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Little Mark II or GK RB700 II?

M

MarkyTalkBass

Oct 27, 2008
43
0
Melbourne, Australia
#1
Looking at these two amps, the MarkBass because my name is Mark (!!) and the more I read about them the better they seem, and the GK as I've seen one very cheap and I used to use a 400 RB many years ago (my first serious bass amp) that I didn't mind.

I play in a couple of very different bands, one straight up hard loud rock, the other soft deep boomy. This amp purchase I'm looking at as being my last (for a while at least) and being 'the' amp that I use till arthritis takes over my fingers and I retire telling my Great-Grand Kids how I was a mad mad muso 'when I was their age' ;)

Also I'll add in Ampeg - I've always loved Ampeg amps and really regret selling my old Rig. My only issue is that I probably can't afford one, but if there's any price comparable Ampegs worth suggesting then that'll be great.
 
#2
in my experience...
most people who complain about Markbass are GK lovers...
and most people who dont like GK tone would like a markbass!
Also, markbass is a bit more ampeggy than GK is.

GK sounds like it would work with your hard rock, but im not sure what would work with your deep boomy band.

What cab are you using?
 
#4
brettf said:
in my experience...
most people who complain about Markbass are GK lovers...
and most people who dont like GK tone would like a markbass!
Also, markbass is a bit more ampeggy than GK is.

GK sounds like it would work with your hard rock, but im not sure what would work with your deep boomy band.

What cab are you using?
Click to expand...

No idea yet, whatever I can afford? Which unfortunatly won't be much.

Whilst I'm thinkng about cabs, I've only used 4x10s, what would be the difference in using a 1x15 & 2x10 setup? It sounds kinda versatile.

Thanks for the opinion on the amps, I think I know what your getting at with the GK.
 
#7
After owning both it's hard to recommend one over the other since they are both great amps. If I was in a rock only band then I would probably go with the GK. The weight and size of the Markbass is really nice although it does lack some nice features that the GK has.

Honestly, I could take either amp and be happy with it. With that said, I went with a used Carvin B1500 and have been very happy. But the B1500 does weigh more than the 700RB and the LMII combined:hmm:
 
#10
capnsandwich said:
I don't know where you're from but if there's a GC near you I'd take a trip in there and try both of them out. They carry both GK and MB, along with Ampeg too.
Click to expand...

Updated my profile to show my location.. There's a store in Melbourne that stocks both so I'll see if I can get myself down there to try them back to back. tbh though, I've not had much success in 'reading' an amp when trying out in a quiet store, and its not till I'm in with the band that I get a real feel of the amp.
 
#12
I'll take the LMII because I'm more into Ampeggy tones. But GK is a great classic tone as well. I used to hate GK until I heard one in a cabinet not made by Hartke. Everywhere you went it was GK/Hartke. But once I ran them into a speaker I liked, I realized it wasn't the GK I didn't like. Still, it's not at all Ampeggy so I'm down with the black and gold, just like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the undisputed greatest football franchise in history!

I still hate putting it on my blue checker cabs, though...ewwww! Black/gold + blue = yuck.
 
#13
I have extensive gigging experience with BOTH of these heads.

They are powerful and reliable. Tone wise, both sound excellent, but different. The GK is a bit bigger with holes in it's top, so a rack case is best. The LM-2 is smaller and lighter and has no vent holes in the top of it's case, so a gig bag is sufficient for transportation.

I will do my best to describe each amps tonal attributes.

The GK can do a warm grit, and is suitable for any genre with it's many tone shaping abilities. Classic, GK tone.

The Markbass has the two filters, and leans towards clear, silky smooth tubey tones with the filters goosed a tad. Your bass sounds like your bass with this micro monster.

Having said that, the 700rb2 GK offers it's signature tonal color, but even with all of the buttons and knobs, it is still lacking something I need that I cannot really explain. I get that something with the Markbass LM-2. Perhaps I like the way my bass sit's in the mix with the yellow and black guy. I now feel satisfied with my tone through the MB in the band.

Both heads are loud and can kick tail and rock, with the available headroom.

I don't wish to talk about Ampeg anymore, lol.
 
#15
All Markbass amps are made in Italy. GK does make some stuff in China, but it's in a factory built specifically by GK to make GK products and not a factory for hire like most of these American brands farm out to.
 
#18
bigblondeafro87 said:
I think the GK is a lot more versatile than the markbass, but I don't own the markbass. Seriously though, the GK is not heavy by any stretch maybe twenty pounds tops. If you can't handle that, you're in the wrong busniess
Click to expand...
The last thing I got the LMII for was the light weight. I actually believe that these mini amps sound way better than the previous generation SS/hybrid amps.
 
#19
i'm not sure you could pic two amps that sound more different and have their own following on talkbass than these two. having said that, i vote for GK hands down. :smug::bassist:

i love the gk sound. i don't have the money to buy a MB and try it live. supposedly that's what you have to do to figure out if you like it. i've gone into guitar center twice and although they were fine sounding amps i couldn't get a sound i particularly liked. GK on the other hand.... i can get the sound i like at practice volumes and gig volumes.

so, jimmy says MB. i say GK. i don't think either of us will change on that. two different, great sounds. go try them out. and get the GK. :D
 

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