Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Markbass cmd 102p
- Thread starter dllcalli
- Start date
I've got a MB CMD 102P, and it does indeed put a smile on my face to play it. Caveats being, to keep the volume at its maximum while clear, one shouldn't overuse to VLE filter or eq out the highs and mids too much, as you'll get the most volume from the mids not the lows. It is, in the end, still just a 210 and subject to those physical limitations. I have run this combo standalone on small stages without PA support on many occasions. I do put the combo on a box about 18" high and stand it on it's side, so I can hear it better. On medium and large stages, I use PA support as well.
To answer suraci's recent question, I have on occasion run 2 combos in parallel, by going bass > A/B/Y box > both combos. Gave a nice sound and good volume, but its not worth the effort and stage space if you can just plug into the PA if you need more than one combo.
To answer suraci's recent question, I have on occasion run 2 combos in parallel, by going bass > A/B/Y box > both combos. Gave a nice sound and good volume, but its not worth the effort and stage space if you can just plug into the PA if you need more than one combo.
Re overloading a single MB head
I thought I heard ( here at TB ) that one could use TWO amps simultaneously. I have no idea how, and if one of you could comment on that
If 2 amps ( MB) are feasible, How? And how would one control the way they blend?
Thanks
You would run a line from the effects out of the first one into the effects in of the second. The EQ of the first one will control.
cchorney and Freddels
It seems you are both saying there are two different ways to use two amps at the same time ( as was brought out earlier, re overloadinga single amp )
cchorney- I have a bias against PA support- 1. soundmen in name only 2. being old school, big bass waves reach the rear of the venues I play 3 Loss of control and the most important aspect that you might respond to 4 Why are bass players going through all that we go through, to in the end just give our sound to FOH and linear, non bass specific stage monitors?
One for instance, comes to mind, and relates to the player here who uses 3 2x10 cabs; in my case, giving the drummer a strong dose of my personal sound. Why would I send him my sound through monitors when I can give him a BASS CAB with my eq etc??
Help me understand bass players referring to their chosen (chosen with so much "blood sweat and tears" and GAS too ! ) amps as mere monitors! That makes no sense for this old schooler. When did my beloved amp suddenly get relegated to mere stage monitor status?
Talk about things getting turned around. If this is the new standard, then why bother with such fussiness with GAS for bass amps???????
I love the character of the MB stuff, esp their cabs, and the 2x10 combo. I do not get this whole trend.
Only possibility is you guys are playing ungodly LOUD. Btw I saw Pino P in concert ( youtube ) with a great trio with Steve Jordan and John Mayer.. Pino had at least TWO Svts behind him... a great sound with his P bass! And to stay on track here- I love MB because it borrows from the Ampeg sound but adds modern mojo as well.
It seems you are both saying there are two different ways to use two amps at the same time ( as was brought out earlier, re overloadinga single amp )
cchorney- I have a bias against PA support- 1. soundmen in name only 2. being old school, big bass waves reach the rear of the venues I play 3 Loss of control and the most important aspect that you might respond to 4 Why are bass players going through all that we go through, to in the end just give our sound to FOH and linear, non bass specific stage monitors?
One for instance, comes to mind, and relates to the player here who uses 3 2x10 cabs; in my case, giving the drummer a strong dose of my personal sound. Why would I send him my sound through monitors when I can give him a BASS CAB with my eq etc??
Help me understand bass players referring to their chosen (chosen with so much "blood sweat and tears" and GAS too ! ) amps as mere monitors! That makes no sense for this old schooler. When did my beloved amp suddenly get relegated to mere stage monitor status?
Talk about things getting turned around. If this is the new standard, then why bother with such fussiness with GAS for bass amps???????
I love the character of the MB stuff, esp their cabs, and the 2x10 combo. I do not get this whole trend.
Only possibility is you guys are playing ungodly LOUD. Btw I saw Pino P in concert ( youtube ) with a great trio with Steve Jordan and John Mayer.. Pino had at least TWO Svts behind him... a great sound with his P bass! And to stay on track here- I love MB because it borrows from the Ampeg sound but adds modern mojo as well.
suraci, in some medium sized venues my band will run our own PA, and we'll manage our sound from the side of the stage. But really, other than during sound check, and then only by trusting other people, can I get a good sense of how my sound is sounding when it reaches past the end of my cable. After that, people may be getting too much or too little of a frequency range or of total volume. This is the purpose and use of a soundman. As to whether the one you are working with at any specific gig is good at his job doesn't take away from the role they are supposed to play. And I give the board a post EQ feed, so while they may adjust it to fit the sonic requirements of the space it should still sound like my sound. As for our on stage needs, I set my cab up next to the drummer for that purpose - so we can both hear me. The other band members probably get more of it from their stage monitors, which is sufficient for their needs.
