I have used Boogies for years. They are definitely not a Marshal. I have always referred to my Mark IV as a hot rodded Fender. Once you learn it’s not a Marshal and see how every knob does something they are awesome amps. Complicated as heck but there is no other amp like the Boogie Mark.
Leon this is AWESOME! I love my Mark IV and I have something to share with you that you should try and demo. Like I told Brond (who shared the amp with you): put a pair of EL34 in the outer sockets (no issues with bias at all with this amp), set it to Class A (outer tubes only), Triode and play on R2. You’ll get killer Marshall JCM tones and will destroy every Marshall out there.
I have a 3 channel DR, Mark III, IV, and JP2C. I absolutely love everything Mark series. They are very picky dialing in though and ear fatigue can make dialing in that much tougher.
Aaron Henning If you dont mind me chiming in......I’ve never played a JP2C, but do own a Mark V and I love it. Phenomenal sound w a unique voice (as do all the Mark series) and a tone that cuts through a live mix with precision. I dont see how the JP2C could sound any better, tbh. Plus $$$ is up there.
I bought a MkIV when it was first released and I live in Ireland so these were not very easy to acquire, and they were hella expensive too, but I'd been blown away by a fellow musician's MkIII and I was badly bitten by the bug then, to the point of obsession. I simply had to have a MkIV or my life was meaningless. It was also around 2,500 in 1990. That is in Irish Pounds. It was eye wateringly expensive but I had lost any sense of caution or sensibility because I HAD TO HAVE it. This involved a 3 hour drive, across the Irish/UK border which in it itself involved having guns pointed at us by extremely nervous kids really, in soldiers uniforms and been interrogated about the purpose of our visit. These encounters could go either way depending on the me being able to accurately predict how much to wind up the squaddies before they got really funky pissed at us. I enjoyed the danger and the risk of pushing them to the brink of gunning us down, but I have dated Borderlines, I have dated Sociopaths, so I was able to know exactly the point to retreat and become entirely placid and uber friendly. I think my MKIV was the most incredible and brutal piece of tech I had ever encountered. I think I had the first one in the country and it Simon blew every other amp out the water .it dominated. I felt like a an absolute God. Then, after a short period of time all the magic and the sounds lost all their tone, became lesser versions of their fire breathing, all powerful they once were, and this decline continued to the point where I needed to return to amp to the store and point out exactly what I was not at all happy with the situation. The staff thought I was chancing my arm but when they played it they told me that they would replace it with a brand new MKIV and that should ensure it won't happen again. Well, it actually did, and in the exact same way as before. I had so lost my faith in Mesa Boogie, which sucked, because it was absolutely fucking epic when it worked as it showed. I abandoned them after that but I was in the best vintage guitar/amp shop in the country a couple of years ago and I spotted a Boogie Triaxis. I played it for around 40mins and I had been absolutely hooked by it. I bought it on the spot and it's still my gigging preamp of choice, and it always will be
I had a similar experience with the Mark IV. I reckon the simul-class poweramp burns through the outer tubes quite quick and really hurts the tone. But above that, not sure I really liked the basic tone of the amp either. Clean channel was a bit sterile, the cruch channel a bit mushy and the lead channel also not enough bite. Sold me Mark IV and now have a Quad, it's in a different league.
I bought a Mark IV new in '91, rack mounted, with a "road ready " Mesa 4x12. Dream come true. A true "That tone in my head" type of amp. Stunning. Sold it when the realities of life mandated. Years later I bought another (and a Recto 2x12). Three things were evident with the return of an old friend: 1. The Mark IV is a BEAST. 2. The Mark IV is now WAY beyond my needs...and 3. Even though the second Mark IV has also been moved along to a new home, and Fractal Audio (AX8) is a better fit FOR ME these days.....I will ALWAYS be a Boogie guy at heart. For anyone who has the opportunity, whether you "need" it or not, I hope you get a chance to experience the true "Spirit of Art in Technology" that a Mark IV represents. Thanks for this video Leon!!!! P.S. I still have the Recto 2x12, you never know when a Mark V: 25 might follow me home.
I bought mine for $1500 in 91. Only amp I've ever needed since. I've probably saved more than that from not buying a bunch of overdrive pedals. My playing over the last 30 years has gone from heavy stuff to jazz, and the Boogie has been the perfect companion as my style has evolved. I prefer it with 6L6's but EL34's sound great in it too. Haven't tried 6V6's yet, but someday.
Bought my used ´92 Mark IVa couple of years ago. The first thought with all the knobs and settings were "what the heck.." but once you understand how the both eq:s work the lead tone you get is to die for. So much juice and aggressivity at one time. Never gonna sell this unit!
This video convinced me to get a MK IV. It’s in my living room and I can’t put it down. Best gear decision I made, and Mr. Leon Todd really showed off what it could do.
I just got a Mark IV A and I’m floored by how good it sounds, it’s such a cool and brutal amp. Your video helped me a lot on finding how to dial in a great tone, cheers mate!
Same, I used videos on this channel how to dial great lead tone. Without it I would be fiddling indefinitely. I cannot get good sounding rock crunch though. I blame my active EMG707 pickups and D-standard tuning. (I play metal)
I had one of these, loved it - my question... How the heck are you in the same building with it when the master volume is as high as nearly 4? The one I had was *so sensitive* there. Anything over 2 was enough to rip space-time apart. Sometimes I wish I'd never sold it.
@@patriknessboLemoran It works for me I can put the master volume on 7 and my neighbours don't even hear me shredding You can even bypass the unit so no effects from the unit at all
Lots of younger guys today don’t really know what that amp is capable of. Pure metal bliss and super tight. I have 2 and one I’ve had almost 30 years. 👍🏻🤘🏼
What a fantastic video and amazing playing. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Marshall player since a teenager and never have meet a Boogie I agreed with, but this video has changed my mind. You clearly know how to work with the amp to get that range of tones out of it. I can see this being of great use to me in the studio. Thank you!
Don't know if it's the strat but you always have the most awesome crunch sounds with it. I really love that kind of tone where you control the amount of crunch with your pick attack, so that it allows you to play clean when lightly picked and more overdriven when picked hard. It sounds like your tones are right at this spot most of the times. I'm jealous :D
The YJM strats have really mellow pickups so they get into that edge of breakup zone quite nicely. Feels real good when you really hit the strings hard!
Very cool vid. Bought my MKIV 50 wt Combo nearly 30 years back now & still use it for recording albums & playing live. Have done everything from blues to punk, metal & prog, has never failed me & still blows everything else away. Kudos.
I bought a brand new Mark IV combo from the last run ever back in 2008 and it is still my favourite amp I've ever played. It might even be the last one made given the small batch size.
My uncle had a Mark 3 he custom ordered, very well built amp that could dial in a lot of good tones. He used that thing for probably 25 years at least. On another note, I recently got my JCM2000 DSL 50 back from the repair shop and retubed it, using JJ EL34S , three Shuguang Silver Dragon 12ax7s and a JJ 12au7 in V2. It was awesome before but came back an absolute monster! Made me fall back in love with this amp after 22 years of owning it
Hi Mr. Todd, I'm the guy from Belgium with the Quad + 2:90. Well I sold it and got myself a Mark IVa. I'm so stoked this jaw dropping demo of yours came on.... and you mentioned more is coming... can't wait! Anytime you come to Belgium, there will be a Mark IVa waiting for you since it won't be going anywhere, ever! Keep up this awesome work. You rock!
When it's making you crack smiles and stank face like that, it's a keeper. Great demo dude. This is def on my want to try/own list. I want to jam one of the combos with an EV. Mmmm, EVM12L.
You’ve inspired me to play with the Mark IV model in Amplitube! Just made a preset based on Eric Melvin of NOFX’s settings and I’m going to make a couple Leon Todd presets based on this video! Would love to see you do a video on Amplitube. The Fluences are sounding so fucking sick too!
Thank you for making this demo it’s great finally someone done one properly. It’s also nice when someone who can actually play demos it.. this amp is definitely on my bucket list
Bucket list gear for you.....gear I should have never sold for me. I bought a mk4 back in 2005 for $700 Canadian. Absolutely loved it. Killer, liquid, Boogie leads and that tight, harmonically rich rythm tone. Ended up trading it as part of a package deal for a high end amp I never liked as much and is long gone. REALLY wish I still had it. As always, sounds awesome, Leon!
What a great sounding versatile amp. Love that EQ. Love that PRS and those active Fishman pickups. They sounded really great. Very quiet too.. You always have the best demos which are very informative. Very cool sir.
Hello,I have a Mk4b long head version bought new 20 years with a Recto 212 and Lonestar 1x12(open back gives an airy feel). I bought it new,I had many amps to gig because this mk4 stayed in the home studio and at the end,sold em all except the Mk4.Most versatile amp.Once a year I bring it to a tech like a car to a mechanic.Thats it. Thx for posting.Have a good life.
Hi Leon, how 're 'U? 'U get a goal with Mark IV, well done! Since its introduction in 1990 was considered a milestone in amps market! I got this iconic amp for the first time in 1995 so I never more left it, I mean a Mark IV Combo, equipped with C90 Celestion Speaker! My favourite channel is 2nd one! I use to set it for mid scooped rhythms then I set classical V Eq shape, for more edgy and grinder tone I use to set it for mid scooped rhythms then I set classical V Eq shape, for more edgy and grinder tone at last I add a G-Major 2 (efx loop) ! What a wonder tone ! Thank 'U again to test it!
Everybody has to live through the MARK MOMENT! 1. Step: dissapointment 2. Step: years of not giving another try 3. Step coming back with knowledge and trying it again resulting in thinking it is the best amp ever built. Especially because you can dial in every tone you ever dream of.
Dang it guys. I've been very happy being in step 2 since the late 90's. .......must ....... resist ......... buying gear. It's also not fun to realize you've been wrong for so long. (how often do people admit that on the internet)
OMG!!! Nailed it.....I had a brand new Mkiii in 1989 and was so disappointed....sold it for a quad pre amp and stereo 295.....meh....31 years later 1-Mkiii Red stripe 1-Mkiii coliseum no stripe 2- quad preamps and a 295 and I'll never sell this gear! I have everything I need +
man, I just did that with a mark V a few months back before the zombie apocalypse and let me tell ya I am kicking myself in the pants. I kinda wish the Mark V had the push-pull knobs also seems neat then again what am I talking about I didn't even know how to use it....
