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Markbass F1 First Impressions

#261
Haven`t posted here for a while, just want to chime in to tell you all how much I like my MB rig. Been gigin` a lot the last months with various basses and bands, lately most with my Nash jazz, and I just love the thick, fat and focused sound I get with my SD800/104HF.
My bandmates love my stagesound, and I`m also getting alot of compliments from soundmen and audience too. The response I get from this rig is awsome. It makes me relaxe on stage and I can focuse more on my playing cause the sound is already there:D
 
#262
gillento said:
Does this mean that the F1 is a better match with my Aguilar GS112 than the LMII in order to counteract the infamous GS midscoop?
Click to expand...

Scoop, shmoop, swoop. I've never found myself in a gig situation where my GS-212 didn't 'cut through' the mix. So there! :p I spent more than a month playing a SA450 through all my cabs. Never could feel chummy with that amp. Sometimes I wonder if the results would have been different if I'd purchased the F1? Hey, tomorrow is a new day! If MF ever sends me a discount coupon again, maybe an F1 will show up at my door. It's all fun! :hmm::):D

P.S. Of course, if I purchased an F1 it would have to be the special edition in red! :o

M. M.
 
#263
Actually I was playing last night through a AG500/GS212 combo with a extra GS212, and was not impressed at all. Sounded ok when I played it soloed, but did not cut through at all on the gig. Something in the mids missing there. I also used to own a GS112, had the same problem there. Not my cup of thea I guess.
 
#264
bugbass said:
Actually I was playing last night through a AG500/GS212 combo with a extra GS212, and was not impressed at all. Sounded ok when I played it soloed, but did not cut through at all on the gig. Something in the mids missing there. I also used to own a GS112, had the same problem there. Not my cup of thea I guess.
Click to expand...

Point well taken. If one amp or cab pleased us all, what fun would that be? As musicians, we should be proud to be different...and not be afraid to like what others don't like. :p:D

M. M.
 
#266
bugbass said:
Actually I was playing last night through a AG500/GS212 combo with a extra GS212, and was not impressed at all. Sounded ok when I played it soloed, but did not cut through at all on the gig. Something in the mids missing there. I also used to own a GS112, had the same problem there. Not my cup of thea I guess.
Click to expand...
This is off-topic, but I just have to ask based on my personal experiences...

I had a pair of GS112's and I never liked them LESS than when plugged into an Aggie head (surprised the heck out of me... ironic!). Have you ever tried the Aggies with other amps? As much as I hated them with the Aggie heads, I thought they worked pretty well with other stuff.

I also agree they're generally kinda' scooped sounding, great at home, lacks some cut at a gig unless you boost 400-800Hz (depending on taste/style).

Feel free to PM me if you want to avoid a derail here.
 
#267
Vic said:
This is off-topic, but I just have to ask based on my personal experiences...

I had a pair of GS112's and I never liked them LESS than when plugged into an Aggie head (surprised the heck out of me... ironic!). Have you ever tried the Aggies with other amps? As much as I hated them with the Aggie heads, I thought they worked pretty well with other stuff.

I also agree they're generally kinda' scooped sounding, great at home, lacks some cut at a gig unless you boost 400-800Hz (depending on taste/style).

Feel free to PM me if you want to avoid a derail here.
Click to expand...

I tried the GS112 with a SWR SM900, and had the same problem as with the AG500/GS212. IMO it`s a cab "problem"
 
#268
I think the GS212 is a different beast than the 112 (I own both).

blowinblue said:
Scoop, shmoop, swoop. I've never found myself in a gig situation where my GS-212 didn't 'cut through' the mix. So there! :p I spent more than a month playing a SA450 through all my cabs. Never could feel chummy with that amp. Sometimes I wonder if the results would have been different if I'd purchased the F1? Hey, tomorrow is a new day! If MF ever sends me a discount coupon again, maybe an F1 will show up at my door. It's all fun! :hmm::):D

P.S. Of course, if I purchased an F1 it would have to be the special edition in red! :o

M. M.
Click to expand...
 
#269
Does this mean that the F1 is a better match with my Aguilar GS112 than the LMII in order to counteract the infamous GS midscoop?

man this head sounds great with any cabinet. I also have a GS212 along with a Avatar 210 neo and my F1 makes them both sound the best they can. That said yeah the GS212 is a great match up.
 
#270
Toneman said:
Does this mean that the F1 is a better match with my Aguilar GS112 than the LMII in order to counteract the infamous GS midscoop?

man this head sounds great with any cabinet. I also have a GS212 along with a Avatar 210 neo and my F1 makes them both sound the best they can. That said yeah the GS212 is a great match up.
Click to expand...
Not to take away from the F1, but I would actually think the LMII might be a little better with a cab that's generally deemed as scooped sounding. Bottom line tho, if you have what works for you, end of story. :)
 
#271
Big String said:
<SNIP> All in all though when it comes down to playing live, I think much of what we really love about tone gets diluted somewhat in a mix, especially with horns etc. We've been rehearsing with a bare-bones crew lately just bass, drums, guitar, sax no keys and trumpet. Man... I can hear every note I play and cop a bit of freedom ta-boot.<SNIP>
Click to expand...

