 went further that $2500 a mark V is. again its just what you want, and where you want to look for a good deal.

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Perverockstar69

Kemper?

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R45VT

Good information and great points. There have been a few people who have said the MKV is not worth the extra premium over the MKIV.

Also note Willie and Mark from LoG use different settings on the mark V. Willie uses EXTREME mode and Mark uses MKIV mode. That is a least what was going on in their Mesa "sponsored" you tube clips. In actuality I believe they both prefer the MKIV over the V and now Mark uses the Royal Atlantic for parts. Just to expand a little. This could be outdated now.

I think you should sit down and play it. A lot of GCs carry them if you are in the US. See if your local one has a MKIV you can compare too as well. Its budget friendly and could leave room for a new cab or another head.

What part of the country are you in?

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Offworld92

Look into an Axe FX. A full rig might put you over budget, but nothing else will really come close to actually nailing such a diverse set of tones.

There are a lot of amps out there that are relatively versatile, but they usually do one thing fairly well, and just half ass everything else.

A modeling amp on the other hand can actually pull off such a wide range of tones convincingly.

Even though it's way under budget, do check out the Peavey Vypyr Tube.



As far as non-modeling goes, the only amp I can really recommend with a straight face for what you want to do would be the Mesa Road King. Maybe a Mark V, check that out as well.

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MXR | M77 |

DarthV

My Kemper has issues with that statement

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mdh2861

haha, well, I pulled the trigger! ordered a mesa mark v and mesa 2x12 cab to the tune of $2900! I woke up this morning and promptly cancelled the order, way over my intended 1500... I like the idea of modeling amps and may check out the fractal axe-fx. Its back to the drawing board. I secretly was hopping my order had been shipped so I couldnt cancel!