Uh oh! I think I might like the Markbass better than my Genz Benz

[gm2_in_co]

Was messing around at GC today. Deliberately trying a couple basses through the Markbass 12" combo they had there.

Unfortunately, it seems like I might like it significantly better than my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0/12t combo. Somebody tell me I'm halucinating. It seemed so much "warmer" than my GB.

As an aside, it seemed like cranking the gain cut highs and maybe added a little compression. Was I imagining that too or has anyone else notice that?

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by gm2_in_co

Was messing around at GC today. Deliberately trying a couple basses through the Markbass 12" combo they had there.

Unfortunately, it seems like I might like it significantly better than my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0/12t combo. Somebody tell me I'm halucinating. It seemed so much "warmer" than my GB.

As an aside, it seemed like cranking the gain cut highs and maybe added a little compression. Was I imagining that too or has anyone else notice that?

I was waiting for the day someone had the cojones to start a thread like this. I can't wait for the poop storm.

Anyway, my experience was similar to yours when I went combo shopping last year, and the reason I bought the Markbass CMD151P.

As for compression with gain, I'm not sure. It depends on how high you had the master up. At certain volumes, I think all combos start to sound a little compressed.

Anyway, I loves me some Markbass. It's not too late to join the club.

[JimmyM]

cranking the gain does add limiting. i've noticed the markbass always has a tiny bit of limiting going on that gets more and more as you crank the gain. not as sure about the shuttle because i've only played it once. however, i think both amps sound better when you give the gain some juice.

anyway, that's a very tough call. there are pluses about both rigs that i liked, and of course, a couple minuses along the way. it's something you have to decide for yourself.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by gm2_in_co

Was messing around at GC today. Deliberately trying a couple basses through the Markbass 12" combo they had there.

Unfortunately, it seems like I might like it significantly better than my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0/12t combo. Somebody tell me I'm halucinating. It seemed so much "warmer" than my GB.

As an aside, it seemed like cranking the gain cut highs and maybe added a little compression. Was I imagining that too or has anyone else notice that?

Both sound good to me, and both sound very different, with the LM combo being very fat and warm, and the Genz being very tight and bright.

FYI, there should be no compression or tone change with the LM UNLESS you see that clip light come on. If you run the gain too hard on an solid state pre, you will get some compression, which by definition will reduce both the low end and treble response. If you hear this, just turn down the gain slightly and adjust your volume with the master, even if the clip light is not coming on.

[Jim C]

I prefer the Mark over the GB but both sound great to me; just different
In my perfect world, it would be GB management and customer service selling MB amps

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Jim C

I prefer the Mark over the GB but both sound great to me; just different
In my perfect world, it would be GB management and customer service selling MB amps

+1 to everything here.

I got a Shuttle 6.0 first and a Markbass LMII later. And I really wanted the Shuttle to sound better because it was a much more user friendly amp (Aux in, headphone in, tone shape buttons) but the LMII just sounded better to me. Not like the LMII blew it away or anything it just fit the sound I wanted more.

[Bennetsgreen]

i just orderd a markbass 8x10... lay-buyed tho haha. pretty excited to get it, also looking at getting a momark those things look awsome

[thumpbass1]

I'm seriously considering going to a lighter weight rig, after I sell off some of my current amp gear arsenal. Markbass seems to have the ability to satisfy my need for traditional warm fat punch besides offering some versatility for more modern bass tonality. The Genz Benz light weight fare does offer a great modern tone, but to my ears it just won't satisfy my old school tastes quite as well as the Markbass seems to be capable of delivering. I guess the only thing that scares me off from the modern light weight amps is the reports from some owners of such gear that have had some reliability issues. Maybe chucking out 600-1200, or more bucks for replacement after the warranty has out is easy for a lot of folks here at TB, but I'm not of that mind set. I'm used to having stuff that can go for decades if maintained properly. Anyway, I'll probably make the plunge towards light weight gear in the not too distant future. These threads and reviews have been quite helpful, from getting feed back from all you fine folks that have bought and used this gear in the real world.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

I'm seriously considering going to a lighter weight rig, after I sell off some of my current amp gear arsenal. Markbass seems to have the ability to satisfy my need for traditional warm fat punch besides offering some versatility for more modern bass tonality. The Genz Benz light weight fare does offer a great modern tone, but to my ears it just won't satisfy my old school tastes quite as well as the Markbass seems to be capable of delivering. I guess the only thing that scares me off from the modern light weight amps is the reports from some owners of such gear that have had some reliability issues. Maybe chucking out 600-1200, or more bucks for replacement after the warranty has out is easy for a lot of folks here at TB, but I'm not of that mind set. I'm used to having stuff that can go for decades if maintained properly. Anyway, I'll probably make the plunge towards light weight gear in the not too distant future. These threads and reviews have been quite helpful, from getting feed back from all you fine folks that have bought and used this gear in the real world.

Genz and Markbass have WAY higher reliability than older amps. With literally thousands of users of these heads on TB, you rarely hear of a problem (of course, any amp company will have a small amount of failures).

There are some companies who have products (micro and other designs) that have low reliability, but that has nothing to do with amp topology or power supply design.