You said a mouthful, Big String!

My holy grail is the combination of bass, strings, amp, cabinet, and my technique, that enable me to hear "my sound" in a crowded mix, preferably without an objectionable change in character during quiet passages, in trio settings, or when soloing.

For me, the "right" rig is kit of parts that give me leverage and control, and is consistent and responsive to my touch and intentions - something that doesn't distract or obfuscate. :)
 
#273
Vic said:
Not to take away from the F1, but I would actually think the LMII might be a little better with a cab that's generally deemed as scooped sounding. Bottom line tho, if you have what works for you, end of story. :)
Click to expand...

My experience has been the opposite. I have an Epifani UL210
box. Its usually thought of as being rather mid scooped. The
F1 seems to be the more articulate, faster, more forward
sounding amp with the UL210.
 
#274
Jazzdogg said:
You said a mouthful, Big String!

My holy grail is the combination of bass, strings, amp, cabinet, and my technique, that enable me to hear "my sound" in a crowded mix, preferably without an objectionable change in character during quiet passages, in trio settings, or when soloing.

For me, the "right" rig is kit of parts that give me leverage and control, and is consistent and responsive to my touch and intentions - something that doesn't distract or obfuscate. :)
Click to expand...

You said a mouthful, yourself there Jazzdogg.
+1 on all points.
 
#276
gillento said:
I think the GS212 is a different beast than the 112 (I own both).
Click to expand...

+1 The GS212 sounds quite a bit more even to me than the GS112x2 stack. It would be the F1 with the GS112's all the way for me if you like it clean, tight, crisp and punchy.

As mentioned above, the LMII would sound great too. However, if you haven't purchased one or the other, I do find that there is enough of a difference between these two heads in the mix and match that one would be slightly but meaningfully better with some cabs than others.

The F1 really does have a lot going on in the upper mids, and the whole 'forward feel' of the amp (i.e., mid articulation) is quite a bit more noticable than the LMII, primarily due to the tighter low end (i.e., the F1 has a higher mid to bass ratio than the LMII).

Again, I use them relatively interchangable, but I prefer the F1 at this point.
 
#277
KJung said:
+1 The GS212 sounds quite a bit more even to me than the GS112x2 stack.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this bit of info. I've never had the opportunity to try the GS112. Maybe this is part of the reason I dig my GS212 so much (the relative eveness). Like we say, it's all good. :) When I purchased the SA450 recently the biggest reason I didn't choose the F1 was that I was worried about it being overbearingly bright. Maybe I should revisit the purchase of an F1. :hmm: Where's my next Musician's Friend discount coupon?

M. M.
 
#278
B String said:
My experience has been the opposite. I have an Epifani UL210
box. Its usually thought of as being rather mid scooped. The
F1 seems to be the more articulate, faster, more forward
sounding amp with the UL210.
Click to expand...
Really? Wow. I'm gonna' have to revisit this. I always figured the extra grunt in the LMII would compliment a scooped cab better. I'll take another listen.
 
#279
I used my F1/UL-410 Series 2 rig in an outdoor gig last night with PA support. I used the DI out of the F1. Soundman thought it was a little hot but it was a nice Mackie board and he was able to adjust it properly.

An interesting thing happened. When I turned on my rack I notice the voltage meter on my Furman was hanging in around 110 v. The first 4 songs went fine and I started to hear a loss in volume. The votage meter went below 100 v and the Amp cut the sound to the cab but was still running to the board fine. I shut down the amp and turned it back on and the cab kicked back in. But, this happened 4 more times in the set.

After the first set we ran a seperate line just for my bass rig. Turns out I was sharing the same line as the lights and few other power amps. The seperate line was read just under 120 v. The amp sounded great and no other power downs occured.

I understood what was happening and thought how cool this head was by shutting down the cab to eliminate any issues. Is there anything these Markbass heads cant do?? :D

On the rig itself it sounded fantastic (once I was powering it correctly) I just needed to boost a little highend since the mains had me on the bassy side. My Sad Standard 5 was grinding nicely and was cutting through with ease.

This rig just inspires me to play better. The F1 is my weapon of choice. Of course, my LMII was with me as a back up. I believe I will sell the LMII once the F500 comes out though. If it is anything like the F1 with a few more useful options I'll rock it!

Kudos to Markbass. The F1 is a smart, fast, punchy amp!
 

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