Markbass combos - What's your favorite?

[electracoyote]

My OCD kicked in and I had to post:

I think one other difference between the older and newer LittleMark heads is the pre/post DI was upgraded from a dip switch to an actual button on the back, a little more convenient.

If the price was right, I wouldn't let the older LMI head deter me. The changes are pretty minor.

Some really nice rigs on this thread. Those 1X12's w/ extension are killer combos. Glad to see some people getting away with the CMD102P; for me, a loud drummer plus a keys or guitar who has volume issues, plus a horn section, and I was getting lost. I'm no volume hog, but I really need to hear myself well on stage with some healthy low end and move a little air. Again, YMMV, and a thorough audition during the return window is advised. You can literally get these through the door with two fingers, they are pretty amazing if they work for you.

FWIW, I sometimes pair a stand alone LMII head with an ultra light 4ohm 4X10 and have access to full power. Heaven. Not as convenient as the combos, but great for large stages and outdoors.

 

[woodyng2]

CMD121P. Tiny but mighty!

Even Mightier if you replace the LM combo head with an 800 tube.

 

[electracoyote]

View attachment 3075980
Even Mightier if you replace the LM combo head with an 800 tube.

Nice mod. I have an 800T, love it, just enough color to kind of push you into tube land. Loud AF. I'll bet it sounds killer with the 2X12's.

 

[IamGroot]

I already have all the cabs and heads I need but if I had to start over, I d go with Mark Bass. I love my Mark Bass head.

 

[jcerio]

I used to own a CMD102P paired with a Traveler 2x10 cab. It was plenty loud enough but it didn't quite nail the tone I hear in my head. Although I'm currently using an Aguilar Tone Hammer rig I recently bought a CMD121P for a practice combo and back up. I'm beginning to think that the Markbass with the 12" driver may be a really nice alternative to my Aguilar rig. The Aguilar has a great old-school tone and sounds amazing with passive basses. I just can't seem to get what I want with active basses. I'm currently looking for a used NY121 cab to go with the Markbas combo. I gues different rigs for different gigs?

 

[theevilplankton]

I played a 121P and New York Cab for a good few years. Bar a tweeter failure early on in the cab, it turned out to be a great rig. TBH, some gigs I could have used the combo alone.

I made the jump to Fender around 4 years ago, and that's been fun. However, since the New Year, I've been back on the MB ship with a 102P cab, and now have an incoming LM3 head. So it's a full-on retreat to the yellow and black.

Only reason I didn't go for another combo is space in my convertible!

I think MB combos are great. Some real used bargains as well. One day, if I ever have the need (an space), I'd still love a Jeff Berlin combo.

 

[woodyng2]

Nice mod. I have an 800T, love it, just enough color to kind of push you into tube land. Loud AF. I'll bet it sounds killer with the 2X12's.

I think it does! I used just the combo at an outdoor gig Sunday,(hooked up to the PA of course),and it sounded great even without the extra cab.

 

[Al Krow]

The MB Alain Caron 121 Lite. You get the full 500W through its dedicated 12" speaker with no requirement for an extension cab. Has never missed a heartbeat in 3 years of gigging and in smaller venues, where we have played without in-house PA, it has had ample head room. At just 37 lbs, IMHO it provides one of best combinations of quality bass tone, power and portability in any gigging bass combo around today.

 

[Bassamatic]

The CMD 121P is the sure winner. Small. scary loud and has great tone. I much preferred it to the 2x10. This is the one piece of gear I would replace without thinking if lost or stolen. I am always getting good comments on the sound playing a P or Mustang P/J through it. I think I would like the 151p to go a little lower, but no one complains!! And this is so small it fits in my car trunk. When I bought it the matching cabs were not yet available. I found a Schroeder cab with TWO 12s that is not much larger than the 121P and also Neo and lightweight. So - when playing outdoors, I have 3 x 12s and 500W - plenty for anything.

 

[woodyng2]

The CMD 121P is the sure winner. Small. scary loud and has great tone. I much preferred it to the 2x10. This is the one piece of gear I would replace without thinking if lost or stolen. I am always getting good comments on the sound playing a P or Mustang P/J through it. I think I would like the 151p to go a little lower, but no one complains!! And this is so small it fits in my car trunk. When I bought it the matching cabs were not yet available. I found a Schroeder cab with TWO 12s that is not much larger than the 121P and also Neo and lightweight. So - when playing outdoors, I have 3 x 12s and 500W - plenty for anything.

