Help: Another Markbass Question

[Jimmy Stump]

Hi folks, I had a couple of questions I need help with? Any help appreciated.

Considering purchasing a Markbass Little Mark II which I understand is discontiuned, or about to be. I can get it new for a good price.

I am also considering picking up the 102P 2 x 10" traveller cabinet to go along with it.

Unfortunately, I don't have the option of playing either first due to where I live. I have played the Markbass SA450 head with a 4 x 10 before and can say I loved the tones of the Markbass stuff.

1. Is there a significant difference between the Little Mark II and Little Mark III? If so, what?

2. For users familiar with the 102 P cabinet, is there enough low end and power handling in this thing for rehearsing with your typical pop / rock style band?

[KJung]

The only difference between the II and III is the DI. The III has a full featured DI with pre/post switch and level control. The II has a fixed line level DI, and you need to move an internal jumper to change in from the factory 'post EQ' setting to pre EQ.

I believe the III also has a combo 1/4"/XLR jack versus the XLR only jack of the II.

Regarding the 102p, IMO, probably OK for rehearsal at low volumes.. .not much else unless you put another one or another cab below it. It is a VERY small cab... not a lot of bottom. I've only checked it out at GC, but was more impressed with the size and weight versus the sound/volume. The LMII kills though!

[bassybill]

I often use my CMD102P combo (same as LMII plus 102P cab, I believe) without an extension cab for gigs with our 10 piece soul/funk band. It gets plenty loud enough! Ken's right in that the low end isn't going to shake the doors down (I use an extension cab when I want to do that), but it sounds tight and unmuddied all the way up to very high volumes. Even with the combo alone, I still get asked to turn down sometimes!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I often use my CMD102P combo (same as LMII plus 102P cab, I believe) without an extension cab for gigs with our 10 piece soul/funk band. It gets plenty loud enough! Ken's right in that the low end isn't going to shake the doors down (I use an extension cab when I want to do that), but it sounds tight and unmuddied all the way up to very high volumes. Even with the combo alone, I still get asked to turn down sometimes!

Hey Bill!

Just to clarify (I'm not as familiar with the cabs as I am with the heads), I was talking about the very small, rear porting 210, which I think is called the 102P. The 102P combo is killer, and that cab (with the large front port) is larger and fuller sounding, and is pretty killer. It seems that the '102P' cab associated with the combo is kind of 'in between' the full 210 stand alone (with the top and bottom front ports) and the very small, rear ported 102P Traveler! Whew!.... confusing.

Again, I was talking about that very small rear ported 210, not the 210 associated with the combo.

[shadow_FIX]

I have the Traveler 2x10 with a LMIII

The only differences, first off, between the LMII and LMIII is the pre/post EQ switch, and a line out level knob for the DI. I'm pretty sure everything else is the same.

As for the 210, I've never used it for a rock practice but it honestly will surprise you what this cab can do. You can get a pretty good low end out of it if you want it...I would say if you can, position it so you get some of the sound off the walls from the rear port. It should be loud enough for you...the LMII/III does 300W at 8ohms which is plenty for practice IMO.

[sirmike75]

dude its a good choice exp... if you get a good deal on it ....and you wont break your back gigging it...get a ext 1x15 with that set up and you are done my friend...

[Jimmy Stump]

KJung: yes, I was speaking about the rear port 2 x 10, as opposed to the front port. I wasn't aware there was that much of a tone difference between the front and rear porting options.

Instead of the 102P rear port, if low end is lacking, I could opt for the 151P, which is a rear ported Traveller series witha 15" speaker?

All of this is now making me ask, is there a significant tonal difference between front and rear port cabinets?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

KJung: yes, I was speaking about the rear port 2 x 10, as opposed to the front port. I wasn't aware there was that much of a tone difference between the front and rear porting options.

Instead of the 102P rear port, if low end is lacking, I could opt for the 151P, which is a rear ported Traveller series witha 15" speaker?

All of this is now making me ask, is there a significant tonal difference between front and rear port cabinets?

I was just using the porting location to describe the cabs. In general, port location doesn't matter. The reason the rear ported Markbass cabs sound different from the front ported ones is based on the size of the cabs. The rear ported cabs are smaller (which is why the ports are in the rear... no room in the front!). That is the primary driver of the difference in sound.. the smaller internal volume.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by KJung

Hey Bill!

