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A Markbass LMII Skeptic weighs in!

scotch

scotch

It's not rocket science!
Nov 12, 2006
6,944
2,083
51
Albany, NY USA
www.justinoscarcary.com
Disclosures
Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
#1
Allright, I've read so much about the LMII on these boards that it's both intriguing & annoying.
Intriguing because there must be something special about an amp that gets so much attention.
Annoying because LMII fans seem to think it's the perfect amp for every situation (ex. "What's a good alternative to my grindy ole' SVT?" answer: "LMII's sound just like an SVT!!!") :eyebrow:.

Anyway, instead of continuing to wonder what the big deal is, I put one through its paces today. I used a Geddy Lee Jazz & Music Man 5 string through the LMII driving a Markbass 2x10 and 1x15.

The most important thing in an amp, for me, is tone. I have to say that with the eq set flat & no VLE or VPF - it sounded great. Very clear and loud with plenty of headroom. Nothing special, but a great, solid transparent amp that gets plenty loud for almost any engagement. The eq points are really well chosen & make it easy to dial in the "usual" benchmark tones. That is except for anything "dirty". The preamp just keeps getting louder, but stays clean. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on who you are.
The amp responds fast & sounds clean and natural throughout its volume range.
The VPF does the usual mid-scoop thing very well. Most amps have a fixed cut range & it is nice that the LMII lets you vary how much to use. I don't use very much mid-cut personally, but I definitely prefer the variable control on the Markbass. It's a great idea that works perfectly!
The VLE. So many people rave about how the VLE morphs the LMII from a modern super clean amp to a vintage sounding "tube-like" amp. I don't get that at all! It sounds like it all it is is a sloping high-frequency cut. Almost like a passive tone control on a bass. High-cut does not a "tube amp" make!

Size & weight. Not a huge concern for me. It definitely is small & light, but not like the Markbass F1 or an Acoustic Image, etc. I can't imagine trying to squeeze the LMII into a gigbag along with the power cable, cables, etc. It's small, but not that small! It seems like you're still going to need a rack case or something similar to transport it anyway! It is impressive that so much volume can come out of it, granted. The small size seems more of a novelty to me. If it was closer to the F1 in size, then I get the advantage.

Construction/reliability. This is an important issue to me as well. Since I only played it in the store, I can't begin to comment on reliability. The chassis seems solid. The knobs, however, are pretty flimsy. I definitely see those things getting busted after some serious touring, unless you mount it in a good case. Which seems to negate the whole small-size form factor! ? The knobs are also so small & close together (it is a compact amp, I realize). It's no problem dialing it in on the showroom floor or living room, but in the middle of a song on a dark stage - it's going to be a little tricky!

Anyway, I was impressed with how good the little thing sounds. I'm not sure the wheel has been re-invented here, but the LMII definitely isn't a toy! It's possible my needs & expectations aren't typical, but I'm going to go ahead and give the LMII some "props". Is it the best thing since sliced bread? I don't think so, but it's a nice crusty loaf all the same!
 
#2
scotch said:
Allright, I've read so much about the LMII on these boards that it's both intriguing & annoying.
Intriguing because there must be something special about an amp that gets so much attention.
Annoying because LMII fans seem to think it's the perfect amp for every situation (ex. "What's a good alternative to my grindy ole' SVT?" answer: "LMII's sound just like an SVT!!!") :eyebrow:.

Anyway, instead of continuing to wonder what the big deal is, I put one through its paces today. I used a Geddy Lee Jazz & Music Man 5 string through the LMII driving a Markbass 2x10 and 1x15.

The most important thing in an amp, for me, is tone. I have to say that with the eq set flat & no VLE or VPF - it sounded great. Very clear and loud with plenty of headroom. Nothing special, but a great, solid transparent amp that gets plenty loud for almost any engagement. The eq points are really well chosen & make it easy to dial in the "usual" benchmark tones. That is except for anything "dirty". The preamp just keeps getting louder, but stays clean. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on who you are.
The amp responds fast & sounds clean and natural throughout its volume range.
The VPF does the usual mid-scoop thing very well. Most amps have a fixed cut range & it is nice that the LMII lets you vary how much to use. I don't use very much mid-cut personally, but I definitely prefer the variable control on the Markbass. It's a great idea that works perfectly!
The VLE. So many people rave about how the VLE morphs the LMII from a modern super clean amp to a vintage sounding "tube-like" amp. I don't get that at all! It sounds like it all it is is a sloping high-frequency cut. Almost like a passive tone control on a bass. High-cut does not a "tube amp" make!

