Many people in europe do travel by bicycle or public transport (fuel is now $7.75 per gallon here). Not to gigs maybe, but for rehearsals sure enough. It's nice to be able to take your own head to the rehearsal studio without having to travel by car.
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I think Markbass just.....
- Thread starter USAJO
- Start date
Many people in europe do travel by bicycle or public transport (fuel is now $7.75 per gallon here). Not to gigs maybe, but for rehearsals sure enough. It's nice to be able to take your own head to the rehearsal studio without having to travel by car.
So my DarkStarred SX into my MarkBass LMII into my Avatar Neo 212 is THE combo, huh? Kewl!!!
ROFL!!
Seriously... What MarkBass is doing isn't original by far. GK has been making compact / lightweight head for years as have a few other companies. They simply added a couple of new features, made the cabs aesthetically pleasing, and got a distributorship with Guitar Center.
If that is something everbody on these forums should know is that marketing is 70% of running a corperation and the other 30% is about the actual product being sold.
Having tried a MarkBass full stack just the other day I have to say that it's not bad, but it's definitely not up to all the hype. If it comes down to tone I'll be glad to lug around my SVT-4 PRO till eternity but it's real innovative companies out there that will continue to get my business.
- Dec 18, 2000
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- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
Who would that be? By the standard you seemed to set in that last post, only a few companies like Bergantino, Phil Jones, EA, or the like would seem to qualify.
I think the Markbass magic for me isn't so much innovation as refinement of ideas to produce a total package that works in my situation.
The combination of a light but strong construction, Neo drivers, low weight power supply and an amp that sounds as good as it does, with really useable features and EQ, at a fair price just beats the other stuff out there for my own purposes. Sure, it's about marketing, but it's also about making something that isn't necessarily revolutionary but just makes use of available technology to give a lot of folks what they actually want.
I don't think any amp sells on hype alone, the product has to be right for people in the market. By the way, I think it's amazing that the newer Markbass stuff has managed to create the impact in the USA that they have with the exchange rates the way they are at present. Imagine how many guys would be raving about these if they were, say, 30% cheaper!
The combination of a light but strong construction, Neo drivers, low weight power supply and an amp that sounds as good as it does, with really useable features and EQ, at a fair price just beats the other stuff out there for my own purposes. Sure, it's about marketing, but it's also about making something that isn't necessarily revolutionary but just makes use of available technology to give a lot of folks what they actually want.
I don't think any amp sells on hype alone, the product has to be right for people in the market. By the way, I think it's amazing that the newer Markbass stuff has managed to create the impact in the USA that they have with the exchange rates the way they are at present. Imagine how many guys would be raving about these if they were, say, 30% cheaper!
Of course it's all about what "you" want.
A scooped sound is actually pretty easy to get with the LMII and the VPF. Not saying you don't know how to operate one of these but describe how you had the amp set. Many people screw up the sound by not knowing how the two voicing controls work. Simple but powerful, this became pretty obvious the first time someone said the LMII had no highs
Set flat, my LMII with an SWR Triad nailed that sound. I don't prefer that sound so I don't use that setup. The setup I do prefer doesn't have the scooped mids sound.
I had my Eden set flat across the spectrum. Then I had I had the Markbass with all the EQ set at 12 o'clock and the two filters fully counter-clockwise. It didn't sound bad I just didn't like it as much and I will say that I really liked the Markbass through someone elses SWR Golliath.
I would really like to try the Bergs out again and do a more thorough comparison between them and the schroeder.
As BRAD JOHNSON has said in this thread, he finds it pleasing that some of the ppl praising MB gear -are some ppl who earlier didn't like it! Well I'm one of these ppl !!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried one of the early LM's & at the time I didn't like the sound! But AFAI'm concerned the LMII is a different amp-seems livelier & more responsive! & yes I did know what the filters do/did- can't remember whether the early MB amp I tried had these filters on it or not! But I bought a LMII-as I said -good sound, price, features & size & weight = buy it!
I'm very happy with it. Seems- as Mr. Berlin says 'Musical' !!
