$1200 dollar Markbass mistake?

KISSKRAZY · #1 02-01-2012, 09:29 AM

after having back surgery i was forced to give up my old 70s svt head and a 115 cab. while still sitting around the house trying to get better i read all the reviews i could find on the markbass 151p jeff berlin combo. i thought it was THE amp for me. i ordered it and a few days later tried it out. i will say although it is a great little amp, it just does not have a warm tone at all, so after a few days of trying to tweek it, i hooked up my ole standby, the EDEN WTDI preamp and there IT WAS! that GREAT TONE im used to!
all that said, i have a top of the line $1200 dollar combo amp that only sounds great if i slap a $150 dollar pedal in front of it! should i just go buy a fender rumble and stick my eden in front of it and pocket $800 bucks and still have the great sound of the eden im looking for? i know you cannot compare a svt to a markbass but this thing is just sterile! maybe i should try the new 500w portaflex with the 115? or just buy a rackmount eden preamp and a 115 cab? any suggestions on this? thanks D

KJung · #2 02-01-2012, 09:33 AM

Many players use external EQ to tweak a very cleanly voiced amp to get the dirt or warmth they want.

I would say you have a success there.

There are many, many TBers who put a VT pedal in front of Markbass combos or heads to get 'the best of both worlds' for them. Light, loud, clean, accurate, and then with the ability to 'Ampeg up' the tone with a simple push of a button.

You have a win win there IMO!

zanzibar jorge · #3 02-01-2012, 09:36 AM

I do the same with my hartke so that I always got super clean sound when I need it and rock grit when I want it. I can't afford an act and a clean amp haha. And you can't clean a dirty amp but can always add grit to a clean one. So I vote win win as well

RFord04 · #4 02-01-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Many players use external EQ to tweak a very cleanly voiced amp to get the dirt or warmth they want.

I would say you have a success there.

There are many, many TBers who put a VT pedal in front of Markbass combos or heads to get 'the best of both worlds' for them. Light, loud, clean, accurate, and then with the ability to 'Ampeg up' the tone with a simple push of a button.

You have a win win there IMO!

My thoughts exactly!

If you're after the sound that your pedal gives you, then what's the problem? Now you have the sound you want, and you can carry it around with ease.

I use a Genz Benz Shuttle combo with an extension cab added, and often use my VT Bass Deluxe in front of it for when I want the extra warmth and grit. I've used big heavy tube amps and cabs, and I've gotta say I'm just as happy with this combination, and it's easy to pick up and throw in my car whenever I want.

Nothing wrong with what you're doing, IMO.

Tin Cadillac · #5 02-01-2012, 09:42 AM

Well, my bandmates are trying to get me to take the plunge with one of those Markbass amps but I am leery of that $1,200 pricetag myself!

I do have an Eden WTDI on order though!

electracoyote · #6 02-01-2012, 09:44 AM

If you wanted warmth, Markbass makes a couple of nice tube micros. That and a light weight 15" cab would get you what you want. The LMII/III head is not "warm" or "fuzzy." It is definitely on the clean end of the spectrum. You can get some nice vintage thump out of it.

A cheap pedal has shaped and defined my tone many times with both bass and guitar amps.

IMHO, a Fender Rumble 150 would be a step in the wrong direction. They are heavier and less powerful.

I agree with KJung, you have the best of both worlds going with the CMD151P and pedal to fuzz it up for you.

Joe Louvar · #7 02-01-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KISSKRAZY

i hooked up my ole standby, the EDEN WTDI preamp and there IT WAS! that GREAT TONE im used to!

Well if this is what you’re use to you ‘re going to experience this with whatever amp you use without the WTDI. Besides if you have the sound you like with the WTDI and 151p now why change?

SteveC · #8 02-01-2012, 09:52 AM

Use the pedal. I have a clean Genz Benz rig and am debating a pedal in front for a little grit. I'm not a big "grit/grind" guy, but the more I play my Geddy Lee jazz bass, the more I want to play around with some grindy tones. :-)

HolmeBass · #9 02-01-2012, 09:53 AM

I doubt the WTDI would sound as good through a Rumble as it does through the Markbass, and you're not going to get your money back out of the Markbass anyway. I also vote "win" and just enjoy it.

KJung · #10 02-01-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Use the pedal. I have a clean Genz Benz rig and am debating a pedal in front for a little grit. I'm not a big "grit/grind" guy, but the more I play my Geddy Lee jazz bass, the more I want to play around with some grindy tones. :-)

Crank the gain a bit on your Genz head and it will grind up nicely.

