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Another LMKII thread?!?!

Johno Dunn

Johno Dunn

Mar 22, 2007
6,110
8,500
64
Santa Barbara, CA
artoffunkband.com
#1
I'm GASsing big time for a LMKII, and I was going to pull the trigger on the Mini 12 combo, but eventually I would like to go with an LMKII/Schroeder (1212L, 4ohm) pairing.
The problem is I can't afford much more then the $850 that the combo goes for right now. I'm considering the LMKII head ($600) paired with a 4ohm sb112 Avatar cab ($270) until I can afford the Schroe.
Has anyone used this pairing or have any thoughts or ideas for another cab around the $250 mark that might be better?

Thanks in advance,

Johno!
 
#2
Go for the LMII Bass head...forget the combo. I bought a CD210 (LMII with 2 x 10 & horn). When I got home I A-B it to my Epifani 2 x 10. Dude, no comparison......the Epi blew it away. I actally took the combo to a gig the day I bought it...........and the fan / amp powered down. The fan did it's job, but it seems the air flow in the combo didn't work.
I took the combo back, chilled out for the LMII bass head. I love that little guy.....with either my Epifani UL210, Epifani UL310, or Bergantino HT322 (1-12", 2 x 10", horn).
zI still don't think the LMII will replace my Epifani UL502 amp...but man, for the money...you can't beat it.
I'm not impressed with their cabs however. Again, just my opinion.
 
#5
I probably get blasted for saying this....but I'm not at all impressed with the Schroeder bass cabs. I think my Epi UL cabs & Berg sound much better. I've played allot of cabs in my lifetime, SWR, Eden, Ampeg, Mesa, Hartke, etc.....IMO the Epi & Berg's are the best cabs made.
Again, strictly my opinion.

Good luck!

Kev
 
#8
What I'm looking for is one good, light, stand-alone cab that can take the 500 watts the LMKII puts out, and give me a enough volume to get over a moderatly loud drummer. We play Meters type jazz, in medium to small sized clubs.
I've never played through a Schroeder, so I guess I'm just going on the hype. Any thoughts?

Johno!
 
#9
Johno,
Believe it or not..Epifani's 2 x 10 @ 4 ohms. I use this set up at smaller gigs/ venues....and it rocks. More than enough for what you describe. I would inquire on a used one...save some money.

Remember, the LMII is rated @ 500 W into an 4 ohm load. Also, the LMII is a loud amp. Again, I prefer my Epi.....but that amp cost around $1,000.00 more. I'm sure the DI, etc is alittle better than the LMII......but again for the money...that amp can't be beat.

Best of luck!

Kev:bassist:
 
#10
The Schroeders are not Hype if you want to get the max out of that LMKII Head they will get loud as HE** And still sound good depending on what sound you are looking for. If you want Old Shool Undefined mud then Schroeders are not for you.But if you want clean sound maybe missing a touch in the very bottom but otherwise very articulate then you should check them out. All cabs are not for everyone and some will like them As I do and others will like a different sound. But you owe it to yourself to check them out. I have several cabs (Genz Benz,Aguilar,Bergantino,Peavey,Ampeg,Mesa). They all sound different but I like variety. I have played through Schroeder cabs and am impressed with how loud they can get and still stay clean and clear and punchy.
 
#11
Johno Dunn said:
What I'm looking for is one good, light, stand-alone cab that can take the 500 watts the LMKII puts out, and give me a enough volume to get over a moderatly loud drummer. We play Meters type jazz, in medium to small sized clubs.
I've never played through a Schroeder, so I guess I'm just going on the hype. Any thoughts?

Johno!
Click to expand...

+1 to most of the above. The EpiUL line sounds GREAT with the LMII. I would personally stay away from the 210UL and move to the 310UL. The 310UL is just a little bigger, just a little more expensive, just a little heavier (47 pounds), and puts out WAY more sound than the 210UL. That is a light, powerful, full sounding rig, and the 310UL is tall enough to use with castors, so no cart to mess with.

The LMII also sounds very good IMO with the Schroeder cabs, especially the 1212L. It too is very light ( about 40 pounds), and as posted above, is very loud. However, I can understand why some would not like it. It is very mid punchy and tight sounding, versus, for example, the EpiUL line.

Many like the LMII Berg HT112/EX112 stack also.. nice, and it kind of falls in the middle of the Epi310UL/1212L tone... not quite as wide and deep as the 310UL and more punchy, but more even and with better low end extension and less mid voiced than the 1212L.

So, depends what you want. From the description of your playing style, and your goal of lightweight, the 310UL/LMII is killer IMO. You will just have to save your pennies!
 
