Is Markbass really all that??

[Papuzzo]

Well, what may have been a troll thread has proved to be relatively civil. Each bassist has his/her preference and Markbass may or may not satisfy that preference. One could just as easily start a thread entitled "Is Mesa Really All That?" Is Ampeg really all that? How about GK, Aguilar, Hartke?

My curiousity in this thread is to understand just how strongly people identify with brands. As someone who did marketing for decades, brand identity has been developed to the level of art form really because the underlying differences between products has gotten smaller and smaller and to convince the end user to choose one item over a competing one is difficult, and to get an end user to buy something very expensive rather than the most economical is extremely difficult without entering into deep psychology. Think perfumes. Are bass amps the same?

 

[5StringBlues]

Lownerd

 

[Zbysek]

Ah maybe I did need to understand this knob after all then, could make sense. Thanks I'll try that (making sure this knob is all the way ccw) next time I use the MB.

You're welcome. Let us know your experience then...

 

[TrevorG]

Think perfumes. Are bass amps the same?

Perfumes can be very different. Ladies' shoes have one function... to be walked in. But that's the last thing they take into account when buying a pair! Excellent point though.

 

[JazzCrazy]

PS. The OP wasn't trolling, it's a legitimate inquiry

 

[bassfreakah]

I got a LMlll and really liked it. I am a big fan of 15 cabs and have always wanted to get a Randy Jackson 151 bass cab. now i will have to get one of the used ones Italian made with the B&K speaker. I really cant think of any negatives about the LMIII.

 

[The_Owl]

I personally never got along with the treble character of MB amps.

 

[Funkmabassup]

Here in Europe its quite insane how popular markbass are, its seems too be what most bassist are using. I could understand it in The early days when it was pretty much the only real lightweight gear that packed a punch(I have owned several markbass rigs myself). But these days I fins their gear heavily overrated, and I think there are alot of stuff that sound so much better.

Biggest issue for me is the speakers are too dark, while the tweeter are horrible, harsh and noisy. Their reliability and Quality also really seem too have diminished.

 

[Papuzzo]

Here in Europe its quite insane how popular markbass are, its seems too be what most bassist are using. I could understand it in The early days when it was pretty much the only real lightweight gear that packed a punch(I have owned several markbass rigs myself). But these days I fins their gear heavily overrated, and I think there are alot of stuff that sound so much better.

Biggest issue for me is the speakers are too dark, while the tweeter are horrible, harsh and noisy. Their reliability and Quality also really seem too have diminished.

I too think the competition has caught up to Markbass in the class D arena. The italian made gear is still good quality though, but I think they are now relying on endorsements rather than excellence and innovation to continue selling gear. But then, isn't that the roadmap for all gear makers?

 

[IamGroot]

An LM Ii and a decent 2x10 or 4x10 does it for me.

So do redheads ,tex mex and sensible shoes.

 

[Chef]

JazzCrazy
Nilsen

Knock it off. Name calling back and forth beyond what I just deleted will result in both you guys getting ticketed.

 

[IPRAYB4IPLAY]

Very well put PAPUZZO what you said is spot on !!!!

 

[socialleper]

It is all about personal preference. I've never been particularly impressed by them.

 

[IPRAYB4IPLAY]

I agree with you bro, some basses sound better with solid state circuitry or tubed. I have owned Eden, SWR, YAMAHA, MESA BOGGIE, MARK BASS, and I do agree its a preference thing for real and how much a person is willing to spend.

 

[NighthawkGS]

Here's my Markbass journey so far. Picked up LM 250 4 months ago. Play rock and roll on P Bass with variety of suboptimal cabs. Moderate volumes. Fingetstyle.

Firstly, I'd say my LM 250 works great when playing alone. Never played so much. Highly recommended for this.

Band practice or bar type gigs, it's been hit or miss. Works better if you turn it up. Then the cops come. :-(

What's helped for me is, driving the pre pretty hard. Gain at 9 p.m. Mids between 1 and 2 p.m. Often cut treble and use some VLE. I've considered gluing the VLF in the off position-- I am a mids guy, and ALWAYS leave the suck knob off!

