Mid; Bass - Mesa/Boogie MARK VII Owner's Manual

Beyond 1:00 – 1:30 on the Treble will, for most, be used in a very specific application that calls for maximum
attack and cut with an instrument that is shy up top or for a gained-up chording sound in a crowded mix. When
using settings in this zone, you may need to also increase the BASS and MID to fill in the gaps, as the TREBLE
set up there overpowers the other two Tone controls.
A couple of places where you may see the TREBLE set in the higher zone are CRUNCH of Channels 1 and 2
and the IIB Mode in Channel 3. In CRUNCH, the added gain in the top end can add some edge and definition
for medium to higher gain chording in rock styles. In the IIB Mode, the added gain produced in higher set-
tings of the TREBLE fills in a spot that can add a singing quality for single note soloing in blues, R&B, and new
country styles.
The high zone of the TREBLE can be used for the high gain Modes as well to add attack and cut, but keep
in mind that, like the PRESENCE set high, it can also lend an unwanted buzzy or fizzle-y quality to the sound,
especially on single notes if not balanced well with the other Tone controls.
Lastly, avoiding very high TREBLE settings can help reduce hiss and excess noise in your amplifier, especially
in the gain Modes. Avoiding that region can also reduce the likelihood of tubes with microphonic tendencies
to begin squealing or whistling, again, especially at high GAIN settings combined with high TREBLE settings.
We paid special attention to this in final play testing when your amplifier was built, but no one can predict what
a tube will do over time with continual use, temperature fluctuations, and the bumps, jiggles, and bounces
incurred in traveling.

MID

The MID control adjusts the blend of a wide band of midrange frequencies in the mix, adding or taking away
punch and authority. At the lower end of its range, it scoops mids and creates a resilient, easy-to-play feel that
is forgiving and broad sounding, allowing the top end and low end to be the dominant part of the EQ curve.
The middle and upper ranges of the MID bring in the punch, attack, and forwardness that mid-dominant sounds
are known for. Depending on the instrument, musical style, and/or technique level, some may find this degree
of punch and forwardness stiff feeling and unforgiving to play, so this is something you will need to determine
for yourself through experimentation.
Clean sounds usually sound and feel better with lower settings of the MID, say 8:00 – 10:30, depending on the
instrument. This range allows more low-end breathiness and air to support the sound and more top-end shim-
mer to come through and open it up, the overall result being a more three-dimensional character.
Gain sounds – depending on the style of music and application (Rhythm or Lead) – can call for either a lower
setting with scooped mids or a little more midrange dialed in to make the sound more authoritative or aggres-
sive and to focus the attack.
With clipped/overdriven sounds in the FAT Mode of Channel 1 and 2, the MID can color the sound and change
the feel substantially. The lower range will let the gain smear the notes seemingly more evenly and cohesively,
while a higher setting will add gain but also change the texture and attack, causing some elements to stand
out more than others.
Remember that you can use the MID control in the individual Channels and the 750 Hz Band of the Graphic EQ
in combination with each other to further define the character of your sounds. The two respond very differently,
and each has a different part of the midrange under its control in terms of center point and width. Though both
are fairly broad Q, using the two types of controls together can help you shape the mids with more options
than using either one alone. Keep this in mind when searching for specific mid frequencies when searching
for your own signature sounds.

BASS

The BASS is one of the easiest controls to operate on the MARK VII as it is largely independent in terms of controlling
a frequency range within the preamp. What you hear is what you get. The only settings considerations are these:
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