I need some opinions about Markbass PLEASE!

Maiden Bass · #1 12-10-2010, 04:36 PM

Ok, so I am gonna order a new bass head and would like some opinions about Markbass. I play finger style rock and like a growly (tube), punchy (solid state) tone (and do NOT like the sound of tweeters).

I'm currently playing a single H pickup Sterling bass and have an Avatar B212 cab (custom wired with Eminence Delta Pro-12A speakers and NO tweeter).

I was thinking about trying the new Carvin B2000, however for about the same price I could get a Markbass, but I have only heard them on Youtube and have absolutely no experience with them.

The heads that I am considering are:
Little Mark III
Little Mark Tube
Little Mark Rocker 500
R500

If you have experience with these (or others) then please give me your pick for my style!

Thanks!!!

scott0606 · #2 12-10-2010, 04:57 PM

No extensive experience with the tube LM's, but Ive used a LMIII for about a year now and love it. In my experience, it took me a while to actually dial in the tone that I wanted out of the amp, but I feel you can achieve some 'growl' out of it once you mess around with it a bit, especially with that hot H p/u in your bass

TheNightLife · #3 12-10-2010, 06:08 PM

i own a lm3 and would love to pick up the rocker 500. i think the lm3 is too clean sounding. the rocker 500 lets you add grit to the clean signal. it sounds awesome.

genstormbringer · #4 12-10-2010, 06:14 PM

Get the LM Tube 800 go to GC and check one out.

Grizzly700 · #5 12-10-2010, 06:51 PM

I have used my Little Mark 3 in several extremely different situations, and I haven't been let down yet. Some situations have been an extremely loud metal band, playing with my high school's indoor percussion ensemble (a full drumline and various percussion instruments like marimbas etc) and more recently a folk group. They are very versatile heads.

Cycho · #6 12-10-2010, 07:43 PM

I tried a Tube 800 this afternoon and didn't like it much. I thought it had a kind of "spongy" sound through either channel. I wound up getting a LMIII which I like so far.

dubstylee · #7 12-10-2010, 07:49 PM

I'm a tube kind of guy and I think the LMIII sounds fantastic! (I own one, the only SS amp I own). I think you'd be happy with it, however it doesn't sound like a tube amp, but it is a very warm sounding amp, just a clean warm tone.

THORRR · #8 12-10-2010, 08:00 PM

Littlemark III - 800w

I push two Avatar B410 Neos with it and have tons of headroom to spare. Combined with my Fender Active Deluxe Jazz bass I can dial in any sound I can think of.

It takes spending time with your rig and experimenting a lot.
I can growl, thump, P-Bass it, slap, funk, pump, drive, cause brain hemmorrages, punch people in the chest without touching them, make girls tails wag, and cause sound men to go insane when they hear all that coming through that little black & yellow head and ask "What IS THAT thing you're playing through??? It's a MONSTER!!!!"

The whole key is to experiment with what each knob does to your tone, then coming up with your own combinations. I actually write down my favorites until I can memorize them that way my research isn't lost. It's paid off in spades.

There's a tube version, but I chose the digital - just a personal preference is all. Best amp I ever owned. I highly recommend it. And it's so portable, it's ridiculous. 6lbs and it looks like a car radio! I pack it in a laptop case with all my cables and you'd never guess there was an 800 watt monster amp in there.

Get one and get ready to turn heads!

Good luck and happy shopping.

JonPol · #9 12-10-2010, 08:09 PM

If you like any breakup in your sound I'd go with the r500 or lmrock. I had an r500 and wasn't a big fan of how quickly it turned into full on distortion on the gain knob and the centers for each of the EQ knobs being different from all of the other markbass heads and lack of the filters, did give it that all-tube vibe though. The rocker would probably be much more up your alley with a lot more useable tones since it is a little mark iii with the tube driving feature of the r500.

Maiden Bass · #10 12-10-2010, 08:20 PM

Wow, thanks everyone!!!

Lots of great info, but so many choices with Markbass!!!

Maiden Bass · #11 12-10-2010, 08:24 PM

I read that the 800 watt heads are all class "D" power, and the 500 watt heads are all class "A/B" power.

Does anyone know for sure if this is true???

Thanks!

**JxBass** · #12 12-10-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiden Bass

I read that the 800 watt heads are all class "D" power, and the 500 watt heads are all class "A/B" power.

Does anyone know for sure if this is true???

Thanks!

Correct. I would go with the LMIII for a warmer sound and the F500 for a bit clearer and punchy sound. Those are two of the most prominent of the Markbass amps used by TBers. The Rocker and LMtube are variations of the LMIII. All of the above are 500w @ 4 ohms and 300w @ 8 ohms.

dubstylee · #13 12-10-2010, 09:10 PM

I believe the LMIII sounds so warm and organic b/c it's class A/B. The class D is quite a bit "quicker" sounding to my ears, needless to say a lot of them sound fantastic as well, it really depends on what you're going for.

kosmicwizard · #14 12-10-2010, 09:23 PM

adding a VT bass pedal in front of the clean/quick amp head may allow you to have the widest selection of tones. I play a G-K 1001RBII with a vt pedal and I almost get as many good tones as I did with my Ampeg B4r but in a lighter package. I just figured I would pipe up and give you another option. Whatever you chose to do, I wish you all the best. Cheers.

Maiden Bass · #15 12-11-2010, 10:30 AM

I'm leaning toward this one -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iqwo828es

KJung · #16 12-11-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiden Bass

I read that the 800 watt heads are all class "D" power, and the 500 watt heads are all class "A/B" power.

Does anyone know for sure if this is true???

Thanks!

Kind of. The 800 watt models are all class D and have their own tone. Most of the 500 watt models (including the LMIII and LMRocker) are class A/B. The only exceptions are the F1 and F500 (and the Momark 600 watt chassis) which are all class D, and sound quite a bit different from the 800 watt models AND the 500 watt class D models.

That LM Rocker seems the ticket for you... clean and fat like the LMIII with the tube drive off, and grindy as heck (from the clip you posted) with the tube drive cranked up.

IntrepidCellist · #17 12-11-2010, 10:56 AM

Quite a bit of that mid focus and soft top end is from that 121 cab. I love the sound of that cab, but it's very "voiced" and really compliments the tube drive well by attenuating the frequencies that can be harsh in the top end.

Maiden Bass · #18 12-11-2010, 04:34 PM

Well I found a big problem with the Little Mark Rocker. The tube used is a 6205 mini tube, and it is soldered directly to the circuit board!!!

That eliminates this head from consideration. However, I was told that the R500 has a regular 12AX7 type tube, so I am now most interested in this head.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ead?sku=481747

Maiden Bass · #19 12-11-2010, 04:49 PM

Or maybe even this one!!!
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ead?sku=483802

BassmanPaul · #20 12-11-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiden Bass

Well I found a big problem with the Little Mark Rocker. The tube used is a 6205 mini tube, and it is soldered directly to the circuit board!!!

That eliminates this head from consideration.

Why??? These mini tube were made to be ultra reliable for service in very rough environments. It'll probably outlast you.