Markbass CMD 121p - Can it Handle the Volume?

[Ed Goode]

Link Removed

Pointbass told me that he used to use a hartke 5000 head with an Eden 210/410 cab stack. Now he's using his 121P with a 151P cab underneath and he not only doesn't notice a volume difference but the sound cuts through better!

My current amp weighs 85 lbs - more than both his 121P and 151P cab combined.

Since this thread got bumped back into life, fourstringbliss contacted me about my final cab choice so I sent him the quick pic shown above. That was taken at a private party on Labor Day weekend .... you can see how wide open things are around the "stage/dock" area, no flat surfaces for the rear projection to bounce off of so the bass sound is straight from the cabs.

That 121P/151P rig is, plain and simple, a major *ss-kicker. Even in that wide open setting (BTW, the PA subs and keyboard gear wasn't set up yet when that pic was taken) the bass easily overpowered the band. Granted, it's a classic rock/pop band so we're not at head-banging volumes, but I've yet to run into any situation where the 121P/151P didn't have the b*lls to push it out.

Dead center of the picture you can see a small Zoom H2 recorder on a mic stand right next to one of the monitors. If you go to my Link Removed and listen to some of the demo clips, "Domino" is from that gig .... the bass is very present, as you can hear

The MB stuff is quite amazing .....

 

[Robert Sands]

Yes, few Keyboard amps are stereo, anyway. If you need that you should use the PA, even if I doubt playing stereo live is a good solution.

I've used CMD 121P as a keyboard amp, works great. Next I will use it as the amp for my Line 6 PodXT for guitar work! Seems this is the best amp purchase I've had in this lifetime.

Sorry to disagree but many keyboard amps are stereo to take advantage of the stereo samples that are use for digital piano's, organs, etc. Just about all of the medium to high end one's certainly are. Just plug into one that is stereo and then plug in mono to that same amp and you'll hear the difference. I'm first and foremost a keyboard player and that sound difference is very important to me. Would love it if the MarkBass was stereo but of course it's a bass amp and so that would be hoping for too much. I sure love the way they sound with my American Deluxe Jazz. OMG!
I've tried a bunch of keyboard amps - presently using a Motion Sound KBR3D. It's just okay. I also sometimes run my keys thru a pair of Mackie 450's. They're just okay also. I'm picky! But this is a bass forum so I better stop now.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Since this thread got bumped back into life, fourstringbliss contacted me about my final cab choice so I sent him the quick pic shown above. That was taken at a private party on Labor Day weekend .... you can see how wide open things are around the "stage/dock" area, no flat surfaces for the rear projection to bounce off of so the bass sound is straight from the cabs.

That 121P/151P rig is, plain and simple, a major *ss-kicker. Even in that wide open setting (BTW, the PA subs and keyboard gear wasn't set up yet when that pic was taken) the bass easily overpowered the band. Granted, it's a classic rock/pop band so we're not at head-banging volumes, but I've yet to run into any situation where the 121P/151P didn't have the b*lls to push it out.

Dead center of the picture you can see a small Zoom H2 recorder on a mic stand right next to one of the monitors. If you go to my Link Removed and listen to some of the demo clips, "Domino" is from that gig .... the bass is very present, as you can hear

The MB stuff is quite amazing .....

Nice tone! That's exactly what I was getting from my Peavey Millennium Plus 5 plugged into the 121P - fat with a growly presence. I've never heard this bass sound better in any amp - Ampeg, SWR, Yorkville, Gallien Krueger, Trace Elliott, etc. That's why I have to get one.

I just read a review of the 121H (it's the 121P but with a compression driven horn, hence the h). The thing that kept coming through is how these amps bring out the natural sound of your bass. I knew my Peavey was a great bass, I just didn't know how good until I played through the right amp.

 

[ksandvik]

Sorry to disagree but many keyboard amps are stereo to take advantage of the stereo samples that are use for digital piano's, organs, etc. Just about all of the medium to high end one's certainly are. Just plug into one that is stereo and then plug in mono to that same amp and you'll hear the difference. I'm first and foremost a keyboard player and that sound difference is very important to me. Would love it if the MarkBass was stereo but of course it's a bass amp and so that would be hoping for too much. I sure love the way they sound with my American Deluxe Jazz. OMG!
I've tried a bunch of keyboard amps - presently using a Motion Sound KBR3D. It's just okay. I also sometimes run my keys thru a pair of Mackie 450's. They're just okay also. I'm picky! But this is a bass forum so I better stop now.

If you are worried about the stereo output, get a cable that combines stereo to mono, or a mixer.

With a medium to loud volume, few will hear nuances such as stereo samples played on stage.