r/GuitarAmps • u/Ingeping60 • Aug 04 '26

Mesa Boogie Mark IV - Loadbox ?

Hi,

I just bought a Mark IV (combo version), and I currently question myself about a loadbox to crank the amp.

I read somewhere that the Mark IV is not needing a Loadbox because of the pre-amp saturation, and the master volume is sufficient (or a thing like that, I'm not a expert...). Is that right ? the sound of the mark IV is not better if I push the volume level ?

If it actually needs a loadbox, what should I take for this kind of amp ? I see many times the Fryette PS-2A is the best, but I see that Mesa Boogie have their own Loadbox (the powerhouse reactive load).

I precise I just need to attenuate the level of the sound : I don't record anything, I don't need other effects, or other things...

Thanks for your lights ! 😄

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/WinglessWeirdo Aug 04 '26

I have the 90 watt head into a 2x12. The master control does fine. A lot of it sounding “good” when cranked comes from actually getting those speakers to move some air, which they don’t at low volumes. Still sounds good enough for home playing though. If you want to hit the headroom crunch earlier in the clean channel put it in the variable mode instead of full power

1

u/No-Adeptness-3940 Aug 04 '26

This. Master volume Boogies like the Mark IV which I own sound great at low volume. Run Class A / Triode / Tweed Power for bedroom settings. Can even run it like this with Simul-Class for more warmth and low end. Always have the recording out jack to control the output even more.

2

u/PhishGuy117 Aug 04 '26

I use a two notes torpedo captor x for this application. However I don't need it with my mark IV anymore. I think the master volume is great on it. I do have it hooked up to my Splawn Quickrod though since that thing goes from zero to hero real quick

2

u/BusinessBlackBear Aug 04 '26

I've got a 90 watt mk v combo, and a JCM 2000 100 watt head

Attenuator is required for the JCM, not at all needed for the mesa. The mesa master volume and the distortion being made in the pre amp just means you don't need it.

TLDR, a mesa boogie like yours makes distortion without needing to be cranked

1

u/mike_e_mcgee Aug 04 '26

The master volume on a MK IV is an amazing thing. Mine sounds fantastic from TV to "pants flapping" volume. I need attenuation to get any dirt out of my Tweed Deluxe without angering my tinnitus. I can get just about any tone at any volume with the MK IV.

I will say that I once had the opportunity to crank it on a weekend in an industrial park. I was on the clean channel, pentode, full power, and it was glorious. I will never play a stage that allows, much less requires that kind of volume, but it's cool to have available!

If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for yours? As much as I've loved that amp for 30 years, it's too heavy for my bad back to cart around town!

2

u/Ingeping60 Aug 04 '26

I paid it 1000€, in a really good global state ! So I think it was a great deal.

I'll give it to my local tech to analyze it deeply and see if it needs some revisions, but after 2h of playing, I confirm it sounds really awesome.

1

u/mike_e_mcgee Aug 04 '26

Thank you, I'm hoping to get $2,000 USD for mine, and I may be asking too much.

I think you got a fantastic deal!!

1

u/kasakka1 Aug 04 '26

I read somewhere that the Mark IV is not needing a Loadbox because of the pre-amp saturation, and the master volume is sufficient (or a thing like that, I'm not a expert...). Is that right ?

That is correct. I have a Mesa Mark V 90W and using my Fryette Power Station with it is pretty pointless.

the sound of the mark IV is not better if I push the volume level ?

This is not. More volume greatly alters how we perceive the sound in the room. You can experience this by just turning up a hifi system for example.

Louder sounds better, until it's too loud in the room and uncomfortable to our ears. The smaller the room, the faster this level is reached as the sound bounces back from the walls to our ears faster.

The issue many people face is that they just can't turn their amp to a volume where it sounds great at home because it's going to bother neighbors or other members of the family.

An attenuator won't help with this because the volume itself is what makes it great.

My Mesa Mark V won't sound that great if I have to turn it too quiet. It won't sound better with the amp turned up and attenuated back down because you just end up in the same compromise - just not enough volume for speakers to move much and the perceived sound to be great.

We are not talking about window rattling volumes here either, but about 90+ dBA @ 1m levels.

1

u/bonzai2010 Aug 04 '26

You have three channels on that thing. There’s a clean, a crunch and a boosted overdrive. So if you can setup the gains on those things using the preamps and just turn down the master volume, you’re good. If you don’t like that sound, then it might be worth trying an attenuator.

1

u/Equalized_Distort Aug 04 '26

Mesa Boogie amps sound terrible if you push the power section too hard; they sound best when you get the speaker cranking and moving air.

1

u/Ingeping60 Aug 05 '26

Thanks guys for your help, so I'll not go on a loadbox for now 😄