Markbass amps anyone?

Psycho · #1 09-16-2010, 11:43 PM

Can anyone tell me some info on them, or if they're a good quality, low price kinda thing?

I'm looking for an analog amp, and this brand and Ampeg are seeming to be the real dominant ones.

**JxBass** · #2 09-17-2010, 03:37 AM

Just search. Thousands of comments on Markbass products here.

Whitbass · #3 09-17-2010, 08:04 AM

The Markbass heads are definitely worthy and reputable. Try the LMIII and go from there. Some of the MB amps are digital, I believe. Of course there are some other viable options as well.
To each their own, but the MB stuff is certainly worth a listen. I own 2 LMIIs.

dvh · #4 09-17-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

Just search. Thousands of comments on Markbass products here.

+ a million. Do a search and you'll be reading all day...

Devo-lution · #5 09-17-2010, 08:11 AM

just check the reviews....

If you are a true analog geek, I'd have to disappoint you.

Some Markbass amps are digital (F500, LM800, SD1200, ...)
Some are analog solid state technology with a switching power supply (which is also for a part digital, I thought)...

Not necessarily a bad thing though. I think the markbass heads sound just fine nonetheless. Quite clean sounding, lightweight. They have their flaws (no mute button, compressed sound when you crank m), but it's certainly good quality gear.

electracoyote · #6 09-17-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Can anyone tell me some info on them, or if they're a good quality, low price kinda thing?

I'm looking for an analog amp, and this brand and Ampeg are seeming to be the real dominant ones.

Good quality, yes. Low price? Not so much, they appear to be among the priciest amps out there.

I've been rocking a CMD151P Jeff Berlin combo for over a year, once or twice during the week for rehearsals and every weekend at gigs. I have nothing but good things to say, consistently excellent performance every time. I recently upgraded to the second generation version with the DI output volume control, it made my soundman very happy.

As others have said, a search will yield volumes of info, there is even a Markbass Club thread. No amp or amp company is perfect, but in the long run, Markbass makes a very competent and competitive product.

BogeyBass · #7 09-17-2010, 08:23 AM

mark bass seems to make about 60% of the bass community happy

and about 60% of all bass players suck
so go figure

I played some Marky bass thing into a 8x10
sounded like poo to me
lots of power, good lowend no midrange poor tone controls
pretty sure there is going to be about 50 people that disagree
but it will come from 50 guys playing threw 2x10 cabinets
with active pickups...so who cares!

marky mark bass= poo
with all the yellow markings on those things im sure you could do well in a stryper cover band

jgroh · #8 09-17-2010, 08:26 AM

Ive been on TB for years and Ive never heard of Markbass amps...are they new?

dvh · #9 09-17-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

mark bass seems to make about 60% of the bass community happy

and about 60% of all bass players suck
so go figure

I played some Marky bass thing into a 8x10
sounded like poo to me
lots of power, good lowend no midrange poor tone controls
pretty sure there is going to be about 50 people that disagree
but it will come from 50 guys playing threw 2x10 cabinets
with active pickups...so who cares!

marky mark bass= poo
with all the yellow markings on those things im sure you could do well in a stryper cover band

Another useful, quality TB response...

rhopper · #10 09-17-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

I'm looking for an analog amp, and this brand and Ampeg are seeming to be the real dominant ones.

If you are only looking at a typical Guitar Center.

Disraeli Gears · #11 09-17-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

mark bass seems to make about 60% of the bass community happy

and about 60% of all bass players suck
so go figure

I played some Marky bass thing into a 8x10
sounded like poo to me
lots of power, good lowend no midrange poor tone controls
pretty sure there is going to be about 50 people that disagree
but it will come from 50 guys playing threw 2x10 cabinets
with active pickups...so who cares!

marky mark bass= poo
with all the yellow markings on those things im sure you could do well in a stryper cover band

You know you can boost the midrange, right?

Seriously though, with just my LMIII and a passive J, I've never had any trouble getting all the midrange I need, or really any other kind of tone I ever want. It does tend towards lows more than other amps IME, but it's easy enough to just EQ it up and out of that if you want.

Psycho · #12 09-17-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhopper

If you are only looking at a typical Guitar Center.

