Mesa/Boogie Mark Five Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 14)

CHANNEL 2

This Channel is the higher gain channel of the MARK FIVE:25 and is dedicated to creating the best saturated gain

sounds from our fabled MARK II-C+ and our MARK IV. Though the entire channel is aimed at high gain sounds, many expressive and

dynamic medium to low-gain sounds can also be found here with the GAIN control set lower (below 11:00). Again, this channel deﬁes

classiﬁcation as to style and is extremely versatile for both lower and high gain, chording and single note sounds.

IMPORTANT! Remember, as in Channel 1, you will likely be hearing more power saturation and Drive for a given volume than you

would in a higher power ampliﬁer. Keep this in mind when setting the preamp’s GAIN Control in both Channels—but especially here

in Channel 2. It’s really easy to go overboard, dial in too much GAIN, soften the attack, and turn everything to “mush”. Do yourself a

favor... remember this is a low wattage amp. Let those little EL84s back there work for you! These tubes clip in a beautiful and well-

behaved manner with a less bloated low end, more high-mid “bark” and a nice harmonic “shred layer” up top than their octal socket

bigger cousins, so allow them to comprise a bigger part of your overall gain structure and take it easy on that GAIN Control. Your

sound will be tighter, more distinct, and more dynamically responsive.

MARK II C+ is exactly that. This Mode is a faithful—down to the last detail—recreation preamp-wise of the LEAD Mode of this legend-

ary circuit. Blistering focused gain and explosive attack that gives way to morphing harmonics are it’s soulful signature and after 30

years, these sounds remain at the forefront of many Rock styles. The tight mid-punch focus of this sound provides an open canvas for

coloring with the Graphic EQ and the classic “V” setting has become a staple ingredient of the II-C high gain sound for Heavy styles.

MK IV is a faithful re-creation of the MARK IV’s LEAD Channel. Because of the vast options in conﬁguring this channel on the MARK

IV, combined with the fact that the MK II C+ Mode covers a wide range of brighter sounds, we have conﬁgured this Mode for a slightly

warmer, creamier sound. The MK IV Mode has a substantial increase in midrange gain that creates the impression of a roll-off in the

upper harmonics resulting in a huge, wide sound. As we said in the OVERVIEW, this Mode would be the choice for an Extended-Stay,

“If I could only have one Gain Mode”, Desert Island gig because of its balanced, warm blend, full, rich character and easy to play feel.

It also works extremely well with the 5-Band Graphic EQ and can be used to create some really nice furry, edge-of-clip sounds in the

lowest region of the GAIN Control that are just a bit smoother than the percussive jab of the MK IIC+ Mode.

XTREME is exactly what it sounds like…extreme! As mentioned earlier, while its name is shorter here to ﬁt this tiny Panel (no “E”), it

deﬁnitely lives up—in full—to its reputation created in the MARK IV and FIVE and delivers the radical dose of gain infused with extra

harmonics and even more urgent attack than its upstairs cousins, the MK IIC+ and MK IV Modes. This Mode also takes its original

architecture from the MARK IV LEAD Channel, but is voiced almost opposite of the MK IV Mode found here in Channel 2. Forward,

aggressive, tight and fast are its sonic signature and it is the highest gain and loudest of the 6 Modes here in the MARK FIVE: 25.

You will likely experience an increase in volume when selecting XTREME from either of the other two Modes in Channel 2, and this

is after we adjusted it all we could internally without affecting the Tone. Use this mode when you want crushing impact and stop-on-a-

dime dynamics. XTREME is most suited for heavy styles where maximum gain and lightning fast attack are the order of the day, but

there are also some lower gain applications in the lower region of the GAIN control when transient attack and a bright character are

the order of the day. Surprisingly, XTREME holds some of the best potential for “almost clean” sounds due to the harmonic content

and dynamic immediacy of its nature.

NOTE: Increased sensitivity in the power section in the XTREME Mode causes a little more background noise because the power

amp and driver are “listening harder” due to less negative feedback in this Mode. This is normal and no cause for alarm.

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Mesa/Boogie Mark Five Owner's Manual Page 14