Controls, Region, Lead gain: (continued) – Mesa/Boogie Mark IV Amplifier User Manual
Page 10: Continued) lead treble: lead bass & lead mid, Lead drive, Page 6
There are also some great singing, slightly distorted sounds that come from low settings of Gain and Drive with FAT pushed in. “Onset
of Clip” and “threshold of distortion” are phrases often used to describe these sounds, which reveal the true blue beauty of the MARK
IV’s all-tube lineage (see the traditional blues setting on the Sample Settings sheet further back in this manual).
This control along with RHYTHM 2’s PRESENCE control should be worked with together to produce the desired gain and brightness
of the mode. Setting the TREBLE higher, as always, increases the gain of the mode and allows increased distortion and sustain.
Lower settings allow the MID and BASS controls to become more dominant adding warmth to the
sound.
Both of these controls add body and warmth without really affecting the strength of the signal. Merely dial in to your liking but note
again that too much Bass combined with too high of a LEAD GAIN setting will
take away from the tight, highly focused lead sound that this mode offers.
This control works in conjunction with LEAD GAIN to determine the amount of sustain and overdrive. It is not necessary or even
recommended to run the LEAD DRIVE way up in order to generate a sound that is fully saturated, so try settings in the
5
to
7
region. Higher settings tend to increase noise and squealing without really embellishing the sound or feel.
Notice that this control comes on very rapidly at low settings, then changes only
gradually throughout the rest of its rotation. Familiarize yourself with the point
which represents the beginning or “threshold” of overdrive; it creates an ex-
pressive distortion which is touch-sensitive to picking dynamics, providing har-
monics that stay glued to the fundamental note. You’ll find lots of great sounds
in this
2
to
4
region!
PAGE 6
LEAD GAIN: (Continued)
CONTROLS:
(Continued)
LEAD TREBLE:
LEAD BASS & LEAD MID:
INPUT
PULL BRIGHT
INSTRUMENT
RHY2 GAIN
RHY1 GAIN
PULL FAT
PULL FAT
LEAD GAIN
R1 TREBLE
LEAD TREBLE
5
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
1
010
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
INSTRUMENT
PULL FAT
5
5
INPUT
PULL BRIGHT
RHY2 GAIN
RHY1 GAIN
PULL FAT
LEAD GAIN
R1 TREBLE
LEAD TREBLE
R1+R2 BASS
LEAD BASS
R1+R2 BASS
LEAD MID
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
1
010
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
1
010
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
LEAD DRIVE:
INSTRUMENT
PULL FAT
5
5
INPUT
PULL BRIGHT
RHY2 GAIN
RHY1 GAIN
PULL FAT
LEAD GAIN
R1 TREBLE
LEAD TREBLE
R1+R2 BASS
LEAD BASS
R1+R2 BASS
LEAD MID
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
1
010
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
1
010
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10
6
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
10