DV MARK
DV40 212
BY STEVE OUIMETTE
DV Mark, based in Chieti, Italy, may not be a household name to American
guitarists, but it’s a growing brand with a
reputation for excellent tube guitar and bass
amps, the latter of which are sold under the
Markbass name. Players from jazz/fusion
axeslinger Frank Gambale to rock studio stalwart Danny Kortchmar have made DV Mark
amps part of their rigs over the last few years.
Much of the company’s success may have to
do with its ability to build tube amps that
sound great while deviating from the classic
tube-amp templates that dominate the market.
The DV40 is fine example of that strategy.
Not Your Typical Tube amp
The DV40 looks more like a 2x12 cabinet
than a combo at first glance. Covered in an
view data about tube performance. There’s
also a Bias switch around back that changes
the bias from high to low for even more
tonal options.
attractive, smooth black vinyl with black plastic corners, the DV Mark looks rugged and
built for gigging guitarists—there’s no retro-minded fussing or overwrought concessions
to the boutique crowd to be seen anywhere.
At slightly more than 37 pounds, the
DV Mark is surprisingly light for a 2x12
combo. Its tube complement consists of
a pair of EL34s and three 12AX7s, and it
features cool, practical features—like a rear-mounted Pentode/Triode mode and a top-panel Continuous Power Control that dials
up power settings ranging from . 5 to 40
watts—that add flexibility to the power section. Another nice feature is the Advanced
Tube Control System (ATCS) Interface,
which features a USB jack for connecting
the amp to your computer, where you can
