Markbass Combo 121 lite (Alain Caron) or CMD 121p with NY 12 ext cab?

IIRC, the Alain Caron model cannot have an extension speaker. I would opt for the CMD121P and the extension speaker.

 

Haven't heard the Caron but I'm guessing the thinking is you won't need another cab with 600 watts and it's cab size. Inability to add another cab is what steered me from the Fender TV 15 (and B-15s too pricey) and to my Jeff Berlin combo in '08. I added the NY151 cab later and totally love this rig. I've heard the CMD 121 and many swear by it, but I have no regrets going the route I did.

 

I have been playing the CMD 121 p/ NY 121 for about 3 years in many different rooms and on many different stages. I have never had an issue with it..love it.

 

I have the 121H combo. Amazing what it will do, but I do much better with a 115 (151P cab) and a separate head (LMIII). The 15 can handle spikes better. I've had my 121H clank on me when I get a heavy hand. Never played the Caron. I'm sure it does well, but I wonder what kind of speaker specs it has that can handle all those watts for a 112.

 

I've heard of a few people using the Caron model but they usually run two of them in stereo. I doubt a single 12 (no matter how many watts you pump into it) will handle very loud gigs.

 

2 Carons in stereo sounds promising.

 

And expensive . . .

 

I ran mine by itself through a few big indoor shows this/last month (Fillmore Charlotte, Amos', Visualite Theater...) .
Only the drummer needed some bass in his monitor (Sitting behind the amp).
DI to FOH, No Problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MCT0XdguY

 

Anybody know if the Alain Caron Lite 121 has been discontinued? It's listed on the MB website, but GC and MF do not show it as being for sale in the US. A buddy of mine who works at GC tracked one down for me but said there were only a few floating around and he had to jump through a lot of hoops to find it. Just curious.

It sounds AMAZING. I chose it vs getting another CMD 121 combo because of the ipod input and headphone jack, but the tone is fantastic. The horn tweeter with separate amp is so much nicer than the POS piezo in their other amps. So much better that I ordered a Monacor HT-30 to put in my CMD 121 Combo. If it sounds good and fits easily I'll probably do the same with the 1x12 extension cab.

 

Let us know how the Monacor transplant goes. I'm interested...

I'm actually running two NY121 with a MB LMIII just so that I can control the tweeter.

 

Will do. Some say it's a drop in, others seem to have to get out the dremel.

 

I swapped the tweeter out in my combo and left the extension cab since it has a control. The Leson is much better but its not a drop in. I spent an hour or so with a dremel.