What is the next step up from a MB LM3? Details inside...

[Musicman20]

Ok, I like the LM3, but I'm wondering about going for something new.

Why? Well I feel the LM3 is very close to my RH450. Not too close, but I'm thinking of something a little different to give me something else.

I want something warm, clear, articulate, light, and it has to marry well with the following:

Aguilar DB212, TC RS cabs, and most importantly, it must be a good match for EBMM basses.

I play some rock, funk (tight finger style mainly) and some less aggressive music.

Ideas?

I thought about the following:

MB F500
GB Shuttle 9.0

Any other ideas?

[RickenBoogie]

Mesa Walkabout head.

[username1]

swr headlite?

[KJung]

I don't see anything mentioned so far as a step up from the amazing LMIII. However, other amps might have a different tone profile that you would like more. I can't imagine anyone with your stated tone goals not being thrilled with the LMIII. The RH450 can be a bit problematic, and IMO, I would consider replacing that if you are looking for a brighter, punchier tone... either the F500 or Shuttle 9 will be brighter and punchier than the RH450, which is more fat and 'slow' and warm.

[CElton]

I play mostly EBMM and my two favorite amps have been the LMII and the Walkabout. The WA is more fat, "slow" and warm. By slower, I mean it has some tube give. It's certainly not sluggish in any way. The EQ is very powerful. It's a bit darker, but I think that's a good yin/yang with the EBMM.

The LMII is warm, quick and articulate. Really lets that EBMM tone shine. The VLE can help tame the sizzle of the EBMM.

I have not played the LMIII, but I would agree with Ken that I doubt you could do much better than what you already have unless you're out to go in another direction tonally.

[Musicman20]

At the moment the RH450 is my no.1 amp. I absolutely love it! Hence I was considering changing the LM3, possibly for the F500.

I've whittled down to one Fender P, and the rest are all EBMM 4s and 5s depending on mood. That big Ray type H sound and the other variants is proving perfect for me. A little more forward and aggressive compared to my previous tone goals, with the onboard treble cut.

[naturalkinds]

Man, I thought you had the F1/F500 for a while. I guess I lost track.

I'd give the Walkabout a serious go. But, again, I don't hear the TC and Markbass as being that close, so we might be on different planets completely.

[Musicman20]

Hi chaps.

I had the F500 for a day or so, but the one I received looked as though the courier had opened the box and messed about with it, so that got sent back. I tried it with the NY122 which was a nice cabinet, but I didnt need it so I sent it back to buy a bass or two instead.

I didnt get that much chance to test the F500 with an EBMM bass, or my cabinets that I use the most (eg the Aguilar DB212).

The LM3 sure is nice, and I probably dont need to upgrade as such to the F500, im just wondering what else it will give me at a gig, and what other options there are.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Hi chaps.

I had the F500 for a day or so, but the one I received looked as though the courier had opened the box and messed about with it, so that got sent back. I tried it with the NY122 which was a nice cabinet, but I didnt need it so I sent it back to buy a bass or two instead.

I didnt get that much chance to test the F500 with an EBMM bass, or my cabinets that I use the most (eg the Aguilar DB212).

The LM3 sure is nice, and I probably dont need to upgrade as such to the F500, im just wondering what else it will give me at a gig, and what other options there are.

The three main things that the f500 does 'better' than the LMIII are:

1) Size.. really small!
2) Punch/volume... tighter down low, brighter in the upper mids.. more perceived volume on the gig, especially when you are really digging in... more 'pop' to the feel.. usually described as being 'quick' in TB terms.
3) Features... the semi-parametric mid controls are pretty nice with some cabs. With my Bergantino's, I very rarely have to touch the mid controls, but for example, with the wider, more low mid polite Epi410UL, that low mid control is really nice.
4) Mute... nice push/pull mute on the master that is easy to use (doesn't knock around the master volume like on the LMTube design).

The things it doesn't do as well as the LMIII:

1) Warmth... it is more solid state sounding... doesn't have that unique class A/B organic nature to the low end and the very smooth upper mids.
2) Ease of use.... those little concentric knobs are a bit much to use in real time.

Of course, both the LMIII and F500 are much more evenly voiced and open up top versus the RH450. However, you can get that LMIII to sound a LOT like the RH450 by cutting everything above 5K (VLE, which is a variable lo pass filter, set around 10 o'clock) and a touch of bass roll-off.. maybe 11 o'clock). The RH450 will pound a bit harder due to its 'tube emulation' limiter design versus the more traditional power amp limiting of the LMIII IMO and IME.

All good stuff!

[Musicman20]

Thanks Ken!

[lbwdog]

Ken; Curious about this statement since they're both pull/up on the Master, aren't they?.

Originally Posted by KJung

Mute... nice push/pull mute on the master that is easy to use (doesn't knock around the master volume like on the LMTube design).

I treat my Tube 800 almost as if it's not equipped with mute....Luckily, my bass stays in tune well.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Ken; Curious about this statement since they're both pull/up on the Master, aren't they?.

I treat my Tube 800 almost as if it's not equipped with mute....Luckily, my bass stays in tune well.

They are, but the F500 uses both a different knob (easier to grip and pull out), and it seems, a 'tighter pot', so it is easier to grip and there is much less of an issue with bumping the master.

I am one who rarely uses a mute anyway (have a Sonic Turbo Tuner in-line with true bypass, and it is just as easy to turn my volume knob down between sets versus pushing a button or pulling on a push/pull pot.

However, for those who need a mute button, the F500 design gets a B-, and it works 'OK'. I found the LM800/LMT800 to be unusable for the most part.

[OmeDunk]

Originally Posted by KJung

I found the LM800/LMT800 to be unusable for the most part.

Why is that?

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by KJung

They are, but the F500 uses both a different knob (easier to grip and pull out), and it seems, a 'tighter pot', so it is easier to grip and there is much less of an issue with bumping the master.

I found the LM800/LMT800 to be unusable for the most part.

Same here......I picked up an Ibanez LU-20 on sale locally, but used it on a bright sunlight stage last week, and it was unreadable. The Turbo Tuner will mute won't it? I think I recall users saying it's visible in sunlight too.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Same here......I picked up an Ibanez LU-20 on sale locally, but used it on a bright sunlight stage last week, and it was unreadable. The Turbo Tuner will mute won't it? I think I recall users saying it's visible in sunlight too.

The Turbo has a wonderful true bypass, so you don't hear it all all in your signal chain. Yes, it mutes when the tuner is activated, and doesn't suck batteries when in active mode.

Don't know about direct sunlight... seems OK to me from the brief 'test' I did in my living room a while back, but I haven't had a tuner sitting in direct sunlight more than a couple of times in almost 40 years of playing (most outdoor stages I play are covered).

[schafhalter]

I'd like to throw in the Carvin BX500 ... I received mine 2 weeks ago, and its children's dieseases seem to be exterminated.

The amp is light(~3kg), has a very clear tone (I'd like to think of it as a Glockenklang with better EQing) and it is LOUD.

I play both of my EBMMs (SR5 + Bongio 4 HH) through it, as well as my passive P-clone and simply love the tone.

br, Matthias