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MarkBass LittleMark IV?

I have a LittleMark IV. I picked one up Nov 2021. I really like it. The dial with 3 settings works great. I keep the dial set taking the mids out. I like it set that way all the time. The amp set Flat is to middy for me. MarkBass notched it taking out the right mids. Never run it flat. I was concerned as well not having the VLE/VPF knobs. But it's not an issue at all. If I want the old school tone I use the Old School dial to take off the highs. I still leave the mid cut dial set though. Really like the mute switch gigging. The amp is warm and even. Really like the Bi band limiter. I have tried it with a 112 cab and 210 by themselves, not together at the same time. I like the amp with the 210 cab best. The amp cuts through the live band mix great.
Years ago I had a Little Mark II when they first came out. Used the amp with 2 Aguilar GS112 cabs. I think the amp works better for me with the 210 cab. In a blues band I got along fine with just a single 112( 3pc blues band though, so not loud). Last year I went back and forth between Ampeg, Fender, and Markbass. Markbass just works for me. Lastly, the fit and finish on the Little Mark IV is great! Oh, I play a Fender Jazz American Original 60's.
Yay! An owner and a review. Sounds like the LM IV is working well for you. Do you notice any sonic differences between it and your previous LM II?
 
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Good choice too! I need to play one.
I have played a Markbass Little Mark Vintage too. Very cool amp. Just a tad warmer/sweeter sounding vs the Little Mark IV. They tweaked the mid frequencies. The addition of the tube just slightly adds to the warmth. Really liked the larger knobs for master and gain. I ended up returning the amp because I thought the Little Mark IV worked better for me with the band I was playing with at the time(cover band Top 40). I like the Little Mark Vintage so much I would consider getting another one:). For playing blues.
 
Yay! An owner and a review. Sounds like the LM IV is working well for you. Do you notice any sonic differences between it and your previous LM II?
I owned the LMII years ago so I couldn't say. I did notice the LMII was 40hz for bass knob vs the 68hz on the Little Mark IV. But the 68hz just cuts through the mix. For a cover band its great. Rolling off the high knob fattens up the tone. So, I feel like I don't need the 40hz low.
 
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I totally agree. I’ve had a LMII since they came out. Only markbass product I’ve owned but I love it and use it a ton. It’s now a backup but still love it.

the new stuff is getting super weird with the badges and phrases plastered all over everything! His silhouette with his arms crossed on gear on the front panel now?! It’s weird.

Also they need some sort of consistency in their products and marketing. Their naming schemes are terrible! MB58R? MB58R102XLP?!?! It’s the most complex product naming and marketing I’ve ever seen. Of course they are selling stuff but it’d be a lot easier for themselves if they simplified a few things. I have no idea what any of the new cabs mean, or what heads have what new innovation. They rolled out the whole new line and teased it forever and then it was released and all i saw was complicated names.

I’d still play the heads for sure. If the cabs sound amazing i still wouldn’t use them on stage unless they had options that didn’t have all the bright obnoxious yellow. What not?! I love the LMII. Just give us a line that line doesn’t have your face all over the front and maybe all black? Or black and silver?
Ha ha ha... the Yellow was an issue for me as well. I couldn't get past it to try the brand for years. But once I played it in a band setting I truly understood what Markbass was about. I still like the look of Ampeg and Fender better just for the vintage vibe. But I realized I am more of a modern tone guy. Markbass makes great bass gear. I had to listen with my ears not my eyes...I am fan:).
 
So let me see if I get this right...
Currently they have NO amplifier with headphones out, or aux in? Nothing? So strange, especially when aiming at gigging musicians.
It has been many times at band practice when we discuss a potential new song, and connecting from phone to bass amp would be very useful.
And even more important, headphones out, for racticing alone. That is neat to have both at home, or for warming up etc, at a gig.
 
Yes! I've been opening my wallet and having fun. I'm am not able to gig at the moment due to health issues but I'm on the mend and hoping to be back out for 2023!
If my profile is up to date, I currently have the Aguilar 350, Subway 350, Nanomark 300 and Quilter Bass Block 800. Still have 3 MarkBass cabs. That's about it for amplification. Oh, and an Ampeg BA110v2 combo. Down to 5 Basses. Pretty happy with what I have at the moment.
So, I hope you're enjoying your play time and Happy Holidays, my friend!
P.S. what's your current setup?

