All those mini toggles and modes just kind of had my head swimming on a day that was already at max sensory overload. Complicated amps don't bother me - I can work a JVM just fine - but something about the layout on the Mark V just didn't click with me right away. I'd like to spend more time with one. I gotta go to GC this week, maybe I'll give it another spin.
I don't think GC carries Mesa.
But the layout ...... for now ignore the back panel. The front panel is pretty simple ..... ya' got 3 channels which are all identical control wise. So on each channel the middle switch simply controls whether the graphic turns on automatically for that channel or you have to footswitch it on .... so you can ignore that one.
The other two switches ...... top one chooses which of 3 voicings that channel has and it makes a big difference in the sound of each channel so fool with that one.
The bottom one chooses whether that channel is 90, 45 or 10 watts. Self explanatory.
Also the channels can have an additional switch that's simply a bright switch on one ...... ummm .... I think two choices of Mark II voicings on another ....... forgot the third channel or if it even has one.
So when you get your hands on one again ..... look at a single channel .... say the first one which is 3 versions of clean. Treat it as if it's the entire amp. Ignore the other channels until you have this one down. Then it's not really so many switches and knobs.
Once you have a single channel down then the other two are the same other than different voicings.
It's kinda like 3 amps in one with each amp having it's own complete set of controls so it looks pretty intimidating because you have 3 amps worth of knobs and switches on it's front panel. But as soon as you realize you simply have 3 amps sitting side by side it immediately gets easy.
There are other knobbies and controls of course ...... the graphic has it's own buncha switches but they simply choose whether you're using the graphic or the preset 'V' EQ knob to the right of the graphic. The 'V' shape knob is a mid-cut metal type EQ and the more you turn the knob up the more mid cut there is. I pretty much use the graphic instead since I don't play metal and I'm not looking for a mid-cut.
Although on the clean channel the 'V' EQ gives it that Fendery 'sparkle'.
Those are the basics so just ignore anything eles. There are a lot of other features such as solid state or tube rectification but they're on the back panel so screw 'em for right now.
Oh .... and the global master volume and the boost function only work if the FX loop is ON. Each channel also has it's own master volume so you can get them all the same loudness.
There ....... easy as pie!