Just to clarify (I'm not as familiar with the cabs as I am with the heads), I was talking about the very small, rear porting 210, which I think is called the 102P. The 102P combo is killer, and that cab (with the large front port) is larger and fuller sounding, and is pretty killer. It seems that the '102P' cab associated with the combo is kind of 'in between' the full 210 stand alone (with the top and bottom front ports) and the very small, rear ported 102P Traveler! Whew!.... confusing.

Again, I was talking about that very small rear ported 210, not the 210 associated with the combo.

Got ya! I just learned something.

I confess to not really checking out the cab as I've got the combo (had it 4 years now).

[bassybill]

Jimmy Stump - don't buy either the 102p or 151p without really checking them out 1st as they are very different. I use the 102p (combo version) and the 151p cab together and the resultant minirig is perfect for my bigger gigs. But if you liked either one of those cabs on its own, then you may not like the other, as they sound very different, just as you'd expect.

In fact, looking at the MB site, what Ken says seems to be dead right. The enclosure for the 102p combo looks somewhere intermediate between the 102p cab and the larger 102HF. Therefore, the comments I made about the combo wouldn't be valid for the smaller cab.

Have you thought about trying the combo? Highly recommended here, on its own for smaller gigs and with the 151p for larger ones. The volume and tone of the two combined just totally blows away some bigger (and waaaaay heavier) stuff that I've lugged around in the past. It's pretty much killed my GAS for anything else.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by KJung

I was just using the porting location to describe the cabs. In general, port location doesn't matter. The reason the rear ported Markbass cabs sound different from the front ported ones is based on the size of the cabs. The rear ported cabs are smaller (which is why the ports are in the rear... no room in the front!). That is the primary driver of the difference in sound.. the smaller internal volume.

Correct, I would guess. I'd expect cab volume to make a much bigger difference to overall performance than port position.

[madmic]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I often use my CMD102P combo (same as LMII plus 102P cab, I believe) without an extension cab for gigs with our 10 piece soul/funk band. It gets plenty loud enough! Ken's right in that the low end isn't going to shake the doors down (I use an extension cab when I want to do that), but it sounds tight and unmuddied all the way up to very high volumes. Even with the combo alone, I still get asked to turn down sometimes!

+1
Got the same combo, and used it the last 2 years on a weekly basis as backline for gigs with crowds of 100-300, and it never failed on me. It's loud, plenty of low end, and great mid range and high ends. It won't shake the room, but , when you play with a PA, that should not be an issue . Like bassybill I also have a 15" extension cab, but never had to use it. If you don't play over a PA, you might need the 15".

And you won't break your back, you can lift it with one hand.

So IMHO go for it!

Cheers,
Michel

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by madmic

+1
Got the same combo, and used it the last 2 years on a weekly basis as backline for gigs with crowds of 100-300, and it never failed on me. It's loud, plenty of low end, and great mid range and high ends. It won't shake the room, but , when you play with a PA, that should not be an issue . Like bassybill I also have a 15" extension cab, but never had to use it. If you don't play over a PA, you might need the 15".

And you won't break your back, you can lift it with one hand.

So IMHO go for it!

Cheers,
Michel

Yes, true. Most of the time, the combo alone is fine for smaller gigs, or for gigs where I go through the desk and FOH system (the majority).

The only time I really need my combo and the 151 extension when I'm also going through the PA is when I'm out with our 21 piece soul/funk/fusion big band, where the stage volume gets SERIOUSLY loud - you'd have to really hear it to believe it.

I guess that's not surprising really. I'm playing with 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxes, 2 guitarists, 2 keyboard players, a girl vocalist, a percussionist and a drummer, and every one of them is completely barking mad. It's no wonder I need to turn up!

I have used the combo on its own before on those gigs and it does cope, but it's a lot more effortless being heard above all those noisy ******** with the extra headroom of the bigger rig!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b82B5w4CMJo

[old-fashioned]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

I am also considering picking up the 102P 2 x 10" traveller cabinet to go along with it.

Why not the Standard 102HF cab? It's a better cab for sure. Yes it's bigger and heavier but it still can be carried easily with one hand. Also their prices are not that different AFAIK.