Markbass combo query?

[Lance Bunyon]

The gig went well with the 121P on its first outing, as mentioned earlier I set with everything flat with just a nudge over 12 o’clock on the high EQ. I turned the Old School control completely off as I wanted a slightly brighter tone.

I had to virtually tip the combo over to insert the DI lead in the XLR socket but it was no big deal, and I set the Line Out Level on the amp to 12 o’clock and our sound guy was happy at that. At the end of the night he said it was a nice sound and it was coming over very clear especially in the high notes and sounded better than my previous combo (Fender Rumble).

After I had adjusted the Gain setting (just past 9) it meant that the master volume was barely on, but we do use IEM’s and it was at a sufficient level to still hear the combo slightly (the ear buds are not totally sound isolating), and it gave a bit of a feel through the stage flooring. I did play one song totally without the IEM’s and it sounded ok but it needed a bit more volume obviously if it wasn’t going through FOH. I did try it as well when we were setting up and it was plenty loud enough, but I think I need to spend a bit of time at home experimenting with all the settings before our next gig.

I’ve still been looking at reviews on various sites and was surprised how many guys use the 121 New Yorker extension cab as well? I think the combo is quite loud on its own, but I can appreciate the difference the 2nd cab might make, I used to have stacked Ashdown 2 x 10 cabs and with the 2nd cab it just filled the sound out more. I don’t need a second cab but I am intrigued by it now! Another thing I have to get used to is the 12” speaker, I’ve used 10’s for quite a few years now and I do notice the difference.

Yup!
When I plug in the power cord and XLR OUT I basically tip the combo onto its face. I like the Oldschool at noon and my master as 25%.
Our PA is two EVO 30 towers, hardly an FOH. Playing a BONGO HH 5 into this thing i might never need to get the master past 30%.
The speaker distorts a little at 12:00master.
This is not the best amp for metal, but it works really well as a support amp with IEMs.

 

[Baker69]

Yup!
When I plug in the power cord and XLR OUT I basically tip the combo onto its face. I like the Oldschool at noon and my master as 25%.
Our PA is two EVO 30 towers, hardly an FOH. Playing a BONGO HH 5 into this thing i might never need to get the master past 30%.
The speaker distorts a little at 12:00master.
This is not the best amp for metal, but it works really well as a support amp with IEMs.

Yes, I found that’s what I had to do as well to insert the XLR out lead, but with the power lead I decided to leave it connected, if you roll the lead up you can simply tuck it into the port aperture at the bottom of the cab.

 

[Baker69]

Yup!
When I plug in the power cord and XLR OUT I basically tip the combo onto its face. I like the Oldschool at noon and my master as 25%.
Our PA is two EVO 30 towers, hardly an FOH. Playing a BONGO HH 5 into this thing i might never need to get the master past 30%.
The speaker distorts a little at 12:00master.
This is not the best amp for metal, but it works really well as a support amp with IEMs.

I’m going to do some more experimenting with the Old School setting but I think a noon setting might be too extreme for my liking. Have you considered the 121 New Yorker extension cab if you say you’re experiencing speaker distortion? I’d like to know at what point do users consider the extra cab a necessity? I know the 121P is quite a pokey little item but it has its limitations especially with its small cabinet size, I’m finding if you turn the volume up it tends to sound a bit ‘boxey’?

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I’m going to do some more experimenting with the Old School setting but I think a noon setting might be too extreme for my liking. Have you considered the 121 New Yorker extension cab if you say you’re experiencing speaker distortion? I’d like to know at what point do users consider the extra cab a necessity? I know the 121P is quite a pokey little item but it has its limitations especially with its small cabinet size, I’m finding if you turn the volume up it tends to sound a bit ‘boxey’?

We play small venues at low volumes.
If I really need to blow the socks off a park at an outdoor festival I have a mesa Boogie Bass 400+ and a Schroeder 212.

 

[SJan3]

I’m going to do some more experimenting with the Old School setting but I think a noon setting might be too extreme for my liking. Have you considered the 121 New Yorker extension cab if you say you’re experiencing speaker distortion? I’d like to know at what point do users consider the extra cab a necessity? I know the 121P is quite a pokey little item but it has its limitations especially with its small cabinet size, I’m finding if you turn the volume up it tends to sound a bit ‘boxey’?

Back down the low mids a bit. That helps eliminate any boxiness.

 

[Baker69]

Back down the low mids a bit. That helps eliminate any boxiness.

Great thanks, I’ll give it a go. I’m away on holiday until the end of the week so I won’t be able to report back until the weekend.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

I use my LMIV head with a 10kg Lightbox 12" cab live and it's fantastic. Punch and volume to spare, no need for anything more.

At home, for practicing, I use it through my better sounding but heavier RS210.

I'm tempted to buy the footswitch to find what it does (is the FSW position a saveable "preset" EQ slot?), but I really just use the flat sound with very little EQ to adjust for the space. The user manual is really useless.

 

[Baker69]

Salud!

I use my LMIV head with a 10kg Lightbox 12" cab live and it's fantastic. Punch and volume to spare, no need for anything more.

At home, for practicing, I use it through my better sounding but heavier RS210.

I'm tempted to buy the footswitch to find what it does (is the FSW position a saveable "preset" EQ slot?), but I really just use the flat sound with very little EQ to adjust for the space. The user manual is really useless.

The user manual is rubbish as you say.

I played through the 121P IV combo on Sunday, I seem to be settling on a fairly flat (or should I say 12 o’clock settings), I was intending on backing off on the Low Mids as SJan3 suggested as last time I used it I thought it sounded a bit ‘boxey’, but as it happened I felt it sort of sounded better at the 12 o’clock setting.

The sound was a bit ‘toppy’ so I decided to give the Old School setting a go to take out some of the harshness and set at 9 o’clock it sounded good so I’m going to experiment more with it.

I think getting a foot switch is a bit of a waste of money unless you are going to actually use the scooped setting as well, I would find the mute function more useful. I don’t think there is any particularly special about the foot switch itself so you may be able to try an alternative manufacturer’s pedal if you are able.

I’m still a bit miffed about there not being a headphone socket on these amps.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

Yeah, these heads are live gear (the Line Out knob is not at all that common), but a headphone/aux options would have been a nice addition.

I really don't use the Scooped position if not practicing slap at home, and even converted my Jazz to VBT so as to have a "quick mute", so, as you say, the footswitch is not really useful for me. But it would be nice to know what the FSW position does.

BTW, to me, the Flat and FSW positions sound the same with no pedal attached.

Good luck with your gigs and your experiments!

 

[Andy Marshman]

I've had almost every configuration known to us over the years...combos and head+cab. Despite my love for small and light weight, I got the Markbass 250 Blackline. Not my first MB - I didn't previously understand the 2 filters. Now that I do, I'm not using them, ha ha. I also know that I'm a 15" speaker guy and the Blackline combo has that and the lower powered amp. I have the luxury of playing at a 'home base' auditorium with surprisingly good acoustics. I can fill the place with my sound using a 75 Watt 1x10 but I crave the 15". Furthermore, I got the matching New York 151 cab. Expensive and heavier than the combo. I don't take any of this rig on the road for smaller rooms. The 2x15 is my heavenly place, giving the full rich tone that a combo alone doesn't give me. Lately, despite having this ideal tone, I'm adding in some hair and OD externally. I don't like clanky bass but this driven tone cuts through in a way I like. The photo is a bit blurred; I took it in a hurry.