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Markbass F1 First Impressions

#221
5StringPocket said:
Gary, it sounds like clean volume is what you are after and if that's the case Markbass may be your best choice. One thing unusual about the Shuttle master is that it seems pretty linear all the way up while most of the ones I've tried max out at about 1:00 and just overdrive from that point. I run the gains hotter with my UL-410 and like to get into the edge of that tube overdrive on the pre. I don't have any clipping at these settings and they seem to give me quite a bit of headroom.
Shuttle 6.0 EQ:
Input gains 1:30
Low 11:00
Mid Freq 9:00
Mid Boost 2:00
Treble 12:00
Master Vol 5:00

These settings work for my rig and push the Shuttle harder but may not give the sound you're looking for. Maybe the LMII with an Epi UL-410(I) or an F1 with either an Epi UL-410(II) or Berg AE410 is your ticket? :bassist::D
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I did another gig last night and while I still notice the quickness of the LMII which gives the feeling of more headroom, the Shuttle sounded freaking GREAT out in the room. I walked out during a couple tunes where we were cranking hard and man, the Shuttle sounded GREAT. Sat in the mix perfectly, cut really well. Had I been in the audience, I think I would have complimented the bass players tone! That's how good the 'tone' came through in the mix. I am not trying to give myself strokes saying that. I was really impressed at how the tone of the Shuttle shown through in the band mix. That's the point! It was Really really good. And it was "clean" too. I dialed down the input tube gain and boosted the Master Vol. It has been pointed out that out in the room is where the tone and performance of the Shuttle shines the best. I can't dispute that.

I also intend to continue my own personal shootout with a different cabinet. I am planning on trying either an AE410 or EpiUL410 (S2). I am leaning toward the AE410! So that will be really fun. I've heard great things about the pairing of either the Shuttle, or the Markbass heads with that cabinet. So it should be great no matter what. The EpiUL310 (series 2) that I am using is just a bit shy in the mids. So the AE410 should KILL it in that regard. More to come!
 
#224
KJung said:
Nice to see this thread active again! I use nothing but the F1 when I can. Wonderful, wonderful head if you like it accurate, clean, punchy, precise, but still not 'sterile' IMO and IME.
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It particularly smokes with the AE210 stack! :) I think I still like the LMII better with the Epi stuff tho.
 
#225
KJung said:
I use nothing but the F1. Wonderful, wonderful head if you like it accurate, clean, punchy, precise, but still not 'sterile' IMO and IME.
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+1 The F1 still puts a smile on my face everytime I play through it.

I have an outdoor gig tomorrow with PA support but, I still can't wait to open the F1 up more than I usually do!
Should sound awesome i'm sure!
 
#226
Because I'm an idiot:
can someone compare and contrast LMII and F1?
Because they seem to spec exactly the same according to what I'm reading at the MB site...

I'll be glad to move this to it's own thread if this is an irritant to anyone...
 
#229
Chef said:
Because I'm an idiot:
can someone compare and contrast LMII and F1?
Because they seem to spec exactly the same according to what I'm reading at the MB site...

I'll be glad to move this to it's own thread if this is an irritant to anyone...
Click to expand...
To me, the F1 is a bit "quicker" sounding. The bass is a tad more supple, and it has more "immediacy" to the sound.

The LMII sounds a little more compressed, to my ear. Not a bad thing, and they are subtle differences, but I hear them in there. The F1 also seems to have a better lo-mid presence, which is ther anyway with the Schroeders. The LMII I have has a tendency to get a little muddier to me at higher volumes. I think that may be the Class AB vs. Class H power sections, because from everything I've read, the EQ sections are supposed to be identical.
 
#230
Chef said:
Because I'm an idiot:
can someone compare and contrast LMII and F1?
Because they seem to spec exactly the same according to what I'm reading at the MB site...

I'll be glad to move this to it's own thread if this is an irritant to anyone...
Click to expand...
Well, they have totally different power section designs, so that alters the reproduction of what is (I believe) the same preamp. To my ears, and I think I share this opinion, the F1 sounds a bit more modern, with not quite as much mid grind, whereas I think the LMII is just a tad punchier, but maybe not as bright or deep. All this with no EQ, btw.
 
#231
Bassic83 said:
To me, the F1 is a bit "quicker" sounding. The bass is a tad more supple, and it has more "immediacy" to the sound.

The LMII sounds a little more compressed, to my ear. Not a bad thing, and they are subtle differences, but I hear them in there. The F1 also seems to have a better lo-mid presence, which is ther anyway with the Schroeders. The LMII I have has a tendency to get a little muddier to me at higher volumes. I think that may be the Class AB vs. Class H power sections, because from everything I've read, the EQ sections are supposed to be identical.
Click to expand...
I wonder if the particularly mid-strong voicings of your Schroeders is part of how you classify these. I think the LMII is a bit more mid-strong, but might be a bit much, and maybe even sound a tad muddier with a super mid strong cab.

My AE's are much more mid strong than my Epis, and as I posted, I like the F1 better with the AE's, and the LMII better with the Epis.
 
