LM II or III vs LM Tube

jzucker · #1 02-18-2011, 05:55 PM

If I have the LM Tube dialed in for 100% ss preamp, is it the same basic amp? Any tonality differences?

silky smoove · #2 02-18-2011, 05:58 PM

Assuming we're talking about the 500 watt, class AB LMTube, and not the 800 watt class D LMTube800, then yes, tonally it will be very close, if not identical. I owned an LMTube for a while and there's virtually no difference outside of a gain inrease when running on the tube side. Basically both sides will sound like an LMII/III, but the LMTube offers some additional features that the LMII/III don't have. If those features are impotant to you, I'd suggest the LMTube. If they are not important, I would save a few bucks and just get the LMII/III. Great little amps all around.

jzucker · #3 02-18-2011, 06:01 PM

no, i'm talking about the non tube LM II or LMIII vs the LM Tube 500w set to SS preamp

KJung · #4 02-18-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

no, i'm talking about the non tube LM II or LMIII vs the LM Tube 500w set to SS preamp

That is the question Silky was answering. He was just making sure you weren't talking about the LMT800, which is quite different sounding.

The tube channel in the LMTube doesn't really sound that different from the SS channel, and the SS channel sounds very close to the LMII (the gain is a bit lower, probably due to the gain summing you get when the blend is set at 50/50).

The LMIII is a nice upgrade from the LMII. Sounds identical, but adds a much more fully featured DI. The LMTube adds a volume control on the second combo jack/XLR input, phantom power, and a somewhat poorly executed push/pull mute on the master.

It would be the LMIII for me among those three.

jzucker · #5 02-18-2011, 06:07 PM

thanks guys

Tunaman · #6 02-18-2011, 07:06 PM

Lots of GCs have LM III for 499 on their list sale this weekend OR get a GK MB500 for $425 with the coupon.
Tempting either way

jzucker · #7 02-18-2011, 07:08 PM

i tried a gk mb200 and hated it. Way too much bass and the preamp can't dial it out.

Where is the LMIII on sale for $499 ? I was just at GC today and it was $699

Tunaman · #8 02-18-2011, 07:22 PM

http://gc.guitarcenter.com/locations...ARS_ONLINE.pdf

Its on the list near me... otherwise click on the link on this page

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Promos/C....aspx?pid=2626

Find your town

jzucker · #9 02-18-2011, 07:34 PM

thanks!

Tunaman · #10 02-18-2011, 07:45 PM

So what do you think? Going to pull the trigger?

jzucker · #11 02-18-2011, 07:49 PM

i think so. I tried a LM Tube today at GC and really liked it but I liked the SS channel as much as the tube and figured if they're the same other than the tube I'd save a few bucks...

Tunaman · #12 02-18-2011, 07:53 PM

A TC electroncs RH450 just popped up used in my area so I have some decisions to make
TC, GK or LM!
Good luck, post what you do & your thoughts for sure
Thanks
Mike

jzucker · #13 02-18-2011, 07:58 PM

the gk amps sound too colored and nasally for my tastes. My favorite amp was the EA iAmp 800. I thought it sounded fabulous but was a little on the hissy side and of course heavy.

KJung · #14 02-19-2011, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

the gk amps sound too colored and nasally for my tastes. My favorite amp was the EA iAmp 800. I thought it sounded fabulous but was a little on the hissy side and of course heavy.

I too very much like the LMIII, and am not a big fan of the 'overgoosed' highs and lows of the GK MB line of amps.

You might consider the new EA IampPro. It is the updated SMPS version of the iAmp800, and my understanding is they fixed the noise issue (drove me crazy also on the 800), and tightened that deep low end a bit (and reduced the weight). Nice head.

The other micro I'm quite impressed with at this point is the new Genz Benz Streamliner 900. VERY different from their Shuttle amps... fat, wide, warm, and it can stay very clean. It is in the tone family of the warm LMII/LMIII, but with more power and that three tube preamp, it has that fatness and a bit of the feel of a big tube amp run very clean.

Hard to go wrong with the LMIII though!

Tunaman · #15 02-19-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I too very much like the LMIII, and am not a big fan of the 'overgoosed' highs and lows of the GK MB line of amps.

You might consider the new EA IampPro. It is the updated SMPS version of the iAmp800, and my understanding is they fixed the noise issue (drove me crazy also on the 800), and tightened that deep low end a bit (and reduced the weight). Nice head.

The other micro I'm quite impressed with at this point is the new Genz Benz Streamliner 900. VERY different from their Shuttle amps... fat, wide, warm, and it can stay very clean. It is in the tone family of the warm LMII/LMIII, but with more power and that three tube preamp, it has that fatness and a bit of the feel of a big tube amp run very clean.

Hard to go wrong with the LMIII though!

Anybody else want to punch KJung for having them spend their butts off? I was seriously looking at the GK MB500 but now I may just buy the VT Bass Deluxe pedal to go with my poweramp which may have better tone than the GK.
So its VTDeluxe vs LMIII for me right now

jzucker · #16 02-19-2011, 06:22 AM

i ended up buying another LMII (this is my 3rd now). I wish there was a mod to move the treble control down to 5k though. I use it for guitar and bass and 10k is way too high for guitar. However, I now have a small showman preamp that I run in front of it or in the loop so I can get the high freq content where I want it...

jzucker · #17 02-19-2011, 06:36 AM

can someone remind me...Is the effect loop parallel or series and isn't there an internal jumper you can use to change this?

KJung · #18 02-19-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

can someone remind me...Is the effect loop parallel or series and isn't there an internal jumper you can use to change this?

Yes. The factory setting is parallel. You can change to series with an internal jumper (and also can change the DI from post EQ to pre). If you have the LMII (I think the internals of the LMIII are slightly different), I have a PDF file that indicates how to change the jumpers, etc. If you PM your email to me, I'll send it to you.

The only 'strange' issue about the Markbass effects loop is that it is post EQ (I think I have that right), so unlike many other amps, if you run a preamp into the return, you are still also going through the Markbass pre (I think I have that right... don't use the effects loop myself).

K

KJung · #19 02-19-2011, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

Anybody else want to punch KJung for having them spend their butts off? I was seriously looking at the GK MB500 but now I may just buy the VT Bass Deluxe pedal to go with my poweramp which may have better tone than the GK.
So its VTDeluxe vs LMIII for me right now

The MB500 is a fine amp, but is WAY different from the LM... much bigger lows, MUCH more sizzly top end, and a much more aggressive tone (lots of aggressive upper mids). It isn't a 'good versus bad' sort of thing, but to give you an idea, when I A/B'd the MB500 with my F1/F500, those heads sounded warm and organic compared to the GK

jzucker · #20 02-19-2011, 08:56 AM

i just realized that the amp I tried at GC was a mark tube 800. How does that compare to the LMII ?