Little Mark III with Markbass Standard 102HF

BobertG · #1 02-14-2011, 12:41 AM

New to TalkBass, so please be gentle...

I have been hearing great things about MarkBass, and am very excited about the way some of their gear sounds with my P-Bass.

I was planning on picking up a Little Mark III to push a Standard 102HF. Will the Little Mark be enough for this cab? Will the amp (300W RMS @ 8 ohm, 500W RMS @ 4 ohm) have trouble pushing the 8 ohm version of the cab? Should I go for the 4 ohm version?

**bassybill** · #2 02-14-2011, 01:01 AM

Depends how loud you need to go - try it if you can.

If the cab is available in 8 ohm or 4 ohm versions (not sure about this), then I'd go for the 8 ohm version even though that means marginally less power for now, as it gives you the option of adding another cab later. And if you want to go really loud, you'll probably decide to do this at some point.

The amp will definitely drive the 8 ohm cab okay as that setup is pretty much the same as the 102P combo, which I own and love dearly. In fact, if you're sure about the amp and cab rig sounding good for you, I'd definitely consider the combo as the tilt back feature and easier carry/set up swung the decision for me. I guess it would be a little cheaper than the separates option, too. The downside is obviously less flexibility of choice. You pays your money...

Welcome to the forum!

GrowlerBox · #3 02-14-2011, 01:04 AM

It will sound great, and getting the 8 Ohm means you can add another later if you need to. There is nothing to be gained from using a single 4 Ohm cab with this head -- less than a 3dB difference open all the way (which you couldn't do without blowing it anyhow).

**Freddels** · #4 02-14-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobertG

New to TalkBass, so please be gentle...

I have been hearing great things about MarkBass, and am very excited about the way some of their gear sounds with my P-Bass.

I was planning on picking up a Little Mark III to push a Standard 102HF. Will the Little Mark be enough for this cab? Will the amp (300W RMS @ 8 ohm, 500W RMS @ 4 ohm) have trouble pushing the 8 ohm version of the cab? Should I go for the 4 ohm version?

That's basically the CMD102P combo (but you'll have an extra port). It should sound very good and it'll get loud. Get the 8 ohm so that you can add another cab later.

chadhargis · #5 02-14-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

That's basically the CMD102P combo (but you'll have an extra port). It should sound very good and it'll get loud. Get the 8 ohm so that you can add another cab later.

Humm...my 102p combo has four slot ports at the bottom, but my 102HF has two big ones.

The 102HF is larger than the 102P combo (even when measuring the space occupied by the amp).

I think you'd have a killer light weight rig with a 102HF and a LMIII. Add another 102HF or a 104HF and you'd knock down walls.

Zapp · #6 02-14-2011, 08:59 AM

not to divert, but I'm wondering if their little 12" single combo has any advantage over the 102 combo?

MattyH · #7 02-14-2011, 09:03 AM

I had this exact rig. I bought it to have something easy small and light to carry around to weddings. But, like an idiot, I got the 8ohm

, and wasn't planning on adding another cab. So the output was no where near what I needed. It would distort, or just get lost in the poor acoustics of the venues. I'd imagine the 4ohm would sound crystal clear, but unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to hear it.

BobertG · #8 02-14-2011, 10:39 AM

Thank you all for your responses. I will someday add another cab, but not any time soon. I usually play with nice PA support and monitors, but will I really regret getting an 8 ohm cab if I am not getting a second for quite a while? I haven't been asked to turn up in a long time...

BobertG · #9 02-14-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadhargis

Humm...my 102p combo has four slot ports at the bottom, but my 102HF has two big ones.

The 102HF is larger than the 102P combo (even when measuring the space occupied by the amp).

I think you'd have a killer light weight rig with a 102HF and a LMIII. Add another 102HF or a 104HF and you'd knock down walls.

Have to ask, which MarkBass petal is that? Is it the Comprssore?

**Freddels** · #10 02-14-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadhargis

Humm...my 102p combo has four slot ports at the bottom, but my 102HF has two big ones.

The 102HF is larger than the 102P combo (even when measuring the space occupied by the amp).

I think you'd have a killer light weight rig with a 102HF and a LMIII. Add another 102HF or a 104HF and you'd knock down walls.

I was thinking the 102HF had two ports (top and bottom) like my 104HF. Still, the 102P (non combo) doesn't have the front port and the box is smaller (less internal volume).

GrowlerBox · #11 02-14-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobertG

Thank you all for your responses. I will someday add another cab, but not any time soon. I usually play with nice PA support and monitors, but will I really regret getting an 8 ohm cab if I am not getting a second for quite a while? I haven't been asked to turn up in a long time...

As I alluded to above, the audible difference between the maximal volume output at 300W and 500W is under 3 dB, which in any sort of gig/rehearsal situations you would need to be concentrating pretty hard to distinguish. This is assuming that you could push a 4 Ohm version (assuming it exists, which I don't) with the full 500W of that head without it distorting badly. There is NO advantage in your situation to the 4 Ohm cabinet, and the 8 Ohm has the single (and significant) advantage of allowing you to run a second cabinet, should you need to. This will be the only way to meaningfully increase your volume output with this or any other head.

**bassybill** · #12 02-14-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapp

not to divert, but I'm wondering if their little 12" single combo has any advantage over the 102 combo?

It's smaller and lighter. That's about it, really.

**bassybill** · #13 02-14-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

As I alluded to above, the audible difference between the maximal volume output at 300W and 500W is under 3 dB, which in any sort of gig/rehearsal situations you would need to be concentrating pretty hard to distinguish. This is assuming that you could push a 4 Ohm version (assuming it exists, which I don't) with the full 500W of that head without it distorting badly. There is NO advantage in your situation to the 4 Ohm cabinet, and the 8 Ohm has the single (and significant) advantage of allowing you to run a second cabinet, should you need to. This will be the only way to meaningfully increase your volume output with this or any other head.

Correct.

chadhargis · #14 02-14-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobertG

Have to ask, which MarkBass petal is that? Is it the Comprssore?

Yes. It's not hooked up at the moment.

It's a really nice compressor. Very transparent when you want it to be, but you can crank it up and have it squash the hell out of your sound. It's dead quiet too. Not a hint of hiss.

I know some people scoff at Markbass gear becuase of their ties to GC, but I have played through just about everything out there and love the Markbass stuff.

I have no need for it, but I'd LOVE to have the super synth pedal. Would be fun to play with.

DiegoRR · #15 03-21-2011, 07:47 PM

Wow, I came across that pic of this rig and I had to ask you about it! I've been seriously considering to buy this exact rig. What are some of the good / bad things about it that I can't read about fro research?? ... also, I noticed you stacked them vertically, you never had any issues with doing that?
Looks great though!