Sounds so amazing. I used to have a Mark 5:35 and it was a beast, traded it for a Marshall JVM with a 4x12, while the JVM is a beast I do miss the Mark a little bit. But if I ever get a Mark again I'm just gonna get a Mark IV.
go grab a used mark IV, i had the mark 5:25 and 5:35 and you can't compare them to the real deal. Even the 100W Mark 5 doesn't sound that good. But beware there are big differences between Rev A and Rev B of the Mark IV
AlexisGitarre questionable saying the V doesn’t sound ‘that good’. Ive played both and the V I own sounds incredible. I plan on doing a side-by-side w a friends Mark IV (B version) to see if in fact they’re that much different. For sure the V has more drive in extreme mode. Not going to deny, though that I love the IV too.
my favorite amp of all time !!! I played on that one many years, I had a studio 22+ as well, small and light but really tasty version of the Mark IV... now I still using my triaxis preamp a lot ... I'm a A to Z fan of all boogies !!! thanks for this great video !!!
Pretty awesome! A bunch of years ago, I bought a used Mark IV combo at a local store having a sale. I got it for about $700 USD. I loved Rhythm 1 but couldn't get any kind of crunch that I was happy with. I ended up selling it for a tidy profit, but wish I would have kept it. As always, a great video!
Most people who buy a mesa boogie never get the tone they want with it. Same thing happens when people buy a 5150/6505 combo. U need to throw in an preamp distortion pedal,eg and compressor
You messed up buddy, maybe you didn’t play with it enough. I remember when I first got mine and I tweaked it. I got the craziest gains out of it. I need to re tube it and hopefully it comes back to life.!
I have a Mark III Blue Stripe, which has a shared EQ and less options, but sounds JUST as good and heavy. If you really want some bucket list gear, watch out for the Mark III Coliseums, the same amp that Sykes used on the 1987 album. They are even more rare than a IIC+ and go for thousands more above a regular Mark III or Mark IV.
Hi, Leon, thanks for the demonstration, great playing btw. I use the 2200 slider up higher than the 6600 and work in conjunction with the presence knob push/pull and up/down values to find the sweet spot - because my MK IV is way more dynamic, when the presence is up, which helps R2 with the Marshall-esqe tone. Cheers from Germany
Corking video, Leon ... lovely to see someone extolling the exact amp I've now owned since 2001 and which I adore SO much I can't bear to get rid of it, even though it's too bloody heavy and playing pubs/clubs, as a happy weekend warrior, I can never get the master above three (in triode and 30w mode FFS!) I bought it as a combo, loaded with the 200w Black Shadow (EVM 12L I think), but that was so heavy I had it split into a head & cab ... the combo carcass still sits all lonely in the garden shed! After watching this I will have to get the amp out again and rest my H&K Black Spirit & BluGuitar Amp1 rigs for a while ... thanks so much mate. Brilliant.
I got my mark IV in 1996. Ran into hard times as a nineteen year old and sold it for $500... sold my Les Paul and Mesa 4x12 cabinet too... I was devastated by my impulsive immature decision to sell my gear. Fast forward fourteen years and I bought another Mark IV for $1700. Best amp I’ve ever owned twice. 🤙
Leon, I've always loved your Marshall videos, but this one takes the Cake. This amplifier is incredible. Holy crap. I've been trying to decide on the mark v 25 and the studio classic by Marshall. Mesa wins man
I realize your comment is a yeard old but the Mark V 25 is a brutal little devil with a lush clean and a delightful crunch. It can seriously do anything. I had that and a Mark V 35 Combo. Both amazing.
Sick sounding amp! I hear a lot of bad stuff said about mesa boogie amps including a few bad experiences I've had trying them. But I've come to learn that its down to the player to set it up correctly to get the best from it, something I couldn't do. I think everyone who tries these needs to really spend some time learning the controls and dialling it in and not just expecting it to give great tones straight away(like I thought it would).
I got hardwood MarkiV combo around 8 years ago. It’s a great amp but I even may like my mark2a even more since it has such a great personality . Much more difficult to dial in than a mark iv but it sounds stellar.
Bought a Mark V a few years back, it has the IV circuit in it, as well as the IIC+, which is also insane..... ill never buy another amp again the rest of my days. Why would I? It’s the best of the best of the best of the best....
I just bought one last week on craigslist. It was a Mesa Boogie Mark IV . It was in a head and the guy also had the rackmount case for it too. He was nice enough to put it in a rackmount case for me also. All my gear is pretty much rackmounted. Combos suck, and heads are a pain. I can move all my amps in one shot too.
Dude that was stank and fat! Loved how you started on the YJM then on to the McCarty before finally pulling the SC245 for some chunkatronic goodness. I watched this one twice...I got the Axe 3 to stop me gassing on a Mk V (too much for my needs) but now I’m thinking about maybe a baby Mk V 25 🤔. Your tutorials on dialing in IIC++ in Axe land got me hooked onto that one. Looking forward to the next MkIV installment 👍
My guitar teacher had a Mark IV and as soon as I heard it, I wanted one. I ended up getting a Mark III because the IVs were hard to find and too expensive.
