If you like the Aggie GS and the Ampeg 610, I totally understand why you don`t care for the MB cabs. Both your cabs sounds really scooped compared to the MB cabs.
Personally I love the way my MB cabs cuts through live
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MarkBass LM II'ers
- Thread starter geremia
- Start date
If you like the Aggie GS and the Ampeg 610, I totally understand why you don`t care for the MB cabs. Both your cabs sounds really scooped compared to the MB cabs.
Personally I love the way my MB cabs cuts through live
Same reason I have a EBS Fafner (which goes normally on top of the 610) but I don't like their cabs. I have owned them, cuts perfectly through the mix but just not my sound.
Count me as another that likes the way MB cabs cut through the mix. Never tried most of the other cabinets mentioned though, except for a sound-company-supplied Eden 4x10 that I didn't think sounded anywhere as good as my MB 151HR + 102P.
I play a LMII through a MB Traveler 102. The tone controls on the amp and my bass (Steinberger Synapse 5-string) are all set flat, the VLE is up about 2.5 notches, and the VPF is at 0. This gives me a nice bottom end while cutting through the mix (I play in a blues trio. The guitarist plays Gibson's (all types, choice depends on the song/his mood) through a very, very loud Z combo amp, and the drummer is mixed. My sound is a mix of traditional blues bottom end with a more modern blues sound. I am going to add a 12" or 15" MB cabinet when we start to play larger indoor venues or outdoor venues.
I meant the drummer is miked, lol.......And I sort of like the yellow color, it stands out on stage and we know bass players need help in getting some attention despite our excellent chops and time keeping.
I have no inherent problem with the way that the MB cabs sound. In fact I think JimmyM is right that they sit in the mix really well. I just didn't have the bank to put together a set of 2 12" MB cabs.
It really boils down to money, money and mo' money.
Before I got my Markbass LM II.
About 2 years ago, I was building a set-up for outdoor
Concerts - the whole rack thing, and then my cab choice.
I chose the MESA POWERHOUSE 1000 (1000 watts, 4 ohms
15 inch in the center, and a 10 inch in each corner),
for one sound, and the Ampeg 410 HLF (1000 watts, 4 ohms)
for another sound. Neither Cab was cheap.
At the time, I was not aware of Schroeder, Epifani, or even the
Mark Basses.
I LOVE THE SOUND MY MESA POWERHOUSE 1000 puts out
(Giant, full sound Bottom, and silky highs) and my ampeg 410 HLF,
(raw directed Bottom and crisp highs). so I made myself happy with
the weight vs sound issue. But after getting tired (or older all it
takes is 2 years) of the weight, and doing research, light rig vs
sound, it boiled down to this for me:
a great amp is the first place to shape your sound, then a great cab
determines how to put that sound out. So I figure Id lightin up the
1000 watt rack system before the cabinets.
I tried the Markbass LM II, with my MESA POWERHOUSE 1000,
Man, this little head shook the walls and the ground. I did not
believe it was a 500 watter, it felt like a 1000 watt. Everyone was
Saying turn it down too much bass, etc. then I learned how to adjust
It.
Every place I play, they love the Mark Bass/Mesa sound I have.
I do want a lighter Cab, but again, my sound is awesome and
money is not. I feel blessed to have gotten a great cab, even if it is heavy.
Growth is one step at a time.
Check this: I sold my mark bass two weeks ago, and used an aguilar
AG 500 head, my band members noticed the difference asap!!
So I bought another Markbass LM II the following week.
Also I sold my Ampeg Cab, but no one noticed it missing.
I just miss that it was lighter than the MESA.
So now, I can get that Schroeder, Epifani,
(or even the 610 Mark Bass Cab not thrilled with the 6 ohm thing,
but its the only Mark Bass Cab that sounds good to me)
Just Jaxsns 2 cents
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
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Yeah, I had my Schroeder 1212 and my Bergantino HT115 before my LMII. Both cabs sound great with the LMII, so why switch...I'm not one of those people who needs matching gear (or even wants it in the least).
I did try a few Markbass cabs in the showroom to see if I was missing anything, and don't find that I am.
I did try a few Markbass cabs in the showroom to see if I was missing anything, and don't find that I am.
