Mark V Medium Head
Over 40 Years of Randall Smith's Innovation in One Amp
It took years of Randall Smith's experience designing high-performance tube amplifiers to get this much TONE under one roof and keep it easy to dial. More than a collection of amplifiers, the MARK V™ is a result of MESA's® many contributions to amp design and a tribute to the evolution of electric guitar tone.
The MARK V™ is really a collection of amplifiers. There are far too many circuits and sounds to think of it as merely a single amp. From the groundbreaking MARK I™ that introduced the world to high gain with its cascading preamp, to the Mark II™, the world’s first high-gain Dual Mode Channel Switching amplifier and its later siblings that introduced Simul-Class™ power. From the MARK III™ that ushered in the era of 3-channel footswitching performance, to the MARK IV™, which gave all this power individual control, the MARK V is the embodiment of years of MESA innovations.
THEY'RE ALL HERE: the MARK I, the MARK IIC+, the MARK IV…all these are faithful recreations that benefit from our decades of refinement and leave many saying they're better than the originals! You’ll also find some new Brit-inspired circuits here that rival these classic Boogie® sounds and are destined to become iconic on their own merit.
9 AMPLIFIERS IN 1 WITH 9 PATENTS DEFINING YEARS OF INNOVATION
9 Amplifiers in 1: A lifetime investment. No less than 9 patents stand guard over your Tone, ensuring your investment will be protected and your amp will hold its value (MARK IICs and MARK IVs still sell for more than their original purchase price). Beware of imitators! Fine musical instruments never go out of style and the Mark V is no exception.
Like its predecessor, the MARK IV—in steady production for over 19 years—the MARK V is an investment in your musical future. The 9 preamps and 3 power amps it contains trace their roots back to the beginnings of amplified guitar. Yet while their lineage is time-tested, the performance they unleash is cutting edge. This collection of amps will propel you through any musical style and project, and band any era of your development with confidence and command.
3 FOOTSWITCHABLE CHANNELS, 3 MODES PER CHANNEL
3 distinct Channels present the 3 footswitchable sounds in a simple to dial platform, but don't let that fool you… beneath each set of controls lies another layer of performance. Each preamp Channel contains 3 distinct Modes that are controlled by a simple mini-toggle MODE switch found in the upper left corner of each Channel, which is responsible for the voicing of each Channel.
MULTI-WATT™ POWER
The Mark V features our popular channel assignable Multi-Watt™ Power that determines the amount (wattage) and type (configuration) of power each preamp Channel will be coupled with to create a classic sound via independent channel switches. Any amplifier's sound is 50% preamp and 50% power, so these switches are responsible for a large part of a given Channel's personality and feel. The choices repeat for all 3 Channels, and they are 90W, 45W, and 10 W. Using the switch is simple: just select the power/feel you want for each Channel, keeping in mind that the greatest headroom, focus, and authority will always be found in the 90-watt position.
ICONIC BOOGIE® 5-BAND GRAPHIC EQ
Each Channel is fitted with a mini-toggle to select the 5-Band Graphic EQ, but the fun doesn't stop there. The MARK V gives you the choice of two ways to utilize the power of the Graphic EQ for each Channel! The mini-toggle within each Channel (center mini-toggle) allows you to decide whether you want the EQ on all the time in that Channel, off all the time, or activated by the EQ button on the Footswitch.
A separate set of mini toggles to select SLIDERS or PRESET for each Channel (located in the left side of the Graphic EQ section) allows you to select whether you will use the actual SLIDERS to shape your individual EQ curve or, a PRESET contour based on the ever-popular "V" curve. The ability to choose between these two options when assigning the Graphic EQ to your sounds gives you ultimate flexibility when dedicating the Channels. By combining subtle blends of the Tone controls with the EQ options, virtually any sound you can imagine is at your fingertips.
LEGENDARY SIMUL-CLASS™ POWER
Since 1981, Simul-Class™ Power has been the heart and soul of the MARK Series amplifiers, imparting its sweet, musical character onto any sound in the vast library of the now classic MARK legacy. The Mark V proudly carries that legacy forward with Cleans that shimmer with transparent layers of sweet delicate highs, while the bottom end breathes a warm fundamental under a bed of rich low mid ambience. Never harsh, always fat, the Simul-Class lead tone is the quintessential single-note solo sound that is best described with a human trait…VOCAL.
The MARK V provides access an unprecedented number of tone-shaping features. At first glance, it might seem a little intimidating but with a second look, you’ll discover that it’s very intuitive, as each channel has the same basic features repeated - Once you know one, you basically know them all. Better yet, we designed the Mark V to deliver exceptional, fast and easy “plug-and-play” convenience. You’ll be amazed by the instant tonal gratification from each channel, as well as its ease of tonal “dial-ability” to find YOUR signature sound.
Available in Head and 1x12 Combo formats and with so many innovative features, the Mark V may well just be our most versatile amplifier to date. Visit a dealer today and hear the magic of the MARK V, as there is truly no other like it.
It took years of Randall Smith's experience designing high-performance tube amplifiers to get this much TONE under one roof and keep it easy to dial. More than a collection of amplifiers, the MARK V™ is a result of MESA's® many contributions to amp design and a tribute to the evolution of electric guitar tone.
