Amps!

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:08 am

Robert, I'm glad you're happy, there are a lot of satisfied Markbass owners out there. I had the audacity to start a post(last year?) that was titled "Modern Day SVT" and it was about how I rack mounted my Little Mark II with my Sansamp RBI, the benefits of the light weight and the incedible tone I was getting. Of course I'm not stupid enough to think that any solid state amp is ever going to replace a SVT, I had an early 70's SVT when I was in my twenties and remember what it sounded like. What blew me away about my Markbass rig was how good it made my 4004's sound, the clarity of the MB combined with the tube-iness of the RBI was giving me Geddy-like tones that I thought would be impossible to get from the humbuckers. And this was through a light weight 1X12 at 300 watts, a 2x12 or 4x10 at 500 watts would be even better.

gray · Post by **gray** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:25 am

Mark, I can see where you're coming from. I do get SVT-like tones from this thing. And you're right, of course it can't replace the SVT, but it produces such great volume of quality sound that it's amazing, coming from such a small package. Since mine is a 610, I get a tube amp-style big-cab "oomph" that reminds me a great deal of an SVT. Plus, since it's front ported on the top and bottom, the breeze it creates cools me off on hot, humid days like we had yesterday!
My next trick would be to run my Fulltone Bass Drive through the effects loop, maybe with a touch of the Bassballs as well!
A question for you: do you use the Sansamp right into the input on your amp?
At any rate, this thing is perfect for practice and gigging. I think we'll be very happy together!

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:46 am

Not to pick a nit but check out this posting:

Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 10:53 pm:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gray, have you checked out the Markbass amps yet? Do yourself a favor and do so!

Then go look for the first posting by MG.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:57 am

I run the Sansamp RBI in front of the Little Mark II to get a preamp effect, then I set the RBI blend knob to get a 60/40 ratio of MB/RBI. I usually keep the drive and presence knobs at minimum settings, if I set them both around 12:00 I can get a sound that's close to the bass intro of Cygnus X1(snappy and brittle), if I leave the drive at 12:00 and bring the presence back down I can get close to the Exit Stage Left bass sound(warm with a little dirt/growl). If you haven't guessed I'm a big Rush fan and really like Geddy's sound from the rick era.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:58 am

That ESL sound is my favorite. I heard there is some chorus mixed in there too...

bob_the_bass · Post by **bob_the_bass** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:56 am

Robert - I'm glad you are happy with the Mark Bass gear - I can't sing its praises enough!

Bob

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:48 am

"Have you had a chance to compare a vintage SVT with a new SVT-VR amp"

I'm with Bob Young on these. They are good, but the vintage SVT is better. The 12DW7 and 12BH7 really do make a big difference in the preamp and phase inverter sections, and the amps are a true two channel amp which makes them more versatile than the modern ones. The vintage ones just have more power and authority. You can still find a vintage SVT head for under $1500 in perfect working order too, but that won't last more than 5 years.

gray · Post by **gray** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:08 pm

Jeff Scott- So it was you! Well a very special thanks to you for your insights! Sorry to leave you out, but the thread's getting long and it was well past midnight when I wrote the post in question here. Thanks for all your support during this, and way to stay on top of things!

And BTW, I'm a notorious nit-picker!

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:59 pm

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:03 pm

Just glad you were patient enough to give the Markbass gear a chance!

Tonight Rare Blend had a gig at a new art festival in Bedford, Ohio and the LM II with my two Traynor YS-15 cabinets just smoked with the gain at 1:00 and the master at 11:30

. I used my 5 string fretless Zon for this gig so no pics.

Next Saturday come on out the the CPRFF at The Winchester in Lakewood, should be a great time. I will most likely have my '73 4001 or perhaps the '67 4005WB at that gig.

gray · Post by **gray** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:25 pm

Mmmm, 4005... (drools like Homer Simpson)

Sounds like a good show!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:42 pm

Do you get the feeling they're ignoring us Greg?

gray · Post by **gray** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:15 am

I thought you were having a separate talk about SVTs, sorry. I love SVTs, and I'd still love to get one someday.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:36 am

We were, in this thread, haha!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:25 am

...I'd still love to get one someday.

Did you know that every time you pick up an SVT you get 4mm shorter?