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Markbass LMII - is having no mute really a problem?

theophilus762

theophilus762

Nov 4, 2006
1,342
43
39
Arlington, VA
#1
I've been checking out the new Markbass gear and I already have gas, even though I absolutely LOVE my LMII! However, many are chiming in about their opinions on the LMIII not having a mute, when MB is adding it to their tube models.

But I have to ask...is not having a mute really a problem? In between sets I just flip the switch and turn my LMII off. Sometimes I just hit the mute switch on my Sadowsky Outboard Preamp/DI, or drop the volume on my EB volume pedal, or I can just turn on my planet waves tuner. It's not a tube amp so I'm not really concerned with it having to warm up or cool down, so I don't see what the deal is.

Am I completely missing something?
:eyebrow:
 
#6
This has been beat to death:D. If you are one who uses a mute switch, you will miss it, to the point of possibly not considering the amp. If you are one like me who has never used one, it's a moot (mute!) point!

If you like the LMII tone and really want a mute switch, just fork over the extra $75 and get the LMTube, which has all kinds of extra goodies, and I assume the same sound as the LMII and LMIII with the tube blended out of the signal chain.
 
#7
PSPookie said:
Keep in mind that some folks (me for instance) don't use any pedals. Bass -> cable -> head.

A mute switch is a nice thing to have but not a necessity.
Click to expand...

+1. This describes me exactly. At times I miss having a mute switch, but it doesn't deter me from very much enjoying my LMII and my new F1.
 
#11
Yeah I dont use "pedals" either (effects pedals that is) but I do have my tuner pedal between the bass and my LMII, so that takes care of the muting. But other than that, I would just turn down the volume on the bass if I had to. Dont miss a mute on an amp at all.
 
#14
None of these solutions work with tuners plugged into tuner outs of the amp. They all mute the input to the tuner. Cable mutes, wireless transmitter mutes, turning down the bass volume, turning off the amp (shuts off the tuner out circuit), unplugging the cable from the amp, etc. The tuner mute built into amps is just a nice feature that people who like rack tuners and silent tuning.
It looks like they are using a pull out volume knob for a mute on many models. That should help.
Wes
 
#15
Wes Whitmore said:
None of these solutions work with tuners plugged into tuner outs of the amp. They all mute the input to the tuner. Cable mutes, wireless transmitter mutes, turning down the bass volume, turning off the amp (shuts off the tuner out circuit), unplugging the cable from the amp, etc. The tuner mute built into amps is just a nice feature that people who like rack tuners and silent tuning.
It looks like they are using a pull out volume knob for a mute on many models. That should help.
Wes
Click to expand...

+1 While I don't use a 'tuner out' on any amp, the idea of going through the trouble to include a tuner out jack, and then not including a mute switch is 'strange'. Not a big deal, but strange anyway.
 
#18
ga_edwards said:
That's why I mentioned the Planet Waves circuit breaker cable (as someone else also did). Perfect solution if you go bass - cable - amp. Pretty much what it's designed for.
Click to expand...


I think his point is that the many only find a mute switch useful with regards to tuning. The circuit breaker cable would be of no use for that, since it would mute the tuner input along with the amp.

I guess that cable would be useful for switching basses within a set, but can't see much advantage with it over just turning the bass volume down between sets if that's the only thing you are using it for. IMO and IME.
 
#20
yes. I think so.. for $600.. it should have a mute button.. it's a good thing to have in case a pedal fails. a "huge" problem? no.. but while the lmII is impressive.. I still say anything costing $599.. or higher.. should have a mute button.. at least it has a tuner out.. I love hitting mute on Genz.. then having the tuner out be functional.

I often use a boss tuner pedal... so it's not that big an issue.. but it is, to me, an issue.. I like not touching the volume.. leaving it as-is.. why not have a mute.. it cannot cost much to add.. at least they are adding it.
 

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