Little Mark III question

raindog · #1 01-22-2011, 09:36 PM

i'm thinking of buying the little mark bass III head-amp.

does the lmb III has enough power for small gigs ? (little bars' pubs, etc')??
what cab do i need with it? how much watts power cab?

is ths lbm III is that good (i've red many good reviews on it here on TB forums) ?

thanks ahead

Joe.shaffer · #2 01-22-2011, 09:46 PM

Yes, it has plenty of power. I use a LMIII and a 2x10 for small gigs.

raindog · #3 01-22-2011, 10:24 PM

would this cab be enough with LMIII for small gigs?

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....net?sku=600561

GrowlerBox · #4 01-22-2011, 10:36 PM

Small gigs. It's a 4 ohm cabinet, though, so be careful with your volume knob or it'll be a Peavey melt in there. I would be inclined to get an 8 ohm cabinet so you can get another later on for larger venues.

raindog · #5 01-22-2011, 10:38 PM

thanks

what about this one :

http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/det...tion=mag&ID=23

SactoBass · #6 01-22-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raindog

i'm thinking of buying the little mark bass III head-amp.

does the lmb III has enough power for small gigs ? (little bars' pubs, etc')??
what cab do i need with it? how much watts power cab?

is ths lbm III is that good (i've red many good reviews on it here on TB forums) ?

thanks ahead

Raindog,

I recently bought a new Markbass Jeff Berlin combo with a matching NY151 extension cab. The Berlin combo comes with a LMIII head built in with a single 15" B&C speaker. I can tell you that just the combo without the extension cab is PLENTY for little bars and pubs. That's 300 watts at 8 ohms. Add the extension cab (15" speaker) and it's now 500 watts at 4 ohms into a pair of 15" speakers.....plenty for medium sized gigs.

That LMIII head is simply amazing. Great tone too!

dminer · #7 01-22-2011, 11:43 PM

My LMIII is plenty loud for any of the gigs that I've done...from small clubs and rib joints to outdoor festival stages with house support. I use a single 210 most of the time but sometimes, I stack 2 of em...I use an avatar neo 210 and stack my older, smaller hartke 210 on top when I want more UMPHH!! I also use the vt pedal for that old school svt sound...love it and it's a breeze to carry and set up....link to avatar below...do a search here and you'll find lots of praise for avatar...great bang for your buck, and, they show up on cl pretty often around here.
http://www.avatarspeakers.com/B210%20NEO.htm

SactoBass · #8 01-22-2011, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dminer

I also use the vt pedal for that old school svt sound.

Hmmm.......I have a VT Deluxe pedal that I use with another rig, but I have never hooked up my VT to my Markbass rig. I guess I should try it!

mglabrie · #9 01-23-2011, 01:19 AM

I bought the Jeff Berlin combo solely to use as a practice amp about a year ago... Surprisingly it has quickly replaced my SWR750x; 1x15; and 2x10 set up that I never thought I could live without, as the only thing I use for small to pretty large sized clubs. After a couple of gigs I quit using the 2 x10 as an extension cab as well. There's just no need at bar volume. I don't play on many really huge stages or outdoors more than a couple of times a year so I actually have my old rig in storage for now. This amp is huge sounding and has such a killer sound I've decided to hold off on the Bart 2x12 and GB Shuttle purchase I had been contemplating.

I've also tried to use the SVT pedal with it to get a more traditional sound... I'm sure it is just me since I'm not too good with pedals, but I just couldn't make it sound right. The pedal either seems too noisy or sucks the heart out of my sound. I've had much better luck working with the controls on the head and on my bass.

I highly recommend this amp or combo.... In looking back at my calendar it seems that I used it on about 21 of the 25 gigs I played last year and was never disappointed... ( well maybe I was a little disappointed in my playing or maybe a bit disappointed in the gig, the pay, my date, or even in the drummer.... But NEVER with my choice to use this amp)

The only adjustment for me has been having the amp sitting down so low. I've been using stacks for 25 years or more and have become quite used to having controls and rack tuners closer to eye level. It's real different trying to work with your tone when it is passing below your knees instead of blowing at your back. Thinking about trying a stand of some sort to get a little upward angle. If any one reading this knows of a strong one which will support the combo please let me know.

Good luck!

