Markbass Megathread PART 2

[waffle puzzle]

How long did it take you to get the EARS ? I ordered mine last Saturday at GC.

 

[bassman74]

I've read here and there that some people have trouble finding their tone when combining MB heads with MB cabs. I'm one of these persons.

I love my LMII mostly with other cabs, i find it easier to match this head with other cabs.

I'm curious, did anyone tried it with an epifani PS210 or PS410?

Any suggestions? I play mostly rock, little funk and slap...

Thanks

Frank

 

[Vic]

How long did it take you to get the EARS ? I ordered mine last Saturday at GC.

Well, it was a special order, so it took a while. I think it was probably at least 2 weeks, but it wasn't urgent, so no biggie.

 

[bassman74]

I forgot,

any EQ suggestions for a good rock tone???

thanks

Francois

 

[Peter Murray]

There's a time frame!
I just know how sticky you guys are with timelines and delays. I don't want to say something will be available at a certain date, and then find out there's been a delay in production, or with customs, or whatever. But orders have been placed and the new stuff is on its way!
I can tell you the "order" that these new products will arrive in:

First new batch: F1, R500, 104HR, 151HR, Classic 108, Jeff Berlin combo and Minimark.

Second batch: Classic 300, TRV 121H, Classic 104.

Third batch: LMK, SA450, TRV 151P.

And then the rest should follow around the end of the year.

Hope that helps!
Peter

Ok guys... here's an update on when these new models will show up:

AVAILABLE NOW: STD 104HR, STD 151HR
LATE OCTOBER: F1, R500, Classic 108, CMD 151 Jeff Berlin combo, Minimark
LATE NOVEMBER: Classic 300, TRV 121H, Classic 104
LATE 07/EARLY 08: LMK, SA450, TRV 151P

Cheers,
Peter

 

[JoshB]

I should get my LMII sometime next week...after a long time lugging around a 30-40lb amp, I'm looking forward to having an amp that will fit in the pocket of my gig bag.

It should sound great with my Berg HT210 and HT212 cabs...yummy!

Oh...and I blame Vic for the GAS, but thank him wholeheartedly as well.

 

[figuredbass]

Ok guys... here's an update on when these new models will show up:

AVAILABLE NOW: STD 104HR, STD 151HR
LATE OCTOBER: F1, R500, Classic 108, CMD 151 Jeff Berlin combo, Minimark
LATE NOVEMBER: Classic 300, TRV 121H, Classic 104
LATE 07/EARLY 08: LMK, SA450, TRV 151P

Cheers,
Peter

Very good news.

But I was so hoping to see yet a NEW amp model on this list, along the lines of the SA450, but with 750 watts @ 4 ohms and a Class AB output stage, weighing in at a maximum of 10 LBS. Something that might be called the "SA800" with comparable power as the SD800 (C'mon, Marco, you've come this far so beautifully...let's finish it out!) I'd pay big bucks for this Big Mark.

p.s. (Oh, and maybe for this model reverse the vertical orientation of each mid band's frequency and boost/cut controls so ALL boost/cut controls are along the lower row.)

 

[pablomigraine]

Spent about two hours with a Little Mark II today. Based on the fact my Ampeg preamp just completely blew up, I think I'm gonna have to go for it.

Without searching through the nearly 2000 posts.... has anyone taken pics of the inside of one these amps?

 

[jucas]

Well, I got the LMII and Berg 112 out to jam for a few hours. Me ,a drummer with through a PA, and a kid on an old synth through a Sunn head and a 4 12...

The little rig more than kept up. Even at half on the master I was really prominient (although the P-bass cutting through was key as I was fighting a synth with an octaver and such). upped the VLE a bit as I'm not used to tweeters, and when I fooled around with the VPF it was sounding pretty glorious, but I really needed to crank the amp to keep myself heard. Even though it'd totally be overkill I really am wanting to finish off the mini stack for the sake of the little volume edge I'd get out of it.

I was really impressed with the two pieces working together. The berg handled the power really gracefully... never broke up, or got farty. The really low lows weren't as present (as was the consensus on here) even with my old 4 string P, but the whole thing just worked so well even without... I just hung out on the A string and higher frets a little more (although that may have been unconciously avoiding the synth players range) So, thats my justification for finishing up the stack; a little more oomph in the E string would be lovely.

Also tried the amp through a kustom 215 cab... not sure the ohms, but I assumed it wouldn't be two and tried it out... as expected, it was mudier/darker, but didn't really seem to be able to handle the power without farting out...

So, not much new info, but I thought I'd add what I saw. Also, I don't have much experience with rigs for comparison purposes...

 

[rummy]

A bit of a noob question here regrading impedance.

I have one 8 ohm cab plugged into the LMII. Thus I'm pulling 300w at 8 ohms, right? If I add another 8 ohm cab to my exisiting set up, would still be pulling 300w at 8 ohm, or would I be pulling 500w at 4ohms? Thanks!

Or, would I have to get a 4 ohm cab to get 500w out of it?

 

[CElton]

A bit of a noob question here regrading impedance.

