Markbass heads vs. others

[Tom Gotsch]

Hey everyone. I've been looking at some of Markbass' heads and cabs, and some of their stuff looks pretty cool. Can their heads get warm and sorta vintage? I know that Michael League (Snarky Puppy), one of my favorite bass players, has a signature, the Casa head, and it seems promising. I've been told that their cabs are really warm, which I like, but I've also seen some negative reviews about Markbass in general. So what are your opinions on their heads vs. other heads, such as the Subway D800 or TH500 or any others?

Let's discuss.

 

[Stranger Danger]

The VLE knob will get you where you want to go. I’ve owned most all of the major brands and I’m a Markbass believer. The cleanest palette in my opinion is the best one.

 

[Tom Gotsch]

The VLE knob will get you where you want to go. I’ve owned most all of the major brands and I’m a Markbass believer. The cleanest palette in my opinion is the best one.

So the Little Mark series?

 

[Stranger Danger]

So the Little Mark series?

I have a CMD 121P and the NY 121 extension cab. I have had a Little Mark Tube 800 in the past as well. I prefer the current set up. It does exactly what I want (clean, loud and honest) and it can do what you want with a twist of the VLE knob.

 

[Zbysek]

I have had MB LM III and Aguilar TH 500 at the same time. I liked the LM III better and sold the TH. I still use the LM III as my main amp. It is powerfull and sounds great! It is warm and you can make it vintage by the VLE knob...

 

[woodyng2]

I have a CMD 121P and the NY 121 extension cab. I have had a Little Mark Tube 800 in the past as well. I prefer the current set up. It does exactly what I want (clean, loud and honest) and it can do what you want with a twist of the VLE knob.

I have both the 121p combo and the 800 tube,really love both amps. I also have a markbasss traveler 1-12 cab. Interesting to me the comments about the VLE,as i seldom use it at all.
I do use a VT pedal for a tube compression sound with my markbass equipment,though.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I have both the 121p combo and the 800 tube,really love both amps. I also have a markbasss traveler 1-12 cab. Interesting to me the comments about the VLE,as i seldom use it at all.
I do use a VT pedal for a tube compression sound with my markbass equipment,though.

I use tape wounds so I don’t use it much but with round wounds I’d use it at about 10 o clock (especially when recording).

 

[Zbysek]

Interesting to me the comments about the VLE,as i seldom use it at all.

I have never used it.

 

[penllyn]

My fender studio bass combo (180w, some say 200w, all valve 6x6l6gc,7025,12au7,12at7, EVM15B) which I have been gigging and recording with for some years recently developed a fault.
I decided that after just about 45 years of pro (more recently semi pro ) playing I would do my back a favour and buy something more modern, I would also not have that will it won't it feeling every time I switched it on.
I had already decided to buy a barefaced cab, if the hype was even half true I would be very pleased.
I had recently been to a snarky puppy gig and saw that the bass player was using a markbass casa.
I liked the sound so took a chance on one of these (14 day no question returns, thanks andertons). My go to bass is a 1974 fender jazz, rosewood.
Straight into my first gig with it, didn't even try it out at home.
All I can say is wow!.
Every thing on half (as duane allman used to say) I was amazed. Had to roll off a bit of bass (and turn the master down) but otherwise superb.
I know this thread is about markbass, I will come to that soon. The barefaced cab, a big baby 2 gen 3 is a tour de force.
The efficiency, dispersion, light weight, size, tone (or perhaps transparency) are incredible. I am not easily impressed having played through any number of iconic amp and cab combinations over the years. My bandmates were even more impressed than me.
This is the important point. The barefaced cab is known to be transparent. In other words it doesn't colour the sound. What you put into it is what you hear, all over the stage and throughout the room.
So, I know how my bass sounds (after 35 years ) , the cab is transparent, garbage in, garbage out.
We are left with the markbass casa. Great sound, warm, clear and, it seems to me, a little of that "squash" (perhaps subtle compression when you dig in ) of many legendary valve amps. Combined with effortless headroom, weighs nothing, hopefully solid state reliability, I am one happy bunny.
All I can say is that if you want a solid state amp which sounds very similar to some valve amp, loads of spare power, light weight, good, versatile but simple e.q. the markbass casa does it. I can't comment on "grind" (don't know what it is) and I have generally tried to avoid distortion, I'm not a lead guitarist.
To summarise the casa seems like a really good amp if a little expensive but then i'm over sixty, if not now, when?.