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After LMII? I find no replacement....

A

AlexanderB

Feb 25, 2007
4,204
2,181
Sweden
#1
What have you bought to replace the LMII with? I have one, will probably never sell it, but I need one more amp, preferrably with more power, and not too large. A 2 RU height is OK, 3 is not. The preamp in Markbass LM models is very good for my needs, and I need something similar. 4 band EQ, no baked in voicing, very clean, with extended lows etc.

Have tried Markbass Ninja, EBS Reidmar and Classic heads, Fender Rumble, TH500 and others. Many are not worth giving a test run, as the spec is clearly NOT what I want (MESA, Darkglass, Tech21 etc).

I am open to moderate size "lead sleds", like Hartke AH series or EBS HD360 (which has all the wrong EQ for me).
 
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#2
The class D amps from Markbass sound clearly different from the LMII, and also different from my QSC PLX and RMX amps, which are my references, LMII aside.

Not interested in another class D discussion, as my goal is finding a partner to the LMII....
 
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#3
What about an EBS Classic 500, which is another class AB head. Or, finding a Mesa M3, M6, or M9? I regrettably sold an M3 a few years back. It hit way harder than it's advertised 300w.
 
#5
Thank you for the reply.
In general, EBS amps have eq points all wrong for me; bass too high and bloated, and just one mid.
The Classic is also very large, bigger than my pre+power amp rig...
MESA bass amps are very rare in Sweden, have never seen one of those models in the flesh.
 
#6
jnewmark said:
Didn't they make an LM 800 at one point ? More power, same model. Look for a used one ?
Click to expand...
I have the Ninja 1000 at home now. Same pre amp (sounds identical to me), but with 1000W class D amp. The power amp part sounds quite different from the LMII or my QSC amps, and I do not like its shortcomings. Wanted to love it, but I do not.

Used Markbass amps are few and far between, here in Sweden.
We are much poorer than you guys in US, so there is much less "mobility" for used gear. People here stick to what they have, not going for the latest model.
 
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#7
AlexanderB said:
I have the Ninja 1000 at home now. Same pre amp (sounds identical to me), but with 1000W class D amp. The power amp part sounds quite different from the LMII or my QSC amps, and I do not like its shortcomings. Wanted to love it, but I do not.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the LM800 ? I see they pop up in the Classifieds here often.
 
#8
jnewmark said:
Have you tried the LM800 ? I see they pop up in the Classifieds here often.
Click to expand...

Well, importing, sight unseen from US to Sweden is cost prohibitive. I have tried LMIII and now "LM1000", as the Ninja could be called.

However, remembering the discussions between KJUNG, Mike Arnopol, Chef and many other prominent and analytical members, the verdict was clear back then, there was no other Markbass LM that sounded like the LMII.
 
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#11
By far my favorite MB amp to date has been the TA501. 300/500W, 2RU, about 99% sure it's Class AB, and the tone was to die for, helped by the 2-band semi-parametric mids (and, oh yeah, the tube preamp gain stage). When I was playing them, they were pretty spendy, so I never pulled the trigger on one of my own, and I regret that now. My amps do what I need them to, so it's hard to justify even their used prices, which have gotten more reasonable.

These days, they change hands for about $400, but that's in the US, and shipping to Europe's going to easily add another $100-$150 onto that (not to mention that MB amps, older ones especially, can't switch supply voltages, so amps for the US market only run on 110VAC).

img_1098-jpg.jpg


A quick look at Reverb shows there's an SA450 for sale in Paris for $600, which might make shipping and power conversion a bit less painful. The SA450 is basically the TA501 with a solid-state preamp, not unlike your LMII but with the better flexibility of the midrange EQ. Markbass SA450 | bassNguitar | Reverb if you want to take a look.
hh7u2umxfdppwevizlg7.jpg
 
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#16
BigBang i think will be the closest to what you're seeking, plus BB has a little more power, BB used to be may main, when the class D800 subway came out, i shifted, BB became back up, now with the TT, D800 is now backup, BB is backup to the backup, may be i'll part :)
 
#19
This might sound
AlexanderB said:
I have the Ninja 1000 at home now. Same pre amp (sounds identical to me), but with 1000W class D amp. The power amp part sounds quite different from the LMII or my QSC amps, and I do not like its shortcomings. Wanted to love it, but I do not.

Used Markbass amps are few and far between, here in Sweden.
We are much poorer than you guys in US, so there is much less "mobility" for used gear. People here stick to what they have, not going for the latest model.
Click to expand...

How did you compare the sound of the poweramps? The LMII has the FX Return pre EQ, so there is, AFAIK no way to listen to the power amp soloed.

And are you sure you need more watts? I've used the LMII in the loudest of environments and it did suffice. I did so using either Aguilar (4x12) or barefaced cabinets.

To toss in a few more that might be interesting: Eich T-1000 (or the older model Tecamp Puma), Orange Terror Bass 500 or 1000.
The German used market has several of those and most German sellers will ship to the north.
 
#20
Thanks everyone, much appreciated!
I was not clear about it, but I would definitely prefer a new one over something 10 years old, with unknown history.

Trickfish and Glockenklang noted. I think Trickfish uses Pascal modules? Layout and EQ seems ok.
Need to look for more specs on Glockenklang. A lot of money for not being my "big amp", as that role is covered by my rack mount pre+power amp setup.
 

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