Compare Acoustic Image Claris to Markbass LM

[emjazz]

Has anyone had both the higher powered AI Claris + and the Markbass LMII or III? What made one amp different from the other sound wise? Which did you prefer and why? I have an LMII and am curious about the AI Claris + (although I'd rather find a used Focus series III as I don't need two channels). Thanks.

[KJung]

Hey Andy,

I had the Focus II (similar power and voicing to the current Clarus+), and still have my LMII.

Very different. The Clarus II will have more absolute volume, but the preamp is very limited... it is more warm, low mid present and darker up top, versus the wider voicing of the LMII, with that nice upper treble extension and deep bass.

That being said, from the clips you sent me, the Focus III (if you can find one used... the Clarus+ has two channels and all those effects... not very useful for most) would probably work will for you. The AI stuff really does that 'Bartolini Soapbar' type tone (by that I mean a warm, non-goosed, articulate soap bar type tone... Janek, Garrison, etc.... warm, fat, round, smooth up top, not huge down low.. gives you a nice fat G string and a not boomy E and B.

Great company with great service and support.

IMO!

Edit: I think our buddy Will had/has a focus and had an LMII for a while also.

[emjazz]

Thanks Ken. I was hoping you'd stop in.

I know it has limited eq, but I could always pick up an Empress para eq and route it through the effects loop in a difficult room.

I'm not unsatisfied with my tone live, but I'd love to pick up the AI for a little darker tone (you echoed what I had heard), and because I'd prefer to have an amp from a small company on this shore. I also am thinking ahead and like that it's voltage switchable.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by emjazz

Thanks Ken. I was hoping you'd stop in.

I know it has limited eq, but I could always pick up an Empress para eq and route it through the effects loop in a difficult room.

I'm not unsatisfied with my tone live, but I'd love to pick up the AI for a little darker tone (you echoed what I had heard), and because I'd prefer to have an amp from a small company on this shore. I also am thinking ahead and like that it's voltage switchable.

It is a class piece of gear, and again, for the tone you are going for, it is pretty cool. Quite frankly, the EQ is powerful enough to deal with problem rooms, but not 'powerful' enough to really revoice the head like some other amps... very subtle, which I think is in keeping with the design goals of that company. It actually has some similarities to my ear to the RH450.... a touch attenuated down low and up top, and that bit of warmth and 'give' to the feel that in some ways brings an all tube amp to mind. Also, both amps seem to have a bit of a dip in the upper mids, which reinforces that kind of 'smooth' tone versus the bit more 'bark and grind' of amps like the Markbass and Genz Benz amps, for example.

[lefty007]

I had Clarus and Focus heads for awhile, and now I've been using an LMII. I think AI products are made for upright, not electric. The AI sounded punchy and quick, but lacked character and warmth. The LMII, as many electric bass players know, sounds great on electric.

I remember the Focus III used to get hot as a gridle, which I didn't find amusing.

So, if you play upright and are a doubler, the AI should appeal, otherwise, go for the LM.

[emjazz]

Sounds good to me! You're the s**t Ken...thanks man!

[Wilbyman]

Ooo Ooo, an amp question I know something about! (these are rare)

I hear more "weight" from the Focus...it is beefier/punchier/more "3D" in its delivery. This is more/less apparent depending on your cab. It works well with brighter/airy sounding cabs too. (Epi UL, etc)

The LMII has a little less midrange emphasis, a little more in the lows and highs. It is voiced with more lows but they are less forceful than the Focus'. I liked it better with the HT112, though. The mids of the HT112 and the Focus together are too much.

However, with my Goliath I, the Focus sounds better than the LMII...my .02.

I personally find the Markbass EQ kinda worthless....the Focus EQ is more usable, to me.

All that said, they are both perfectly acceptable and if I had one, I wouldn't run out to buy the other. I don't hear a huge difference.

