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Double Bass Markbass CMD121H vs. GK MB150S

K

kristianbl

Sep 9, 2009
62
2
Denmark
www.myspace.com
#1
Looking for some advise regarding this:

I need an amp to play small clubs and venues. Playing with a piano player and a singer.
My bass is an Eberle/musima. Its a ply bass with a carved top (I think - I am danish and dont know the english word for it).

I play with Gut-a-like strings as I´m a sucker for that very oldschool with almost zero sustain and a lot of "wood" in the tone.

We play danish folksongs in jazzy versions.

I have been offered both amps used. Both amps will cost me around 450 us dollars. The Markbass is in great shape, the GK got its bruse and bumps, but plays how it should.

Of these two amps - what would you choose and why?
 
#3
I don't like Markbass anything with DB - I tried a 121P once for about 2 minutes before I said "ækel!", but based on comments around here, that opinion is not universal, and this is a different model besides. I like GK's for slab, but haven't tried with the big girl.
 
#5
The comparison between these two amps was just discussed in another thread. I like both but the compact size of the GK and the fact that for decades so many great players have sounded great playing through it make it what I would choose. The only real advantage the Markbass might have is if you wanted one amp to use with the double bass and the bass guitar playing with a drummer. But it's not an amp I'd want to carry very far with one hand and a double bass in the other.

edit. But if the GK isn't available now I'd still think carefully about whether or not the Markbass is something you can move conveniently. Sound aside it's a lot more amp than you need for the playing you've described.
 
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#6
I've got to say that looking at the Mark Bass, I'd consider it to be a bit clumsy to move around compared to the GK.

After owning and selling both models of the GK lunchbox combo, and after a massive and extended bout with GAS..I found great deals on both a GK 150s and 200MB combos recently. With the thought of just keeping the one I like best. The 200MB is getting a new speaker at the shop (it's 30 years old, speaker was shot), and I've been gigging the 150. The 200 is even smaller and lighter than the 150..I think the 200 will be the keeper, though I am really liking the 150. These just can't be beat for what they do, easy schlep, built like sherman tanks, and very acceptable double bass sound. Truly a set and forget, just play the bass, design.

I'm really hoping GK keeps making the 150..it's the last of the non digital power amp designs they are selling. The analog power amp makes a real difference, especially in the realm of 100watts output, imho.
 
#7
kristianbl said:
I play with Gut-a-like strings as I´m a sucker for that very oldschool with almost zero sustain and a lot of "wood" in the tone.

We play danish folksongs in jazzy versions.
Click to expand...

Danish Folk music? Great, I'm a super fan of those modern Scandinavian folk bands. Lena Willemark, Ale Moller, Triakle, and many others!

Gut strings? Yeah! The last time I heard Charlie Haden, and what of may of been his final performance in public life, he was as usual playing gut G and D, and had the GK combo. It was a superb sound I must say. He played solo, and extended version of Lonely Woman I think..just the room sound (no mic) and his pu through the GK. Superb , and bittersweet.
 
#8
MR PC said:
I'm really hoping GK keeps making the 150..it's the last of the non digital power amp designs they are selling. The analog power amp makes a real difference, especially in the realm of 100watts output, imho.
Click to expand...

When the MB200 digital head came out a few years ago, I bought one to pair with the 112MBX cabinet. I thought it sounded a bit more refined than the MB 150s I was using at the time but it lacked the 'oomph' of the combo. My old Clarus head sounds like twice the amp compared to the MB200, I think because it has a big transformer. Watts are volts AND current, and current is necessary for a solid low end.

Anyway, I like the MB150S quite a bit. It's a tin can of an amp that really shouldn't sound good, but other amps have come and gone. It always provides a very usable sound and is as convenient as anything available.

You saw Charlie Haden. I saw Dave Holland doing about 90 minutes of solo, using his GK combo and he sounded great.

Don't fix what ain't broke........
 
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#11
Personally I don't like the GK and also not the Markbass (in my case I only know the similar 121P) too much, but if I had to choose between the two, I would take the Markbass for sound and power or the GK for portability.

The impedance of the Markbass could easily enhanced by adding an impedance buffer that is easy to build yourself (if you can still get the JFET) or get an HPFpre from Francis Deck with the help of some nice Talkbass member in the US forwarding it to you to Denmark. But portability might be an issue with the Markbass.

There is also a Danish DB amp made in Bagenkop on Langeland. The company is run by two guys mostly producing PA equipment, but one of them is a DB player and developed some amps for bases too. Unfortunately at least twice the price point. I once checked two amps there with my EUB when I was close to them during my holidays. The smaller one was a bit weak on the lows for the EUB, but would have been more than OK for double bass. The larger one was great, but a bit large for a combo. And both a bit over my budget.

A few months later I could get a new Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T combo for less and are really happy with it. A bit hard to get in Europe and even harder because they were discontinued a few years ago, but if you can find one used, get it.
 

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