Markbass 121p, minimark or gk mb150?

bassist22 · #1 04-05-2010, 10:15 PM

Hi all
I've got it down to these 3. I'm wanting portability and good sound for jazz stuff. I think the gk sounds great, very warm and nice but it is a bit quiet and j don't want ti carry an extension. I'm not sure of the 121p, it's good for slap and that funky Marcus miller type sound for sure, just not convinced I can get that warm sound as I did from the gk, even with flats on my jazz. And finally the minimark, I haven't played it at all

they were out at the local shop, I did however play on the micromark which I was truly suprrised at how loud it went.
So my question to you guys is which one would you choose? Or any other suggestions? Also, if I got a gk mb150 head unit is there some way to bypass the little mark head unit on the 121p combo?
Many thanks

JimmyM · #2 04-05-2010, 11:15 PM

i wouldn't trust a minimark on any but the smallest of small gigs. it's got a good sound and the head puts out decent wattage, but in the end it's a tiny amp with small speakers. the 121p will get louder and to me it's very warm if you tone it down with the vle control. no experience with the mb150 but it's got a sound you really like and that can't be discounted. and really, most people end up getting extension cabs with their tiny combos anyway, so you might as well plan for it

and yes you can use the 121p's cab with other heads but you'll need an adapter to go from the 121p cab to another head. the cord's really short and only has enough room to plug into the combo head.

B String · #3 04-05-2010, 11:17 PM

First.. Yes you can use a different head with the 121P box.
Its easy.
I've had both the GK and the 121P. I still have the 121P. It
has a lot of headroom and lows for such a small box. Actually,
if you take away the box space occupied by the LMII head in
the combo, The speaker box size is about the same as the GK.
Also, the 121P is more versatile. (in my opinion) Sounds good
with my electric bass, upright, and ABG. Its not perfect, but
its very very good.

**Freddels** · #4 04-06-2010, 04:35 AM

The NY 121 cab and the GK MB-500 head will get you what you want. I have tried those together and it sounded great.

harmendebresser · #5 04-06-2010, 04:45 AM

Or carry even less; Phil Jones Briefcase. 100 watts, lot of clear crisp sounds with two 6" speakers but bigass bottom due to the sub woofer! I like what I don't have to carry ;-)

Badmuthaplucka · #6 04-06-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i wouldn't trust a minimark on any but the smallest of small gigs. it's got a good sound and the head puts out decent wattage, but in the end it's a tiny amp with small speakers. the 121p will get louder and to me it's very warm if you tone it down with the vle control. no experience with the mb150 but it's got a sound you really like and that can't be discounted. and really, most people end up getting extension cabs with their tiny combos anyway, so you might as well plan for it

and yes you can use the 121p's cab with other heads but you'll need an adapter to go from the 121p cab to another head. the cord's really short and only has enough room to plug into the combo head.

Well, I totally trust my Minimark but then again I use mine with a 1x15 sonic micro mini. I love the sound and it's plenty loud for what I do.

Alper Yilmaz · #7 04-06-2010, 10:43 AM

I recently bought the 121P for my small gigs to which I do not want to carry separate head and cabinets. Even though I am not a big fan of Markbass cabinets in general, this combo sounds great and should be more than enough more most small- to medium-size gigs. It sounds much warmer to me than any GK's I have played with, but of course, this is a matter of taste.

In short, highly recommended over most other combos in the market!

Cheers,

Alper

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist22

I've got it down to these 3. I'm wanting portability and good sound for jazz stuff. I think the gk sounds great, very warm and nice but it is a bit quiet and j don't want ti carry an extension. I'm not sure of the 121p, it's good for slap and that funky Marcus miller type sound for sure, just not convinced I can get that warm sound as I did from the gk, even with flats on my jazz. And finally the minimark, I haven't played it at all

they were out at the local shop, I did however play on the micromark which I was truly suprrised at how loud it went.
So my question to you guys is which one would you choose? Or any other suggestions? Also, if I got a gk mb150 head unit is there some way to bypass the little mark head unit on the 121p combo?
Many thanks

