Mesa/Boogie Mark IV Amplifier manual Front Panel

Page 6

FRONT PANEL:

First familiarize yourself with the layout of the Front Panel and plug in the FU-3 footswitch which is located on the underside of the chassis towards the middle and about mid way forward of the Rear Panel. It’s not necessary to unplug the footswitch after use, simply use the handy fasteners on the left and right side of the cabinet and attach the unit for storage and/or transport. Make sure the footswitch cable is connected properly. It has three pins and a key way for mating itself to the female portion of the jack. When connected, the FU-3 footswitch will allow you to select the various modes,FX Loop and the EQ of the MARK IV remotely. If you don’t have the footswitch available, the MODE SELECT rotary switch located on the Rear Panel will access the modes. Before we get too specific about each control, let’s audition the 3 modes with some basic settings just to get your new MK IV up and purring.

POWER-UP:

Connect your favorite guitar to the instrument input jack. Flip the power switch to the FULL POWER position while leaving the STANDBY switch set to “STANDBY.” ( It is always a good idea to practice this start up procedure as at least 30 seconds of warm-up time lessens the shock on cold power tubes, thus prolonging their life substantially.) Using the example below as a guide, set the controls as illustrated and flip the STANDBY switch to the “ON” position. Listen to the three distinctly different modes using either the footswitch or the MODE SELECT rotary switch as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

 

RHY 1 pull

 

RHY 2 pull

Pull Shifts for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R2, Lead Out

Pull

 

BRIGHT out

 

 

 

FAT out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

5

 

PULLBRIGHT

 

 

10

 

 

 

FATPULL

 

 

5

4

 

 

 

2

1

 

 

9

8

7

 

 

 

9

8

7

 

PRESENCE

CONTROLS

 

4

 

SHIFTPULL

 

 

4

 

SHIFTPULL

 

3

2

 

 

 

 

 

SILENT

 

EQ

LOOP

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

9

76

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

3

 

5

 

 

3

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

4

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

0

10

 

 

 

6

10

 

 

 

6

2

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

RECORDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

6

 

 

5

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

3

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

7

8

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(PULL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

1

5

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

7

 

7

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

FULL

10

 

 

2

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

0

 

6

 

 

8

9

 

1

 

3

4

 

1

 

3

4

8

10

0

8

 

10

0

7

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ON

 

0

1

 

 

4

5

 

 

 

10

 

 

7

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

9

 

9

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

4

3

2

 

 

POWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

RHY1 GAIN

 

RHY2 GAIN

 

R1 TREBLE

R1+R2 BASS

R1+R2 MID

R2 TREBLE

 

 

R1

 

 

 

R2

 

 

 

 

 

LD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEAD GAIN

 

LEAD TREBLE

LEAD BASS

LEAD MID

LEAD DRIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

INPUT

INSTRUMENT

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

BRIGHTPULL

 

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

9

 

 

 

 

 

9

7

 

 

FATPULL

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

7

5

 

MASTERS

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWEED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

6

7

6

 

3

6

 

 

2

7

6

 

 

3

8

 

 

 

4

5

2

 

4

 

 

1

 

4

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

0

 

5

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

OUTPUT LEVEL

STANDBY

POWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

9

 

 

 

 

3

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

1

7

 

 

 

0

8

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

6

 

 

 

10

 

6

 

 

 

10

80

240

750

2200

6600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

 

9

 

0

 

8

 

10

9

 

0

 

10

 

 

2

8

10

0

 

7

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

MARK IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

9

 

 

10

 

 

 

0

1

 

9

 

 

 

8

9

 

 

 

8

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEAD GAIN

LEAD DRIVE

Pull FAT out

Pull BRIGHT out

In the example above the Graphic E.Q. is set in the ever so popular “V” curve shape. Most players tend to use it more in the LEAD channel, finding the RHYTHM channel plenty sweet by itself without the use of the E.Q. ( for more information regarding the E.Q., see page 6 .)

And now looking to the Rear Panel...

FUSE

3A SB

117VOLTS 60 HZ

4 AMPS

REVERB FTSW. FX LOOP ON

FULL TIME

REVERB

7

3

2

10

 

4

 

 

1

 

5

 

 

 

0

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

9

 

FX LOOP

SWITCHING

GRAPHICEQ

SATELLITE

PATH

LEFT

OFF

 

SATELLITE EQ

(STEREO)

 

 

 

 

 

SIG.

