Markbass SD 800, SD 1200 or Ampeg SVT 3 Pro

[Djeetn]

Hello guy's, I'm going to sell my old heavy as hell bass head and want to go to something more light weight. I use two spector Euro LX basses and have an Ampeg SVT 610 HLF cabinet and I'm still hesitating between the following heads: Markbass SD 800 or SD 1200 and the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro. I have tested them all and the Markbass heads are amazing volume wise. However, the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro has a much more tube wise sound which I prefer very much and the headroom is certainly big enough combined with the mentioned bass cabinet and bass. Are there any users of Markbass or owners of the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro who can help me to make this final decision? In Belgium, The Markbass SD 1200 is the most expensive head, the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro followes and the SD 800 is the cheapest. Thanks all in advance for all your help!!

[KJung]

Yeah, those Markbass models are VERY clean, but will blow the 3Pro out of the water with clean open bass and absolute volume.

You have two options IMO (other than buying the 3Pro, which is not light).

1) Buy either of the Markbass heads and invest in a VT pedal (there is a new model with updated features that was announced at NAMM, and the two originals are great also). It will get you that Ampeg tone while still being able to use either of those Markbass heads. Many TBer's who want the option to go from a clean, relatively transparent tone to Ampeg 'warmth and grunt' on the gig are using the Markbass/VT combination successfully.

2) Find a micro that has more of the tone you like right out of the box. The Ampeg micro's (PH500 and now the PH800 announced at NAMM) both have more ooomph than the 3Pro, and obviously, that Ampeg tone. The reliability has not been the best on those, but most that fail happen pretty much out of the box, and they will send you a new one. You might try the Aguilar TH500 also.... more fat, grunty voicing than the very clean Markbass heads.

[rpsands]

The SD800 has plenty of power for most circumstances and sounds great. It'll definitely need some dirt if you want a similar tone to the SVT-3 Pro.

[Son of Bovril]

The 3 pro is known for sounding good but being underpowered. The Markbass amps will have much more power but are a different tone... ^^ the Makbass + VT-bass pedal is a winning combination IMO