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Post subject: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:22 pm
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Hoping someone here can give an opinion... I searched this forum but was unable to find a comparison.. I'm an intermediate player, play at home, am looking at purchasing a M3 ver.2 or a M4. The price difference is minimal. I can get the M4 for 299.00 or the M3 for 329.00........ I'd decided to get the M3 but then saw the price on the M4. I'm kind of wondering about the M4 and why the price was slashed by hundreds of dollars, make me kind of wonder why. I'm sure I'd be happy with either one but am really undecided.......... Any opinions on which one is the "best?"

Thanks much


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 12:40 am
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My other guitarist uses M3 v1, I use M4 v1. All I can say is that there is a really noticeable difference as 3 has only one speaker, while 4 has 2 12" thrown in. The sound of M4 with the same guitar, same preset etc., is much better than the M3.

You're probably looking at M3 v2 and M4 v1, hence the difference in price. In my country and authorized Fender dealer, the price of v1s almost didn't drop at all. M4 v1 still costs 400€ or something like this (550$) so you should consider yourself lucky that you can get it as cheap :P
Anyway, if the difference between a v1 and a v2 is less or max 50€ and I'd be buying it now, I would have probably bought v2 (although a M4, 2 speakers are always much better than just one), otherwise v1 has everything I need and more :) I am very satisfied with it.

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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 1:49 am
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Quote:
I searched this forum but was unable to find a comparison.. I'm an intermediate player, play at home, am looking at purchasing a M3 ver.2 or a M4

Hmmm, there are lots of posts here doing precisely this comparison; I've written a few myself, although I don't have time to search back for an exact link for you.

It looks like there are two variables here: M3 vs M4, and V1 amp vs V2 amp.

The main differences between M3 and M4 are:
- More power with M4 (although the M3 is plenty loud enough already!)
- Stereo speakers with M4 (although there's not much stereo separation, but the 2x12 cab looks sooooo good)
- Stereo fx loop with M4

The main differences between V1 and V2 are:
- More amp models with V2 (do you need the extra ones?)
- More effects with V2 (do you need the extra ones?)
- XLR line-out sockets with V2
- Lower-noise power amp with V2

Prioritise the features that matter most to you, that should guide the decision.


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:14 am
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Thanks for the reply. It is M4 v1 for 299.00............. M3 v2 for 329.00....... Am leaning towards the M3 and then later feel like I should go with M4 for the 2 speakers.......... Decisions, decisions......... :|


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:08 am
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I will give you no help whatsoever, but lol as I note I'm right with you:

I have both the M4 v1 and just bought the M3 v2. I love them both. Due to my OCD, I can't really decide. I do like the 2X12.

What would be preferable would be to have both M3 and M4 and both of them be v2, because the extra models and effects (especially a few of the stomps) are indeed awesome.

My M4 v1 has served me well for over 2.5 years and is great....it's just that indeed the v2 with its new models makes v2 worth it.

I actually got an M3 this time for more portability because indeed it is way louder than anyone ever needs and I already had an M4 .....

I never had any fizz or any other problem with M4 so I can't see anything new re: "less noise power platform" I really thing the fizz was a problem with M2s and M1s.

Since my M3 is new (just got it 5 days ago), I have not plugged into the M4, but only because I'm having fun with the new models and want to break in the speakers, but I suspect I'll be using the M4 again too, soon enough.

Bottom line is that both of them are great amps and actually you can get the M3 for $290 or so....just ask for a discount.

really rambling post... sorry.. like I said I can't really help you... both are great amps.

If I had to choose Id probably get the v2 and if having 2X12 and that extra power and stereo is all that important to you, then save up a few more months or as long as it takes and pony up the $425 (real street price) for an M4 v2 and forget this debate.

Dude it's $100 more. That's a dinner for 2 with wine. If $100 matters that much to you then you should be saving money and not buying guitar amps anyway.

I think I have worked my way into an opinion for you:

since your question reveals you seem to want a 2X12, even considering the v1 over a v2, you should scrape up $100.00 more (that's all it takes) and get an M4 v2.

For me, the money was not really an issue and I got an M3 only because I wanted something more portable for my purposes right now. (having the M4 is sort of like having a real Twin....half the weight (47 vs 85 pounds) but nearly as bulky--I discovered that at a recent open mic where I had to carry my M4 through a crowd in a narrow winding hallway....and from a sand/gravel/pothole parking lot....bottom line is a dolly is not always a solution...and the M4 is big and heavy...which is awesome once you've got it where you want it to be so it can start pumping out good sound)


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 11:12 am
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Excellent feedback.......... Thanks Much !!