I like the mk4 much more than the JP2C. The JP sounded thin and buzzy to me and it was actually tougher to dial in a decent tone. The mk4, while not as intuitive to dial in, has better overall tone, there are more good tones in it and it can be had a fair bit cheaper. Just my 2 cents from having owned both.
Played a couple of these in shops in the '90s. Finally enough knobs to remove the compromises between channels. Great tones, but way out of my budget. I could probably get all my sounds from this one, though, with a little help from a stomp or two, and a nice processor for delays and rotary and such....
I just bought a Mark V 90w head last night and FUCKING LOVE IT. Going down the rabbit hole doing "research" and found my way here. That Mark IV is amazing too. I NEED a better cab now that i have THE only amp ill buy.
My Mark IV Combo was my main amp when I got my first Fractal. So my first presets were duplicating my amp settings which I kept in a notebook. The amp was one of my main reasons moving to Fractal. Much easier changing settings (Mesa knobs can be sensitive), weight of the amp & reliability on tour. Tubes have a downside 😬 I still have my Mark IV but rarely turn it on anymore. BTW if you read the amp's manual its pretty detailed on the settings, even has a number of settings to start with.
Yeah buddy, loved seeing the reaction at the end because that was me. Nothing sings the same way and is so touch sensitive. Didn't see you pull the presence though...
Don't get the graphic EQ too close to a "V" shape ....Gibson may hit you with a cease and desist order.....;-)
You win the internet today! 😂😂😂
Best
Die hard Gibson Fanboy here....
You won the fucking internet. End of case...
Lmao!
I heard they are suing Sesame Street
When you learn this amp you can get tones from every decade 70/80/90/00 and to now, insane versatility
100 % . Best amp ever made
I have used Boogies for years. They are definitely not a Marshal. I have always referred to my Mark IV as a hot rodded Fender. Once you learn it’s not a Marshal and see how every knob does something they are awesome amps. Complicated as heck but there is no other amp like the Boogie Mark.
Basically that’s what boogies are. Especially the mark series. Since Mesa engineering started out hot rodding fender amps. And they moved from there
Man, this amp is legend. What a technological marvel. All of the subtle tone nuances are there, and the power is crazy.
It's a beautiful machine
Leon this is AWESOME! I love my Mark IV and I have something to share with you that you should try and demo. Like I told Brond (who shared the amp with you): put a pair of EL34 in the outer sockets (no issues with bias at all with this amp), set it to Class A (outer tubes only), Triode and play on R2. You’ll get killer Marshall JCM tones and will destroy every Marshall out there.
Id love to hear this as a prospective triple crown TC-100 buyer.
I have a 3 channel DR, Mark III, IV, and JP2C. I absolutely love everything Mark series. They are very picky dialing in though and ear fatigue can make dialing in that much tougher.
Which is your favorite of the one's that you mentioned. Looking at getting the Mark V or JP2C
Aaron Henning If you dont mind me chiming in......I’ve never played a JP2C, but do own a Mark V and I love it. Phenomenal sound w a unique voice (as do all the Mark series) and a tone that cuts through a live mix with precision. I dont see how the JP2C could sound any better, tbh. Plus $$$ is up there.
...it was only a matter of time before the Metallica chugs happened!
I bought a MkIV when it was first released and I live in Ireland so these were not very easy to acquire, and they were hella expensive too, but I'd been blown away by a fellow musician's MkIII and I was badly bitten by the bug then, to the point of obsession. I simply had to have a MkIV or my life was meaningless. It was also around 2,500 in 1990. That is in Irish Pounds. It was eye wateringly expensive but I had lost any sense of caution or sensibility because I HAD TO HAVE it. This involved a 3 hour drive, across the Irish/UK border which in it itself involved having guns pointed at us by extremely nervous kids really, in soldiers uniforms and been interrogated about the purpose of our visit. These encounters could go either way depending on the me being able to accurately predict how much to wind up the squaddies before they got really funky pissed at us. I enjoyed the danger and the risk of pushing them to the brink of gunning us down, but I have dated Borderlines, I have dated Sociopaths, so I was able to know exactly the point to retreat and become entirely placid and uber friendly. I think my MKIV was the most incredible and brutal piece of tech I had ever encountered. I think I had the first one in the country and it Simon blew every other amp out the water .it dominated. I felt like a an absolute God. Then, after a short period of time all the magic and the sounds lost all their tone, became lesser versions of their fire breathing, all powerful they once were, and this decline continued to the point where I needed to return to amp to the store and point out exactly what I was not at all happy with the situation. The staff thought I was chancing my arm but when they played it they told me that they would replace it with a brand new MKIV and that should ensure it won't happen again. Well, it actually did, and in the exact same way as before. I had so lost my faith in Mesa Boogie, which sucked, because it was absolutely fucking epic when it worked as it showed. I abandoned them after that but I was in the best vintage guitar/amp shop in the country a couple of years ago and I spotted a Boogie Triaxis. I played it for around 40mins and I had been absolutely hooked by it. I bought it on the spot and it's still my gigging preamp of choice, and it always will be
And now you know why REAL Americans are cocky : We build great shit!
2 of them broke. Hardly a measure of quality.