The MARK V™ is really a collection of amplifiers. There are far too many circuits and sounds to think of it as merely a single amp. From the groundbreaking MARK I™ that introduced the world to high gain with its cascading preamp, to the Mark II™, the world’s first high-gain Dual Mode Channel Switching amplifier and its later siblings that introduced Simul-Class™ power. From the MARK III™ that ushered in the era of 3-channel footswitching performance, to the MARK . . .
Wattage
Multi-Watt™ 10, 45 or 90 (Channel Assignable)
Channels & Modes
3 Channels / 9 Modes
Mode Voicings styles
Ch. 1 = Clean, Fat or Tweed Ch. 2 = Edge, Crunch or Mark I™ Ch. 3 = Mark IIC+™, Mark IV™ or Extreme
Graphic Eq Reverb Fx Solo
Graphic EQ, Reverb, FX Loop & Solo
Foot switchable Functions
Ch. 1, 2, 3, Solo, Reverb, FX Loop, Graphic EQ, Mute
Speakers Impedance
n/a
Weight
44 Lbs.
Dimensions
10" H x 22 3/4" W x 11 3/4" D
Available Formats
Head & 1x12 Combo
Amp Type
Tube
Rectifier Type
Selectable Dual Rectification (Ch 1 & 2 - 45 watt modes) with Patented Recto Tracking™ (Patent 7,193,458). Recto Tracking™ auto-matches the correct Rectifier compliment for the number of Power Tubes in use. 10 Watt Modes = Tube Rectification, 45 Watt Mode = Selectable Tube or Silicon Diode Rectification on Channels 1 & 2 - Silicon Diode only on Channel 3, 90 Watt Mode = Silicon Diode Rectification.
Rectifier Tubes
1x Mesa 5U4
Variac PowerSwitch
Full/Tweed Power Switch
Preamp Tubes
7x Mesa 12AX7
Power Amp Tubes
4x Mesa 6L6 (or EL-34)
Maintenance Free Fixed Bias
Yes
Wattages Quick Reference
10, 45 or 90 Watts - Channel Assignable - See Power Amp Details for more information
Built In Power Amp Attenuation
n/a
Power Amp Details Class Wattage
Mesa's exclusive Simul-Class™ Power Amp featuring Multi-Watt™ (Patent 7,602,927) and Duo-Class™ (Patent 7,173,488) technologies which provide three power and three operating-class options that are channel assignable via 10/45/90 Watt Power Switches: Choose 2 power tubes operating in pure vintage Class A (single-ended), producing 10 Watts - 2 tubes running in time-honored Class A/B producing 45 Watts or 4 tubes running in Mesa’s legendary Simul-Class Power that blends the best of Class A and Class A/B simultaneously to produce 90 Watts of pure tonal magic
Number Of Style Modes
Nine
Number Of Style Modes Per Channel
Three
Channel Controls
Each Channel features Independent 3-Position Style Mode Switch, Graphic/Contour EQ Assignment Switch (On, Off or Footswitchable), 90/45/10 Watt Multi-Watt™ Switch, Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Master, Footswitchable or Auto-Assignable Contour Depth Control, Footswitchable Reverb Control, Patented Rectifier Tracking™ (Auto-selects Tube for all 10 Watt Modes, Diode for all 90 Watt Modes, selectable Tube or Diode for 45 Watt Modes on Channels 1 and 2, Diode for 45 Watt Mode on Channel 3 - Patent 7,193,458) - Normal/Bold Switch on Channel 1, Normal/Thick Switch on Channel 2 (Mark I Mode only), Normal/Bright Switch & Pentode/Triode Switch on Channel 3
Graphic Eq And/or Contour
Selectable 5-Band Graphic EQ and Contour (Footswitchable, Channel Assignable or Off)
Reverb Effects Bypass Options
Footswitchable, All-Tube, Long Spring Reverb with Independent Channel Controls (back panel)
Effects Loop Bypass Options
Fully Buffered Series FX Loop w/Send Level Control - Footswitchable, Channel Assignable or True Bypassable - See True-Bypass Options below for more information
Global Output Level Control
Yes (Over all channels when activated) - See True-Bypass Options below for more information
Global Solo Level Control
Yes (Over each channel when activated) - See True-Bypass Options below for more information
True Bypass Options
True-Bypass Switch removes FX Loop, Output & Solo Level Controls
External Switching Jack Options And/or Midi
External Switching Jacks for Channels 2, 3 (Ch. 1 is default), EQ & Solo
Speaker Outputs
Two 8 Ohm and Two 4 Ohm
Cabinet Simulation Direct Live recording Output
n/a
Internal Amp Load For SpeakerLess Performance
n/a
Headphone Output
n/a
Slave Output
Yes with Level Control
Extra Features
n/a
Footswitch
Included - 4x4 - 8 Button Footswitch (Bottom Row: Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3 & Solo - Top Row: Reverb, FX Loop, EQ & Tuner Mute)
Slip Cover
Included - Fitted Slip Cover
Cabinet Material
Marine Grade, Baltic Birch
Standard Finish Options (No Extra Cost)
Black Bronco Vinyl, Black Jute Grille, Black Handle & Corners
Custom Finish Options
See Custom Finish Gallery
Speakers Impedance
n/a
Casters
n/a
Extra Features
n/a
Weight
44 Lbs.
Height
10"
Width
22 3/4"
Depth
11 3/4"
Disclaimer: In order to continually improve the design, quality and performance of our products and to use the best materials at all times, MESA/Boogie reserves the right to substitute or change specifications (including parts or coatings) without notice.