Mesa boogie Mark Five: 35 Rackmount Head

Following a 35-year tradition of 4xEL-84-based power with successful models, such as the Caliber, Maverick, Nomad and Lone Star, MESA/Boogie adds the legendary and first-ever Mark preamp to the 9-Pin power lineup and introduce the MESA BOOGIE Mark Five: 35 Rackmount Head (10/25/35 watts). This light-middleweight is an upgraded rendering of their recent smash hit, the mini-platform Mark V: 25, and in much the same vein, the 35 is boxing far above its class.

To further bolster the new Mark V: 35's stage-ready resume, they've added a channel independent solo feature, a long-spring tank for the all-tube reverb, the complete set of voicing choices from their CabClone with the addition of the Vintage setting to its onboard DI output and an upgraded footswitch for access to the new footswitchable choices. This new blend of perfect clip-ablity on demand and exciting, dynamic headroom when you need it creates the most adaptable Mark amplifier yet.

Utilizing Dyna-Watt technology within the multi-watt channel assignable power array, this performance-oriented model offers substantially more headroom, punch and power in 35 watts, while two low-power options, 25 and 10 watts, provide a looser feel and enhanced power clip expression. Each of the three power level settings has its own sonic character and can be used to further authenticate the sound styles you are aiming at with your mode choices and preamp settings. The power ranges and wiring styles are: 35-watt (Dyna-Watt power), 25-watt (Dyna-Watt power) and 10-watt (class AB triode.)

Independent solo controls for each channel allow different footswitchable volume levels that—in addition to your channel master settings—you can switch to during performance. Independent solo controls for each channel offer an additional volume level that you can call up during performance using the Mark V: 35 footswitch.
The Mark V: 35—like the Mark V it’s born from—is at heart a collection of iconic amplifiers, comprising a living history of MESA/Boogie. Channel 1 covers the entire gain spectrum from chiming, tight, clean sounds, through furry, edge-of-clip, to classic rock crunch and all the way up to burning, saturated, lead sounds. Channel 2 delivers the legendary Mark II-C+ and warmer, rounder Mark IV in all their glory and the Xtreme Mode from the Mark V.
To round out the two-channel, six-mode preamp and lightweight but mighty sounding power section, the Mark Five: 35 is available as both a 19" traditional "Boogie-size" head and a portable 1x12 combo. The head can sit atop a number of MESA/Boogie Extension cabinets and the combo can be coupled with an additional Extension as well for greater coverage.

The Mark V: 35 incorporates independent solo controls that allow each channel to have its own level for the solo footswitchable boost feature. On this 35-watt Mark rendering however—unlike other MESA/Boogie amplifiers—the solo feature is really an alternate master control wired in parallel with the channel master and therefore can achieve levels above or below that of the channel master controls. A "Preview" feature is built into the footswitch that indicates the status of the solo control of the channel you are not playing through. A dim yellow LED above the solo button of either channel on the footswitch indicates the solo is called up and will be active when you next engage that channel. At that time, the LED on the footswitch will illuminate full strength and change color to match the channel’s LED color (green for Channel 1, red for Channel 2) and the solo will determine the channel’s volume level until you switch it off and return to using the channel’s master control.

The Mark V: 35 includes a headphone output for personal enjoyment of the amplifier when it is not possible or convenient to play through a speaker. This jack derives its "speaker simulated" signal from the included CabClone D.I. feature and delivers a solid rendering of the Mark V: 35's sound and feel to your headphone set of choice. Use this output for late-night practicing as it offers an authentic and inspiring tone and feel by including your power tubes and output transformer in the signal path, and is then frequency compensated and level matched courtesy of the on-board CabClone D.I. circuitry.

The Mark V: 35 upgrades include additions to the on-board CabClone D.I. feature, which now offers three classic "cabinet simulated" voicing modes and gives you the full feature set of the stand-alone CabClone D.I. minus the output control. The simulations are an analog representation achieved through passive means (without op-amps to add gain for shaping) and were created using MESA/Boogie's 45 years of experience co-designing custom speakers with the world’s top makers, and designing custom cabinets to load them in.

These CabClone "virtual-cabinet" options allow you to tailor the direct circuit’s EQ response for different cabinet styles, gain regions and/or different instruments and pickups. The choices range from bright and open with enhanced top end for buffed clean sounds (Open Back), to a more compressed voice with the upper harmonics shelved for warm, singing single-note sounds and thick high gain rhythm work (Vintage), to a scooped midrange and boosted top and bottom response curve (Closed Back) that excels for heavy crunch rhythm and high-gain lead work.

Among these three voicing options on the Mark V: 35, you have a broad spectrum of responses to choose from when going direct. How you wish to apply them is up to you and these descriptions merely offer a starting point. Regardless of how you dedicate them to your channels for your recording needs, you'll have all the power needed to capture great guitar sounds direct.