General
If you combine Mesa Boogie's most comprehensive tone circuit with an excellent set of tubes and a 12-inch speaker, you get this amplifier. The Mesa Boogie Mark V 1x12 is probably one of the most desirable amplifier combos on the market. Mesa Boogie's founder Randall Smith has put all of his expertise into this combo. Just the thought of buying one is enough to give most guitarists goosebumps. Three independent channels, endless sound possibilities, the Simul-Class power amp and the Multi-Watt and Duo-Class amplifier techniques all come together to create a sound that's dripping with character.
Mesa Boogie Mark V 1x 12 Combo: Amplifier
A powerful set of tubes provide pre and power amplification and rectification. The set consists of seven 12AX7s, four EL34s (6L6) and a 5U4. That will tell the experts all they'll need to know, and, with 90 Watts of total power, even those who don't know quite so much will be convinced in no time! Thanks to Multi-Watt and Duo-Class, you have three power modes and three operating modes at your disposal. You can choose from 90 Watts, 45 Watts Class A/B or 10 Watts Class A. The latter is the vintage mode with two active tubes. Set to 45 Watts, the two tubes work in Class A/B configuration. At full power, four EL34's work with Simul-Class power, where some tubes in the cooler Class A/B pentode mode are switched on. This results in more headroom and power.
Channels and Controls
Three independent channels are a principle part of the Mark V 1x 12 and can be selected with the footswitch. Three voicings are available per channel and are operated by a rocker switch on the amplifier. Channel 1 is the most civilised and has the least gain, making it perfect for rhythm and clean. Channel 2 fills the gap between civilised and feral, with a lo/high gain. The different circuits this channel offers give you an incredible tonal range. Finally, for that beloved, wild, crazy distortion, go to channel 3, where you'll find that typical Mark series overdrive in abundance. Soundwise just think of greats like Steve Lukather or James Hetfield. All of this and we haven't even mentioned the extensive tone controls, the graphic EQ, the effects loop or countless other features. Once you've heard this combo, you'll never listen to the competition in the same way again.