I have never done it myself. Lemme get it straight. Come out of the effects send of one amp and run that line into the effects receive of the other, and that's it? Then, both amps will work at the same time using my one signal? You say the eq of the first will rule. Does that mean the volume and gain of the first is the one that'll work, too? Which one do I plug my bass into, the first one also?
I have a Little Mark III head, a traveler 151P cab, and a CMD 121H combo. If only one volume and gain work, how will it help me here? My aim is to not overdrive the 12".
Of course, it will not matter in a month after I buy another 151P cab. But, Im curios to try it, as long as I'm not gonna hurt my equipment. I gotta be sure how to do it.
You would plug your bass into the first amp. The EQ from the first amp should control both heads. The volume would be controlled separately by each head so you could have more volume into the larger cab and less into the smaller one.
Give it a try to see if it works for you but I think you'd really only need to do this if you wanted to run four 8 ohm cabs.
1. I have a feeling The MB CMD 102P has a unique sound - combining my LM2 with a MB 210 may come close. But close, is not where my ears live.
2. What is it about MARK BASS cabs and amps esp LM F1 and many of their cabs that just seem to have a unique sound to them? More specifically the MB mojo seems borrowed from Ampeg but with Some x factor I can't seem to describe.
Unless someone urges me otherwise I am getting the 102 combo
2. What is it about MARK BASS cabs and amps esp LM F1 and many of their cabs that just seem to have a unique sound to them? More specifically the MB mojo seems borrowed from Ampeg but with Some x factor I can't seem to describe.
Unless someone urges me otherwise I am getting the 102 combo
Then, save up for an additional 102P cab and you'll be set for anything.
I dunno how to describe the Markbass sound very well. It may have to do with their cabs having a mid bump. But, my LMIII head has it's own sound regardless of what cab I play it through. I played it through an Ampeg 810 and heard a different sound that I haven't heard before. It was as good as the V4 head, but just in a different way. I also played it through the 15" speaker in my Trace Elliot GP7 SM. Different again, and good in some kind of way. I think the Markbass sound seems to cut through the mix, too, when set right. At least that's been my experience so far. The Little Mark series amps are amazing little things. When you get your combo try starting out with the eqs all at noon and no filters on.
WARNING: the VPF filter can cause your speakers to reach their mechanical limits if the knob is wa up (even to noon) and the volume is up too far, and still can do it with the volume down if you allow your plucking hand to plop down hard on the strings. So, be careful.
"cchorney and Freddels
It seems you are both saying there are two different ways to use two amps at the same time ( as was brought out earlier, re overloadinga single amp )
cchorney- I have a bias against PA support- 1. soundmen in name only 2. being old school, big bass waves reach the rear of the venues I play 3 Loss of control and the most important aspect that you might respond to 4 Why are bass players going through all that we go through, to in the end just give our sound to FOH and linear, non bass specific stage monitors?
One for instance, comes to mind, and relates to the player here who uses 3 2x10 cabs; in my case, giving the drummer a strong dose of my personal sound. Why would I send him my sound through monitors when I can give him a BASS CAB with my eq etc??
Help me understand bass players referring to their chosen (chosen with so much "blood sweat and tears" and GAS too ! ) amps as mere monitors! That makes no sense for this old schooler. When did my beloved amp suddenly get relegated to mere stage monitor status?
Talk about things getting turned around. If this is the new standard, then why bother with such fussiness with GAS for bass amps???????
I love the character of the MB stuff, esp their cabs, and the 2x10 combo. I do not get this whole trend.
Only possibility is you guys are playing ungodly LOUD. Btw I saw Pino P in concert ( youtube ) with a great trio with Steve Jordan and John Mayer.. Pino had at least TWO Svts behind him... a great sound with his P bass! And to stay on track here- I love MB because it borrows from the Ampeg sound but adds modern mojo as well.
I agree with most of what you said BUT I always go through the sound system and I'll tell you why.
1. For the bass to be heard in a lot of rooms without use of the front end your stage volume has to be crazy loud which pisses everybody in the band off.
2. Bass cabinets (unless they are horn loaded) are front loaded "short throw" cabinets, they aren't meant to fill a room.