@@iainp93 SOLDANO SLO...or a MB MARK III Coliseum
I had a similar experience with the Mark IV. I reckon the simul-class poweramp burns through the outer tubes quite quick and really hurts the tone.
But above that, not sure I really liked the basic tone of the amp either. Clean channel was a bit sterile, the cruch channel a bit mushy and the lead channel also not enough bite.
Sold me Mark IV and now have a Quad, it's in a different league.
I bought a Mark IV new in '91, rack mounted, with a "road ready " Mesa 4x12. Dream come true. A true "That tone in my head" type of amp. Stunning. Sold it when the realities of life mandated. Years later I bought another (and a Recto 2x12). Three things were evident with the return of an old friend:
1. The Mark IV is a BEAST.
2. The Mark IV is now WAY beyond my needs...and
3. Even though the second Mark IV has also been moved along to a new home, and Fractal Audio (AX8) is a better fit FOR ME these days.....I will ALWAYS be a Boogie guy at heart.
For anyone who has the opportunity, whether you "need" it or not, I hope you get a chance to experience the true "Spirit of Art in Technology" that a Mark IV represents.
Thanks for this video Leon!!!!
P.S. I still have the Recto 2x12, you never know when a Mark V: 25 might follow me home.
I bought mine for $1500 in 91. Only amp I've ever needed since. I've probably saved more than that from not buying a bunch of overdrive pedals. My playing over the last 30 years has gone from heavy stuff to jazz, and the Boogie has been the perfect companion as my style has evolved. I prefer it with 6L6's but EL34's sound great in it too. Haven't tried 6V6's yet, but someday.
Bought my used ´92 Mark IVa couple of years ago. The first thought with all the knobs and settings were "what the heck.." but once you understand how the both eq:s work the lead tone you get is to die for. So much juice and aggressivity at one time. Never gonna sell this unit!
This video convinced me to get a MK IV. It’s in my living room and I can’t put it down. Best gear decision I made, and Mr. Leon Todd really showed off what it could do.
Where did you find one at?
Isaiah Mastrianna Music reverb.com a forum member listed it for sale and I got a good deal on it
I've got them marked and waiting for one to pop up. Let me know if you see one please!
I just got a Mark IV A and I’m floored by how good it sounds, it’s such a cool and brutal amp. Your video helped me a lot on finding how to dial in a great tone, cheers mate!
Congratulations, epic amp!
Same, I used videos on this channel how to dial great lead tone. Without it I would be fiddling indefinitely. I cannot get good sounding rock crunch though. I blame my active EMG707 pickups and D-standard tuning. (I play metal)
I had one of these, loved it - my question... How the heck are you in the same building with it when the master volume is as high as nearly 4?
The one I had was *so sensitive* there. Anything over 2 was enough to rip space-time apart.
Sometimes I wish I'd never sold it.
Exactly what I was thinking. You just look at that knob and it will F you up.
...was thinking the same thing. I have mine set somewhere between 2 and 3 going into a loadbox!
Put a processor in the loop like a TC Electronic G-Major and turn down the volume on the unit ))
U did what?
@@patriknessboLemoran It works for me I can put the master volume on 7 and my neighbours don't even hear me shredding You can even bypass the unit so no effects from the unit at all
MK IV is still my favourite. Mesa surely hit homerun with this one.
Lots of younger guys today don’t really know what that amp is capable of. Pure metal bliss and super tight. I have 2 and one I’ve had almost 30 years. 👍🏻🤘🏼
Hell yeah same here. I own serial # 10 for 30 years and have a later model as well 🤘🏼 Hold on to them bro !!
Tone so tight, you need a cigarette afterwards.
Holy shit!
Hahaha damn!
Thanks for the tutorial! I am glad I kept mine all these years. Now I’m going to take advantage of it
What a fantastic video and amazing playing. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Marshall player since a teenager and never have meet a Boogie I agreed with, but this video has changed my mind. You clearly know how to work with the amp to get that range of tones out of it. I can see this being of great use to me in the studio. Thank you!
Don't know if it's the strat but you always have the most awesome crunch sounds with it. I really love that kind of tone where you control the amount of crunch with your pick attack, so that it allows you to play clean when lightly picked and more overdriven when picked hard. It sounds like your tones are right at this spot most of the times. I'm jealous :D
The YJM strats have really mellow pickups so they get into that edge of breakup zone quite nicely. Feels real good when you really hit the strings hard!
Very cool vid. Bought my MKIV 50 wt Combo nearly 30 years back now & still use it for recording albums & playing live. Have done everything from blues to punk, metal & prog, has never failed me & still blows everything else away. Kudos.
Beautiful amp ! I use to have the mark V and loved the mark IV mode built in it. That clarity and super bright cleans just amazing
Boogie for life!!!! 👍
I bought a brand new Mark IV combo from the last run ever back in 2008 and it is still my favourite amp I've ever played. It might even be the last one made given the small batch size.
Nice! I got the last Mark IV head Guitar Center ever sold in America. I regret selling it soooo much. 😭😭
My uncle had a Mark 3 he custom ordered, very well built amp that could dial in a lot of good tones. He used that thing for probably 25 years at least.