 

ON / OFF AUTO R2

 

 

RETURN

REMOTE

SATELLITE SEND

AUTO

 

 

AUTO

RHY 1

 

RHY 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHY 2

 

 

LEAD

AUTO ASSIGN SWITCHES

RIGHT

(MONO)

FX SEND

RETURN

RECORDING

(D.I.) SLAVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIODE

SIMUL-CLASS

HARMONICS

5

 

3

2

0

AMP

 

VOICING

4

 

 

1

POWER

 

 

7

8

9

10

 

LEAD

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PENTODE

CLASS A

MID GAIN

LEVEL

 

OUT

 

 

6

 

3

2

 

SPEAKERS

 

 

4

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

7

8

9

10

8 OHM

4 OHM

4 OHM

 

RHY 2

RHY 1

LEAD

FT SW

EX SW

MODE SELECT

HANDBUILT IN PETALUMA CALIFORNIA

CLASS A/ SIMUL FX LOOP

EQ

EXTERNAL SWITCHING JACKS

RHYTHM 1 RHYTHM 2

LEAD

Viewing from the back of the amp, locate the REVERB control and set to 3. Set E.Q. switch to the center position (OFF). LEAD VOICING switch should be set to HARMONICS and ignore the FX Loop for now. Set the power amp switches to SIMUL-CLASS and

TRIODE.

After these initial settings have been made, plug in your guitar (STANDBY switch “ON’) and play! Use the three MASTER controls to balance volumes between the modes. Use the OUTPUT LEVEL to raise or lower overall playing loudness. Dial in the PRESENCE controls to set brightness before adjusting TREBLE controls. RHYTHM 1 should be clean, fat, warm and round. RHYTHM 2 should be near maximum crunch, yet it’s capable of many other sounds as well. The LEAD mode should have searing sustain even though its GAIN control is only around half. Now lets get into understanding the controls and the way they interact to obtain the sounds you want to hear.

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Page 5 Page 7
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Page 5 Page 7
Contents Mark Hello from the Tone Farm Mark IV Table of Contents USE Common Sense and Always Observe These Precautions Markk Front Panel Rhythm 1 Treble Rhythm 1 GainPull Bright R1 + R2 Bass & R1 + R2 MIDR1 Presence R1 MasterRhythm 2 Gain & FAT R2 Presence Setting the Lead Mode Lead GainRhythm 2 Treble R2 MasterLead Bass & Lead MID Lead GainLead Treble Lead DriveLead Bright Lead Presence & Lead MasterGraphic EQ Output Level Silent Recording Pull SwitchGraphic EQ StandbyReceptacle Internal circuitryFuse Satellite Control EQ & Send Jack Reverb & Reverb FootswitchEQ Rocker Switch Due to cable length or impedance mismatchingEffects Loop Section Recording OUT when feeding a p.a. boardTriode / Pentode Switch Recording OUTSIMUL-CLASS / Class a Switch Harmonics / MID Gain SwitchPower Tube Substitution Power Tube Substitution Speaker JacksSide while pulling gently downward External Switching Jacks Going StereoMark Mark IV Personal Settings Power Tube Substitution Diagnosing Power Tube Failures Tube Noise & MicrophonicsTube Noise Diagnosing PRE-AMP Tube Problems Here’s a question we often hear Bias Adjustment Cheers Randall Smith Designer & President Front View Mark Mesa Boogie 707 778-6565 FAX no

Mark IV Amplifier specifications

The Mesa/Boogie Mark IV amplifier stands as a landmark in the world of guitar amplification, boasting a rich history that intertwines with the evolution of rock music. Launched in the 1990s, the Mark IV embodies the hallmark traits of Mesa/Boogie’s innovative spirit, delivering versatility, power, and an extensive range of tonal options.

At the core of the Mark IV is its three-channel configuration, which includes Clean, Rhythm, and Lead channels. Each channel offers varying degrees of distortion and gain that can be tailored to the player's distinct preferences. The Clean channel produces a pristine sound, ideal for jazz or blues, while the Rhythm channel steps up with a compelling crunch for rock tones. The Lead channel takes it further, providing a high-gain saturation, perfect for heavier genres. The ability to switch seamlessly between these channels enables musicians to transition effortlessly during performances.

One notable feature of the Mark IV is the onboard graphic equalizer. This 5-band EQ allows guitarists to sculpt their sound intricately, enhancing or attenuating frequencies to achieve a desired tone. Coupled with its patent-pending Gain structure, the amp provides an unparalleled range of tonal shaping ability, making it a favorite among professionals and hobbyists alike.

The Mark IV also benefits from the innovative Dyna-Watt technology. This feature ensures that players can harness full power from the amp, regardless of volume levels. Dyna-Watt adjusts the output stage to produce dynamic responsiveness, allowing for a richness of sound that stands out without needing excessive volume. This feature is particularly useful for studio recording and smaller venues, where loud amplification can be an issue.

Mesa/Boogie amplifiers are renowned for their build quality, and the Mark IV is no exception. Crafted with precision, it features a rugged chassis and high-quality components designed to withstand the rigors of touring. The amp’s tube-driven design, utilizing powerful 6L6 or EL34 tubes, contributes to its warm tone and dynamic response, appealing to a wide array of musicians.

In conclusion, the Mesa/Boogie Mark IV amplifier is a cornerstone piece of gear for guitarists seeking a powerful, versatile, and richly infused tonal experience. With its three-channel architecture, graphic equalizer, Dyna-Watt technology, and robust construction, it meets and exceeds the demands of contemporary musicians across genres. Whether on stage or in the studio, the Mark IV remains a potent tool for expression, earning its place in the pantheon of iconic amplifiers.
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