I have one 8 ohm cab plugged into the LMII. Thus I'm pulling 300w at 8 ohms, right? If I add another 8 ohm cab to my exisiting set up, would still be pulling 300w at 8 ohm, or would I be pulling 500w at 4ohms? Thanks!

Or, would I have to get a 4 ohm cab to get 500w out of it?

2 8 ohm cabs into the LMII will get you a 4 ohm load and the full 500 watts.

Good Luck...

 

[dave_bass5]

A bit of a noob question here regrading impedance.

I have one 8 ohm cab plugged into the LMII. Thus I'm pulling 300w at 8 ohms, right? If I add another 8 ohm cab to my exisiting set up, would still be pulling 300w at 8 ohm, or would I be pulling 500w at 4ohms? Thanks!

Or, would I have to get a 4 ohm cab to get 500w out of it?

Yes, your one cab is getting 300watts.
If you add another 8ohm cab both cabs would pull 250watts each (roughly)
Others might get more technical about this but the bottom line is your right, adding another 8ohms cab gives you the full output.

 

[Vic]

or would I be pulling 500w at 4ohms? Thanks!

Yep.

Whatever you do, don't connect a 4 ohm cab with any other cabs, and don't connect any more than two 8 ohm cabs.

 

[rummy]

Great. Thanks for clarifying this for me, guys. I have another cab coming in the mail, and wanted to be sure since I've only had one cab ever.

Yep.

Whatever you do, don't connect a 4 ohm cab with any other cabs, and don't connect any more than two 8 ohm cabs.

Yeah. I figured that much!

So, I should expect the amp to run a little hotter now?

 

[Vic]

So, I should expect the amp to run a little hotter now?

I'd say probably warmer, but not "hot" or "hotter". I've driven mine pretty hard at 4 ohms and it's just not the nature of this design to really get "hot", which is one of its features.

 

[kevbassman]

IMO..where the LM II cut cost is...No mute switch, Line Out does not give option of Pre / Post, Epi offers two differnt EQ's, via footswitch to go back & forth, mid-cut, etc....Epifani may use a better quality DO?

but with that all said.......the more I work with this LM II amp...the more I love it.

I tried it on my Epifani UL 212 cab last night & my UL310.
I really didn't care for the sound on the 310, very sterile IMO,
but man on the 212///it rocked. That tone was like winning the lottery. AMAZING!
IMO the Epifani 212 was meant to be paired with the LM II.
I'm really considering taking this set-up on my show Friday.
I still love my UL 502.......but I really think the more I work with both amps....the difference in price is really the difference in options....

My tone wish.....the old vintage 1960's tones stirred in with a little modern tone majic.
I can achieve that via the 502 & LM II..........

 

[kevbassman]

Also...IMO ...I hated the Markbass cabs....no definition, at least on the 210 combo I owned before returning to GC to acquire just the LM II head.
I thought the Avator cabs sounded better than MB.
MAybe I'm spoiled with my Berg & Epifani cabs.

 

[Vic]

IMO..where the LM II cut cost is... Line Out does not give option of Pre / Post

Actually, it does, it's just not convenient to switch. Same for the series/parallel efx loop config.

Epi offers two differnt EQ's, via footswitch to go back & forth, mid-cut, etc....

I love Epifani cabs, but I really didn't like the head/preamp much. I have absolutely no use for dual preamps/switching, but most of all, I found the EQ on the Epifani to be too limiting... frustrating thru the mids. I'm not much into using a lot of +/-, so the "milder" controls on the Epi didn't bug me. What did bug me is that lack of controls thru the mids. IMHO, the top channel's mid was just in the wrong place for my taste, so that channel was pretty much automatically useless to me. I personally really hated the slap contour as well... for me, nothing but a tone-sucker. Even tho the bottom channel has a parametric mid, I was still left wanting for at least one more control in the mids.

Note: Make no mistake, every negative thing I just said is purely personal/subjective... not relevant to absolute quality. I think Epifani makes some of the best stuff on the market today.

Epifani may use a better quality DO?

The "DI" on the MB is perfectly fine. The only "complaint" I've seen is one regarding some (like me) just wish it could be made a bit hotter, but it is to spec. I've seen some complaints about "thin" sound, but I haven't seen any of those well defined/verified yet. I've had mine plugged into at least 4 completely different PA systems to-date and made it a point to ask the production folks about tone and they loved it.

I tried it on my Epifani UL 212 cab last night & my UL310.
I really didn't care for the sound on the 310, very sterile IMO,
but man on the 212///it rocked.

Which series of each are they? S1 or S2?

 

[CElton]

Maybe a bit off topic, but is anyone using a pedal compressor with your LMII? Do you find it necessary or is it just a matter of taste?

Thanks...Chris

 

[Bass Boy]

Maybe a bit off topic, but is anyone using a pedal compressor with your LMII? Do you find it necessary or is it just a matter of taste?

Thanks...Chris

I use a punch factory when I use my octave pedal. Other than your playing style and taste a compressor is definately NOT needed.