On another note, I recently got my JCM2000 DSL 50 back from the repair shop and retubed it, using JJ EL34S , three Shuguang Silver Dragon 12ax7s and a JJ 12au7 in V2. It was awesome before but came back an absolute monster! Made me fall back in love with this amp after 22 years of owning it
Hi Mr. Todd, I'm the guy from Belgium with the Quad + 2:90. Well I sold it and got myself a Mark IVa. I'm so stoked this jaw dropping demo of yours came on.... and you mentioned more is coming... can't wait! Anytime you come to Belgium, there will be a Mark IVa waiting for you since it won't be going anywhere, ever! Keep up this awesome work. You rock!
Congrats! Would love to come back to Belgium again, had the best time there on our last tour of Europe. So much chocolate!
"Its like the best fender ive ever played" haha! But much better my friend. You can hear all the components with a mesa which is why i love them
When it's making you crack smiles and stank face like that, it's a keeper. Great demo dude. This is def on my want to try/own list. I want to jam one of the combos with an EV. Mmmm, EVM12L.
I have the evm12l combo...I think it sounds better running through a rectifier cab or similar (for tight metal at least).
@@loonh2o
☝️ what he said.
@@loonh2o good to know. Thanks dude.
Those weigh like submarine
You’ve inspired me to play with the Mark IV model in Amplitube! Just made a preset based on Eric Melvin of NOFX’s settings and I’m going to make a couple Leon Todd presets based on this video! Would love to see you do a video on Amplitube. The Fluences are sounding so fucking sick too!
Thank you for making this demo it’s great finally someone done one properly. It’s also nice when someone who can actually play demos it.. this amp is definitely on my bucket list
The more I watch this channel, the more I ask myself: why is this guy so cool?! I just keep coming back...Nice!
Just saw Dream Theater on Friday, this was literally the sound that filled the roundhouse! Freakin' glorious!
Leon, thanks for all of your videos. I've learned so much about dialing in tones on amps and modelers by watching them. Keep the riffs rolling!!
Bucket list gear for you.....gear I should have never sold for me. I bought a mk4 back in 2005 for $700 Canadian. Absolutely loved it. Killer, liquid, Boogie leads and that tight, harmonically rich rythm tone. Ended up trading it as part of a package deal for a high end amp I never liked as much and is long gone. REALLY wish I still had it.
As always, sounds awesome, Leon!
What a great sounding versatile amp. Love that EQ.
Love that PRS and those active Fishman pickups. They sounded really great. Very quiet too..
You always have the best demos which are very informative. Very cool sir.
bought my Mk-IV in Oct 2000. Best all-round amp
This is my all time favorite amp. I’ve owned a few of them. Seriously versatile and way before its time!
Hello,I have a Mk4b long head version bought new 20 years with a Recto 212 and Lonestar 1x12(open back gives an airy feel).
I bought it new,I had many amps to gig because this mk4 stayed in the home studio and at the end,sold em all except the Mk4.Most versatile amp.Once a year I bring it to a tech like a car to a mechanic.Thats it.
Thx for posting.Have a good life.
Love to here you play brother. Plus the Mesa Boogie sounds amazing as all of them do.
I have a Mark IV combo, couldnt live without it!
I can see why! What speaker you running with it?
@@LeonTodd It has the black widow in it, but I never use it, I play it thru a 1960a : )
Hi
Leon, how 're 'U? 'U get a goal with Mark IV, well done! Since its introduction in 1990 was considered a milestone in amps market! I got this iconic amp for the first time in 1995 so I never more left it, I mean a Mark IV Combo, equipped with C90 Celestion Speaker! My favourite channel is 2nd one! I use to set it for mid scooped rhythms then I set classical V Eq shape, for more edgy and grinder tone I use to set it for mid scooped rhythms then I set classical V Eq shape, for more edgy and grinder tone at last I add a G-Major 2 (efx loop) ! What a wonder tone ! Thank 'U again to test it!
Ow Ow OWWWWWWW!!!! I love the sponginess of the tone!!!
Everybody has to live through the MARK MOMENT!
1. Step: dissapointment
2. Step: years of not giving another try
3. Step coming back with knowledge and trying it again resulting in thinking it is the best amp ever built. Especially because you can dial in every tone you ever dream of.
100% truth
Dang it guys. I've been very happy being in step 2 since the late 90's. .......must ....... resist ......... buying gear. It's also not fun to realize you've been wrong for so long. (how often do people admit that on the internet)
Hell I was lucky enough to go straight to step 3! Love the Mark series amps to pieces. Bought a Mark V and it's been my go to amp for 8 years now.
OMG!!! Nailed it.....I had a brand new Mkiii in 1989 and was so disappointed....sold it for a quad pre amp and stereo 295.....meh....31 years later 1-Mkiii Red stripe 1-Mkiii coliseum no stripe 2- quad preamps and a 295 and I'll never sell this gear! I have everything I need +
man, I just did that with a mark V a few months back before the zombie apocalypse and let me tell ya I am kicking myself in the pants.
I kinda wish the Mark V had the push-pull knobs also seems neat then again what am I talking about I didn't even know how to use it....
One of my fave vids so far! I want a MKIV now....
Great amp! Got mine new in 1992 and have been happy with it ever since.
