Mesa Boogie Mark Five 25 - How Loud?
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- How loud is the Mesa Boogie Mark Five 25?
(hint: it is very loud)
Another utilitarian video
dB level provided
- Intro - had fun with the riff. Les Paul Standard 50s.
- Cycled thought the modes of each channel
- Cycled the master volume on each channel.
It got very loud in the room, I had to wear my drum isolating headphones.
110db+ was measured by my iPhone apps. I think both the DAW and iPhone got overwhelmed at some point, so it could be much more.
You can achieve bedroom levels but kind of at the edge of where the master volume can help. I resolved that by using a JHS potentiometer in the loop of the amp. Can also use a load box, I have a rivera rockcrusher for that. I prefer the potentiometer in the loop, to me it retains more of the amp sound. The load box will allow of earlier saturation and silent recording. Just options.
keep in mind:
"an increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of the sound pressure, an increase of about 10 dB is required before the sound subjectively appears to be twice as loud. "
The amp sounds really good when:
Mark IV mode, gain at noon and Master at 1 oclock - favorite rhythm tone.
Clean channel, crunch mode, Gain at around 2 oclock, Master at 3 o'clock.
I find that after 1 o'clock, you don't get more volume, you just soak the power section more and get that awesome lead tone. Cranking the Master all the way sounds awesome but the little EL84's don't last too long. If you like that much soak and volume the 35W version is for you. Bigger transformer adds a bit of low end kick too.
Thanks for the comment. Will try those settings for sure.
@@JazzTheMusicCat Your DAW will hate you but just try the settings but don't do it at home. You may want to rent a practise room for an hour or so. Every Mark V 25 owner should. You think the amp is unbelievable at home, that's only scratching the tip of the awesomeness of this amp. It comes alive after 9 o'clock on the Master.
I see your username and I'm thinking that you should do what the old cats do, roll back the guitar volume and turn up the amp and then use the guitar volume to adjust "the lead tone" in the same way that Angus Young from AC/DC does. He dimes his Marshall's on 10 and uses the guitar volume to adjust the tones from clean, to rocking rhythm and to lead. Try having the guitar on 5 and turning up the volume. It lets the amp open up and give more overtones.
The Master is like the Mid control (and if you've read the manual you'll know about the gain boost on the Mid control past 12 o'clock). Past 12 o'clock think of it thickening the sound rather than making it much louder. It's like a voicing control - how much do you want the tone to mush together and sing? I love the Mark series because when you play a chord under 1 o'clock on the master you hear the individual notes like you would on an acoustic, whereas on a Marshall you'd hear a chord like mush but sometimes, like in lead tones, you want that compression. Past 1 o'clock you get those classic "singing" lead tones like Michael Schenker, Van Halen and Malmsteen but it is stupid loud. I think many don't appreciate how much driving the power section of an amp gives you a great lead tone. For me it's more power section than pre-amp but at home that's not possible. People think "oh it's only 25 watts" but then shart their pants when they hear it. When I first got the amp and was asked what the amp was, I'd call it "the giggle box" because it makes you laugh when you hear that lunchbox cranked.
I think Marshall got it right when they did the 1 watt amps. Still too loud to crank at home but it was closer to "that" sound for lead tones.
At lower volumes the Boogies have a fizz to the lead tone but that goes away when you give the Master a good tug clockwise. The the amp, especially on Channel 1, crunch mode, sounds like an EL34 amp being cranked. Those little EL84's are ace. If you crank the amp often, keep a set of spares on hand, especially for the preamp tubes...
... and this is another reason why I love Mesa so much, even though I'm an English guy and dyed in the wool Marshall dude: their manuals are awesome. No BS, cut to the chase, this is how you troubleshoot tube issues like microphonics. Takes the mystery out of it all. Great stuff. Randall Smith is a legend. It's not just about the tone, it's about making sure that you can play your gig each night. Got a ringing bell tone when you palm mute a note, smack preamp tube 1 with a pencil and see if it sings. If not try 2... It took the mystery out of it all - tone for dummies. And I love that.
I see you used the MkIIC+ mode. For me, the Mark 2's that I played sound more like the MkIV mode on this amp and if you listen to the JP2C tones, you'll get that. I think the EL84's soften the sound a little. I like the MkIIC+ on this amp as it's unique but for me it doesn't have that big "wide" sound that a big Mark IIC+ has. But rather than a loss, I think it's great as I don't always want something as menacing as a Mark IIC+ being in my face.
Enough of my ramblings on my favorite amp. More beer!
Best amp ever, I have a same one. It’s great and versatile.
Thanks. Yes it is a keeper. I really like the options - two channels and 3 settings per channel and spring reverb.
Love the volume jump on extreme mode
I agree, this is my favorite mode in channel 2
Sounds Killer 🤘
Thank you. Appreciate that.
What kind of speakers are in your cab?
Vintage 30. This is a 2x12 closed back rectifier cab
@@JazzTheMusicCat Thanks!
My pleasure