Size & weight. Not a huge concern for me. It definitely is small & light, but not like the Markbass F1 or an Acoustic Image, etc. I can't imagine trying to squeeze the LMII into a gigbag along with the power cable, cables, etc. It's small, but not that small! It seems like you're still going to need a rack case or something similar to transport it anyway! It is impressive that so much volume can come out of it, granted. The small size seems more of a novelty to me. If it was closer to the F1 in size, then I get the advantage.

Construction/reliability. This is an important issue to me as well. Since I only played it in the store, I can't begin to comment on reliability. The chassis seems solid. The knobs, however, are pretty flimsy. I definitely see those things getting busted after some serious touring, unless you mount it in a good case. Which seems to negate the whole small-size form factor! ? The knobs are also so small & close together (it is a compact amp, I realize). It's no problem dialing it in on the showroom floor or living room, but in the middle of a song on a dark stage - it's going to be a little tricky!

Anyway, I was impressed with how good the little thing sounds. I'm not sure the wheel has been re-invented here, but the LMII definitely isn't a toy! It's possible my needs & expectations aren't typical, but I'm going to go ahead and give the LMII some "props". Is it the best thing since sliced bread? I don't think so, but it's a nice crusty loaf all the same!
Click to expand...

Great review. You're absolutely right about the way the VPE functions. Regarding "tube sound," Markbass specifically states that the purpose of the amp is to preserve the natural sound of the instrument (clean only). At 6.39 lbs and a small footprint, it does not require a rack at all, but can be carried in a small padded bag similar to a laptop bag, or even a briefcase.

The knobs are also so small & close together (it is a compact amp, I realize). It's no problem dialing it in on the showroom floor or living room, but in the middle of a song on a dark stage - it's going to be a little tricky!
Click to expand...

This will generally be the case with all minature gear.

The knobs, however, are pretty flimsy. I definitely see those things getting busted after some serious touring, unless you mount it in a good case.
Click to expand...

It make sense to protect any gear that must stand up to the demands of touring with a good case!;)

I'm not sure the wheel has been re-invented here, but the LMII definitely isn't a toy!
Click to expand...
But what an improved wheel. :)


Is it the best thing since sliced bread? I don't think so, but it's a nice crusty loaf all the same!
Click to expand...
Ahh, like good garlic bread! :D
 
#3
Agreed, it isn't for everyone. It is, however for me! But then again, I guess I'm one of the few that, on a whole, doesn't really like all tube heads. I had a Mesa 400+ for a few months. It sounded good, but it certainly didn't wow me like I had expected it to. I like a full range and very clean sound. For me, the LMII delivers that in spades. I'm not sure why anyone would say it can replace an SVT. It can't. If an SVT is your sound, then that is pretty much your only choice! Some things come close, but nothing will deliver the satisfaction of the real thing. I get that satisfaction from my LMII and carvin LS-1503 cab. I count myself very lucky... my bass rig cost me less than $900! :) I carry mine around in a padded laptop bag. And for what it's worth, I can now carry my entire rig including bass into a venue in one trip. It took me 3 trips with my last rig, and multiple back strains. I love it!
 
#8
LOL...OK, we've had our fun, let's get back to being serious.

Even though I disagree with Scotch that it's not the best thing since sliced bread, I totally feel like it's the best clean-sounding solid state amp out there now. I do miss a tube amp's ability to dirty itself up, but to be honest, my days of playing live with a distorted tone are pretty well over, and if for some reason I may need overdrive or distortion live occasionally, I can get it out of either my EBS Microbass II or my modded Rat II pedal. Not the same as boosting a tube amp into the red, but close enough for a ZZ Top song or a short Sly solo.

I think it was a fair review. I would agree with Scotch about the VLE's function, but since the LM II already sounds like clean tubes without any tone shaping (argue with me all you want, but I've AB'd it with a B -15N head), I think the VLE does a remarkable job of cutting just the right highs to either fatten up an already tubelike sound, or to give a reggae bassist full-on dub tone. Its purpose was not to make it sound more tubelike, but to roll off just the right highs for thicker sounds, and it works like a charm.

As for reliability, mine's held up for almost two weeks now! But I hear reports on here from people who have had them over two years and never had a problem. I also hear from people who occasionally report problems with them, but Markbass and GC are quick to hop on them as best as they can, and that's all you can really ask. If an amp breaks down, chances are it's going to do it in the first two years if it's a manufacturing defect, so at least it's covered by warranty. Of course, nobody wants to hear that when they're on a gig and it doesn't work, but all amps break down occasionally, even the most roadworthy, so I believe that my amps and cabs will be as roadworthy as anything.

At the very least, the LM II is an extremely important step in getting solid state amps to sound and respond like tubes. If you're a tube nut like me, no solid state or hybrid amp can truly please you in every way, but for clean sounds, I'm fully pleased with the Markbass.
 