JimmyM · #8 04-06-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badmuthaplucka

Well, I totally trust my Minimark but then again I use mine with a 1x15 sonic micro mini.

lol...then it's not really a minimark, is it? it's a minimark with an extension cab

bet it does sound good, though...if markbass ever made the minimark amp available by itself, i could be talked into getting one.

bassist22 · #9 04-06-2010, 04:49 PM

Wow. Thanks guys for your awesome opinions, I'm leaning towards the 121p now

Jefenator · #10 04-06-2010, 05:10 PM

IME the MB150 is indeed awesome, and has that coveted "GK growl". Hard to beat the portability.

There's no way it could do all my gigs, though - even with an extension cab.

The LMII head, however, can. I believe that's what's in the 121P and the cab is somewhat beefier than the MB150. But the overall 121P combo is still pretty darn small and handy. So if I had to use just one, that would be a pretty easy choice.

Getting warmth with the Markbass amp has never been a problem for me, BTW.

old-fashioned · #11 04-06-2010, 05:22 PM

I have a NY121 and an LM III. I love this rig with my ABG and the D-Tar Equinox the best, but I've tested it to be OK even with my EB (MM StingRay) and my (not soo loud) indie-pop band as a rehearsal monitor. (I've even used that rig even on stage as a monitorfor my EB, it was close to OK, but I admit I missed a MB Standard 102 HF cab there for sure...)

Jeff Scott · #12 04-06-2010, 05:37 PM

I used to have a MB150, I have had my Minimark for a couple years now; the MM sounds incredible for such a tiny amp. It does great for many kinds of situations by itself and with an ext. cab it is truly amazing. If you are in a metal, thrash, etc. type band then, no, it won't keep up, but for lots of other kinds of music it is fine. I always found the GK to be a bit boxy sounding, whereas the MM is warm, full, and detailed sounding with all my basses.

Brad Johnson · #13 04-06-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmendebresser

Or carry even less; Phil Jones Briefcase. 100 watts, lot of clear crisp sounds with two 6" speakers but bigass bottom due to the sub woofer! I like what I don't have to carry ;-)

Actually the Briefcase has no subwoofer, just the two fives, is heavier than the Minimark and is nowhere near as loud. It's nice as long as you don't a/b it. I did. The Minimark is pretty amazing for what it is but I'd lean towards the 121P combo in this situation because it would be more capable for higher volume work.

I've done Jazz work with the Minimark plus a Markbass NY604 (4x6") cab and that worked very well. Rated at 250 into the 4 ohm load. But that's a lot of money for the convenience of having very lightweight gear.

You could add a nice 1-15 like a Bag End S15-D to a 121P and have a relatively small rig that kills. It won't however be color coordinated.

JimmyM · #14 04-06-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

You could add a nice 1-15 like a Bag End S15-D to a 121P and have a relatively small rig that kills. It won't however be color coordinated.

ya, no doubt. i have to admit that as far as mixed rigs go, when i had my 121p on top of a b-15 cab, i thought it sounded good, so i would think the bag end might work out well. the only problem was that if they weren't centered exactly, i could hear the sound start to not be as good. but if i were to get an extension for that combo, i'd just get the nyc 121 and play it safe.

harmendebresser · #15 11-05-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Actually the Briefcase has no subwoofer, just the two fives, is heavier than the Minimark and is nowhere near as loud. It's nice as long as you don't a/b it. I did. The Minimark is pretty amazing for what it is but I'd lean towards the 121P combo in this situation because it would be more capable for higher volume work.

(rather late, then never) Yes, you're right about the fives (not six inch) speakers - and I was wrong calling that long tube the subwoofer... It does give it so much balls if you place it correctly, and sometimes you need some luck the room 'helps'. It doesn't seem to have half of it's power when it's placed in a dry room (and then the Minimark blows it right out the water)... Use it for the ol' doghouse myself, so no huge volumes needed!