Preamp Needed with Markbass?

phatbass1 · #1 09-18-2011, 07:04 PM

Okay,

I have a passive J-Bass and just got a MarkBass Little Mark II amp. Would it be better to use an outboard preamp like a MarkBass S1 or similar "Pedal Style" outboard preamp for my passive bass?

The descreption for the MarkBass S1 outboard pre-amp says that it emulates the LittleMark II amp that I already own...

Just wondering if adding a preamp to my passive J-Bass for use with a MarkBass Little Mark II is recommended.

What do you guys think?

JimmyM · #2 09-18-2011, 07:26 PM

You can use one but it's not necessary unless you're looking for something your amp can't give you.

phatbass1 · #3 09-18-2011, 08:25 PM

Thanks Jimmy!

**B-string** · #4 09-18-2011, 09:01 PM

Why would you use a preamp made to emulate the amp you just bought? That preamp is in the amp now, the preamp would be the same preamp without the power amp yes?

Mokebass · #5 09-19-2011, 04:38 AM

No need for a preamp with an LM unless you want serious distortion. Just play around with your speaker combination.

Irishbass · #6 09-19-2011, 06:08 AM

In fairness this is a valid question... there are previous threads on here including some by me asking about this with the LMII.. I recently borrowed a Tech 21 VT pedal from a buddy and have been using it with the Markbass on a few gigs... it gives a bunch of new tone possibilities... The Markbass is quite a dry sounding amp, sure it is punchy and loud but it doesnt do everything, I dont think any amp does for that matter... otherwise none of the pedal and outboard preamp makers would be in business... the Sansamp can do much the same thing but not as expensive as the VT...

bassgod0dmw · #7 09-19-2011, 06:19 AM

Nope, it's not needed.

You can use an outboard pre if you want to, but it'll sort of defeat the purpose of the LMII.

KJung · #8 09-19-2011, 06:30 AM

Not needed at all, and using a secondary pre that is voiced to emulate the pre in the LMII/III makes little sense.

If you want some additional grit to your tone, or what the ability to footswitch a different tone or gain setting 'on the fly', a preamp like the VT pedal or the Aguilar Tonehammer works GREAT with the nice, neutral amplification platform of the LMII/III.

I find the LMII/III one of the best heads on the market to amplifying a clean, warm, fat, passive P or J tone without anything else in the signal chain. With the Tonehammer or VT pedal between your bass and amp, you would have pretty much any tone you could think of with a passive P or J.

Son of Bovril · #9 09-19-2011, 06:31 AM

I think the OP might be asking in respect to the fact that his bass is passive and doesn't have a preamp built in like an active bass... if so... no you do not need a preamp before the Markbass LM it will sound just fine and is meant to be run this way.

spufman · #10 09-19-2011, 07:25 AM

I can get a good tone out of my F1 with every one of my basses - a variety of active and passive. I would expect LMII to be similarly versatile.

phatbass1 · #11 09-19-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son of Bovril

I think the OP might be asking in respect to the fact that his bass is passive and doesn't have a preamp built in like an active bass... if so... no you do not need a preamp before the Markbass LM it will sound just fine and is meant to be run this way.

Thank you, this is the exact question I was asking. Also thanks to everyone else who answered

electracoyote · #12 09-19-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You can use one but it's not necessary unless you're looking for something your amp can't give you.

Exactly.

I vascillate between passive and active basses. When I'm in "active bass" mode and find myself playing a passive bass, I'll put a Sadowsky outboard pre in front of my Markbass rig.

But the simple chain of nice passive bass ---> Markbass is pretty solid.

Tampabass · #13 09-19-2011, 01:38 PM

Melvin7822 · #14 09-19-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass1

Okay,

I have a passive J-Bass and just got a MarkBass Little Mark II amp. Would it be better to use an outboard preamp like a MarkBass S1 or similar "Pedal Style" outboard preamp for my passive bass?

The descreption for the MarkBass S1 outboard pre-amp says that it emulates the LittleMark II amp that I already own...

Just wondering if adding a preamp to my passive J-Bass for use with a MarkBass Little Mark II is recommended.

What do you guys think?

I think one super important thing to note is that the Markbass S1 is not an outboard preamp. It is a preamp MODULE for the MoMark series of amps. It cannot be used separately from a MoMark amp frame.