#11
Chadds, is that your opinion or an expression of true belief? ;)

GK has great tone but it never had the punch I could get with an SVT. MB does. So for me, MB wins. But it's not like GK is too heavy to use or too limited in its tone. Before anyone blames their amp for poor tone, you should be able to get a great tone out of any amp that works by simple virtue of your playing. After that, it's all about taste and nothing more.
 
#12
I know I'm just reacting to the hype. :) They sound good not special. This is all subjective. There are so many good SS ones out there. WW, EA, Clarus, Glockenklang, Epifani. They have their strengths and individual sonic signatures. Just not that small or in that price range. I heard some distortion inherent in the F1 and MBII that I think is the quality of the components to make the price point. They are great and for audiences who love mp3s what can I say.
After my test I thought they were great for musicians moving up. They truly are a great value and the sign of better things to come from all manufacturers.
Brad Johnson sounds heavenly on his. Yes, a good musician can do it on less than adequate gear. That musician doesn't have to buy less than adequate gear if he can choose and afford other gear though.
 
#13
I don't know...I can afford way more than $600 for an amp and I chose Markbass as my stage gear. I see nothing at all MP3-like about its tone whatsoever. I don't hear sounds like a college educated musicologist, but I can tell great from good.
 
#14
chadds said:
I know I'm just reacting to the hype. :) They sound good not special. This is all subjective. There are so many good SS ones out there. WW, EA, Clarus, Glockenklang, Epifani. They have their strengths and individual sonic signatures. Just not that small or in that price range. I heard some distortion inherent in the F1 and MBII that I think is the quality of the components to make the price point. They are great and for audiences who love mp3s what can I say.
After my test I thought they were great for musicians moving up. They truly are a great value and the sign of better things to come from all manufacturers.
Brad Johnson sounds heavenly on his. Yes, a good musician can do it on less than adequate gear. That musician doesn't have to buy less than adequate gear if he can choose and afford other gear though.
Click to expand...

So... sounding "heavenly" is not as good as needing to sound "special?" I would think that if an amp is capable of allowing a given musician [Brad] to sound "heavenly," then that makes it "special" enough - at least for that musician's needs. If it meets that requirement, it can't really be considered "less than adequate" either, IMO.

You hit the nail on the head when you said, "This is all subjective." The LMII does sound special - to me. Therefore, it is special - to me. If it's not special to you, that's totally cool, and you may be happier using a different amp. It's great we all have so many types to choose from!
 
#16
JimmyM said:
I don't know...I can afford way more than $600 for an amp and I chose Markbass as my stage gear. I see nothing at all MP3-like about its tone whatsoever. I don't hear sounds like a college educated musicologist, but I can tell great from good.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean it sounds mp3 like. Someone always chimes in and says that the audience can't tell the difference so why get good gear. I was responding before that happened.:) :eek:

About Brad, he's a stellar player. Since I've never heard anyone else use a Brubaker and Nahas cabs and an MBII the "heavenly" could be those elements combined with his great touch. Brubakers do sound great.

The F1 and the MBII sound average to me. YMMV and has. I can't possibly have heard all the combinations of touch and cabs everyone is using.

There's a unique blend in the LMII that's satisfying the tube folks and the SS folks. Very cool. Enjoy.
 
#17
My LMII has held up perfectly for almost 12 months-gigging 1 or 2 x a week. I agree it's a great amp & IMO sounds better than all the S.S. amps I've tried B4. But "tube like" Not in my opinion!!! Not a BIT!!!!! Good sounding-YES!! Mine sounds good with Passive basses & actives & my EUB. But No way it sounds anywhere near like an all tube amp!! Not to my ears anyway.
 
#18
Rodl, do you have a tube amp you can AB it with? Because IMHO, you can't really appreciate how much it sounds like clean tubes unless you AB it with a tube amp in the same cab.
 
#19
JimmyM I've got a V4B & a SVT2 - I also A/B'd it with my Fender 300PRO as well as the two mentioned already! This just my opinion tho! The V4 AND SVT2(non pro) sound warm & "tubey" the LMII sounds GREAT BUT IMHO NOT at all tube like!!! But then neither does ANY amp I've tried that isn't ALL tube. I've tried MANY S.S. AND Hybrids....& IMHO NONE sound tube like unless they've a tube power amp!!!
 
#20
V4B...my first tube amp! I miss it greatly...damn bar electrical fire!

Well, obviously you have high standards ;) And I'd never say it sounds like power tubes being driven hard, but it's so close to the clean tube sound for me that I really don't think I could tell the difference except for the lower noise floor.
 

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