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Noticed something with the Markbass amps

BullHorn

BullHorn

Nov 23, 2006
1,838
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#1
I noticed that compared to other amps that I tried, like Ampeg B1-RE and Eden 405, the Markbass amplifiers seem to have a weird way to amplify low frequency notes (Below G#). I began noticing that it's alot harder to determine whether I'm playing F or F#, for example, with the Markbass. I tried using different speakers (An Ampeg 410 cabinet that sounded fine the the Ampeg B1-RE head) and it was obvious that the amplifier is responsible.

I tried this with an LMKII at a shop because I was experiencing the same thing with my own 210 Markbass combo.

I'm playing with an Std. MIA Jazz Bass so it's quite universal and I also tried some active Sandbergs and a Warwick Corvette with all those amplifier combinations and mixes.

Markbass's low-end sound iffy to me. Is it just my ears, my technique or is there really something going on with the Markbass amplfiers? Maybe they were not meant to go under G#? ._.
 
#4
Low end on all of mine is even and clean. My guess is, the relatively transparent voicing all the way down low is allowing you to hear some things in your instruments that you might not have heard before:smug:
 
#5
Since the use of those notes is quite common on four string basses, I'd think that many other players would have made the same observation if it indeed was a characteristic of MarkBass amps.

My observation was the opposite: I can tell low notes much better since I went from an SWR rig to MarkBass.

Did you observe this in the same room or at different locations?
 
#10
I've used a friends Markbass Amp on a few occasions, and have found it difficult to get good higher end. But, I haven't been able to mess around with the settings as much for my own liking, as it's not my amp, so I can only assume that with some adjustments, you could get a good tone out of it.
 
#13
KJung said:
Low end on all of mine is even and clean. My guess is, the relatively transparent voicing all the way down low is allowing you to hear some things in your instruments that you might not have heard before:smug:
Click to expand...

yes, good point Ken. My LM11 is as clean as a whistle. I know you don't think it's the bass, but something tells me it's possible, but only in combination with that amp. I've experienced poor definition with those same notes, but only on my Sadowsky. Nature of the beast, mine anyway. I've only noticed it on my other basses when they've had bum strings on them.
 
#17
It is not the bass because I also tried a Sandberg at the shop. I tried it with Markbass 2x10 cab, 4x10 and Ampeg 4x10. It felt persistant with each cab but was eliminated I switched to a different amplifier.

It sounded this way to me with more than one Markbass amplifier and it really bothers me that nobody else around it hears it but everyone I was with at the shop DID hear it.

Opinions seem to be very straightforward here. Maybe it was actually the room setting (But why does it not happen with other amplifiers in that room? Why did it also happen at the gig I played two days ago?).
 

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