Markbass amps do not have dB cut at input...why?

[Peteyboy]

Er, perhaps you forgot but it's you that's damming a nation's products, not me. I don't care where things come from - my Italian Markbass amp was made in Asia as was the Ampeg that preceded it. My Swedish EBS cabs were probably made in Asia (apologies to EBS if not). My Warwick was made in Germany, my Wal was (like me) made in England, and my effects pedals come from the USA, China and Belgium. So why did you try and turn that around to make it look like it's anyone but you doing the thing of condemning a whole nation? Why start an argument then pretend it's everyone else?

Er, why pretend to be above this kinda thing? Is there no reason at all attached to the market value of an American instrument vs a Chinese made product? One is typically better than the other. Am I not allowed to say that? I'd like to respectfully return the discussion to the OP's original premise if that's cool with you boss.

 

[derfred33]

So, I looked and didn't see a thread on here regarding my question...hoping someone can give me some insight! Thank you in advance!

I'm checking out Markbass amplification because I need a small, portable amp for rehearsals that has a bit more output than what I currently have.

I went to the store the other day to check a few out with my own bass. I noticed that I was 'clipping' the amp at a very low GAIN level. If I boosted my mids or bass on the guitar at, the clipping got worse and worse. I know my bass has a hot output, but the lack of dB cut on the Markbass confused me as most, if not all higher end amps have this feature (am I correct?).

I tried three different Markbass heads - the Marcus Miller one (800watts), the tube one (800), and the Little Mark (250). They all clipped at very low levels of input gain.

Am I missing something? Should I steer clear of these then? Anyone have similar concerns/issues?

Thank you again!

I know its an old post but if you still have that issue you could measure the output voltage on the bass when it makes the amp clip. Then check if that voltage is within the manufacturer input voltage tolerance.

Maybe you have a preamp with too much output and maybe there is a pot to regulate that in the bass preamp board, maybe your pickups are too close to the strings or maybe you have an issue in the amp pre amp section.

 

[fretlessbass]

So, I looked and didn't see a thread on here regarding my question...hoping someone can give me some insight! Thank you in advance!

I'm checking out Markbass amplification because I need a small, portable amp for rehearsals that has a bit more output than what I currently have.

I went to the store the other day to check a few out with my own bass. I noticed that I was 'clipping' the amp at a very low GAIN level. If I boosted my mids or bass on the guitar at, the clipping got worse and worse. I know my bass has a hot output, but the lack of dB cut on the Markbass confused me as most, if not all higher end amps have this feature (am I correct?).

I tried three different Markbass heads - the Marcus Miller one (800watts), the tube one (800), and the Little Mark (250). They all clipped at very low levels of input gain.

Am I missing something? Should I steer clear of these then? Anyone have similar concerns/issues?

Thank you again!

I have a Markbass cmd 121p; the gain on my amp is eminently predictable:
For my passive basses, setting at noon is about right; 9 'oclock for any of my active basses.
With those settings, the amp gives me all the volume I need for small to moderate gigs.

 

[Nebadon2000]

They need to take off numbers on Gain [also volume] controls. For those who don't understand or read manuals. For those that do it wouldn't be a problem.
Since the OP and a few others claim they only had problem with Markbass maybe there was a few bad apples in the bunch. Multiple Thousands of owners have not had such a problem whether New or Old.

Maybe all those now thrashing MB work for a Music Store other than Guitar Center and sell G&K, Ampeg and Fender amps

G&K'S MB series is no competition but there new Legacy and Fusion Combo's could set a new 'Top' standard for Combo's both performance and value. So no need to trash MB just promote new G&K.

 

[mcnach]

They need to take off numbers on Gain [also volume] controls. For those who don't understand or read manuals. For those that do it wouldn't be a problem.
Since the OP and a few others claim they only had problem with Markbass maybe there was a few bad apples in the bunch. Multiple Thousands of owners have not had such a problem whether New or Old.

Maybe all those now thrashing MB work for a Music Store other than Guitar Center and sell G&K, Ampeg and Fender amps

G&K'S MB series is no competition but there new Legacy and Fusion Combo's could set a new 'Top' standard for Combo's both performance and value. So no need to trash MB just promote new G&K.

Yeah, I read the thread originally and I didn't get it. Some people must have *really* hot output basses. I've used LMIII amplifiers since... 2012 or so. Lately I gig mostly with a Mesa D800+, but the LMIII is right behind me as I type as it's my 'home' amplifier and I use it every day.
I use it with active and passive basses, with high output and low output... the input gain is adjustable and I can't imagine having difficulty to set it where it doesn't clip. :shrug: The highest output basses I've used with this amp were actually passive: a G&L L2000 (I never engaged its preamp) and a Precision with neodymium Entwistle PBX-N which are insanely loud. Active basses (Warwick Corvettes, Stingrays, a Schecter with EMGs, Jazz with J-Retro, various others), or passive (Precision, Jazz, various others)... it mattered not.

I'm not saying that this is absolutely the issue here... but I have seen more than one and more than two people in my time who pretty much dime the EQ of their onboard preamps. Some preamps can boost +12 or even 15db like that... I'm not saying this is what's happening here, but I would not be surprised in the slightest. However, they seem to be happy with other amplifiers, so perhaps MarkBass has a narrower range that they can accept in their input. Regardless, my experience is that they are very adjustable for very low output and very high output basses in my possession... so they and I must be using them in a very different way :shrug: