Head Comparisons

bassbrutha · #1 06-29-2011, 12:25 PM

Looking for a new head...need your votes, preferrably based on "Head to Head" comparisons...THANKS!!

Markbass Little Mark II
Markbass Little Mark III
Markbass Little Mark Tube
Hartke LH500
Carvin BX500
Ampeg PF500
GK 700RB-II
Genz Benz Shuttle 6

yamaha · #2 06-29-2011, 12:45 PM

LM2 + LM3 = exact same, lm3 more features. Love mine
LMT = Great sound no tube mix, but not crazy about the preamp tube tone. Sounds better on an agressive bass (mellows it a bit), but on a jazz bass, better with lm2-3
GK : Great modern tone, in our face clean & defined, but I prefer the 800rb.
Shuttle. Sounds good, and very versatile, but a bit harsh. Misses the mellowness of markbass.

I tried or owned many many amps & cabs over the years

Ultimate rig : Ampeg SVPCL preamp into Crest CA6 and 2 x Bergantino HS410. I am pretty certain I will never have as amazing a rig as this one, but I sold it all, because my markbass combos, or LM2, does a great job, 95% satisfied with the tone, sound engeneers love the feed from the Markbass DI out, and 5x less weight and equipement. At this point, very good is good enough for me.

Russell L · #3 06-29-2011, 01:24 PM

I haven't played all the amps listed, but I have played my Little Mark II in my 121H combo for three years now, and love it. The tone is more modern than I've been used to over the years, but I have found it to be slpendid in a mix. Also, the controls on any Little Mark are very simple and useful, including the VLE and VPF filters. But, actually, I mostly play with everything set flat, except for a little roll-off of high mids to account for my fingernails clacking. I voted for the Little Mark III due to the extra features it adds to this great amp line.

StuartV · #4 06-29-2011, 01:35 PM

I think the Ibanez Promethean would stand up to just about anything listed...

Colonel129 · #5 06-29-2011, 01:42 PM

If the MarkBass F1 isn't up there (which I own as my gig bag back up)... I personally would want to TRY the Ampeg PF500, but I KNOW the LM2/3 will sound amazing.

hyp.spec · #6 06-29-2011, 04:07 PM

I've owned both the LMIII and the GK 700rb-II and I much, much prefer the 700.

The GK has more grunt to it, and has a much better low-mid presence.

The LM3 could get a nice fat warm bottom, but for my needs I require that low-mid grunt.

noahw1 · #7 06-29-2011, 04:57 PM

The Shuttle 6 is a great amp. I've heard people (in this post even) call it harsh but I would never describe it that way. I found it to be warmer than my SWR SM400 which I was using a VT pedal with to help warm the tone but found no need for it with the Shuttle. The Shuttle is super light, built well and has a lot of great features - headphone out, aux in, tuner out, and mute button.

bassbrutha · #8 06-29-2011, 06:52 PM

For those of you that have voted GK (the winner as of now), I had a GK Backline 600. It sounded kinda boomy and not very well defined. Is the 700RB a totally different animal as far as tone?

Stick_Player · #9 06-29-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrutha

For those of you that have voted GK (the winner as of now), I had a GK Backline 600. It sounded kinda boomy and not very well defined. Is the 700RB a totally different animal as far as tone?

I don't know anything about the Backline 600, but I have been very satisfied with my 700RB - it's plenty of amp.

Your issue sounds more like a problem with the speaker or the room you are playing it in.

bassbrutha · #10 06-29-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

I don't know anything about the Backline 600, but I have been very satisfied with my 700RB - it's plenty of amp.

Your issue sounds more like a problem with the speaker or the room you are playing it in.

My backline always had plenty of volume (and more!)...i'm more concerned about the tone (as I said it was kinda boomy).

It occurred to me after I started this poll that the tube may be going out in my WT300, but I am warming up to the idea of a lighter amp such as most of those I listed anyway.

bassguppy · #11 06-29-2011, 09:11 PM

And what kind of tone are you looking for? What cabs do you have or will be buying?

You can buy my Eden WT550 in the classifieds, it would shame any of the amps listed.

BassDudeSA · #12 06-29-2011, 10:40 PM

The Carvin BX500 just simply rocks! The only other head listed that I have is the GB Shuttle 6.0 and it doesn't even compare, though is several hundred more $$. I think Carvin heads are highly underrated. They are reliable and are your best bang for the buck, at least based on my years of experience.

CLMSHQ · #13 06-30-2011, 03:43 AM

I have a LMIII and some gigs I like it other gigs I can't get the sound...room, stage, ect. Don't get me wrong it is built like a tank, but lacks color(eq) flavor.

May pull the trigger on the Ampeg PF500 soon. You can dial in the sound easier. Just my opinion.

KrisWarrington · #14 06-30-2011, 03:45 AM

I think the Kustom 1200HD should be on that list.

Envincibal · #15 06-30-2011, 05:49 AM

You can't go wrong with the Carvin BX500 - I have two of these, and prefer the Carvin over my Genz SM 12.0 (though I found the tube pretty useless as far as tonal coloration [in the Carvin], and keep it disengaged).

The Thinker · #16 06-30-2011, 05:59 AM

I've owned a LMII, GK700RB-II and LH500. I owned the LH500 at the same time as the others and A/B'd it against them through the same cabs. Still have the LH500. Here are my thoughts:

I found the LMII to have good, although not distinctive tone and very good articulation. However, IMO the sound lacked "weight" for lack of a better term. Excellent amp, but I wanted more oomph. Sold it. Of the three, my least fave.

The GK: I've owned two of these. Tons of volume, nice cut and you can get deep bottom. All around great head, and if you like "that" sound it is KILLER. Can be pretty clean or clanky/growly, can get big and deep but does not excel at a fat, cushiony sound IMO. I have a 400RB now, and an MB500, but still miss the 700 sometimes and I may go back for a third time...

LH500: in a word, awesome. Very loud, good variety of tone, but what I like best is that it is VERY full sounding without being muddy (unless EQ it that way). The EQ takes some fiddling to get right as it is very different than most amps (plenty of threads about it on TB). For a while I was all about Euphonic Audio, but I played them side by side for a week and ended up selling the EA. The LH500 is now my main gigging amp.

fish slapper · #17 06-30-2011, 07:56 AM

I voted for the LMT just because that's the one I want to try next. I'm a happy F-1 owner but sometimes want something a little more "gritty."

tedsalt · #18 06-30-2011, 08:10 AM

Markbass F500 thru Epifani cabs. Or the LMII or LMIII thru Epifani would also be excellent. I think the cab choice makes a difference. But I love my F500 thru my Epifani cabs!

ToneFreak11 · #19 06-30-2011, 03:00 PM

The 700RB is just a great amp. It has lots of features, a good amount of power and GK's Horn Bi-Amp System that lets control both the tweeter and the woofer seperately.

nubs · #20 06-30-2011, 07:59 PM

another arbitrary poll, an amp a bass 12's vs 10's, 8's vs 15's its all subjectional to so many factors its what you like, maybe it depends on how you haul your gear to your shows, i been on talk bass long enough and wasted enough coinage because i thought i was gonna like what someone else swore by. FORGET IT!! its what you like or can afford. its how you want your tone to be, if you'd rather play a squire than a rickenbacker big deal, if you choose SWR over Orange and your happy PERFECT,....
now lets get down to whats really important...Coke or Pepsi? Nike or Adidas...Chevy or Ford......