#232
Coelho said:
Hi Vic,

how do you compare the F1 + AE210 against the F1 + AE210(x2) ? Only volume increase? Does the tone changes? etc etc...

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Just seems bigger and louder to me. I don't think I notice a tone change, but I must admit, I have only done that in the basement. I have not gigged with just one.
 
#233
Chef said:
Because I'm an idiot:
can someone compare and contrast LMII and F1?
Because they seem to spec exactly the same according to what I'm reading at the MB site...

I'll be glad to move this to it's own thread if this is an irritant to anyone...
Click to expand...

To me, the LMII is warmer and darker sounding (it reminds me of the Series I AI Focus, but probably a bit punchier -- I haven't heard the newer models, so I can't go there).
The F1 is VERY freakin' quick, punchy, and clean (in a naturally musical way).
 
#235
lo-freq said:
To me, the LMII is warmer and darker sounding (it reminds me of the Series I AI Focus, but probably a bit punchier -- I haven't heard the newer models, so I can't go there).
The F1 is VERY freakin' quick, punchy, and clean (in a naturally musical way).
Click to expand...

So much depends on the interaction between the cab and the bass and the head. While I find the LMII to have a MUCH more crystal clear top end than the very dark sounding AI stuff, I now understand why some call the LMII somewhat dark. It's really a function of the upper mids. The LMII has SWR type sizzle if you want it. It is capable of the Marcus Miller 8K+ top end sizzle that the Focus just doesn't seem to want to reproduce. However, I guess 'bright' and 'dark' are more about the upper mids to some versus the way I use this term (defined more by sizzle and 4K+ upper treble). The LMII is surely not 'bumped' in the upper mids like some heads (I think this is why the slap guys love these heads so much, since many attenuate the upper mids to eliminate that 'gank' slap tone).

The F1 (and SD800) both have more presence in that 1K-2K 'bright area', and I hear a tighter, slightly more compressed low end versus the LMII, which gives the entire head a more 'quick, punchy, accurate, SS' sort of vibe.

What I like most about these amps is that they both have the capability of full, deep, 'real' low end, and treble that will extend to the top of a tweeter's range if you want it. They are both quite transparent sounding, and will very accurately reproduce the 'growl' of a J bass single coil pickup when you dig in, without adding a lot of mush or distortion on their own.

They are both a very unusual example of 'relatively transparent but not sterile' that I've been attempting to achieve but falling short of for years with my iAmps, Walter Woods, AI Focus, etc. (all fine amps, but all voiced in a way that never quite allowed me to just plug in and play without messing with the knobs a bunch).

IMO of course, all fine stuff.
 
#237
lo-freq said:
Bump

I am having a hard time getting that sound outta my head -- sweet!
I think it's the best I've ever heard my SR5 and CX-310 sound.
I'd really love to try one on a gig.
Click to expand...

I'm having the same problem my friend! I tried out/compared the F1 and LM2 at Club Bass last month. I tried it out with a new Berg AE410. Wow. What an amazing sound! I fear I will be taking an extra six months to pay back the student loans now:atoz:


The differences between the two heads are subtle, but they are definitley there. They made a big enough difference for me to consider either selling my LM2 and getting the F1 or keeping the LM2 and buying the F1.

And of course getting the Bergie!:help:


I hope you aren't reading this Freeman!;)
 
#238
Bass Boy said:
I'm having the same problem my friend! I tried out/compared the F1 and LM2 at Club Bass last month. I tried it out with a new Berg AE410. Wow. What an amazing sound! I fear I will be taking an extra six months to pay back the student loans now:atoz:


The differences between the two heads are subtle, but they are definitley there. They made a big enough difference for me to consider either selling my LM2 and getting the F1 or keeping the LM2 and buying the F1.

And of course getting the Bergie!:help:


I hope you aren't reading this Freeman!;)
Click to expand...

I've been pounding the F1/AE410 rig for the last few weeks with the Alleva and the new MV5 with singles, and it really is killer. It's a little much solo (talk about hearing the windings on the B string), but man does that upper mid growl and lower mid grunt muscle through a mix, even at high volume.
 
#239
KJung said:
I've been pounding the F1/AE410 rig for the last few weeks with the Alleva and the new MV5 with singles, and it really is killer. It's a little much solo (talk about hearing the windings on the B string), but man does that upper mid growl and lower mid grunt muscle through a mix, even at high volume.
Click to expand...
+1, tho in my case it's the pair of AE210's... the lower mid push of the AE's and the upper mid push of the F1 really compliment IMHO. With the LMII, it's a bit too much of a good thing. :)
 
#240
Vic said:
+1, tho in my case it's the pair of AE210's... the lower mid push of the AE's and the upper mid push of the F1 really compliment IMHO. With the LMII, it's a bit too much of a good thing. :)
Click to expand...

Gee... that's not great for me then. I was thinking of trying a AE410 to use with my LMII. I sent back the F1 as it seemed slightly different to me but redundant. I favored the LMII over the F1 for the slight thicker overall tone. The F1 was 'faster/quicker' I guess but in the mix the LMII still ruled for me. Maybe I should have kept the F1 longer.. shrug.

I don't see why one couldn't eq out some of the 'too much' frequency though.
 

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