W

[fish slapper]

I can offer comparison between a AI Clarus Series III and a Markbass F1. Like stated above, the AI is a great clean head. The EQ really doesn't move anything anyway. If you like the sound of your bass, you'll love it. To get a bit more "aggressive" sound, I would use a EBS multi-comp on tubism setting.

I then got the F-1 and it has a way more versatile on the pre-amp. I can either dial it clean or get a bit more umph with or without the multi-comp.

At this point, I use the Markbass as my rock head with my cover band and the AI as my Jazz head with the quartet I jam with.

Both amps are great!

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Ooo Ooo, an amp question I know something about! (these are rare)

I hear more "weight" from the Focus...it is beefier/punchier/more "3D" in its delivery. This is more/less apparent depending on your cab. It works well with brighter/airy sounding cabs too. (Epi UL, etc)

The LMII has a little less midrange emphasis, a little more in the lows and highs. It is voiced with more lows but they are less forceful than the Focus'. I liked it better with the HT112, though. The mids of the HT112 and the Focus together are too much.

However, with my Goliath I, the Focus sounds quite a bit better than the LMII...my .02.

I personally find the Markbass EQ kinda worthless....the Focus EQ is more usable, to me.

W

Very good point William....considering I've got the HT112 it may not work. Do you think it would work better with the HT112ER?
What's your favorite cab with your Focus? Do you have the Focus III?

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by emjazz

Very good point William....considering I've got the HT112 it may not work. Do you think it would work better with the HT112ER?
What's your favorite cab with your Focus? Do you have the Focus III?

Sorry, lots of edits in my post... But nothing major.

My favorite small cabs with the Focus were the UL110/UL112. That was a nice rig, especially the pair. I have the two Schroeder Mini12's now (look like HT112's kinda) and they work well with it also, but probably not as "magic" as the Epi UL rig.*

*I switched because the UL112 seemed like overkill for a lot of jazz gigs, and the UL110 wasn't quite enough.

I wouldn't switch if I were you, what you have now (the LMII and HT112) is just fine IMO...a very good combination.

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Sorry, lots of edits in my post... But nothing major.

My favorite small cabs with the Focus were the UL110/UL112. That was a nice rig, especially the pair. I have the two Schroeder Mini12's now (look like HT112's kinda) and they work well with it also, but probably not as "magic" as the Epi UL rig.*

*I switched because the UL112 seemed like overkill for a lot of jazz gigs, and the UL110 wasn't quite enough.

I wouldn't switch if I were you, what you have now (the LMII and HT112) is just fine IMO...a very good combination.

I think you are right my friend. I eventually want to pick up a head that can switch voltages, but I can wait. I certainly have bigger fish to fry before I "need" a new rig (semi hollow fretted 6 and fretless 5....Brian and I are starting to talk about it).

I'm stickin with Bergs so I would love to try the Berg HT112ER with the AI. I hear the ER is less mid heavy than the one that I have.

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by emjazz

I hear the ER is less mid heavy than the one that I have.

There was something about the bullet tweeter in the HT and the overall voicing of that box that didn't like the AI amps (for electric, upright was better). I would be surprised if the HTER is a great match, as I don't think a little more low end would solve the weirdness of that combo.

New bass before new amp, always!!! (IMO) Basses are way more fun than amps.

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

New bass before new amp, always!!! (IMO) Basses are way more fun than amps.

....a god amongst men, and smart!

[B String]

Oh great. There's a party and nobody calls me? Just fine.
Anyway... I still have both an LMII and a Focus head.

I still think my Focus head, using a Sansamp Paradriver as a
preamp, going into the effects return is the best sounding
head I've owned in many years. It also makes it a good
doubling amp, putting the upright bass into the Focus preamp.
I used this set up with an Epi UL112/UL110 stack a few weeks
ago. Just sounded so good.

