I replaced mine with a F1, then eventually replaced that with my, current, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500. All had/have more than enough power for my own needs.
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After LMII? I find no replacement....
- Thread starter AlexanderB
- Start date
If you're an EE you probably won't have an issue handling the BB800's subtractive EQ. Basically you remove what you don't want vs. boosting. Of course you don't need s degree to use these. Good luck.
I think the bottom line, for whatever reason, is that no other amplifier sounds exactly the same as the Little Mark 2 (or the early class AB output Little Mark 3). I found the class D LM3 to be very very close to the class AB LM3 and assumed the 1000 watt Ninja would be the closest thing to a supercharged LM3 but if you say not then I don't think what you are looking for exists.
The Ninja has simply two LM3 class D power sections combined to produce 1000 watts output. You may be able to use two LM2 to give you a higher power class AB solution.
The Ninja has simply two LM3 class D power sections combined to produce 1000 watts output. You may be able to use two LM2 to give you a higher power class AB solution.
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Soooo.... An update....
I kept the Ninja, as to perhaps use as a backup. Brought both LMII and Ninja to band "jam". Not really a band yet, but a new constellation of musicians. Nord leads through PA or Leslie, guitar via Kemper and PA, good rehearsal kit for the drummer. Yamaha 12" active tops.
Anyways, the practice studio is big and soaks power, big time. I played my passive five string Jazz bass.
Started the first 3-4 songs on the Ninja, and found its tone and power to work well with these conditions.
Then swapped for the LMII, and we took the same song again. Everyone, including me, preferred the Ninja! The difference in tone was very obvious! At that kind of SPL needed, the LMII shortcomings in sheer output power, combined with the additional "bloom" in the lows (further taxing the output section) really showed.
Tone was way muddier, and articulation lost.
To sum it up, it all works out in the end. I wil use the great sounding LMII for low key, lower SPL gigs (playing jazzier or singer songwriter material), and the Ninja where more brute power is needed for rock or larger stages. Still have the rack pre + QSC PLX power, if needed, or to run more cabs.
Again, I will go back to point out how much people are missing by too small of an amp. The SVT-410HLF, as I said many times before, will be muddy and veiled with a small amp, even at moderate volumes. With my rack rig, or the Ninja, it is articulate and big sounding, no mud...
I kept the Ninja, as to perhaps use as a backup. Brought both LMII and Ninja to band "jam". Not really a band yet, but a new constellation of musicians. Nord leads through PA or Leslie, guitar via Kemper and PA, good rehearsal kit for the drummer. Yamaha 12" active tops.
Anyways, the practice studio is big and soaks power, big time. I played my passive five string Jazz bass.
Started the first 3-4 songs on the Ninja, and found its tone and power to work well with these conditions.
Then swapped for the LMII, and we took the same song again. Everyone, including me, preferred the Ninja! The difference in tone was very obvious! At that kind of SPL needed, the LMII shortcomings in sheer output power, combined with the additional "bloom" in the lows (further taxing the output section) really showed.
Tone was way muddier, and articulation lost.
To sum it up, it all works out in the end. I wil use the great sounding LMII for low key, lower SPL gigs (playing jazzier or singer songwriter material), and the Ninja where more brute power is needed for rock or larger stages. Still have the rack pre + QSC PLX power, if needed, or to run more cabs.
Again, I will go back to point out how much people are missing by too small of an amp. The SVT-410HLF, as I said many times before, will be muddy and veiled with a small amp, even at moderate volumes. With my rack rig, or the Ninja, it is articulate and big sounding, no mud...
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Thank you for your comment. Well, they are not "very, very close" in sound, once the rubber hits the road, at least for me. See above post.
It's great to hear the Ninja is that good. I have never needed to push my 500 watt MB heads to their limit so I probably didn't get to the point where the differences become apparent. I have an 800 watt class D MoMark frame which demonstrates the same differences as you mention to my LM2. The lesson here is that 800/1000 watt heads are best used where their high power is really needed and the 500 watters run out of puff.
The bad news for me is that you've reinstated my GAS for a Ninja penthouse apartment on my Markbass amp tower!
Lots of amps there....
Do you gig? What genre and stages? What is your preferred cab?
I have tried some Markbass cabs and found them very disparate. With Ampeg, there is a certain familiarity, with EBS ProLine, they have a similar voicing between models, etc. With Markbass, cabs were all over the map, even the same series. Some "fat and pillowy", some "nasal and forward", some "deep and open". Odd choise by the company, in my opinion.
Oh, and the Ninja is not "better" than the LMII. More powerful, sounds articulate and effortless at high SPL. (I think there is some sort of dynamic HPF going on in the power stage. The Pre out sounds virtually identical between my Markbass amps.) In other aspects, the LMII is better and gives a more honest reproduction.
The audible compression/sag in the LMII kicks in around "polite rock with real drums" level with my inefficient 4 ohm 410.
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Yes, I hope to start gigging again soon in a rock/pop function/pub covers band. The best Markbass cab I ever owned and gigged was a 4 ohm STD104HF (loaded with B&C) which was capable of huge volumes with my 500 watt heads. Too big for pubs though and had to go. I have settled on two NY121P cabs which are fantastic small speakers in my opinion when lightweight is a requirement. However, my favourite cabs of all time are my pair of Bergantino HD210 followed closely by Bergantino HT112ER and EX112ER cabs. Somehow these ceramic driver cabs just sound more balanced from top to their enormous bottom.
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