Markbass R500 VS Little Rocker

[Arlekiin]

Hello,

So I have gone over these forums several times but no luck so Im asking. Has anybody any idea how these 2 compare?

I was planning to buy R500 but now there is little rocker and the latter can be had cheaper.


Thank you,

[Arlekiin]

Hmm it seems I have to be the one who takes the step of faith and checks it out...

[Arlekiin]

Little rocker would cost me 811 USD/ 638 EUR

R500 would cost me 992USD/ 773 EUR

[Spinal Tapper]

I'm not sure what a Little Rocker is, but I have the R500 and I love it. Super reliable, tube warmth from a solid state, and plenty of power. I never have to run my controls at over noon and I've got headroom for days.

So, R500 gets my vote

[pasta4lnch]

I'm surprised I don't see more love for the r500 . . .

always wanted to play one . . .

[Spinal Tapper]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I'm surprised I don't see more love for the r500 . . .

always wanted to play one . . .

They're FANTASTIC sounding amps IMO. I can't say enough good things about mine. Simple control layout too, which I love. It's like a 4 band EQ.

I snagged a great deal on mine - $460 for a used one w/ warranty from Guitar Center. Can't say I'd drop the $900 for one though, if I was to venture in that price range, I'd probably be looking at many other options...a lot of great heads for that price range, especially in the used market.

[Arlekiin]

Hmm in the 900$ range what would you guys suggest? Considering I liked the tone of the R500.

I do not have a good access to used amps though it has to be real good for it to be worth importing from the US and I would like to keep my first AMP lightweight.

The next one will be all valve though- probably...

[Arlekiin]

Thank you for your replies guys I was starting to lose hope because noone seems to know anything about R500 or Little rocker. Im surprised that there are no real sound samples on either of them on youtube.

For those who do not know what little rocker is...

http://www.markbass.it/products.php?...cat=1&vedi=140

It is very new and there are no real reviews out there...

[Spinal Tapper]

Little rocker looks cool. I'd guess the voicing is similar to the R500...I like the Tube Drive knob on the Little Rocker - R500 doesn't have that, you have to crank the gain for tubey crunch.

It'd be cool to be able to use the Tube Drive knob to get a hot signal at lower volumes...cool feature.

[Arlekiin]

So basically my thinking goes like this...

If I take R500 I could use some kind of tube-distortion box to get the hot tone. If I take the little rocker i get the drive etc I would get those features on top. I dont know if the little rocker uses the same tube as R500 I got the impression that Little rocker has some sort of Mini-tube.

Anyways I would like to take the Little rocker but I concerned if its not what I expect it to be but I did like the R500 alot and I would expect them to be similar.

[GuzBaas]

I got the R500, no regrets at all
I haven't read a bad review yet... everyone loves their r500
they are lightweight yet powerful, simple and reliable
the tube sound is warm and big... if you are into rock and you want a small and powerful amp r500 is the BEST choice
this is as close as you can get to a full tube amp! just keep googling and you'll see

[Marginal Tom]

The MarkBass Little Rocker isn't available in the U.S. market yet, unless it's just started to arrive. There will be plenty of reviews and YouTube soundclips on it soon. As I understand it, it's a more-aggresively voiced version of the Little Mark Tube head, which I have and love.

You should be able to find tons of reviews and soundclips on the Little Mark Tube head.

[markorbit]

I've not played through a R500 but I did have a few minutes through a Little Rocker.

My initial impression was that the drive seemed to squish the sound somewhat - like it altered the sound envelope so there wasn't a big punch at the beginning of a note. I wasn't overly keen on it but someone I was with who is more Geddy Lee than I am thought it sounded good. I didn't spend a lot of time with it, just a few minutes in a store.

I own a F500 and would still take it over the LR.

I have a feeling that I would enjoy the R500 more.

[Marginal Tom]

Musicians Friend currently expects their first shipment of MarkBass Little Mark Rockers in early August. They're not available in the U.S. yet. As I understand it, they're basically a more-aggresively voiced version of the Little Mark Tube head. I have and love my Little Mark Tube head.

You should be able to find plenty of reviews and soundclips for the LMT.

[Scottgun]

Good gravvy Mark Bass has a whole pile of different amps that don't look all that much different from each other. How are you sorting it out?

[CLMSHQ]

FYI!!!!!!

Youtube Video of Little Rocker posted today. Besides the foreign language,you can hear the grit of the tube right away, just wished could of heard more eq options with VLE on to get that creamy vintage bass sound with slight tube...oh well, I am sure there will be more to come.

[juriscon]

German review of the Little Rocker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iqwo828es

I couldn't understand a word the guy was saying in the video. It's almost like the Germans have a different word for everything. That is totally unheimlich . . . .

[Musicman20]

Thanks for the update chaps. Thats a damn nice tube grind for a Markbass amp. Still not sure if I want to sell my LM3 on for one, as the LM3 does everything amazingly well, bu the LM Rocker would be great for those who dont want to use a dirt pedal.

Cool stuff!

[CLMSHQ]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Thanks for the update chaps. Thats a damn nice tube grind for a Markbass amp. Still not sure if I want to sell my LM3 on for one, as the LM3 does everything amazingly well, bu the LM Rocker would be great for those who dont want to use a dirt pedal.

Cool stuff!

I hear ya'. Once I saw this out there this week, I too thought of trading my LMIII. I just have to suck it up and keep what I have.

[rulyøngo]

I wanna get one!!!