Smaller, lower priced heads?

robobass · #1 04-16-2008, 02:30 AM

I've been using a Hartke 200w for like 15 years, but it's starting to have problems. I hadn't thought of upgrading since I expected I would have to lay out over a thousand for something good, but a little searching reveals that this may not be the case.

I'm looking lustfully at the Markbass Little Mark 250 Top. How are people getting on with it? The EQ looks well designed. I was never in love with the EQ on the Hartke, but it was functional.

I'd like to find something on the smaller lighter side, with around 250 watts. Also nice would be a balanced input.

Ambient noise is important for me. The Hartke humms on EU current, and the cooling fan is loud. I often play in very quiet venues , and even onstage with the orchestra sometimes for a pops concert, where the fan is quite distracting. I would like something that has either a thermally activated fan, or no fan, as well as a good quiet power supply. I've noticed that a lot of lower priced amps (even Hi-Fi amps) tend to have humm at 50hz.

The Markbass looks like just the ticket, although I wish it were even smaller and lighter. Are there other options within this criteria range?
Robobass

robobass · #2 04-16-2008, 04:29 AM

I have been reading about the Ashdown Little Giant. There is a TB thread on the BG side here. This thing is a little bigger than the Markbass, but looks very interesting.
Robobass

el_mariachi · #3 04-16-2008, 06:27 AM

not sure if the new Genz-Benz Shuttle amps are shipping over there, but those have had a pretty good buzz on the slab and DB forums. I myself am thinking of getting the Shuttle 3.0-10T combo for DB use. the only weakness in my opinion is that it isn't 2 Ohm capable. Other than that, an Acoustic Image Clarus head is another great DB amplifier that is very portable (and IS 2 Ohm capable).

robobass · #4 04-16-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_mariachi

not sure if the new Genz-Benz Shuttle amps are shipping over there(and IS 2 Ohm capable).

Don't know. Good exercise on demonstrating how hackable Google really is. I filtered my search to only websites coming from Germany or at least in German, and only totally bull§%&t websites or American ones came up!

It looks like something to consider, but I would want to buy it here. The thing about power amps is that EU mains power is a bit more challenging to filter properly. As I learned with my Hartke, and some of my Hi-Fi stuff, even if the unit is dual voltage, it may not run very well on 50 hz.

When you buy imports here, you often pay a painful premium, but you get a longer warranty (required by German /EU law) and you have somewhere to return the item if things don't work out.

Still, it looks like a nice little number!
Robobass

bolo · #5 04-19-2008, 11:34 PM

I could be wrong, but from what I can tell, the LM 250 is the LM II's "little brother." I don't know to be honest how similar the two heads sound. But I think there are lots of posts in this forum re: the LM II for upright, most of them generally positive. Also looks like the 250 is about 25% less than the LM II in price (U.S.).

Jake · #6 04-20-2008, 12:04 AM

What about an Acoustic Image Clarus 1? I got mine brand new for less than $600.

thesneakyjesus · #7 05-02-2008, 08:37 PM

I've got a little mark II and I have an AI amp, the clarus. The clarus's notch filter is the best feedback figther I've ever had. I'd use just the LM II though if I had the choice. One amp.. just more easy.

check out the fdeck pre. I bet that plus a LMII would be the perfect bet. I'm going to pick one up soon.

The LMII is my favorite electric bass amp right now though. Very flexible.

If you wanted tubeyness... the mesa boogie walkabout is the best amp in the world, no joke.

Reuben · #8 05-03-2008, 07:22 AM

It may not be the solution for you, but I have pretty good results with this:

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showit...150S&ovtac=CMP

BUt if money weren't a barrier I might get a LMII. I played though one on tour last year and I thought it was really nice.

Stumpy · #9 05-03-2008, 07:35 AM

Look here...
http://www.eden-electronics.com/prod...iv/wtx260.aspx

It is 3.8 lbs and is between 250 and 300watts.

**Freddels** · #10 05-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

It may not be the solution for you, but I have pretty good results with this:

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showit...150S&ovtac=CMP

BUt if money weren't a barrier I might get a LMII. I played though one on tour last year and I thought it was really nice.

You can get a better price on GK products at RMCaudio.com

Reuben · #11 05-07-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

You can get a better price on GK products at RMCaudio.com

Yes, I didn't mean my link to be a recommendation of sam ash, just of the amp they (and others) sell.