Can see why
My Goodness that is a BEAST!I don’t know how I missed this video but I got about 15 to 20 videos of yours in my watch later list!🤘Rock on
Sounds so amazing. I used to have a Mark 5:35 and it was a beast, traded it for a Marshall JVM with a 4x12, while the JVM is a beast I do miss the Mark a little bit. But if I ever get a Mark again I'm just gonna get a Mark IV.
go grab a used mark IV, i had the mark 5:25 and 5:35 and you can't compare them to the real deal. Even the 100W Mark 5 doesn't sound that good.
But beware there are big differences between Rev A and Rev B of the Mark IV
AlexisGitarre questionable saying the V doesn’t sound ‘that good’. Ive played both and the V I own sounds incredible. I plan on doing a side-by-side w a friends Mark IV (B version) to see if in fact they’re that much different. For sure the V has more drive in extreme mode. Not going to deny, though that I love the IV too.
my favorite amp of all time !!! I played on that one many years, I had a studio 22+ as well, small and light but really tasty version of the Mark IV... now I still using my triaxis preamp a lot ... I'm a A to Z fan of all boogies !!! thanks for this great video !!!
Yeah, I think this is the review which has pushed me over the edge. Have been eyeing up a MkIV RevA and think I'll go for it - great clip!!
Do it!
The Mark Boogie's are the epitome of a desert island amp... everything you need!
Well and some AC of course.
Laughed out loud at this! Totally agree :D
I have the wide body combo and I love it. Except , you have to get down on the floor to see the settings on the knobs
Leon, you make me want to go to Australia. Thanks for a real thorough review.
3:31 i thought you where gonna play: the call of cthulu 😂
Nick Wilschut he fooled us all mate
yeah hahaha
Great tones, great playin'!
I'm salivating....such a nice versatile monster!
Yep, after hearing your demo I finally get the appeal of this amp. Definitely on the bucket list
What an incredibly satisfying amp to play. Mid-gain on in Lead Channel, superb.
I love the "the haunted" style riff that you played around 19:38 .
Cheers mate, I love those sixth voicings in a drop tuning. That's from a Ragdoll song called "Letting Go"
Hell yes, man. Just can't go wrong with this one!!
It's a work of art.
@@LeonTodd it's an amp only wielded by players with the sickness like you tho. It's a tough beast to ride.
Pretty awesome! A bunch of years ago, I bought a used Mark IV combo at a local store having a sale. I got it for about $700 USD. I loved Rhythm 1 but couldn't get any kind of crunch that I was happy with. I ended up selling it for a tidy profit, but wish I would have kept it. As always, a great video!
Most people who buy a mesa boogie never get the tone they want with it. Same thing happens when people buy a 5150/6505 combo. U need to throw in an preamp distortion pedal,eg and compressor
Eq
You messed up buddy, maybe you didn’t play with it enough. I remember when I first got mine and I tweaked it. I got the craziest gains out of it. I need to re tube it and hopefully it comes back to life.!
Great demo of this amp and its sounds.... Real Ballsy playing mate!!!
Cheers mate, I appreciate that!
I have a Mark III Blue Stripe, which has a shared EQ and less options, but sounds JUST as good and heavy. If you really want some bucket list gear, watch out for the Mark III Coliseums, the same amp that Sykes used on the 1987 album. They are even more rare than a IIC+ and go for thousands more above a regular Mark III or Mark IV.
I own a blue stripe too. Check out my channel I have tons of clips featuring it and some A B vs a mark 4
Hi, Leon, thanks for the demonstration, great playing btw.
I use the 2200 slider up higher than the 6600 and work in conjunction with the presence knob push/pull and up/down values to find the sweet spot - because my MK IV is way more dynamic, when the presence is up, which helps R2 with the Marshall-esqe tone.
Cheers from Germany
Corking video, Leon ... lovely to see someone extolling the exact amp I've now owned since 2001 and which I adore SO much I can't bear to get rid of it, even though it's too bloody heavy and playing pubs/clubs, as a happy weekend warrior, I can never get the master above three (in triode and 30w mode FFS!) I bought it as a combo, loaded with the 200w Black Shadow (EVM 12L I think), but that was so heavy I had it split into a head & cab ... the combo carcass still sits all lonely in the garden shed! After watching this I will have to get the amp out again and rest my H&K Black Spirit & BluGuitar Amp1 rigs for a while ... thanks so much mate. Brilliant.
12.40 John Sykes, that riff is life itself 😍🙂
huuuge epic, lush ! it has a power amp built in ? cheers
Yes
@@LeonTodd sweet, cheers
I got my mark IV in 1996. Ran into hard times as a nineteen year old and sold it for $500... sold my Les Paul and Mesa 4x12 cabinet too... I was devastated by my impulsive immature decision to sell my gear. Fast forward fourteen years and I bought another Mark IV for $1700. Best amp I’ve ever owned twice. 🤙
Please would you do a video on the effective use of guitar faces? There's a fantastic array in this video
Got a Mark IV coming this Tuesday, and it just so happens that my band is starting recording on our EP on the same day.
That's going to be a great way to break it in
That's a happy Leon. You make that amp sound amazing.
Leon, I've always loved your Marshall videos, but this one takes the Cake. This amplifier is incredible. Holy crap. I've been trying to decide on the mark v 25 and the studio classic by Marshall. Mesa wins man
I realize your comment is a yeard old but the Mark V 25 is a brutal little devil with a lush clean and a delightful crunch. It can seriously do anything. I had that and a Mark V 35 Combo. Both amazing.