To be honest, I was. :P

I don't know if too many places in the Vancouver, WA area that sell such things. And the Beacock's here is way pricey.

iamdenialNJ · #13 09-17-2010, 09:49 PM

I've tried several markbass amps and they have all been really good amps. I recently picked up a Classic 300 and the tubey goodness doesn't fail to impress.

Bassdirty · #14 09-17-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Can anyone tell me some info on them, or if they're a good quality, low price kinda thing?

ummm...okay sorry..its late...I'm drrinkin,..but c'mon...

I don't know anything about anything....but I DO know...Mark Bass sounds pretty good...and is NOT cheap.

Clearly you have internet acccess. sowaaa.

And I'm not one of those guys who just says "use the search function"...cuz I hate that too.

But seriously, you can find out how much they cost vs. other stuff in that range.

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldnt be able to post after 10...cuz people hate the truth.

I love you all btw.

loner9 · #15 09-18-2010, 03:37 PM

I have a LM 800 solid state. It's a little mark 3 with more power, 800w at 4ohm, 500w at 8.

I'm playing it through an ampeg 810e classic, and it sounds very very good, got some great comments at GC when I demo'd the combination. Great clarity from all angles and at all volumes. Plenty of power and easy to dial in, which is code for "not so many buttons" lol. I highly recommend that unit.

Oh and it's super small and lightweight

cost me $450 used condition 1 at Musician's friend during a used gear sale they had which stacked with another used coupon I had. I got lucky.

bleedingfingers · #16 09-18-2010, 04:00 PM

I have used my Little Mark II for about 3 years on all types of gigs and on 210 410 and ampeg svt cabs and it works fine with all .
The only time I don't use it is on gigs where I have to use My inear monitors and only because they are In the same rack as my Mesa rig .

Last time I used it on an svt cab it had plenty of power and did not even get warm on a 3 set gig .

One other thing 99% of the time I run it flat with the vintage tone and the other mid control set at 10 oclock if I do change
the setting I'll knock off a touch of low end .

It's worth every cent I paid for it but if you get one buy a good bag or case to lug it around in as the powder coat scratches very easily.

cheers B.

DavidE · #17 09-18-2010, 05:32 PM

Molly plays Markbass. That says a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx6qebvdoZs

5StringPocket · #18 09-29-2010, 10:15 AM

I had a Markbass F1 for a while and liked the voicing but thought it could really use semi-parametric mids. The F500 provides this and is a nice little package. The SD1200 looks similar with semi-parametric mids but a lot more wattage. Is the SD1200 like an F500 on steroids or is there a difference in their voicing? I read some early SD1200 reviews that it had a deep and wide low end and bright top but not a lot of mid focus and a touch sterile. For my sound that wouldn't be a good thing but I haven't had the chance to check it out so don't know if this is true. The F500 voice in a beefed up package which could drive an 8 ohm, 3-way cab with an Eminence 3015LF hard would be very nice. Anyone who has played both the F500 and SD1200 comment on this?

pedro · #19 09-29-2010, 11:23 AM

To the OP, hope you don't mind if I subscribe to this thread and perhaps ask a ? or two.

Can some of you Markbass users breakdown the essential differences (power/tone, etc) of the various Markbass amps. I've had occassion to try only the Markbass III and 800. And according to GC there is a $250 price difference between the two. What are we getting for that $250?

I'd also be interested if any of you who bought MB gear used had any hesitation about doing so? Any reliability issues?

pasta4lnch · #20 09-29-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedro

To the OP, hope you don't mind if I subscribe to this thread and perhaps ask a ? or two.

Can some of you Markbass users breakdown the essential differences (power/tone, etc) of the various Markbass amps. I've had occassion to try only the Markbass III and 800. And according to GC there is a $250 price difference between the two. What are we getting for that $250?

I'd also be interested if any of you who bought MB gear used had any hesitation about doing so? Any reliability issues?

watts

MB stuff is very reliable. I have a combo and a LMII that seem really solid. save an odd glitch w/ the LM II that happened a few times it's worked great for over a year. and my minimark has taken quite a beating as my main practice/rehearsal/small gig amp for 3 or 4 years and it is still like new(ok, new and covered in dog fur), quiet (hiss factor) when cranked and can still knock a wall down w/ volume