Sorry to hear about your Health issue; I know for me when not Rehearsing or Gigging I slip into a slight depression and use buying new stuff as a lift. Been that way since 1975:)

Right now setup is; Fender Ultra Precision--- Markbass CMD 121P with a 2007 A/B combo head along with another 2015 121P.

I use 2015 Combo as extension speaker for 2007 combo head and have combo head in 2015 as backup Amp.

Yes I perceive the 2007 combo head to be very slightly more to my liking

I was looking for extension speaker and backup amp for my 121p[NY 121 & Nano] when head had dreaded power up problem;
So I bought another 121p and used Cab in Bad head one as extension speaker.

Then found older A/B Combo head for sale here and got that as backup amp [ put in combo to replace problem head.] but now use as main amp

Now I have 'matched' cab's and similar backup head; hope this makes sense:)
 
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So let me see if I get this right...
Currently they have NO amplifier with headphones out, or aux in? Nothing? So strange, especially when aiming at gigging musicians.
It has been many times at band practice when we discuss a potential new song, and connecting from phone to bass amp would be very useful.
And even more important, headphones out, for racticing alone. That is neat to have both at home, or for warming up etc, at a gig.
I'm not sure why a gigging amp would have a headphones and aux sockets. Those seem like practice amp features.

Re the phone thing - I just hook it up to the PA....
 
I'm not sure why a gigging amp would have a headphones and aux sockets. Those seem like practice amp features.

Re the phone thing - I just hook it up to the PA....

Did you not read my post? I just stated some exact scenarios where a gigging musician (like me) would use those options without interfering with PA etc.
By the way, if there is anything a professional bass player does, it is practice!
 
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Did you not read my post? I just stated some exact scenarios where a gigging musician (like me) would use those options without interfering with PA etc.
By the way, if there is anything a professional bass player does, it is practice!
Yeah I read it, but I'd never practice in the house with a 500w gigging amp personally, and it's hardly "interfering" with the PA running a phone through the aux in to learn a song. In fact it's probably voiced better than a bass amp for that purpose.

That said, I accept that other amps have these features and that other players may use them, so I stand corrected. I was trying to make the point that those features are not the most important in a gigging amp but obviously for some they are.
 
Did you not read my post? I just stated some exact scenarios where a gigging musician (like me) would use those options without interfering with PA etc.
By the way, if there is anything a professional bass player does, it is practice!
I've also just realised that I'm thinking combo in my head whereas you may be talking about a head, which makes more sense from the headphones point of view. :)
 
Why not a Little Mark Vintage?
The LM2/3 were the entry level Markbass 500 watt heads back in the day, as is the LM4 today. The Vintage is significantly more expensive (+£180) and tube only pre, so is in a different category for me. The solid state pre Markbass heads have a certain punch that gets a little diluted with a tube in my opinion.

Tuner out clearly on the rear.
little_mark_iv_rear_web.png__1980x1980_q85_subsampling-2.png
That's a LM4 rear. I was talking about the 58R, I can't see a tuner out? Can you?
 
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Yeah I read it, but I'd never practice in the house with a 500w gigging amp personally, and it's hardly "interfering" with the PA running a phone through the aux in to learn a song. In fact it's probably voiced better than a bass amp for that purpose.

That said, I accept that other amps have these features and that other players may use them, so I stand corrected. I was trying to make the point that those features are not the most important in a gigging amp but obviously for some they are.

As it seems, headphones out on stage ready bass heads are considered a requirement by Ampeg, Darkglass, EBS, EICH, Genzler, MESA, GR Bass, Fender, Phil Jones, tc electronics etc. But Markbass dropped their only model with that feature. Plain dumb in my opinion, and why?
And the same with aux in, most of the above competitors have that, too, in the same amp.
Especially if a musician is travelling, connecting phone and headphones to bass head for quiet practice seems brilliant. Why should he/she bring ANOTHER amp, with different features and sound just to do that?