Great demo, would have been nice to have heard the Strat through the R2 and Lead channels.
17 mins in. That’s the tone. Kill Switch Engage style!!
That song I sent you on Instagram had Mark IV on it! Love it!
My Goodness that is a BEAST!I don’t know how I missed this video but I got about 20 of your videos in my watch later playlist now!🤘Rock on
Thanks mate! Incredible amp hey. Keep an eye out tonight as there's a new video going up which you will enjoy if you liked this :p
@@LeonTodd hell yea I’ll probably still be awake I don’t have to be at work til 2pm Monday afternoon !🤘
Sick sounding amp! I hear a lot of bad stuff said about mesa boogie amps including a few bad experiences I've had trying them. But I've come to learn that its down to the player to set it up correctly to get the best from it, something I couldn't do. I think everyone who tries these needs to really spend some time learning the controls and dialling it in and not just expecting it to give great tones straight away(like I thought it would).
Would be nice if you compared it to the Axe FX 3
Great clip! Thanks. Cheers!
I have a Mark IV revision A that I bought brand new in 1992. It's been a great amp.
I got hardwood MarkiV combo around 8 years ago. It’s a great amp but I even may like my mark2a even more since it has such a great personality . Much more difficult to dial in than a mark iv but it sounds stellar.
What song is being played at 17:35. Sounds sooo freakin cool.
Bought a Mark V a few years back, it has the IV circuit in it, as well as the IIC+, which is also insane..... ill never buy another amp again the rest of my days. Why would I? It’s the best of the best of the best of the best....
Fishmans sound great with the Mark IV!
Gigged them last night and they were amazing!
this is addictive! I'm now looking for one to buy on the internet, and you're responsible for that! 💸💸💸💸💸💸
ebay is your freind lot of em there last time i checked
Picked up a 1982 MKIIB combo last year, great amp! Took me a while to get used to the eq controls too.
I just bought one last week on craigslist. It was a Mesa Boogie Mark IV . It was in a head and the guy also had the rackmount case for it too. He was nice enough to put it in a rackmount case for me also. All my gear is pretty much rackmounted. Combos suck, and heads are a pain. I can move all my amps in one shot too.
A rackmounted Mark amp - dream!
Dude that was stank and fat! Loved how you started on the YJM then on to the McCarty before finally pulling the SC245 for some chunkatronic goodness. I watched this one twice...I got the Axe 3 to stop me gassing on a Mk V (too much for my needs) but now I’m thinking about maybe a baby Mk V 25 🤔. Your tutorials on dialing in IIC++ in Axe land got me hooked onto that one. Looking forward to the next MkIV installment 👍
I tone matched this amp, it's up on the forum :)
Sounds great! I’ve owned one forever. Works of art. Leave the pull fat knobs out full time.
My guitar teacher had a Mark IV and as soon as I heard it, I wanted one. I ended up getting a Mark III because the IVs were hard to find and too expensive.
Nothing beats the mark iv. It’s still my favorite I will never part with mine
Jp2c is on my list id love to give one run thru
I like the mk4 much more than the JP2C. The JP sounded thin and buzzy to me and it was actually tougher to dial in a decent tone. The mk4, while not as intuitive to dial in, has better overall tone, there are more good tones in it and it can be had a fair bit cheaper. Just my 2 cents from having owned both.
6:27 - a bit brighter and tighter lower mudrange - roughly the same effect I get on my SE24 with the series/parallel switches set to parallel
16:45 - yes, the mid-gain focuses things a bit more....
19:52 - your right hand is moving faster than the video frame rate on the fast ch-ch-chugs.... :D
Played a couple of these in shops in the '90s. Finally enough knobs to remove the compromises between channels. Great tones, but way out of my budget. I could probably get all my sounds from this one, though, with a little help from a stomp or two, and a nice processor for delays and rotary and such....
4 on the master is foundation shaking type of loud. You’re a mad man! Great playing dude!
Loud is good!
Those Fishman's sound fantastic btw.
I discovered your channel only a few days ago. Maaan, absolutely great amp content! Keep it up! :)
Always lusted after the mkiv, great video thank you
Great stuff mate - now wait till you get your hands on a Mark III No-Stripe or Red Stripe!
This is another rabbit hole I can't wait to explore
I would even suggest the blue stripe, regarded as the most aggressive of them!
I just bought a Mark V 90w head last night and FUCKING LOVE IT. Going down the rabbit hole doing "research" and found my way here. That Mark IV is amazing too. I NEED a better cab now that i have THE only amp ill buy.
My Mark IV Combo was my main amp when I got my first Fractal. So my first presets were duplicating my amp settings which I kept in a notebook. The amp was one of my main reasons moving to Fractal. Much easier changing settings (Mesa knobs can be sensitive), weight of the amp & reliability on tour. Tubes have a downside 😬 I still have my Mark IV but rarely turn it on anymore. BTW if you read the amp's manual its pretty detailed on the settings, even has a number of settings to start with.
Yeah buddy, loved seeing the reaction at the end because that was me. Nothing sings the same way and is so touch sensitive. Didn't see you pull the presence though...