Markbass F1 slap tone question

[Antipodean]

I was recently able to test out a Markbass F1, and liked it very much for fingerstyle and pick playing. But I wasn't able to get a nice slap tone out of it. It didn't really matter how much I tweaked the eq, I couldn't get it to sound right. Using the same bass, I can get it to go straight from fingerstyle to slap on other amps without changing the eq.
The test rig was the F1 through a Markbass Traveller 102P. My bass is a Fender P-bass with the "vintage" Seymour Duncan pickup. The rigs I was able to get a good slap sound out of were a Mesa Carbine, Mesa Walkabout, Ampeg SVP-Pro, and Sansamp RBI... all through the Mesa 2x10 Powerhouse.

I was unable to mix the Mesa cab with the F1 (different distributors, different stores), so was hoping someone with experience may be able to help out.

Was the poor slap sound due to the F1 not liking the P-bass? Or is it the Markbass cabs being unable to reproduce the tones nicely?

[Kwesi]

You're essentially asking us "Why don't I like this amp?" which isn't really a question we could help you with. Markbass makes some amazing stuff, as you can see from the praise they get here on TB, but it's not for everyone, also seen right here on TB. If you played with the EQ and couldn't get a slap tone you like even though you can get it from the same bass on other rigs then the F1 just might not be the head for you. The only other thing I could possibly suggest is trying the F1 with other cabs.

I can get monster slap and fingerstyle tones out of my rig (Markbass F500 and Bergantino AE410) but my definition of monster could be totally different from yours. What exactly do you feel is missing from the slap tone you get with the F1?

[Antipodean]

I suppose rather that asking "why don't I like this amp", I'm more asking "do I not like this amp?". Like I say, loved the fingerstyle and pick playing, and I love the size & weight. It ticks all the boxes. But I also hear little love for the Markbass cabinets, so I suspected it may have been the cabs. To complicate things, the only cabinets in the store that sells Markbass in New Zealand... are Markbass cabs.

If others can get a good P-bass slap tone with their F1 and a different cab, then it'll be the cab at "fault". If others can get a good P-bass slap tone with their F1 and a Markbass cab, then I'll know it's me simply not liking the amp.

The Bergantino AE series seem to match nicely based on many reviews, but nobody seems to run P-basses. It could just be I need a new/different bass guitar, but I'll focus on the amp/cab initially.

We have few options to test equipment in New Zealand (and no 30 day trial period - ever), so we kinda have to rely on forums like this to help us out, unless we make a purchase of faith.

[ErnieD]

kwesi "but my definition of monster could be totally different from yours."

Now we're redefining the term "monster"?
Better watchit, "M**nster cable company" gonna come after you if they read this. LOL Just joshing.

Well I get a pretty good slap/pop/thump tone outta my F1 w/Am St P5, maple neck (w/Sad Flats no less) into a 410XLT or UL410. I set F1 pretty flat and dial the VLP filter up abit. At least that's worked for me. The 55-02D w/Barts and w/DR BB's really does it and nicely.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Antipodean

I suppose rather that asking "why don't I like this amp", I'm more asking "do I not like this amp?". Like I say, loved the fingerstyle and pick playing, and I love the size & weight. It ticks all the boxes. But I also hear little love for the Markbass cabinets, so I suspected it may have been the cabs. To complicate things, the only cabinets in the store that sells Markbass in New Zealand... are Markbass cabs.

If others can get a good P-bass slap tone with their F1 and a different cab, then it'll be the cab at "fault". If others can get a good P-bass slap tone with their F1 and a Markbass cab, then I'll know it's me simply not liking the amp.

The Bergantino AE series seem to match nicely based on many reviews, but nobody seems to run P-basses. It could just be I need a new/different bass guitar, but I'll focus on the amp/cab initially.

We have few options to test equipment in New Zealand (and no 30 day trial period - ever), so we kinda have to rely on forums like this to help us out, unless we make a purchase of faith.

Ah, I see. The way I see it, is if you dig the tone you get from your bass with other amp/cab combos then it's probably not the basses fault for not giving you the slap tone you're after - it's the rig so focus on that. Markbass cabs do get quite a bit more flak than their amps too, though the only one that I played that I completely disliked was the 104HR.

Like I asked before, what is your slap tone missing with the F1 that it gets from other rigs? Low-end thump? Mid range punch? Sparkly treble? What are you looking for?

[tedsalt]

Check Ken's Youtube clips.

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass

He has various clips with different Markbass amps and various cabs. Your problem is definitely not the amp. From my experience I'd recommend Epifani cabs with the Markbass amp. These work well together. You may not be able to find them in a local store to try out though. Search tb for posts with markbass and check out what others are using. I bought mine based on tb users experiences / recommendations.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by tedsalt

Check Ken's Youtube clips.

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass

He has various clips with different Markbass amps and various cabs. Your problem is definitely not the amp. From my experience I'd recommend Epifani cabs with the Markbass amp. These work well together. You may not be able to find them in a local store to try out though. Search tb for posts with markbass and check out what others are using. I bought mine based on tb users experiences / recommendations.

The nature of "tone" is completely subjective so in his case the problem could be the amps fault entirely. He's not suggesting that the amp is bad, just that it doesn't get him the slap tone that he wants - an opinion to which he is rightfully entitled. Good idea on checking out some of the Markbass threads though. People are using all kinds of cabs with their Markbass heads so maybe you'll be able to fin something you like based off of others' experience.

[Son of Bovril]

If I wanted to get a nice slap tone, a vintage loaded P bass through the 102P traveller would not be my first choice but like Kwesi said, your monster may be different to mine

The markbass cabs are commonly known to have a bit of a high mid bump which lets them cut through well in the mix. people often say that they don't sound so good by themselves but that they really shine in the mix, and that particular cab is more about portability than monster slap sound IMO. hence why they recomment you combine it with their 115 cab...

[Plstrns]

Markbass. Is what I'm missing for slap, or finger tone. But then, some are so easy to get a slap tone from a P bass.... YMMV

[Slaine01]

Love Markbass amps but hate the cabs - try the amp with another cab if you can, love the slap sound from my Eden 210XST and an F1.
+1 on Epifani cabs with Markbass amps as well

[Plstrns]

Damn!! Maybe I like Markbass... it sucks not to know. I know their cabs suck, their heads might...

[Plstrns]

Well, Jeezusss!!!!! Your cabs dont suck!!!

[Antipodean]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Like I asked before, what is your slap tone missing with the F1 that it gets from other rigs? Low-end thump? Mid range punch? Sparkly treble? What are you looking for?

To my ears, it was too bass and low-mid heavy. Not boomy, but the bass was too overpowering with weak higher freq response for a slap tone. So I dialed back the bass eq and it started to sound thin. I could get a good-ish tone by maxing the VPL, VLF off, and an extreme smile shaped eq. Even then it wasn't "right".

The input from others lead me to believe it may be the cabinet. Next time I travel to Australia I'll try to find one in a store and try different cabs. That's the variable I need to eliminate.

[Slaine01]

If you go to Melbourne check out - http://www.basscentre.com.au/
or Sydney - http://www.basspeople.com.au/
Both shops will look after you mate..