A game of Pin the Head on the Cab anyone?

That note on the bottom of the post is sig-worthy . . . just sayin'

 

Why not try http://www.markbass.it/products.php?lingua=en before you go off-brand?

You may like the sound of a matched rig.

I'd imagine that Markbass' heads and cabs are voiced to complement one another.

 

What about the Gallien Krueger Fusion 550? YOu can get a great price off RMCaudio. # tubes, 6 stage preamp

 

LMk III + a VT Bass?

BTW. What part of the world do you live in?

For me the most important question re bass amps is not 'how does it sound?', it's 'where could I get it fixed?'

 

I would say any amp + a VT Bass pedal would kick it for what you're looking for. I bring a VT on the road with me just in case the SVT on my rider turns into an Eden or something equally heinoo. Makes a nifty overdrive, too. Sounds just like an SVT or B-15 in a PA or recording.

So whatever's cheapest is what I'd go with. The Ashdown is probably more up your alley, though.

 

LMII & a VTBASS pedal!!!! KILLS all of above IMO !!!!!! Oh it's an 8 ohm cab... grab another! ;-)

 

I'm curious, why with the heads you are checking and the style of music you play, did you go for the Markbass cab? I'm not saying it's bad (low weight and reliability are nice features definitely), but I wouldn't describe Markbass cabs as warm.

Also in some cases, the tube preamp does not really affect the sound much (I tried LM Tube and LM III out this weekend, I doubt if many of you could actually hear a difference!). Also Ashdown MAG/EVOII series head (without tube in preamp) sounds warmer than Hartke HA3500 with the tube in preamp IMO. What I'm saying is, don't make the false assumption that the tube in the preamp is the key - try them out and decide whether it does its job.

Of these three, I would go with the Ashdown, but I have no idea how does it sound with a Markbass cab.

 

+1 re the "TUBE IN THE PRE" biz...???? PLENTY of amps with this feature are LAME!!!

 

Has to do with the size. The port can go anywhere and it doesn't matter. I think it's a good choice as 410's go, personally. It's got a good low end but it's not all dark like a lot of those cabs can be. Sits in a mix nicely.

 

Great, a selection based on trying out several different combinations! You're on the right track If you do the same with your bass head while trying out the recommendations here, I'm sure you'll end up loving your amp.

I have to admit that I haven't played that exact cab and my experience comes from playing Markbass heads through their 102 HF cab. It explains everything that JimmyM pointed out.

 

Anything I recomend will most likely cost too much, but a note on the tube-based preamps. I have 2 hybrid heads. One has 2 12AX7's, the other a mixture of 6 tubes, (all small). Which would you think sounds tubier? Of course, it's the one with only 2. Moral of the story, don't count out anything until after you've played with it. You just never know. Best of luck in your quest.

 

Howdy

I'm from Melbourne as well and so thought I should share with a fellow Victorian. For your money check out the secondhand LMII Bass Centre has and pair it with a VT in-store. However, with the AU$ at 84c and your budget perhaps consider doing what I did and order the VT from bestbassgear.com in the States. Great service to Aus but of course no warranty cover in Australia (but it's American made and therefore very well made and solid). I've recently been running my precision and jazz basses into this combination and a markbass cl104 and it's great. I have upgraded to a Fusion 550 just because I made the mistake of plugging into one (to me, exactly what I want) but seriously the secondhand LMII plus VT is a great investment and in your price range (as you know the Fusion is another $1k). The combo will kill the Ashdown I think, if you invest some time in the VT and read all the good advice on here. The LM is just a run flat amp too, doesn't get easier than that...