CJ ,if i were using that rig,i would probably just stand in front of it and weep.....
I like the simplicity of Markbass controls,and i think the tech 21 is going to offer a great deal more tonal sophistication in a user friendly package.
Well it arrived already,that was fast! First impression is 21 pounds feels REAL heavy when it's concentrated in this size amp. The thing feels like a tank. On the plus side i shouldn't have to worry about whippin' it across the stage if i get carried away. The layout and the user's manual look pretty easy/intuitive to understand. And I just realized that the only speaker cable i own is a speakon,and this amp only has 1/4" outputs,so i am gonna have to see if i can scrounge up a cable this evening before practice. More later....
I used it at my pop band practice last night,with the custom Laredo,and was really digging the pick tone i was getting,using the svt setting on 1 channel,and the "kings x" setting on the other. It puts out 200 watts in 8 ohms,and i was running into an 8 ohm,400 watt rated markbass 1-12" traveller cab. I can see where having the optional footswitch,which gives 3 options of either/or,or combined on the 2 channels,would be really handy. I had to walk back to the amp to manually switch the channels whenever i wanted to check out the other sound. Compared to using the vt pedal into the markbass,it seemed a bit less precise,as well as a bit warmer sounding,very reminiscent of a tube amp sound.One thing that surprised me,given the heft of the amp,was it was having some serious rattling issues (the metal housing) while sitting on top of the cabinet. I removed it,set it on the ground,and the rattling stopped. I will check to make sure the housing screws are tight before i use it again tonite at the more rawkus band's practice. So far, i have to say the sound of it,and the switching capabilities probaly outweigh (pun) the fact that is a bit of a boat anchor to move around.
T28 wrote:Question: How do you know when you get old.
Answer: You decide that at 21 pounds the amp you just bought is a bit of a boat anchor to move around.
Hey-i AM old! You know,if i hadn't been spoiled by Markbass for the last 5 years.... Having a 500 watt 1-12 combo that weighs less than 30 pounds for a one-trip delivery.....
First impressions,part Deux....
Took the 4000 and the same rig to practice with my raucous band last night. Set up the 2 channels using the "bassman" settings (as described in the manual) and a more grungy svt setting. The bassman setting was warm and tubey,clean,and maybe a bit lacking in oomph.(just like the real thing....) The heavier SVT sound was pretty perfect with the 4000,rich and meaty. It had plenty of power,even with the one cab,we practice at a pretty loud level,same as when we are playing out. It is really easy to tweak to get the tone you're looking for. I would say it's a keeper! All my bandmates in both bands liked it. Now i just have to get the tech 21 footswitch for it. And maybe a nice shoulder bag carry case to keep it out of the Oregon mists.....
I have to say,this technology is soooo much better sounding than the Line 6 (et al) digital modelling type of approach. I am trying to talk my guitarist into getting the tech 21 60w 1-12" guitar combo.....and getting rid of his Vox valvtronix amp.
One month later....
I was curious after meeting "the Clatters" and checking some of Amy's youtube instructional videos about multi-amping,so i pluggged my bass directly into my Markbass combo,using its line out to drive the input of the Landmark amp. I had purchased the tech 21 switch pedal for the amp,and had my multi efx pedal in the Landmark's effect loop. Each amp was driving a 12" markbass speaker,with a clean unprocessed sound from the combo,and the landmark was set up with a nice bit of tubey grit on one channnel and some serious fuzz on the 2nd. I listened to each of the amps soloed to set up the sounds i wanted,but The added "dimensionality" when playing through both amps was pretty eye(and ear)-opening for me,even just at living room solo sound levels. I have not dragged all of this to band practice yet,but am looking forward to hearing what it does for the bass sound in the full band setting.
Yup, bi-amping is a whole nuther animal. It's the same with guitar. That's why I decided to keep my old Mesa as well when I upgraded to Vox. Why not, I've plenty of ric-o-sound in my menagerie. The only drawback is lugging it all around.
Kira,one of the most impressive sounds I've ever experienced was Eric Johnson in a club show,i think he was playing through 3 amps,and would switch differnent combinations during a song to solo,or to highlight certain passages. Of course he is phenominal player,but the way he used his rig was just amazing. And of course my favorite rock bassists,Squire and Ox had been doing that forever.....
The layout and the user's manual look pretty easy/intuitive to understand. And I just realized that the only speaker cable i own is a speakon,and this amp only has 1/4" outputs,so i am gonna have to see if i can scrounge up a cable this evening before practice. More later....
You know,if i hadn't been spoiled by Markbass for the last 5 years.... Having a 500 watt 1-12 combo that weighs less than 30 pounds for a one-trip delivery..... 
