Close, but couldn't pull the trigger on Markbass

[jps]

Who told you about the Fez?

[windchimp]

Hey now - I'm connected, dontchaknow! Black helicopters and all!

[jps]

[86kubicki]

Getting back to the matter at hand...
A couple of years ago a friend who runs a backline rental company called me to come and check out the then new Markbass gear he had just acquired. What immediately struck me was the transparency of the Markbass amps. I remarked at the time that I felt I was really hearing the true sound of my 4003 for the first time. I think this lack of colouring is why some folks haven't warmed up to the Markbass sound, especially if their preferred tone is something iconic like an Ampeg.

[jps]

Very true. If you want iconic, get a pedal; this way you get the best of all worlds.

[woodyng]

mark's comments on the markbass make me wonder if he had the vle control turned up...on passive basses it seems like it absolutely kills the sound. i think it would only work on something sizzly-active like a bongo,to make it sound more "vintage". i leave the tone controls flat,with the 2 filters all the way off 95 % of the time. also,your comparison amps are indeed killer,those traynor tube heads are the shizzle! and greg,prior to my getting my 1-12 markbass,i had a mesa walkabout/scout 12 combo,preceded by a ampeg svt-3 with a 2-10 yorkville cab. i actually got to A/B the mesa with the markbass,and have to say i preferred the sound of the markbass. both the ampeg and mesa are warm tube-ish sounding amps,what i personally liked about the markbass was the clarity. i would look for a used american svt-3 head-they seem to come up pretty often on ebay,no real reason to mess with a new one.....even though i love the sound of my markbass,i would like to someday get a small tube bass amp as a second,an ampeg portaflex 12 maybe....

[86kubicki]

Very true. If you want iconic, get a pedal; this way you get the best of all worlds.

When I want a little dirt in my sound, I run a Sansamp pedal into one channel of my Markbass LMK amp, and leave the other channel clean. Then I have a choice of Sansamp, clean or both channels mixed together. It works great using Ric-o-Sound as well!

[johnallg]

If you are shy on the new Asian Ampeg SVT-3s, consider an American one off ebay. Built to last.

[squirefan01]

I have been looking on eBay in the last week for USA made SVT-3s. A local chain actually has a USA-made used one for $599 which seems like a decent deal. Comes with a 30 day return polict too which might give it the nod over eBay.

Thanks for all of the comments.

-Greg

[johnallg]

Greg, if you have settled on a SVT-3, grab it at that price.

[dean712]

Count me in as another happy new Markbass owner.

I bought a Little Mark II head and a Traveler 102P cabinet a couple of weeks ago. Been playing 'em constantly, and I love 'em.

I had been kicking around the idea of going with a lighter rig for a while now. My last amp purchase was in '96, an Ampeg V4B Reissue tube head with 4x10 and 1x15 cabs. I've loved the Ampeg stack for years, but I am old enough now that I can't lift the 4x10 myself without help (or I risk reinjuring my back), and I have to switch cars with my wife for gigs to haul it all. Plus, tube maintenance is a drag (although they do sound great). And, I'm starting a second band with an old friend, so my gigging is about to double (or more).

The best way to describe the Markbass is that it is exactly what I wanted in all respects, with even better tone than expected (especially the lows - can't believe the lows!), and nothing extra to complicate it. It lets me sound exactly the way I want to, and yet it's easy to carry and fits in the back of my small car with space to spare. For me, it's been one of those perfect-fit, wish-they-had-this-available-15-years-ago finds.

[charlyg]

I am also not that impressed with the tiny speakers, and since I had a PB212, I just got the head (also all I could afford!), and then traded my 410HLF for another PB212. That's 40lbs each for the cabs and the 6 lbs for the LMKII. The cabs are 4 ohms so I can't use them together, but I can have one at each place, and only carry 6 lbs back and forth!

500watts, 46 lbs, 2x12. Can't ask for a whole lot more!

[dean712]

The Markbass 2x10 cabinet I bought is 8 ohms. I saw on their website that they offer that cabinet (and others) in both 4 and 8 ohms.

Since the one I got is 8 ohms, I can always pick up a second 8 ohm cabinet to expand, if necessary.

Sounds like you've got a great setup that matches your needs exactly, too.

I have tried my Markbass head thru just my Ampeg 1x15 cabinet, and it sounded surprisingly good, although not as good as the Markbass 2x10 (obviously). The Ampeg is 8 ohms too, so I guess I could team it up with the 2x10 to up the ooomph factor and juice up the wattage. It's ridiculuously heavy compared to the Markbass 2x10, though (2x10 = 33lb, Ampeg 1x15 = 72lb).

I love the 2x10, especially with the adjustable tweeter level. Sounds great, and the size and weight are perfect for carrying. The Little Mark II head is the real star of the set-up, though.