#12
KJung said:
+1 to most of the above. The EpiUL line sounds GREAT with the LMII. I would personally stay away from the 210UL and move to the 310UL. The 310UL is just a little bigger, just a little more expensive, just a little heavier (47 pounds), and puts out WAY more sound than the 210UL. That is a light, powerful, full sounding rig, and the 310UL is tall enough to use with castors, so no cart to mess with.

The LMII also sounds very good IMO with the Schroeder cabs, especially the 1212L. It too is very light ( about 40 pounds), and as posted above, is very loud. However, I can understand why some would not like it. It is very mid punchy and tight sounding, versus, for example, the EpiUL line.

Many like the LMII Berg HT112/EX112 stack also.. nice, and it kind of falls in the middle of the Epi310UL/1212L tone... not quite as wide and deep as the 310UL and more punchy, but more even and with better low end extension and less mid voiced than the 1212L.

So, depends what you want. From the description of your playing style, and your goal of lightweight, the 310UL/LMII is killer IMO. You will just have to save your pennies!
Click to expand...


What about the SD800 and a Shroeder cab?
 
#13
bugbass said:
What about the SD800 and a Shroeder cab?
Click to expand...

I still need to spend some time with that. After a very brief listen, I preferred the LMII with the 1212L. The 1212L is so efficient and the LMII is plenty loud, and the 1212L benefited from the warmer voicing of the LMII versus the more hi fi sort of vibe (to my ear anyway) of the SD800. I'm again TOTALLY digging the SD800 and then new version of the 410UL.
 
#15
Johno Dunn said:
To get back to the original question (sort of) would an SB112 Avatar w/the LMKII head, be a better bet then the Mini 12 combo?

Johno!
Click to expand...

Sorry about that! I am not familiar with the Avatar cab, but I'm with the others above... the LMII is quite an amazing head, and makes most cabs sound great. Getting the separate head would allow you to easily upgrade the cab (or get a second SB112 if you end up liking it... you would need to get the 8 ohm version, which would be fine. A single 112 will run out of steam long before the LMII does, even at 8ohms/300 watts IMO) down the road.

I don't think any single 112, combo or not, is enough to to even a moderate sized gig IME.
 
#17
Johno Dunn said:
To get back to the original question (sort of) would an SB112 Avatar w/the LMKII head, be a better bet then the Mini 12 combo?

Johno!
Click to expand...

i would say so.. i tried the LMII through the MB 2x10 today at GC with a bongo and i thought the cab wasnt all that great:hiding: so i hooked it up to an ampeg 4x10he cab and it sounded pretty damn good
 
#18
Johno Dunn said:
My Gorm 210 does the trick at all the gigs we are doing now. I've never played through a 1x12. Would there be that much difference?

Johno!
Click to expand...


In general, a high quality single 112 will not compete very well with a similarly high quality 210... less bottom, less volume. However, two 112's will easily outperform a 210 (again, in general, and assuming similar general design, etc.).

Again, IMO and IME, given that the 300 watts of the LMII should be able to drive any 8ohm 112 to its limits, it seems that the single Avatar 8ohm 112 paired with the LMII would be a reasonable start, given your budget situation. If it sounds good to you, but isn't quite loud enough, adding another would result in WAY more volume and low end, and still be a nice small rig. If you end up not liking the 112 much, you can save your money, sell it, and get something bigger/different.

All IMO. It's hard to know how much volume is OK for an individual. However, even though I'm a HUGE fan of a single 4ohm cab, a small 112 would not seem to benefit much from 4ohm configuration (versus a larger cab that can easily handle to additional power).
 
#19
Never heard an avatar in person, but as others have said the MB cabs are not all that and a bag of chips (as the Brits say).

Personally I run a LMII and a schroe 1212R and I LOVE it! No more GAS for me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but to say they sound "horrible" is just plain misleading in my opinion. With the 40hz lows available on the LMII you can pump all the lows you would ever need into the 1212 and it will take it without a hitch. Personally, I have yet had the need to do so, but I do bump up the VLE to 9:00 which does accentuate the lows somewhat. Its a great cab. Dont let other people make up your mind for you. You have to listen for yourself and decide if its vibe is right for you. The UL310 is the only other cab that I think is worthy of comparison in terms of size and weight. However, these cabs sound completely different. I sold my UL310 to fund buying my 1212R and I am so glad I did.

Here's a link to a sound clip of Smash playing thru his 1212R with a Carvin B1500. This is a fairly accurate representation of the tone of the 1212R IMO.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2668935&postcount=80
 

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