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 12:02 pm
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You gotta note that sound coming from a 2x12 cab will always also sound "bigger" than one coming from 1x12 or 2x10, it will still sound smaller than 4x10 and even smaller than 4x12 though. So basically the more speakers you have, and the bigger they are, the "bigger" the sound. Even if you forget about higher power output and just focus on how it sounds at the same levels with same settings etc., more and bigger speakers will sound better.
You won't be really able to achieve the real stereo effect with the M4 simply because the speakers are too close together. For a real stereo effect you'd need a head with 2 cabs that are separated by at least a meter or two. Obviously the further they are apart, the better the stereo effect. I don't think you could say for any combo amp that it has a great stereo effect as the speakers are too close and the M4 is no exception.

The pros of M4 compared to M3:
- bigger sound
- higher power output (thus bigger volume)
- "stereo" effect (albeit a barely noticeable one, still better than M3 that has only one speaker)
- 4-button footswitch - this is a must-have for live situation (M3 comes with a 2-button FSW, at least in my country, and the 2-button one isn't enough if you want to have more diverse sounds for different songs)
- FX loop (not 100% sure, but I think the M3, at least v1, doesn't have it)

Cons of M4 compared to M3:
- heavier
- more expensive (if you're looking at both amps either v1 or both v2)
- less amp models and effects (if you're looking at M4 v1 and M3 v2) - however there's still a bunch of them in M4 and it will take a while for you to learn what all of them do and to create any sound you want - but you will be able to create any sound you want even with a few options less. Just imagine the combinations for overdriven sound - get it through increasing gain on the amp and then adding either a compressor (again 2 different compressors and you can place them either before amp or in the loop, after other effects or before all other effects, in between, etc.), emulate the tube driven sound by increasing "master" in advanced amp settings, change cab simulations to give you bit more dirty sound, add an overdrive stomp box (again the position is yours to choose, in between other effects, before them, after them, in the loop behind amp, etc), choose an amp simulation that already has an overdriven sound without any stomp boxes, etc.

What I'd do in your place is buy a M4 v1 and spend the money you'd otherwise spend on either a M4 v2 or a M3 v2 (bare in mind, with a M3 you'd likely have to buy a 4-button footswitch as well, to make better use of the amp in a live situation, I think they go for around 50 or 60€ - that's about 80$ and the amp costing 30$ more, that's 110$ more) to buy the expression pedal (I paid 55€ for mine) and then possibly also the 2-button footswitch for a M4 (as you can use both footswitches at the same time and the expression pedal as well). The 2-button FSW costs 30€ (although it's 50€ at our authorized dealer -.-'). So that's around 110$ as well and in the end you will have spent the same amount of money, but you'll also have an expression pedal for that price and all the benefits from M4. IMHO the expression pedal is better to have than a few extra effects and amp models - there are already a bunch of them in it and you won't use most of them anyway. The 2-button FSW isn't a necessity as well (I don't have it and have gigged a lot since I've had the amp), it is a perk but not a necessity, whereas the 4-button one is more or less a necessity for live playing.

So basically the only thing you'd not have by buying a M4 v1 instead of M3 v2, are a few effects and amp models. You'd pay the same amount of money (or less if you opt not to buy 2-button FSW or the EXP-1 expression pedal, if you pay the same you will have more gear and more tonal capabilities at your feet) and a M4 would be heavy (which, unless you plan on carrying it for 100 meters or more on a regular basis, isn't a real problem, if you do have to carry it that far on a regular basis, the M3 will also appear heavy but in either case you'll build some muscles and that's a pro, as chicks dig them :P ).

Just my opinion though :)

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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:12 pm
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The Mustang III does indeed have an fx loop.

I do NOT have, nor have I played through, an MIV. Therefore I cannot say what is better. I do know that a 150 watt 2x12 would be serious overkill for my play at home situation. My MIII rarely gets turned up any higher than 2 on the master- it just gets too loud for my (thin walled) apartment.

What I can say is that the V2 improvements really do make a difference. The addition of several extra OD/dist/fuzz options is key. The Greenbox ( tube Screamer), and Ranger Booster, esp are very nice and add a lot to the sound. I'm not totally sold on the single OD in the V1 amp, and use pedals if I want stompbox dirt.

The extra amps are nice, too. The HiWatt and Orange models give you something very different from the others, and are NOT very common on the usual run of modelling amps. The Silvertone gives you that vintage cheap and nasty sound from many old school recordings, and the Studio preamp was a popular demand from many who like to record with this.

If I had it to do again, I'd have held out for a V2. I'm plenty satisfied with the v1, though. Got it used for a good price- with the box and all the goodies.


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Post subject: Re: M3v2 or M4........ Please help.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:48 pm
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Well, I bit the bullet and ordered the M3-V2.. I'd originally been sold on this one but then started looking at the M4. Gave it a lot of thought and went ahead and ordered the M3. Supposed to be here in 2 days. Excited and looking forward to getting it.............


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