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Mark Bass vs. GK.....

#42
GrowlerBox said:
Absolutely nothing wrong with GK, and I'm sure you made the right choice for you. However, it seems that those who describe Markbass amps as "muddy" have misused the VLE/VPF filters at the end of the EQ chain. These should be turned completely anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise to the Americans) to disengage them, with the other EQ dials set to noon for the "neutral" tone. With everything "nooned", you'll get a big mid-scoop, some bass boost and a treble roll-off that will sound muddy indeed. A Behringer might sound better ;).
Click to expand...

I had this experience. I was comparing the 102P to the GK 2x10 combo, and at first I thought the GK sounded clearer. Then I cranked up the volume and the GK started farting pretty early on, while the MarkBass just kept getting louder and louder. I was really astounded by how loud such a small and lightweight amp could be. Then I started playing with the filter controls, which were both set at noon when I started playing. I turned them all the way down and was rewarded by super clean, detailed, and punchy sound. I made up my mind right then that I would spend 2x the money for that amp. And this was after I had already gone 2x my original budget...I started looking for a cheap practice amp, then I figured for a couple hundred more I could get the GK, and then I played the MB...well, easy come easy go.
 
#44
Regarding the muddy comments, IME with the Markbass CMD 102P, it is very transparent. I noticed that it more accurately reproduced the actual sound of the bass that was plugged into it without coloring the tone. My GK 1001RBII colored the tone quite a bit. So, muddy bass in = muddy bass out.

I'm by no means bashing GK, I love their gear. I just think that that Markbass gets "my sound" better than the GK was able to. I do remember when the new MB Series Combos came out, specifically the MB115. Really wanted one. Then I tried the Markbass on a whim as previously I had tried them when they first sprouted up at GC's and hadn't liked whatever I had played on. The CMD 102P completley changed my mind and within a week or two I had one.
 
#48
clewis166 said:
Give me 4 amps I must try before I buy. All compos, all under $900, For classic to progressive rock.
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I played a Hartke Hydrive 210 combo I thought sounded very nice. Simple amp to use as well, and not extremely heavy, but not as light as the Markbass cmd 102p. The Peavey Tour TNT 115 is a nice combo for $499.

I suggested these because I assumed you meant combo instead of All compos.
 
#50
I own a MarkBass Berlin 115 and the NY 115 cab,,, truly a rig of doom,,,, anyhow I was wanting a smaller combo for small gigs and rehearsal so I purchased the GK MB115, took it to my fiirst small gig a few night's later,,,,,, after the gig (the next day) I returned the GK MB115 and purchased the MarkBass 112 combo.

I will be playing the same small gig next week, this time with the MarkBass 112, and will be able to compare.

But in reality Im pretty certain the MarkBass 112 is going to blow away the GK MB115 (in that same small room).
Im not knockin GK at all, I love their products and they are great company.

Yep, the MarkBass 112 combo is 3 times the cost of the GK MB115, but in the end, I think the extra cost is going to be more than justified.

Cheers
Davyo
 
#51
I had an experience with GK Midrobass combos and tell you it was the worse sound I ever heard from my Pedulla Thunderbass(. Even sales guys in that store were confused saying they'd never expect such instrument to sound THAT bad....Tryed many things since that and eventually bought MarkBass Club 121 cab + MarkBass Little Mark Amp. A Killer. Both sound and power-to-weight ratio. You'll hardly find another 400 Watt cab lighter than 13 kg)))
 
#53
Davyo said:
I own a MarkBass Berlin 115 and the NY 115 cab,,, truly a rig of doom,,,, anyhow I was wanting a smaller combo for small gigs and rehearsal so I purchased the GK MB115, took it to my fiirst small gig a few night's later,,,,,, after the gig (the next day) I returned the GK MB115 and purchased the MarkBass 112 combo.

I will be playing the same small gig next week, this time with the MarkBass 112, and will be able to compare.

But in reality Im pretty certain the MarkBass 112 is going to blow away the GK MB115 (in that same small room).
Im not knockin GK at all, I love their products and they are great company.

Yep, the MarkBass 112 combo is 3 times the cost of the GK MB115, but in the end, I think the extra cost is going to be more than justified.

Cheers
Davyo
Click to expand...

Ok,, a follow up to my last post.

Took my new Markbass 112 combo to the same gig I had used the GK MB115 at the week before,, and the Markbass had issues as well,,, then I figured it out,, there is something jacked up with the power supply in that venue.

Took the Markbass to another venue and it rocked, meaning my dis-pleasure with the GK MB115 the week before was not because of the GK combo but it was mearly a bad power supply at this one particular venue.

So the GK MB115 would have performed much much better if not for the crapy power issue's at that one club,,, so sorry for the negitve feedback about the GK MB115 and Im sorry to GK as well.

Please dis-reguard anything negitive I posted about the GK MB115,,, it was not the GK's fault, just a bad power supply.

Cheers
Davyo
 
#54
Just checking in on a 7 year old thread. FWIW, I stopped into GC over my lunch hour and was playing what they had there that was of interest; The 12" GK Combo, and the 12" MB Combo. Pretty much everything that has been said in this posting all the way up to this entry is still true.

Ok, so if you are on the fence and color coordinating your stuff is a priority, you can get a A Sansamp DI, (doesn't matter which one), a Keeley Bassist Compressor, and an MB Combo, or Cab & Head (Again, doesn't matter which one). Now if we could just get the fashion police to ok the yellow and black Stryper spandex suits....
 

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