Tried a Aguilar TH 350 for a month. Expected to like it. Found the tone ugly. Worked fairly well with a band. Also, leaving sound aside, the LM 250 is just much better designed than the TH 350, IMO. Switches, jacks, feet, much quieter fan, no delay after hitting power switch, etc. The amp bag kind of rocks, too.

LM 250 sounds a lot better after using the TH. Sounds pretty great thru my new (to me) Baer ML-112, but, haven't tried this combination with my bands yet.

Had 2 markbass cabs for a month. Ny12 and 102p. Didn't work great, except when alone. Sterile amp with sterile cabs... never tried it, but bet those cabs would sound good with th350. (No more rear ported for me! They needed a foot or more of clearance behind, despite what people say.)

Full disclosure: I dislike most bass amps that I've had to use. Love my Peavey Deltabass, with a mid boost 1300 Hertz. Planning to try a Genzler MG 350 or MG 800 next, which have a sweepable mid (that goes high enough for me, unlike the TH).

I would call Markbass "smooth." Which is not at all my cup of tea in band situations.

 

[IamGroot]

Here's my Markbass journey so far. Picked up LM 250 4 months ago. Play rock and roll on P Bass with variety of suboptimal cabs. Moderate volumes. Fingetstyle.

Firstly, I'd say my LM 250 works great when playing alone. Never played so much. Highly recommended for this.

Band practice or bar type gigs, it's been hit or miss. Works better if you turn it up. Then the cops come. :-(

What's helped for me is, driving the pre pretty hard. Gain at 9 p.m. Mids between 1 and 2 p.m. Often cut treble and use some VLE. I've considered gluing the VLF in the off position-- I am a mids guy, and ALWAYS leave the suck knob off!

Tried a Aguilar TH 350 for a month. Expected to like it. Found the tone ugly. Worked fairly well with a band. Also, leaving sound aside, the LM 250 is just much better designed than the TH 350, IMO. Switches, jacks, feet, much quieter fan, no delay after hitting power switch, etc. The amp bag kind of rocks, too.

LM 250 sounds a lot better after using the TH. Sounds pretty great thru my new (to me) Baer ML-112, but, haven't tried this combination with my bands yet.

Had 2 markbass cabs for a month. Ny12 and 102p. Didn't work great, except when alone. Sterile amp with sterile cabs... never tried it, but bet those cabs would sound good with th350. (No more rear ported for me! They needed a foot or more of clearance behind, despite what people say.)

Full disclosure: I dislike most bass amps that I've had to use. Love my Peavey Deltabass, with a mid boost 1300 Hertz. Planning to try a Genzler MG 350 or MG 800 next, which have a sweepable mid (that goes high enough for me, unlike the TH).

I would call Markbass "smooth." Which is not at all my cup of tea in band situations.

Well written

 

[Low Class]

3 months later and the OP still has not logged in.

 

[IamGroot]

3 months later and the OP still has not logged in.

The witness protection program is like that.

 

[Joe Lonsdale]

I A-B'd my Markbass Little Mark II amp through my Markbass New York 122 2x12 cab with my friend's EBS Reidmar 250 amp through 2 X PJB C4 4x5 cabs and the Markbass gear sounded lifeless and flabby in comparison. Obviously the MB 2x12 is not going to have the clarity of a 4x5 but even putting the MB amp through the PJB cabs revealed a lifeless sound. All the gear was at the same price point too. I'll not be Markbass'ing again and am saving up to duplicate my mates rig! Man, those PJB C4 cabs are light, convenient, stackable and sound massive and articulate. And the EBS Reidmar sound upfront, clear, punchy and comes sensibly equipped with a compressor and a switchable in/out EQ section to add to the flexibility of the send/return section. I was happy with my rig up to that point....

 

[Sparky Mark]

I think they are now relying on endorsements rather than excellence and innovation to continue selling gear. But then, isn't that the roadmap for all gear makers?

This is not correct. Whether you like or dislike Markbass amps they have continued to innovate and launch to market a large number of new products (including amp heads) every year. If you want proof of that rather than disinformation just visit the Markbass website and view its current available amps plus the vast array of discontinued ones. Like Markbass or not it continues to be the most innovative of all mainstream bass gear producers.