::::BASSIST::::,
You, you have no idea, (or maybe you do)
This sound is the all get-out.
I want two powerhouse 1000's.
I'd rather workout to compensate the
weight, than sell it.
But the best thing is TO get an additional cab. that will be the smaller lightweight.
but I must also remember, I do have a 15 and 4 ten's. in ONE CAB.
just about everyone else is speaking only 4 10's or 2 10's
so 150 pounds may not be that bad for my sound.
You, you have no idea, (or maybe you do)
This sound is the all get-out.
I want two powerhouse 1000's.
I'd rather workout to compensate the
weight, than sell it.
But the best thing is TO get an additional cab. that will be the smaller lightweight.
but I must also remember, I do have a 15 and 4 ten's. in ONE CAB.
just about everyone else is speaking only 4 10's or 2 10's
so 150 pounds may not be that bad for my sound.
jaxsn, it's one thing to lighten up with amps, but as far as I can tell, nobody has been able to defeat the laws of physics with speaker cabs. Small cabs can do more than they used to, but in the end, they're still small and not going to push the air like bigger ones. I do like my little 12" Markbass combo a lot, and for many of my gigs it's highly usable, but there's no doubt that my two-115 rig or my old SVT cab sounds and feels better. Of course, try going up stairs or make a 1000-foot walk with an SVT cab and you'll appreciate the little combo 
I know we sound like a broken record with the "Markbass Cab in the mix" point of view.
But you just can't experience it (unless you buy) until you get it to a gig... so the maligning will continue.
jaxsn, it's one thing to lighten up with amps, but as far as I can tell, nobody has been able to defeat the laws of physics with speaker cabs. Small cabs can do more than they used to, but in the end, they're still small and not going to push the air like bigger ones. I do like my little 12" Markbass combo a lot, and for many of my gigs it's highly usable, but there's no doubt that my two-115 rig or my old SVT cab sounds and feels better. Of course, try going up stairs or make a 1000-foot walk with an SVT cab and you'll appreciate the little combo
JimmyM,
I agree with you. read my post again.
or I should say, we are saying the same thing. I will get an epifani or Schroeder,
but for now, unless some talk basser has one to sell me for $300 - $400
it's not going to happen before Jan 2009.
Besides, my cabs move on the ground very easy thanks to the hand truck design.
Stairs? most places I play have ramps or some elevator type thing, so the only problem is (in and out) the truck/suv
Honestly, for the benefit of the sound,
I don't know why I'm complaining this much.
When I get the lighter cab, I hope it sounds as full as the mesa.
I have the CMD 102P and the 104 HF cab-- I love this setup moreso than any I've tried. I chose the 104 HF cab over Epifani, Berg, Eden, Hartke Hydrive, Ampeg, GK and Mesa (I didn't have a Shroeder to try so that one I guess I'll never know), and I found the punchy midrange of the MB cab more suitable to cut through a live mix. This cab is very detailed, with crystalline highs, bright high mids, punch you in the gut low mids, and focused, directional lows. I love the B&C speakers-- it takes very little power to get the air moving with these drivers, and I personally even love the look of the yellow drivers and faceplate, it looks like a hot-rodded amp to me. I did my homework considering tone first, then weight, then price, and Markbass won me over big time on all three.
I do a lot of freelance work for different bands and when I first begin to play with a new band the response is always "that bass sound is amazing". It's like a broken record I love to hear, and it never fails. Marco de Virgilis designed the cabs for live use, not bedroom wanking, and it shows. I'll take the Pepsi challenge with anything on the market, and I'd be completely baffled if everyone in the room doesn't get on the Markbass train immediately.
I do a lot of freelance work for different bands and when I first begin to play with a new band the response is always "that bass sound is amazing". It's like a broken record I love to hear, and it never fails. Marco de Virgilis designed the cabs for live use, not bedroom wanking, and it shows. I'll take the Pepsi challenge with anything on the market, and I'd be completely baffled if everyone in the room doesn't get on the Markbass train immediately.
We have the same amps. I love the personality of the GK, so I'm not likely to get rid of it in favor of the LMii, but the Little Mark might see more gigs in the near future.