By the way, why would you not practice with a 500 W amp at home?
The LMII is my smallest amp, then Reidmar 750 and LittleMark Ninja 1000W. They all have volume controls, work fine at living room SPL.
Or use the headphones out....
 
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The LM2/3 were the entry level Markbass 500 watt heads back in the day, as is the LM4 today. The Vintage is significantly more expensive (+£180) and tube only pre, so is in a different category for me. The solid state pre Markbass heads have a certain punch that gets a little diluted with a tube in my opinion.


That's a LM4 rear. I was talking about the 58R, I can't see a tuner out? Can you?
Thought you were referring to the LM4. Try using the 'send' and see if that works.
 
As it seems, headphones out on stage ready bass heads are considered a requirement by Ampeg, Darkglass, EBS, EICH, Genzler, MESA, GR Bass, Fender, Phil Jones, tc electronics etc. But Markbass dropped their only model with that feature. Plain dumb in my opinion, and why?
And the same with aux in, most of the above competitors have that, too, in the same amp.
Especially if a musician is travelling, connecting phone and headphones to bass head for quiet practice seems brilliant. Why should he/she bring ANOTHER amp, with different features and sound just to do that?

By the way, why would you not practice with a 500 W amp at home?
The LMII is my smallest amp, then Reidmar 750 and LittleMark Ninja 1000W. They all have volume controls, work fine at living room SPL.
Or use the headphones out....

I believe only the 'Big Bang' AC 121 LITE and Markbass Pre had Headphone out/Aux in for recent products

I use PJB Big Head for practice; It is so small and light could bring to Gig; Setting EQ on amp with headphones at Gig has no value for me; warming up, maybe going through a new song for assurance Yes

I like PJB no plugging into wall, can be anywhere.

Of course if that feature is critical for you; You have all those other choices you mentioned other than the 'Dumb' MarkBass design:)
 
Sorry to hear about your Health issue; I know for me when not Rehearsing or Gigging I slip into a slight depression and use buying new stuff as a lift. Been that way since 1975:)

Right now setup is; Fender Ultra Precision--- Markbass CMD 121P with a 2007 A/B combo head along with another 2015 121P.

I use 2015 Combo as extension speaker for 2007 combo head and have combo head in 2015 as backup Amp.

Yes I perceive the 2007 combo head to be very slightly more to my liking

I was looking for extension speaker and backup amp for my 121p[NY 121 & Nano] when head had dreaded power up problem;
So I bought another 121p and used Cab in Bad head one as extension speaker.

Then found older A/B Combo head for sale here and got that as backup amp [ put in combo to replace problem head.] but now use as main amp

Now I have 'matched' cab's and similar backup head; hope this makes sense:)
A bit dizzying but think I got it! Lol
 
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So let me see if I get this right...
Currently they have NO amplifier with headphones out, or aux in? Nothing? So strange, especially when aiming at gigging musicians.
It has been many times at band practice when we discuss a potential new song, and connecting from phone to bass amp would be very useful.
And even more important, headphones out, for racticing alone. That is neat to have both at home, or for warming up etc, at a gig.
The Big Bang was the only one I recall.
 
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I’m a big MarkBass fan, and have many of their amps. Sorry OP, not the LM IV though.

I can stomach the yellow, and I’m partial to Italian design.

However I cannot imagine why they feel the need to cram absolutely. every. single. bit of free space with unnecessary graphics, labels and branding.

The super-cringe Marco silhouettes or “Italian Lifestyle”… are so self-evidently ridiculous I can only note that is the very antithesis of elegant, appealing design… and the visual antithesis to “bass” and its functional role in most music.

The best MarkBass products are the ones you can stand to look at and aren’t ashamed of, or can easily fix with a black sharpie.
I think the LM4 is one of the more conservatively designed Markbass heads. Especially if you bring the Ninjas into the equation.
20221225_145932.jpg
 
Sure, the Marco silhouette and Italian map logos are rather tacky but one can easily cover them with a bit of black electrical tape or Sharpie.

However, in the grand scheme of things

View attachment 4913350
View attachment 4913351
I understand the Italian logo. It's an anniversary edition. And, I like Yellow but one the new MB58R it does seem a bit overkill. But if the amp sounds great, I'll get over it.
 
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