K

[FromTheBassMent]

I am super-happy with my Markbass CMD 121P. It replaced a much larger David Eden 1x12 combo, and it sounds better and is hella louder. I took my Sterling 5 into GC the other day and hooked the same combo up to the MB NY 1x15 extension cab, and now know what my next bass purchase is going to be! The B string is much bigger sounding with the addition of the extension cab.

I think I can get a pretty modern sound with my MB, if I keep the vintage emulator filter dialed all the way off and add some mid-scoop with the other filter knob (forget what it's called!). But most of the time I'm with other posters on this thread who are looking for a warmer, vintage tone. The MB heads sound almost tubey to me if eq'd right.

I also tried the GB shuttle, of course, as it's probably the closest competitive setup. I liked the MB better for the same reasons as other MB players on this thread. I think I liked the Mesa Walkabout combo even better, but I couldn't justify the added expense and didn't want to take on the tube maintenance (been through that with an SVT back in the day).

I think with the added 151 cab my setup will be perfect... and it will still be wicked tiny! And light!

[JMac4strngr]

Markbass makes a darn fine amp, and I haven't tried one I didn't like. The deal killer for me has allways been the caterpillar paint scheme they have going on. Other than that I have came very close to pulling the trigger on a LMII a few times, and I have been wanting to try out the R500 which I am sure I will love the sound of.

[MingusBass]

I much prefer the Markbass heads to what Genz has to offer.

[lowfreqgeek]

I'm gonna step into the fray here and offer a dissenting opinion of the Markbass CMD121P: I bought one last year, used it on a gig, and returned it to Guitar Center.

I found it to be very muddy compared to my EA and Epifani cabs. The low-end extension wasn't great (my Wizzy 10 was even better), and my P-bass lost all it's girth on the gig. The best way I can describe it was the the mids/highs sounded very "smeared", unless I rolled the bass way down, then it just sounded like a piece of paper. The tone was very one-dimensional compared to my other stuff, and pretty "boxy". Even my wife noticed the differences.

The amp itself (essentially the LMII head) sounded good through my EA/Epifani cabs, but the enclosure left a lot to be desired.

I haven't spent much quality time with the G-B stuff, but what little time I've spent hasn't convinced me that it's for me, either (too bright). However, I have NOT noticed the same muddiness or boxiness from the G-B shuttle cabs.

But that's just my personal opinion and you should play what you like and what fits your needs, not what some guy on the intertubes said.

:FLAME SHIELD ON:

[badstonebass]

Originally Posted by KJung

Genz and Markbass have WAY higher reliability than older amps.

The book is still out on that one.

I have amps that have been gigging since the 70's and never had one issue.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by badstonebass

The book is still out on that one.

I have amps that have been gigging since the 70's and never had one issue.

One individual's experience has little to do with estimating failure rates. There is absolutely no indication that amp or power supply topology has anything to do with reliability. I've used SMPS/class D amps almost exclusively since the early 90's, and also have had no problems.

It's all about failure rates across the entire number of produced products.

That being said, the newer 'circuit board amps' will be much easier to fix (just snap in a new board). So, that's the good news. The bad news is, the board cost, combined with the standard base repair charge will be not that much less than getting a new amp in some cases.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by lowfreqgeek

I'm gonna step into the fray here and offer a dissenting opinion of the Markbass CMD121P: I bought one last year, used it on a gig, and returned it to Guitar Center.

I found it to be very muddy compared to my EA and Epifani cabs. The low-end extension wasn't great (my Wizzy 10 was even better), and my P-bass lost all it's girth on the gig. The best way I can describe it was the the mids/highs sounded very "smeared", unless I rolled the bass way down, then it just sounded like a piece of paper. The tone was very one-dimensional compared to my other stuff, and pretty "boxy". Even my wife noticed the differences.

The amp itself (essentially the LMII head) sounded good through my EA/Epifani cabs, but the enclosure left a lot to be desired.

I haven't spent much quality time with the G-B stuff, but what little time I've spent hasn't convinced me that it's for me, either (too bright). However, I have NOT noticed the same muddiness or boxiness from the G-B shuttle cabs.

But that's just my personal opinion and you should play what you like and what fits your needs, not what some guy on the intertubes said.

:FLAME SHIELD ON:

I think the only comments made about this were than the MB112 and the Genz 112 sound very different. Whether one likes one or both or neither is pure personal taste. I'm not a fan of any of these very small 112's myself.

[coolrunner989]

I'll take your GB 112T if you want

[nostatic]

I respect GB a lot, and wish that other manufacturers would follow their customer service approach (ie they don't suck). Their voicing is not to my liking though, I prefer my LMTube. However I do *not* care for MB cabs - I'm a Berg guy these days. ymmv - these are all personal preferences.

[B String]

I have had a love affair with my 121P combo for a long time.
By accident or design, it just works very well for electric and
upright bass. Having said that....

Genz has said they eq'd the 6.0 (from the combo) to not have
too much low end so as not to hurt the smaller speakers in the
combo with too much bass. I think this may have been a
mistake because many people now think the whole line of
Genz Benz heads lack low end. Not true.

As much as I love my 9.0, and would love to see it in a combo,
if it comes down to the 6.0/12t combo amp or the MB 121P, I
would pick the MB 121P every time.

[Buster Brown]

I am very much like several of the respondents here....absolutely in love with the CMD121P...it's one of the very few pieces of gear that I would NOT want to get rid of...