SactoBass · #10 01-23-2011, 01:26 AM

mglabrie,

You might give some thought to a NY151 extension cab. It matches perfectly with the Berlin combo, and setting the combo on top of the ext cab would elevate the Berlin, plus give you 500 watts into a pair of 15's. That's the rig I have, and it is awesome! Here's a pic:

mglabrie · #11 01-23-2011, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

mglabrie,

You might give some thought to a NY151 extension cab. It matches perfectly with the Berlin combo, and setting the combo on top of the ext cab would elevate the Berlin, plus give you 500 watts into a pair of 15's. That's the rig I have, and it is awesome! Here's a pic:

I'll check that out. Hadn't thought of it since I've been enjoying traveling lite lately, but this Markbass stuff is so light and ergonomically correct that it wouldn't be much to add.. And your set up looks great and I'm sure you can hear yourself well... Thanks for the suggestion.

By the way, Grew up in Sacto, played in a new wave band that played the club scene there pretty heavily in the 80s... I still smile every time I think about that scene.........

GrowlerBox · #12 01-23-2011, 01:48 AM

To the OP -- I don't know the Ashdown cabinet, but I know that Ashdown in general is well liked in my neck of the woods if you're not into the hi-fi end of things. On the face of it though, it looks like it'd do the job. A tip though -- 2x10s sound infinitely better up on their ends (i.e. one speaker above the other rather than side-by-side) to improve mid and upper frequency dispersion; it may be a trick of the photograph, but the Ashdown didn't look quite square in the link you provided. If you got another 2x10, you'd also want to stack it upright on top, for the same reason, so that may factor into your choice. In any case, happy hunting!

To some of the other posters, the Markstand provides a good tiltback angle and is a lot more solid than it looks. I use one on a Duratex-coated cabinet, and it works fine, even with no grip for the velcro. Would work a treat on the Berlin combo, I think, and considerably cheaper than the extension cabinet!

raindog · #13 01-23-2011, 11:05 AM

thank u all

i do have another question...and it may sound "idiotic" to you...but i lack this basic information.
what's the different between the 2*10 cabs and the 2*15 ?what does the 10 or 15 refer to?
how can i know which cab suits the LMB III? what are the basic parameters ?
and another one - what do u prefer- a combo amp or cab+head? and what are the differences ?

thanks again

BurningSkies · #14 01-23-2011, 11:14 AM

Here's a picture of my LM sitting on top of my 2x15 setup.

Oh wait, you can't see it because it's so small and hidden by those big cabs...

Yes, the 500w it provides are more than enough for small gigs. I've used mine for outdoor shows, big gymnasiums, and other similar settings.

The 10, 12, and 15 you keep hearing people refer to are speaker diameters, in inches.

learning_towalk · #15 01-23-2011, 11:25 AM

I've used my LMIII for everything from festival shows to coffee shops, indoor venues, and outdoor venues, jam sessions to studio sessions...I love this amp! I have had guys with SVT's tell me that they were jealous that my LMIII + Sansamp VT sounded so close to their rigs (and at only six pounds)!

dminer · #16 01-23-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raindog

thank u all

what's the different between the 2*10 cabs and the 2*15 ?what does the 10 or 15 refer to?

the 10 or 15 designation refers to the size of the speakers...measured across the front of the speaker...and of course, the 2 means that there are 2 speakers...ie two 10" speakers or two 15" speakers in the cabinet

raindog · #17 01-23-2011, 07:24 PM

but how do i know which cab to buy? i mean how many watts this cab should have? it doesn't have to be maximum power cab' but i don't want the LMB III will be to powerful for the cab.

BurningSkies · #18 01-23-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raindog

but how do i know which cab to buy? i mean how many watts this cab should have? it doesn't have to be maximum power cab' but i don't want the LMB III will be to powerful for the cab.

With a LMIII if you get 2 8ohm cabs, you're good for ~250w per cab. Its hard to find a cab that's less that that these days. Concentrate on finding some cabs that sound the way you like, and you'll be in good shape. Better yet, get two of the SAME cab for better matching.

SactoBass · #19 01-23-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

With a LMIII if you get 2 8ohm cabs, you're good for ~250w per cab. Its hard to find a cab that's less that that these days. Concentrate on finding some cabs that sound the way you like, and you'll be in good shape. Better yet, get two of the SAME cab for better matching.

+1 on the two 8-ohm cab idea.

raindog · #20 01-23-2011, 07:38 PM

and if i buy only one 250w cab for the time?
let's say...one of those :
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/det...tion=mag&ID=23