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Markbass F1 First Impressions

#181
KJung said:
My guess is that the LMII sells in MUCH higher volumes than the more expensive F1, which would explain the higher resale levels. Also, the very low price of the LMII makes it a much easier 'what the heck, I'll give it a try', versus the higher price-point of the F1. So, you may be right that there is a little more commitment to the F1 based on the higher price (i.e., more thought going into the purchase prior to pulling the trigger). However, sales volume differences would be my guess as the main driver.
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+1...I think the LMII is being used by people all over the spectrum, while the F1 is being used by people that have specifically tried it out and prefer it for specific cab matches/tonal goals. Given the price difference, if you’re an average bass player used to buying mainstream gear like Ampeg and SWR, you would probably look at the prices and the specs and just go with the LMII.

Also, the LMII is proabably much easier for GC to stock and sell - the average GC saleperson isn't gonna be able to tell you why the F1 costs more than the LMII since it doesn't have the traditional upgrades within product lines like additional watts or a tube in the pre, etc.
 
#183
Bass Boy said:
Heck, the average GC salesman doesn't know what an LM2/F1 is!;)
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They don't know that they stock MarkBass products at ALL, for the most part. I got sick of training their sales staff, so I let them put everything on noon. Sound like crap that way, and they don't sell as fast. Maybe they'll mark them down if they don't sell! :hyper::D:D:D

And they always ask "Who's Mark Bass? Is he a new guy with Band?" :atoz:
 
#185
Great thread.. i was wondering if i should wait for the F500 or just get the F1. I played through one the couple day ago. through schorder 1212L and wow... anyway i have a new epi 3x10 SII@ 5.3 just not sure if the ohm are right. but i do like the F1. very easy to dial in a great tone very little teaking. thank you ken for the heads up on this one. does anyone know when the F500 will hit the street.
 
#186
barrybass33 said:
Great thread.. i was wondering if i should wait for the F500 or just get the F1. I played through one the couple day ago. through schorder 1212L and wow... anyway i have a new epi 3x10 SII@ 5.3 just not sure if the ohm are right. but i do like the F1. very easy to dial in a great tone very little teaking. thank you ken for the heads up on this one. does anyone know when the F500 will hit the street.
Click to expand...

I am also interested in checking out the F500 when it hits the streets. I am one of those 'early adopter' types. But didn't I also read that the F500 will be more $$$ than the F1? Will the F1 still remain in the lineup? Seems like the differences are so minimal it would be redundant to keep both amps in the product mix, unless there was a clear price differentiation.
 
#187
Roscoe5 said:
I am also interested in checking out the F500 when it hits the streets. I am one of those 'early adopter' types. But didn't I also read that the F500 will be more $$$ than the F1? Will the F1 still remain in the lineup? Seems like the differences are so minimal it would be redundant to keep both amps in the product mix, unless there was a clear price differentiation.
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From what I understand, the F1 will stay in the mix. It looks like they've already lowered the F1 to $799, from the original price of $845, if I remember correctly. My guess is, the F500 will be around $100 more than that (total guess right there.. however, that would place it nicely in between the SD800 and F1 in features, power and price).

I find the feature set of the F1 perfect, and absolutely love the center points and Q of the mid controls. So, even though (knowing me) I'll probably pick up an F500, it's only because I love this stuff so much.

I rarely touch the mid controls on the Markbass stuff, and when I do, they seem perfectly voiced to add a little low mid ooomph, or take out a touch of upper mid clackiness from some cabs. However, I guess if you are a DB player, or one who is a 'tweaker', the semi-parametrics would be cool.

Even though I've never found the need for a mute switch, I guess that's a positive for some, as will be the pre/post DI EQ switch versus having to go in a switch the jumper.

So, my guess is the F1 will be considered the 'lower cost' version of the F500.
 
#188
barrybass33 said:
Great thread.. i was wondering if i should wait for the F500 or just get the F1. I played through one the couple day ago. through schorder 1212L and wow... anyway i have a new epi 3x10 SII@ 5.3 just not sure if the ohm are right. but i do like the F1. very easy to dial in a great tone very little teaking. thank you ken for the heads up on this one. does anyone know when the F500 will hit the street.
Click to expand...

I believe Peter Murray posted they should hit the US in August, if I remember correctly.