To be honest, the LMII head pales in comparison, but only if
I'm using the Paradriver as its preamp. Just using the Focus
or the LMII with the HT112 or the UL110, I'll take the LMII.
The punchy mids of the Focus works better with the rather
wide voiced UL112.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

There was something about the bullet tweeter in the HT and the overall voicing of that box that didn't like the AI amps (for electric, upright was better). I would be surprised if the HTER is a great match, as I don't think a little more low end would solve the weirdness of that combo.

New bass before new amp, always!!! (IMO) Basses are way more fun than amps.

I also didn't have much luck with the AI stuff and the Berg cabs (especially the older HT's like the 's' stack, the HT322, the HT210, etc.) Never heard the AI with the original HT112, but I would guess that the top end would be a bit lacking with that cab. The AI heads sound GREAT with the Epi UL's though!

Per the above post, hard to beat the Markbass F500 with the Berg HT112's though... tighter, punchier, louder than the LMII, full featured DI, and much more powerful EQ with the semi-parametric mids.

[NickyBass]

Andy, I understand and agree with your desire to support smaller companies. There are so many wonderful options available today, and some of the people in 'the industry' are wonderful to work with. I have always wished for more small shop SS amp builders, though.

I have an AI Coda that I use for upright. The EQ is 'limited,' but that is one thing that I like about it. The EA iAmps certainly have more flexibility, but I found the AI to be voiced nicely for my needs. Plus it has the high pass filter, which is great on upright.

I do own a Clarus I head that isn't seeing much use. I had a short time to compare it to an LMIII and the AI was more detailed and articulate. I'm not sure how it likes the Berg gear, but it sure loves my Epi.

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

Andy, I understand and agree with your desire to support smaller companies. There are so many wonderful options available today, and some of the people in 'the industry' are wonderful to work with. I have always wished for more small shop SS amp builders, though.

+1, owning an AI amp is like owning a Patagonia rainjacket. They will stand behind it 100% percent. If it goes down, you send the thing back and they will get it turned around within a week. I have needed service twice on my amps in about 10 years. Each time, they sent my amp back in the newest version of the AI case fo free. (and covered return shipping). When I think about that stuff, I remember why it is I use the things...(besides the sound/weight/power).

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

+1, owning an AI amp is like owning a Patagonia rainjacket. They will stand behind it 100% percent. If it goes down, you send the thing back and they will get it turned around within a week. I have needed service twice on my amps in about 10 years. Each time, they sent my amp back in the newest version of the AI case fo free. (and covered return shipping). When I think about that stuff, I remember why it is I use the things...(besides the sound/weight/power).

...and this is a BIG reason why I'd like to own one of their amps.

Hey B, you're always welcomed brother. I had remembered you've been playing an AI and was hoping you'd pop in....so you prefer the AI using a paradriver for the preamp eh? I keep thinking that the AI amp with an external eq wil help the amp mate better with my Berg cabs.

[B String]

Originally Posted by KJung

Per the above post, hard to beat the Markbass F500 with the Berg HT112's though... tighter, punchier, louder than the LMII, full featured DI, and much more powerful EQ with the semi-parametric mids.

Contrary to your experience, I found the LMII worked better
with the HT112 than the F1. (F500)
The HT112 is one of my faves, but definitely lacks a bit in the
low end. The LMII's broader, slightly deeper low end worked
better for me than the F1.
Actually, the best matchup with that box was the original
version of the GK MB2 500. With its very wide voicing it just
seemed right with the HT112. I'd almost buy one just for that
box.

[B String]

Originally Posted by emjazz

...and this is a BIG reason why I'd like to own one of their amps.

Hey B, you're always welcomed brother. I had remembered you've been playing an AI and was hoping you'd pop in....so you prefer the AI using a paradriver for the preamp eh? I keep thinking that the AI amp with an external eq wil help the amp mate better with my Berg cabs.

You got it Lawboy. I like the AI heads very much with the
Epifani boxes too. The Bergs need a little more highs and lows
than the AI heads have, unless your talking about the upright
bass, which is a whole other thing. Most guys I know love the
AI heads with the HT112 for upright.