Markbass gain tricks

[Chaddycakes]

Who else turns their markbass gain up to max? I especially like to turn the vpf up to 8, as I find it really lets it growl without getting in the guitarist's distortion frequencies.

Anybody else have an EQ tricks they want to share about their Markbass?

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by Chad.mundt

Who else turns their markbass gain up to max? I especially like to turn the vpf up to 8, as I find it really lets it growl without getting in the guitarist's distortion frequencies.

Anybody else have an EQ tricks they want to share about their Markbass?

Still tinkering with mine. I find it is the only amp I have ever owned that I have to EQ so much. Each of my basses sound really different since the tone is so clear...maybe to clear. I will watch this to see if anyone has tips/tricks to post.

[Ender_rpm]

Not I. I take it up to growl territory, then back off a bit. My SB2s pickups tend to make the OD sound mush out, rather than stay tight.

I do however use the VLE to cut highs for the DI, especially when using fuzz. I turn it up just until I can hear it making an impact through my cab, which means it has cut off that top portion of the treble range. NOt as good as micing, but it'll do.

[evenintheshower]

I have an older Markbass head. I find the VLE to be more useful in tone shaping than the gain. I use the gain to help reinforce weaker pickups, but I don't find any advantages for what I do by putting the gain up to the maximum.

Most of the time, I put the gain as high as possible without triggering the clipping light. From there I will use the VLE and EQ to get what I need. YMMV.

[Bassamatic]

Yes - normally the gain should be set to just before clipping for best signal-to-noise ratio. The rest is just for coloring. For my USA P and flats, I normally have the EQ flat and the VLE and VPF set to about 9 o'clock. If the room is boomy, I cut the low bass a bit and boost the low mids a little.

[Biggbass]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

Yes - normally the gain should be set to just before clipping for best signal-to-noise ratio. The rest is just for coloring. For my USA P and flats, I normally have the EQ flat and the VLE and VPF set to about 9 o'clock. If the room is boomy, I cut the low bass a bit and boost the low mids a little.

same here

[Chaddycakes]

My first post implied that I put my gain at 10 all the time. I would say that isn't true now. I use between 4 and 10, depending on the situation. Full gain has a nice color, which I have been using with a Boss OC-2. I use the VLE and VLF all over the place for different tones. I love Markbass gear.

[Russell L]

I rarely use the VPF since it adds low lows enough to run a speaker out of excursion if I'm not careful. I set my gain to be just before the clip light when I'm playing hard (around 1-2:00). From there it's taming my fingernail clack with the VLE or high mids. And, my latest trick is to turn down the dang 40Hz lows some, especially in a boomy room.

Markbass, are ya listening---my Little Mark III needs semi-parametric mid controls, aux IN with level control, and a headphone jack. Do that to the Big Bang and I'll buy one immediately.

[Chaddycakes]

The Big Bang has aux in and headphone out. It also has an effects loop, which is why I want it. I wish they'd make a tube/solid state Big Bang

[JimmyM]

I used to have an LMII and I could never push the gain into clipping because it sounded like dogcrap...that hard clipping you get like when you overdrive a digital recorder. Has this changed?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Russell L

I rarely use the VPF since it adds low lows enough to run a speaker out of excursion if I'm not careful. I set my gain to be just before the clip light when I'm playing hard (around 1-2:00). From there it's taming my fingernail clack with the VLE or high mids. And, my latest trick is to turn down the dang 40Hz lows some, especially in a boomy room.

Markbass, are ya listening---my Little Mark III needs semi-parametric mid controls, aux IN with level control, and a headphone jack. Do that to the Big Bang and I'll buy one immediately.

TA503. Discontinued. Not everyone felt as strongly about sweepable mids as they felt about paying less.

[musicman666]

Are yall implying that a littlemark 2/3 can growl? If so thats news to me. I HAD MY LITTLE MARK FOR 3 YEARS. I CANT GET IT TO GROWL.

[bradjonesbass]

SA450 has sweep able mids... I love mine! I think they replaced it though. It's essentially the LittleMark2 with semi-parametric mids. I set my gain quite low (4 or 5) and use the volume to get where I want to be, which rarely gets the volume over 5. I like the tone better that way, fatter and clean.

[Stone Soup]

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

SA450 has sweep able mids... I love mine! I think they replaced it though.

The SA450 is a great amp. Here is the replacement: MoMark SA500

[B-string]

Using a LM 800 Tube at the "winter" practice garage. Not really digging it. It belongs to the keyboardist and he has a Markbass 410 and 115. I play a MIM Jazz 5 with SD pups and a couple feet out the bottom is lost, mids get thin and washed out. Sounds like a cheap radio.
Any suggestions?

[Lackey]

Longtime LMII user, and I do dig it, but it is kinda clean. Would be nice to warm it up more.

[Stone Soup]

Originally Posted by B-string

Using a LM 800 Tube at the "winter" practice garage. Not really digging it. It belongs to the keyboardist and he has a Markbass 410 and 115. I play a MIM Jazz 5 with SD pups and a couple feet out the bottom is lost, mids get thin and washed out. Sounds like a cheap radio.
Any suggestions?

Lose one of the cabs. I'd unplug the 115 and use it for a speaker stand. Not positive that's your issue, but I would try it. You could also try repositioning the rig. My guess is you have some major cancellation going on.

[B-string]

You just made me think about cab phase between the cabs. It is not mine but it is a bother. I need to spend my attention to bring 7 more songs to performance level without the sound bugging me

[Hilton Marsh]

I am starting to think I might be under using my Markbass combo. I have the EQ set at 12 o'clock and the VLE and VLF set to zero. My 63 P-bass with the flats sounds awesome. Might try some of the above setting suggestions to hear what happens. Thanks.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I used to have an LMII and I could never push the gain into clipping because it sounded like dogcrap...that hard clipping you get like when you overdrive a digital recorder. Has this changed?

+1

I would think that only the tube/tube pre models would sound good with the gain pushed. Clipping the others sounds atrocious.