Also, the F1 sounds GREAT with the 310UL, as does the LMII (the 5.3 ohms is fine.. it just means the amp will not put out quite it's total rated power... no problem there at all). I actually like the LMII a touch more with the 1212L, since that cab is so mid punchy already, and is 'helped' by the slightly bigger low end of the LMII. Both the F1 and LMII are great.

I would think the only reason for waiting and spending more cash on the F500 is if the mute switch or semi-parametric mids were extremely important to you IMO.
 
#189
Roscoe5 said:
I am also interested in checking out the F500 when it hits the streets. I am one of those 'early adopter' types. But didn't I also read that the F500 will be more $$$ than the F1? Will the F1 still remain in the lineup? Seems like the differences are so minimal it would be redundant to keep both amps in the product mix, unless there was a clear price differentiation.
Click to expand...

The differences are minimal if you don't need the differences.
For me, having 2 bands of sweepable mids are VERY useable.
I would also use the mute feature. Once I set the effects
loop and DI switches in the back of the amp, they would just
stay that way. My only complaint is that they still don't
isolate the effects loop. This means you can't use the F1 or
F500, or LMII just as a preamp, and you can't use a different
preamp using these as power amps. Not great for doublers.
For that use, the Acoustic Image amps are better. imho
 
#190
B String said:
The differences are minimal if you don't need the differences.
For me, having 2 bands of sweepable mids are VERY useable.
I would also use the mute feature. Once I set the effects
loop and DI switches in the back of the amp, they would just
stay that way. My only complaint is that they still don't
isolate the effects loop. This means you can't use the F1 or
F500, or LMII just as a preamp, and you can't use a different
preamp using these as power amps. Not great for doublers.
For that use, the Acoustic Image amps are better. imho
Click to expand...

+1... this company seems to be doing a very good job of listening to the consumer and developing a product line that is broad, and that follows a nice 'feature/price/size' curve:

- you want inexpensive and reasonably small.... LMII
- you like the LMII but want more features and would give up a little on size... SA450
- you want it as small as possible and tight and quick sounding..... F1
- you want it small as possible with the maximum features... F500
- rock tube tone in a lightweight package.... R500 (or whatever that's called)
- maximum power and features in a lightweight package that's a touch larger.... SD800
- you want classic all tube, but with the most up-to-date technology and you are willing to pay for it... the 300

etc., etc.

The F1/F500 both in the product line make sense to me per your comment... don't care about the extra features... save $100 (or more... again, just guessing). Really want that mute, semi-parametric, etc., but still need it really small.. they got you covered. Very cool!
 
#194
KJung said:
I rarely touch the mid controls on the Markbass stuff, and when I do, they seem perfectly voiced to add a little low mid ooomph, or take out a touch of upper mid clackiness from some cabs.
Click to expand...

+1...the low and high mid knobs are voiced at absolutely PERFECT frequency points and Q (width) for any quick, on the fly adjustments that need to be made.
 
#198
Roscoe5 said:
Hey Ken,

If you buy the F1 from Musicians' Friend, do you get that 2 year warranty? Or is that a GC thing?
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There is no GC warranty any more on the Markbass stuff (unless you want to extend the manufacturers warranty like on any piece of gear). Markbass now has a standard manufacturers 2 year warranty like most other brands. They also now have a 'replace versus repair' policy, which is quite nice.
 
#200
KJung said:
+1... this company seems to be doing a very good job of listening to the consumer and developing a product line that is broad, and that follows a nice 'feature/price/size' curve:

- you want inexpensive and reasonably small.... LMII
- you like the LMII but want more features and would give up a little on size... SA450
- you want it as small as possible and tight and quick sounding..... F1
- you want it small as possible with the maximum features... F500
- rock tube tone in a lightweight package.... R500 (or whatever that's called)
- maximum power and features in a lightweight package that's a touch larger.... SD800
- you want classic all tube, but with the most up-to-date technology and you are willing to pay for it... the 300

etc., etc.

The F1/F500 both in the product line make sense to me per your comment... don't care about the extra features... save $100 (or more... again, just guessing). Really want that mute, semi-parametric, etc., but still need it really small.. they got you covered. Very cool!
Click to expand...

KJung

Does the SA450 sound the same as the LMII. I like the LMII very much. I tried the F1 and was on the fence, so I took it back. I liked it, but is was a tad to clean for me

But I would like the EQ from the SD800 with the LMII sound. Does the SA450 do this? I haven't seen one in GC yet so I can't try it next to the LMII.
 

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