Thoughts on a bass combo amp

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:01 pm

...Yeah Jeff..I knew you'd pick up on that. My complaint letter has been forwarded to the proper authorities...

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:12 am

Marc, the GC I went to was on Commack, in Dix Hills.

I have never had a non-combo amp. Do you guys think it matters to match the brand name between heads and cabs?

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:16 pm

No, use whatever works.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:59 pm

There was one catch you guys may not like if you buy one of these. GC claims that since this an Italian based company and it would be difficult to send back for service, Mark Bass requires you to buy a two year warranty from GC.

I almost returned it today when I found out. Problem is I love this thing, and no one else sells it. Guess a warranty can't hurt.

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:21 am

Marc, that "Mark Bass requires you to buy a two year warranty from GC" sounds like a GC sales scam to me. I'd check with the company itself to see what they say about that. Besides, if it's (potentially) so hard to "send back for service" how is it going to be any easier if you buy an extra two year warranty from GC?

Reason I say this: I just ordered a Vox cab from GC and had to have 3 conversations (so far) with them to straighten out a few issues that they messed up.

At one point, one guy asked me why I opted to NOT buy an extra year or two warranty on it. I told him the cab has a one year factory warranty on it already and if I blow it up in that time (not likely) it's already covered. Besides, I'll probably change out the speakers at some point anyway, thus voiding the warranty. But I don't care about that.

Just saying that I find it incredulous that a company would let a retailer sell their product, but *require* that retailer to make any customer buy an extra warranty on top of that.

Something smells fishy here...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:37 am

I think they make up a little "margin" with the warranty moola.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:40 am

RE: "I have never had a non-combo amp. Do you guys think it matters to match the brand name between heads and cabs?"

No, not at all. Nothing in my rig is from the same vendor. (They just happen, by coincidence, to all begin with the letter "A.")

What does matter is to "match" the power ratings of the head and cabs and to match the ohm ratings.

There are a whole bunch of FAQs online that explain this in (nauseating) detail.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:17 am

Have an e-mail into Mark Bass to confirm the stuff about the warranty. If a rep tells me that it's BS, then I will have GC refund the amt.

woodyng · Post by **woodyng** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:09 am

marc-that 2 year warranty is supposed to be included in the price-i bought the 1-12" combo,and there is a lot of confusion when talking to various gc employees about the markbass products(imagine that...) i almost didn't get mine because of this,but am glad i did-it's a killer combo,and with a 2nd cabinet,as loud as i would ever need to be.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:59 am

It is included in the price that he quoted me, but if you look at your receipt, it breaks it down to the price of the amp, and the price of the warranty.$750 for the amp, and $110 for the warranty. If it's not required, I'd like a refund.

btw - I lied. I have the 121P, so it's the 1x12 combo...Just playing it before using my new acoustic bass of all things...Loud as all heck...

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:05 pm

The warranty deal is legit, GC has to itemize it on the receipt for some reason. You do want the warranty so if there is a problem the amp is simply exchanged!

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:25 pm

+1 for the Yorkville gear.

FWIW, I played some Mark Bass stuff at a GC & walked away unimpressed. Of course that may just be me - seems to be lotsa fans out there.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:05 pm

We're a limited bunch Chris...

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:11 pm

...a select few!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:21 pm

I was told that the Markbass stuff doesnt come with a warranty, but GC includes their own 2 year warranty in the price.

Little Mark II for $599.00

This is the Cincinnati Ohio Guitar Center. I but unfortunately they only had cabs in stock.

Good price or not??? Seems to be alot of confusion on the whole "Warranty" thing.