It does. really responsive, powerful li'l amp. So, Yes I AM one who initially didn't like these amps(they were almost twice the price I bought the LMII at also) but NOW I think they're mighty Li'l amps! Still I'd take my Tube amps ANY day over it, but for ease, loading etc.etc....the LMII wins often!
I tried one of the early LM's & at the time I didn't like the sound! But AFAI'm concerned the LMII is a different amp-seems livelier & more responsive! & yes I did know what the filters do/did- can't remember whether the early MB amp I tried had these filters on it or not! But I bought a LMII-as I said -good sound, price, features & size & weight = buy it!
I'm very happy with it. Seems- as Mr. Berlin says 'Musical' !!
It does. really responsive, powerful li'l amp. So, Yes I AM one who initially didn't like these amps(they were almost twice the price I bought the LMII at also) but NOW I think they're mighty Li'l amps! Still I'd take my Tube amps ANY day over it, but for ease, loading etc.etc....the LMII wins often!
Besides Walter Woods, who has made a truly lightweight head this powerful? GK didn't.
All the marketing in the world didn't make the LMII perform like it does. Size, power and pricepoint, it stands alone... so far. The other lightweight amps that are on or are coming on the market don't seem to compete IMO.
Most people don't seem to be using a Markbass full stack.
- May 30, 2000
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- Creator of: iGigBook Sheet Music Manager
Besides Walter Woods, who has made a truly lightweight head this powerful? GK didn't.
Acoustic Image Focus Series II, 300 Watts @ 8 ohms, 600 Watts @ 4 ohms. Series III, 450 Watts @ 8ohms, 800 watts @4 ohms, 1,000 watts @ 2 ohms. Both under 5lbs.
Me: "Size, power and pricepoint".
Nicka said: "They simply added a couple of new features, made the cabs aesthetically pleasing, and got a distributorship with Guitar Center". That's so far from true it's not even funny.
And the few other companies would be...?
- May 30, 2000
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- Creator of: iGigBook Sheet Music Manager
Me: "Size, power and pricepoint".
What are those LM II's going for @ GC?
I was under the assumption that they where at the same price point as the AI Focus.
What are those LM II's going for @ GC?
Not even close. $599 with a 2 yr warranty.
I think my Clarus I Series II was around that price new. Nowhere near the power, very cool for upright but has this funky coloring on the top end for electric that I just don't care for. Sitting here taking up space. Hmm...
- Dec 18, 2000
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- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
i tried the mark bass gear.. i personally was not impressed with the sound ...the weight was nice... but my other rigs are far more pleasing to my ears.. then i also watched many bass players tyrying them at bassplayer live in ny last fall and they all seemed messy... maybe its the cabs??/ maybe the heads?? i dont know.. i was not impressed..IMO
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
i tried the mark bass gear.. i personally was not impressed with the sound ...the weight was nice... but my other rigs are far more pleasing to my ears.. then i also watched many bass players tyrying them at bassplayer live in ny last fall and they all seemed messy... maybe its the cabs??/ maybe the heads?? i dont know.. i was not impressed..IMO
From what I've seen in TB threads, the MB heads are held in more consistantly high regard, while the combo's and cabs are met with mixed reviews. I for one personally think my LMII head ROCKS. But I use it with Bergantino HT/EX112 cabs. Gary
I moved my SVT head a while back and pinched a nerve in one of my fingers making it difficult to bend for nearly 2 weeks. Shortly after that I sold it and started working on making my rig lighter. The Markbass stuff is ugly to me and I haven't heard enough rave reviews for me to want to try one out, hell the thread about them stinking is enough to keep me away. In all fairness weight is a consideration for some people so the Markbass does have a niche to fill. Now if they could fire whoever came up with their color scheme I think they would stand a better chance at being taken seriously by people such as myself.
What color scheme would you like?
There seems to be no shortage of people taking them seriously, including people like myself who were initially put off by the color scheme. I got over it... quick.
By all means don't try them.
i tried the mark bass gear.. i personally was not impressed with the sound ...the weight was nice... but my other rigs are far more pleasing to my ears.. then i also watched many bass players tyrying them at bassplayer live in ny last fall and they all seemed messy... maybe its the cabs??/ maybe the heads?? i dont know.. i was not impressed..IMO
Maybe they didn't know how to set them?