View attachment 3076095

I bought one of those 212 Schroeder cabs (used,at GC) and it sounded fabtastic with my combo. Unfortunately it had some issues I didn’t want to deal with,so i returned it.

 

[Bassamatic]

I bought one of those 212 Schroeder cabs (used,at GC) and it sounded fabtastic with my combo. Unfortunately it had some issues I didn’t want to deal with,so i returned it.

That's too bad. Jorge did an amazing job fitting the 2 x 12s in there. (one is leaning backwards for those not familiar). I think mine is the 1212L. The sound is nearly identical to the 121P.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Berlin with the NY151 extension cab. Easy to transport, 2 separate compact light weight pieces , sounds great (to me) with all my basses.

Exactly what I have. I feel no need to change what I use at all. Makes my B sound like anything from the voice of a benevolent god to a violent landslide of rumbly doom. It also plays very nicely with all my effects pedals and is equally nice with my 4 bangers, PJ, P and Jazz basses both active and passive. I spent some time on YouTube when I bought it to learn all the settings. There are several very good ones that clued me in to what was what with the amp. The handles that are built in are well placed and make load-in/out a breeze.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I like the new Jeff Berlin model that comes with a built in metronome. Seriously though, I like that combo with P basses. I like the 121P if volume will be acceptable, but I think I like the Nano head with the NY121 cab even better.

 

[woodyng2]

That's too bad. Jorge did an amazing job fitting the 2 x 12s in there. (one is leaning backwards for those not familiar). I think mine is the 1212L. The sound is nearly identical to the 121P.

The main thing i really liked about it was the front porting.

 

[Luigir]

Has anybody tried the 500w ninja combo 2x10?
Invalid Link Removed
It's now 800euros on Thoman and looks cool.

 

[Xibolba]

112 combo with 112 extension.

I do gigs with that rig and EUB or BG.

One trip in ( hand truck required), one trip out.

I didn't want to like them, but do. I beat on the 112 combo with a 5 String and it held. Was pleasantly surprised how well it does for upright and EUB.

 

[electracoyote]

The MB Alain Caron 121 Lite. You get the full 500W through its dedicated 12" speaker with no requirement for an extension cab. Has never missed a heartbeat in 3 years of gigging and in smaller venues, where we have played without in-house PA, it has had ample head room. At just 37 lbs, IMHO it provides one of best combinations of quality bass tone, power and portability in any gigging bass combo around today.

View attachment 3076091

I like the features on that one. Aux in, phones, nice. Does it have a dedicated DI output volume?

Is it just me, or do other MB users find that a little EQ or VLE/VPF go a long way, and the thing sounds remarkably good set nearly flat?

 

[TrevorG]

I'm just curious what people's favorite Markbass combos are? I saw a band at an outdoor festival (in a pavilion) this past weekend and the bassist was using a Markbass CMD 102P vertically stacked on another MB 210 cab. I thought his bass had nice warm tone and it fulled the area very nicely. I recently got a TC Electronic BG250-210 combo and I like it, but I don't like the fact that I can't add an extension cab. I am still in the widow for being able to return it for about 2 weeks yet. I'm currently not in a band, but am looking to getting back into gigging if the right situation would present itself. Due to previous back and hernia surgeries from hefting large heavyweight bass rigs in my younger days I would like to stick with lightweight combos that still pack a punch. Thanks

Just looked up the TC Electronic BG250-210. It's a good price but I think you will find you get drowned out by by a moderate size ensemble. With Markbass you will feel as well as hear your bass - sadly your pockets will feel it too but it's worth it. Think sending it back would be wise but you should check out GK and Aguilar - not my preference but very popular and much cheaper.

 

[Funky Ghost]

The only bit of kit I was Jonesing for from MarkBass was the TTE 500 Randy Jackson head.

 

[TrevorG]

I like the features on that one. Aux in, phones, nice. Does it have a dedicated DI output volume?

Is it just me, or do other MB users find that a little EQ or VLE/VPF go a long way, and the thing sounds remarkably good set nearly flat?

Totally agree. My CMD K1 is very flat and the VPF (there's no VLE on the K1) is so good it feels almost like cheating. I've tried getting the same sounds with just the EQ and ended up making some extreme adjustments. Turn the VPF to twelve o'clock and the most I'll do with the EQ is turn the high mid to 1 o'clock.