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Another Amp Transition Thread [MarkBass -> ???]

jlo95

jlo95

Dec 30, 2009
259
461
KCMO
open.spotify.com
#1
After many years it's time to change amplifiers. I've been playing a MarkBass LMIII for six or seven years now. She's treated me well, but doesn't have the character I'm looking for at the moment.

I play a lot of Rock derivatives and Singer-Songwriter music.

Currently running into two SVT 112 AV's. I really like these cabinets, especially as a pair.

Venues size: One hundred to three hundred person rooms, with PA support.

Desired tone: B-15 when playing P or J with flats. 90's Alternative/Grunge when playing rounds.

My axe is a Fender J with flats or a Stingray 5 with rounds when stuff gets heavy.

Obviously an SVT CL would be killing. But pricey and heavy. Something portable and lightweight would be ideal.

TH 500? (This seems like the obvious choice)
Ampeg PF series? (I'm worried about reliability. Especially SVT6-7pro)
GK? (too much mid scoop?)
Mesa? (too metal?)

All I've ever played is this MarkBass. I'm in no hurry to buy a new amp since my calendar is pretty light the next few months.

I've done my due diligence in reading and listening to the characteristics of these amps.

If you have any insight or have been in my shoes before. I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers,
John
 
#2
Mesa D800+ or WD or TT would be my thought. But I'm biased, having just bought a TT-800 for Blues/Jazz/Classic Rock. 2 basses, one an active PJ style with Seymour Duncan's, sounds awesome. Great mids, punches through everything. J-bass with tapes, a bit darker, smoother tones. Still cuts. Sounds amazing for jazz/blues. Tone for days.

As I said, I'm biased and don't have a lot of time with other amps. Others will be able to provide better comparisons.
 
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#15
jlo95 said:
This is my go to at the moment. I run a mild overdrive up front and that helps a ton
Click to expand...
I realise it's sometimes difficult to try other gear at the best of times but if you haven't tried either a Tech 21 BDDI v2 or their VT Bass pedals before, either is so good it would be a low risk purchase. The BDDI is extremely flexible and gives tubey warmth and more and almost the industry standard whilst the VT is obviously Ampeg tone based. There is also Ampeg's own pedals which I have never tried but I imagine they'd great too for what you want.
 
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#17
I think you're right about the Tonehammer. I've never owned a LMIII, but I had a LMII for a couple of years.
LMII vs. Tonehammer in an A/B test shows they are completely different animals.
The Tonehammer is warmer and sounds more round. The LM has a dryer sound in the lows and the highs are much harsher. What I liked about the LM was how easy it was to set up. EQ at noon and one of the filters to taste, then just a tiny twist here and there to accommodate the room and you're set. The Tonehammer is much more complex than that. Especially when it comes to clipping. On the LM you basically run clean because clipping sounds unhealthy. On the Tonehammer, you can ride the gain into clipping territory and you get tube like sounds out of it, but there's also the drive knob, which does the same, but differently.
IMHO the LM is an amp that requires a good bass, because it makes your equipment sound the way it sounds. Run a bad bass into it and no amount of twisting the knobs will get you a premium sound.
Run a great bass into the amp and leave everything at noon and you have a great sound.
The Tonehammer has more capability of masking a bad bass behind it's EQ and drive capabilities.
I've sold the LM a while back, but I doubt that I'll part with the Tonehammer.
 
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#18
Sparky Mark said:
...if you haven't tried either a Tech 21 BDDI v2 or their VT Bass pedals before, either is so good it would be a low risk purchase. The BDDI is extremely flexible and gives tubey warmth and more and almost the industry standard whilst the VT is obviously Ampeg tone based. There is also Ampeg's own pedals which I have never tried but I imagine they'd great too for what you want.
Click to expand...

Man! Just passed up a Tech 21 Blonde for a good price a couple weeks ago. Knew I shoulda grabbed it. I was using a Tube Screamer for a couple years and just picked up this absolutely killing pedal from Make Sounds Loudly. It's an SVT Pre-amp. Thing sounds kick-ass.
 
#19
el murdoque said:
I think you're right about the Tonehammer. I've never owned a LMIII, but I had a LMII for a couple of years.
LMII vs. Tonehammer in an A/B test shows they are completely different animals.
The Tonehammer is warmer and sounds more round. The LM has a dryer sound in the lows and the highs are much harsher. What I liked about the LM was how easy it was to set up. EQ at noon and one of the filters to taste, then just a tiny twist here and there to accommodate the room and you're set. The Tonehammer is much more complex than that. Especially when it comes to clipping. On the LM you basically run clean because clipping sounds unhealthy. On the Tonehammer, you can ride the gain into clipping territory and you get tube like sounds out of it, but there's also the drive knob, which does the same, but differently.
IMHO the LM is an amp that requires a good bass, because it makes your equipment sound the way it sounds. Run a bad bass into it and no amount of twisting the knobs will get you a premium sound.
Run a great bass into the amp and leave everything at noon and you have a great sound.
The Tonehammer has more capability of masking a bad bass behind it's EQ and drive capabilities.
I've sold the LM a while back, but I doubt that I'll part with the Tonehammer.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the insight! I think you're spot on with your description of the MarkBass. It is super clean and the character of my bass shines. I run it at noon almost religiously at this point and only add VPF if I'm playing the StingRay.

I concur that the upper register of the Mark can be harsh. Especially when playing with a pick. I played a TH one time and felt like it sounded similar to my Mark if I turned the VLE up. Although I never gigged the TH.

I'm really interested in the TH Gain and Drive interconnectedness. I'd love to hate a tiny bit of grit to my sound and it looks like this amp does exactly that.
 
#20
jlo95 said:
I concur that the upper register of the Mark can be harsh. Especially when playing with a pick. I played a TH one time and felt like it sounded similar to my Mark if I turned the VLE up. Although I never gigged the TH.

I'm really interested in the TH Gain and Drive interconnectedness. I'd love to hate a tiny bit of grit to my sound and it looks like this amp does exactly that.
Click to expand...

The first thing I did whenever I took the Tonehammer off my cabs and put the LMII there was reaching around and turn the horns down a good bit.

In the regard of gain and drive, the Tonehammer is so vastly different to the LM, it's nearly a polar opposite.
Look at that tiny light on those amps that flashes once the input crosses a certain threshold:
On the LM, that light yells at you to back off, with a hint of panic in its voice.
On the aguilar, that light is a much friendlier shade of orange, and when it comes on, it flashes you the sign of the horns, headbanging, and yells 'Dude, you rock!'.
 
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