Doug Parent · #11 02-01-2012, 10:01 AM

What Ken said, it's also the sum of the parts, not just the WTDI pedal. The Markbass route works for many because it's fairly neutral which IMHO is a good thing. I get huge win using the VLF VLE features, and also use that same great pedal.

Russell L · #12 02-01-2012, 10:42 AM

I'm in with everybody else. Just play it! I have basically the same set-up as you (except for the pedal). I have a LMIII head and 151P cab (soon to be two). Because I play with my fingernails I find that if I roll off the high mids I get a really thick tone without the clack my nails make. Try that on yours. Also, because of my nails, I can turn the VLE more clockwise than most players and get a super old-school sound going on. I love the VPF filter at home alone at lower volume, but I get lost in the mix with it, usually. Another thing to consider is what the amp and cab sound like in different venues. Sometimes I think I can't find my tone at home, but when I get to a gig it really sounds excellent with just the eqs at noon and the filters off. Have you gigged with the Berlin?

Oh, and...it ain't Markbass' fault.

SteveC · #13 02-01-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Crank the gain a bit on your Genz head and it will grind up nicely.

Mine won't Ken. It's just a Shuttle 3.0-10T with a 10 extension cab. I'm debating some kind of pedal for the front end. I've never had much luck with Sansamp so I'm thinking maybe an overdrive instead.

countrybass007 · #14 02-01-2012, 11:10 AM

If you're spending $1200 I'd shop around some. Quite a few light weight, great amps in that price range. Oops! Since you already bought the MarkBass spend some extra time messing with the settings. I've heard people say they can't get a clean sound out of their Orange rigs, but I can get a totally clean sound with a little tweaking. You've got a good amp, just take the time so it's a great amp for you. Pedals are a good option if you just can't find that tone.

JimmyM · #15 02-01-2012, 12:00 PM

Without regard to brand, I say life is too short to play something you're not enjoying, and if you're in your return period still, then I'd say do what you think you have to do, and I know I'd rather not have an amp that I can only enjoy when I slap a pedal in front of it.

Not a slam on Markbass at all...I used Markbass for a little while, too. But no one amp is for everyone, and I decided down the line that it wasn't for me either. I do have a couple PF115he's and PF350 and like that rig much better because it's more in line with my likes and dislikes, which like you, center around the SVT and B-15. But whatever rig you go with, I say you need to be happy with it as it is before pedals.

KJung · #16 02-01-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Mine won't Ken. It's just a Shuttle 3.0-10T with a 10 extension cab. I'm debating some kind of pedal for the front end. I've never had much luck with Sansamp so I'm thinking maybe an overdrive instead.

I forgot you had the 3. Yes, some sort of pedal for you if you want more harmonic 'complexity' of break-up. I reall like the VT pedal for that, but there are a zillion tube or tube emulation pedals out there.

joelb79 · #17 02-01-2012, 12:40 PM

Im using a VT-Bass into a Markbass Little Mark II driving an Epifani UL410. I like you like a bit of drive and compression with a round 100-150hz bass boost to make my sound more "ampeg" like. I found this with the VT Bass which I run into the LMII.

I have tried the WTDI but it distorted way too hard with passive basses and the gain set low. I would have to dim the knobs on a jazz bass just to get a clean Eden-Like tone out of it. The distortion sounded nothing like I remember an Eden drive setup sounding like, it was way too harsh and square-waved to sound warm like a tube. I spent all of 3 minutes in the studio with it before I pulled out my pedal board and wowed the person who wasted money on the WTDI. That box is nothing more than a hard clip overdrive with the enhance curve and a 3 band eq with points chosen that did not seem to enhance the bass but were more suited for a mixer channel.

Try the VT Bass, and then the world of light amps opens up for you. you WILL have the SVT Tone at your feet. Mine stays on 24/7.

ksandvik · #18 02-01-2012, 12:43 PM

Yes, the first thing anyone notices with MarkBass gear is that you suddenly hear what your bass really sounds. Adding dirt/warmth and similar colorization is then easy on top of that.

blowinblue · #19 02-01-2012, 12:51 PM

At the risk of being a buzz kill...I would never own a preamp, power amp, head, or cab that required a pedal in front of it to make it sound acceptable. Just wouldn't.

M. M.

hrgiger · #20 02-01-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Yes, the first thing anyone notices with MarkBass gear is that you suddenly hear what your bass really sounds. Adding dirt/warmth and similar colorization is then easy on top of that.

people should just get a markbass power amp then. as jimmy said, what's the point of dropping $1200 for all of those knobs if all you get is what your bass sounds like without them?