Mesa/Boogie Mark 5 Owner'S Manual Download Page 24

Page: 24 / 70

clipped sounds in TWEED. The shaping power of the EQ can create some amazing Rock rhythm sounds that are tight and aggres-
sive, but huge and blooming at the same time. That combination of not too much gain in the preamp (as compared to the higher gain
modes in Channels 2 and 3) and the powerful EQ curves equip you with some kick ass, forward, dynamically-endowed sounds that
can really drive the band.

NOTE: All the Modes in Channel 1 work well with Front End Overdrive Pedals between the guitar and the

MARK V’s

INPUT. While

CLEAN and FAT will overdrive nicely, TWEED will produce the greatest amount of saturation when the first tube stage is hit with the
bigger signal produced by a pedal.  When using TWEED at it’s higher settings in conjunction with a Front End overdrive device, it may
be possible to push the preamp tubes into a microphonic state that could cause noise or squealing.  Dial back the GAIN, TREBLE
and /or PRESENCE a bit to reduce the strain on the preamp tubes.  It may also be necessary to reduce the pedal’s master output
control to obtain a stable operating condition.  None of this will harm your amplifier in any way, and is a minor inconvenience.  If your
sound depends on this scheme and you do experience microphonic noise, it may require that you obtain several very stable preamp
tubes (SPAX7) from us and swap out the first couple stages one at a time until you find tubes that can operate under these more
demanding conditions.  The

MARK V

leaves the factory with tubes that can handle most anything the amp can throw at them, but

pedals can put an additional load on the tubes. Call us and ask to speak with a Product Specialist and they can assist you in obtain-
ing these tubes.

CHANNEL 2:

Channel 2 is not only the “crossover mode” between the lower gain of Channel 1 and the focused saturation of Channel 3, it is also

possibly the most versatile of the three Channels.  It starts out with the almost-clean lower settings of
the EDGE Mode and works its way up the gain scale with the mid to almost-high gain aggression of
CRUNCH and tops out with the thick, liquid wall of gain available in the MARK I Mode.  We suggest that
you really spend some time with the GAIN control in each of these modes as they all contain sounds that
will surprise you.  For example, there are some great forward, skinny clean sounds in the low region of
EDGE, some awesome Rock single note solo sounds in the high region of CRUNCH and some soulful

soft-clip rhythm and surprisingly dynamic and howling Blues lead sounds in the low region of the MARK I Mode. This explorer-minded
approach to these - and in fact all the Channels and Modes in the

MARK V

will reward you time and again. So let’s get specific

with each Mode and ways to use them.

CHANNEL 2 VOICE SWITCH - MODE SPECIFIC:

MARK I: NORMAL / THICK

This two position switch re-voices the Treble frequencies to be either NORMAL (switch up) - higher

and more sparkling or THICK (switch down) – lower and fatter in the upper midrange. This switch is active only in the MARK I Mode

and does not affect EDGE or CRUNCH.  Use NORMAL for lower gain chording and Blues work or anytime you want
sweet top end and harmonic openness.  Use THICK for added gain and girth to fill-out single note sounds and make
high gain rhythm sounds grind harder.  You can also think of NORMAL as being more “black face” era, and THICK
voiced to more of a British amp vibe.

frOnt panel: M

ODeS

(

Continued

)

GAIN

MASTER

PRESENCE

GAIN

MASTER

PRESENCE

GAIN