• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mark Bass Reliability

The answer is "no". If a failure is properly repaired you're back to square one regarding probable reliability. In fact, if the repair tech is thorough and provides a comprehensive inspection of the unit, an argument can be made for higher predicted reliability of that particular unit, not unlike an additional QC inspection.

What you say doesn't make any sense.

You are saying that failure is no indication of quality.
 
What you say doesn't make any sense.

You are saying that failure is no indication of quality.
Not necessarily. It depends on the statistical nature of the defect.

For example, it's expected that there is a certain number of random defects that will show up such as a defective tube. Replace the tube with a new one and you are back to the statistical probability that any new unit would experience.

Now there are defects that have defined patterns, and higher statistical probabilities than historical data might suggest. This means that there is either a parts or process control issue that is causing higher rates than baseline statistical failure predictions would suggest. Even so, once this defect is repaired, it's pretty likely that you are back to square one with regard to future reliability.

One significant standout to this is where an entire production lot was damaged by defective process control (say improper PCB cleaning, defective PCB laminate, latent defect in a part(s), excessive moisture in a shipping container, or significant mechanical damage (container dropped, etc.). In these cases, it's common for multiple intermittent problems to show up, fix one and another pops up. This is not common, but it can happen and most manufacturers are on the lookout for this potential.
 
Not necessarily. It depends on the statistical nature of the defect.

Now there are defects that have defined patterns, and higher statistical probabilities than historical data might suggest. This means that there is either a parts or process control issue that is causing higher rates than baseline statistical failure predictions would suggest. Even so, once this defect is repaired, it's pretty likely that you are back to square one with regard to future reliability.
.

The above works for the next products manufactured. Meanwhile I am stuck with a product manufactured using the old process.
 
You compare apple to oranges

Japan is nor china’ sub contractors neither Indonesia
You said Asian..
And, FWIW, I've found Indonesian products to be excellent and in many cases a true value.
Lakland Skyline basses are made in Indonesia and shipped to the USA for final setup.
Genzler amps are assembled in Taiwan, an Asian country. They are top quality units coveted by many.
Finally, all MarkBass products are shipped back to Italy 1st for final inspection.
But, I'll bet you didn't know that..
 
Last edited:
The problem with reliability threads is that if you're unlucky enough to buy the 1 in 1000 product that fails early on, it doesn't matter what everyone else says about their great experiences, you may well feel aggrieved and that that particular manufacturer makes dodgy products. Unfortunately, however fantastic any manufacturer is, at some point one of its products will fail before it should and someone will have bought it.
 
Last edited:
The problem with reliability threads is that if you're unlucky enough to buy the 1 in 1000 product that fails early on, it doesn't matter what everyone else says about their great experiences, you may well feel aggrieved and that that particular manufacturer makes dodgy products. Unfortunately, however fantastic any manufacturer is, at some point one of its products will fail before it should and someone will have bought it.
Truth
 
Well, I do love my GR ONE-350w bass amp. The first one I bought had an odd rattle sound right out of the box.

I emailed seller and asked if he felt the sound might be part of the heat sink on top of the amp. There is a vent on top of the amp and being a brand new brand to me, I thought maybe it's something that happens as you move it around. Didn't hear it during play back. He said, no just keep an eye on it. Well a few days later at home rehearsing, the amp just stopped making sound. We narrowed it down to damaged in transport.

I sent it back at his request, he shipped me another one and it arrived in a couple days. Austin to Houston area, so got here quick. The new amp sounded great and has been for just over 3 yrs now. I just bought a MB NY 151-Blackline series cab. I was looking for a new 15" cab and this one was the best priced, new, of all I found. Liked it so much I bought a second one the next day. MF had a even lower price than the first one. THese are built in Indonesia and I'm ok with that. They look and feel of very good quality and sound great to me.
 
You would loose your bet ! My wife beeing Italian I know many things about there: my turn for a question :
did you know MB changed their loudspeakers for another brand as well as sending the production in LCCountries…?

FWIW, I think top quality is Sadowsky made in the US, selected woods , etc…; or FBASS, Lakland US, etc…
Not the same sales prices of course you are right

IMHO big danger for MB is new brand GR ONE , made in Italy 100% at the same costs
Markbass introduced its own brand (Yellow Line) speakers and moved production to Indonesia 10 years ago in order to meet the greatly increased demand for its products. These changes have enabled Markbass to concentrate its resources on launching more products in that period than any other marque. If GR intends to compete head on with Markbass for market share it will probably need to make similar choices.
 
Reliable since 2008 ...

mb-lmk.jpg
 
Noticed the country of mfr. :laugh:

My own local experience is that the older stuff is bullet-proof. The newer stuff .... mmm ... not so much. Just the lay of the land today, where the world is upsidedown and Peavey bass amps are iffy.

What's next? Cats and dogs living together ... frogs ... locusts ... plagues of biblical proportions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xav_paris
We've owned some MB stuff for years: a CMD102P combo and a SD1200 head (plus various cabs) which have served us really well. Ironically, they both faulted within days and had them both shipped to MB, repaired and returned in about 10 days (but I live in Italy, that was easy peasy).
It only happened once in years and years of service anyway.We sold all our MB stuff when we fell in love with Mesa. A friend of ours still has the SD1200 and regularly plays it.
 
A few years ago I started buying second hand Markbass amplifiers to substitute for mine when they break. None have failed to date (touch wood, fingers crossed) so I'm sitting on a small mountain of them. I'm certain the majority of them will be functioning far longer than me.
 
I have a '11 Italian made CMD121P combo from the LMII era. It's had an easy life and is starting to blow fuses at home volume, playing it at approximately 20-40% of it's capability. This has happened twice in the last month, which makes me lose confidence in the amp.
I don't know whether it's because the CMD121P combo may be Markbass biggest seller but I've read more accounts of its failures on here (including mine) than any other Markbass product. I wonder whether the vertical orientation of the head makes it more susceptible to vibration related failures? The printed circuit board assemblies have silicon rubber applied to various components so mechanical vibration is definitely a consideration.