3. Even if you're pumping the volume really loud once you get away from the stage the sound becomes muddy, (because the cabinets are short throw cabs) What i'm hearing as MY SOUND on stage doesn't usually translate to the room from my stage amp unless it's a very small room.
So while I agree with you about sound people often having no ear, the fact is when they put me through the front end and I play lower on stage I usually sound BETTER out front. Even if it isn't exactly MY sound its still better than loud mud out front which is what you often get of you crank the bass too loud on stage. Also by keeping my stage volume lower the band stays happy plus EVERYBODY in the band can play lower on stage and this makes the club owners happy. I also go out front during the sound check with a wireless to make sure I'm liking what I'm hearing and if i'm not I'll have the sound man adjust until I love what I hear. So IMO going through the front end, unless you're playing a VERY small bar is needed or all those nice licks you play during the night will get lost in the mud.
It seems you are both saying there are two different ways to use two amps at the same time ( as was brought out earlier, re overloadinga single amp )
cchorney- I have a bias against PA support- 1. soundmen in name only 2. being old school, big bass waves reach the rear of the venues I play 3 Loss of control and the most important aspect that you might respond to 4 Why are bass players going through all that we go through, to in the end just give our sound to FOH and linear, non bass specific stage monitors?
One for instance, comes to mind, and relates to the player here who uses 3 2x10 cabs; in my case, giving the drummer a strong dose of my personal sound. Why would I send him my sound through monitors when I can give him a BASS CAB with my eq etc??
Help me understand bass players referring to their chosen (chosen with so much "blood sweat and tears" and GAS too ! ) amps as mere monitors! That makes no sense for this old schooler. When did my beloved amp suddenly get relegated to mere stage monitor status?
Talk about things getting turned around. If this is the new standard, then why bother with such fussiness with GAS for bass amps???????
I love the character of the MB stuff, esp their cabs, and the 2x10 combo. I do not get this whole trend.
Only possibility is you guys are playing ungodly LOUD. Btw I saw Pino P in concert ( youtube ) with a great trio with Steve Jordan and John Mayer.. Pino had at least TWO Svts behind him... a great sound with his P bass! And to stay on track here- I love MB because it borrows from the Ampeg sound but adds modern mojo as well.
I agree with most of what you said BUT I always go through the sound system and I'll tell you why.
1. For the bass to be heard in a lot of rooms without use of the front end your stage volume has to be crazy loud which pisses everybody in the band off.
2. Bass cabinets (unless they are horn loaded) are front loaded "short throw" cabinets, they aren't meant to fill a room.
3. Even if you're pumping the volume really loud once you get away from the stage the sound becomes muddy, (because the cabinets are short throw cabs) What i'm hearing as MY SOUND on stage doesn't usually translate to the room from my stage amp unless it's a very small room.
So while I agree with you about sound people often having no ear, the fact is when they put me through the front end and I play lower on stage I usually sound BETTER out front. Even if it isn't exactly MY sound its still better than loud mud out front which is what you often get of you crank the bass too loud on stage. Also by keeping my stage volume lower the band stays happy plus EVERYBODY in the band can play lower on stage and this makes the club owners happy. I also go out front during the sound check with a wireless to make sure I'm liking what I'm hearing and if i'm not I'll have the sound man adjust until I love what I hear. So IMO going through the front end, unless you're playing a VERY small bar is needed or all those nice licks you play during the night will get lost in the mud.
Well my friend, I don't know about daisy chaining cabinets but if it doesn't effect the load on the head and you're only pulling it down to 4 OHMs your safe. Fact is according to MB if the head senses the load going below 4 OHMS a safety will kick in and the amp will shut down, if your amp hasn't shut down perhaps your friend is right and you don't increase the load on the amp when you daisy chain cabinets. I'd love to hear Markbass's reply ... if you ever get one! ;-)
As far as OHM calculations, two 8 ohm cabs brings the ohms on the amp down to 4 ohms. (Minimum ohms for Markbass heads) I'm not sure what 3 8 ohm cabs brings the ohms dow too but it's below 4 ohms. (Of course if your friend is right about daisy chaining you're safe) and 2 4 ohm cabs bring the ohms down to 2 ohms and MOST bass heads won't run down to 2 ohms. The only heads i know that run down to 2 ohms are Carvin bass heads. (At least the new ones do) So generally, for most bass heads you can use one 8 ohm cabinet, two 8 ohm cabinets or one 4 ohm cabinet. (Or four 16 ohm cabinets if you can find a 16 ohm bass cabinet!) ;-)