**Damon Rondeau** · #12 05-07-2008, 08:39 AM

Another vote for the AI Clarus. I gig a lot and haven't run into a single DB situation yet where I wish I had something else.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #13 05-07-2008, 09:16 AM

Having been down this road before; trying Ampeg, SWR, Eden, and now AI, I can only recommend the latter. The Acoustic Image is the only head I own because it sounds great and has all the right features to do any type of gig.
Were I in the market for a low priced head, I'd buy an older Clarus or Focus and be very happy. Life's too short to try to get by with a $1.29 mentality.

Marc Piane · #14 05-07-2008, 09:39 AM

Depends on what you need it for. AI is great stuff but not 'lower priced' IMO. I paid $500 for my used Clarus III. A good price but still a nice chunk of change. Like I've said I still use the GK MB150 combo regularly. For small rooms or small stages where a small footprint and not a ton of volume is necessary it can't be beat. Toolbox. Different amps are good for different stuff. I've seen just the heads used for $250.

fdeck · #15 05-07-2008, 07:34 PM

I suspect that one can consider any of the lightweight heads to be a long term investment, as it is unlikely that they will get even smaller anytime soon.

A compromise, not in the lightweight category, but still fairly portable, is the GK Backline 600 head. But even though I wrote a glowing review of that amp, it has been sidelined by a Micro300 simply due to the portability of the latter.

To make an amp better than the Micro300 will probably require something digital happening in the preamp. If I don't invent it first.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #16 05-07-2008, 08:29 PM

Francis and Marc,
My point IS that these things should be looked at as long term purchases. Sure, you might have good luck with a GK head or whatever, but is $500 really a lot of money for something that you could play hundreds of gigs with? If you only made $50 per gig and used it on a hundred gigs, it would pay for itself ten times over and still be worth about $500. Just a little perspective. I found a Focus 2R III for $965 and didn't think twice about it because it's going to hold its value. However, aside from the extra channel and a very slight increase in audible power, it isn't much more serviceable than the single channel Clarus I let go.
Robo,
I've tried the LMII and think it's a nice amp, but I prefer AI because it is a bit lighter and probably has a better reputation for long term service. It sounds nice enough. I haven't seen the lower powered LM.

fdeck · #17 05-07-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

Francis and Marc,
My point IS that these things should be looked at as long term purchases. Sure, you might have good luck with a GK head or whatever, but is $500 really a lot of money for something that you could play hundreds of gigs with? If you only made $50 per gig and used it on a hundred gigs, it would pay for itself ten times over and still be worth about $500. Just a little perspective. I found a Focus 2R III for $965 and didn't think twice about it because it's going to hold its value. However, aside from the extra channel and a very slight increase in audible power, it isn't much more serviceable than the single channel Clarus I let go.
Robo,
I've tried the LMII and think it's a nice amp, but I prefer AI because it is a bit lighter and probably has a better reputation for long term service. It sounds nice enough. I haven't seen the lower powered LM.

+1

I would agree that going straight for a lightweight head makes the most sense.

robobass · #18 05-08-2008, 05:52 AM

The thing about the LM 250 is it's got the balanced in. That would be convenient with my Schertler Pre II-A. A LM 250 just went for 306 Euros on German Ebay. I'm kicking myself that I wasn't fast enough. I agree that a good head is worth spending money on, but it's just gonna hafta wait. I seem to have fixed my Hartke, I don't play amplified all that often, Baby on the way, just bought a condo in Cologne...Damn. Hey everyone, please buy some Capos!

Robobass

wingnut · #19 05-08-2008, 08:53 AM

Hey Robobass, congrats on the baby, they're a lot of fun (but you won't get much sleep). Back when I got my LMII, I did compare it to the little 250. There really was no comparison. If all you ever played were low volume coffee houses it would work. However it gets no where near as loud as the LMII. In the real world, the weight difference wasn't that big of a deal. You can turn the LMII down if you need to. But with the 250, once you run out of room you're done. It clips sooner and and farts out at lower volume, for a little extra money the LMII is a much better buy.

robobass · #20 05-09-2008, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut

If all you ever played were low volume coffee houses it would work. However it gets no where near as loud as the LMII.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I very rarely need it for any real volume, but when I do, well, it's got to work. My symphony did a pops concert last month and several pieces had a separate Pizz bass book. The pizzes weren't being heard, and so I brought in my jazz (upright) bass and my rig. Only at the dress did I discover my Hartke was flipping out at the high volumes. It wasn't good.

Robobass