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Markbass Megathread PART 2
- Thread starter BassyBill
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That's an easy one... LMII all the way, followed at a relatively close second by the F1.
I like all four for what they are, and they all sound different, but I'll say what many others have said, that LMII is as close to perfect (size, weight, tone, volume, build quality) as anything I've every played through for the tone I try to achieve and the types of gigs I do
It's amazing, because I've had one version or another of the Walter Woods for many, many years to use as my 'super small and light' when needed. I sold the Walter earlier this week, which says A LOT about the LMII and F1 for those of you who are familiar with the wonderful WW Ultra!
That's an easy one... LMII all the way, followed at a relatively close second by the F1.
I like all four for what they are, and they all sound different, but I'll say what many others have said, that LMII is as close to perfect (size, weight, tone, volume, build quality) as anything I've every played through for the tone I try to achieve and the types of gigs I do
It's amazing, because I've had one version or another of the Walter Woods for many, many years to use as my 'super small and light' when needed. I sold the Walter earlier this week, which says A LOT about the LMII and F1 for those of you who are familiar with the wonderful WW Ultra!
Haha, that's cool. I love posing "desert island" scenarios.
That's an easy one... LMII all the way, followed at a relatively close second by the F1.
I like all four for what they are, and they all sound different, but I'll say what many others have said, that LMII is as close to perfect (size, weight, tone, volume, build quality) as anything I've every played through for the tone I try to achieve and the types of gigs I do
It's amazing, because I've had one version or another of the Walter Woods for many, many years to use as my 'super small and light' when needed. I sold the Walter earlier this week, which says A LOT about the LMII and F1 for those of you who are familiar with the wonderful WW Ultra!
KJung, did you try the R500? Very curious about that one
Haha, that's cool. I love posing "desert island" scenarios.
It is fun to really put yourself on the spot. I have a pretty 'hard and fast' rule about 'one comes in then one goes out'. It keeps me from overchurning on stuff. I have to want something more than something else before I put money down on it.
The LMII/410UL(I)/Alleva combination has me (and the people I play with) happier than anything I've ever owned in my long career as a gear hound
It of course, might not work for other tone goals, but if 'modern J' is your thing in a pop or funk or 'smooth jazz' (or modern country) type setting, this combination is THE BOMB. The fact that this big rig is about the same weight as my old EA iAmp350 110 combo is just a bonus (a big, key bonus, but a bonus none-the-less!)I have not. I am about as far away from a tube oriented rock tone (which is what I understand that amp is tuned for) as you can get
The LMII is as warm as I would want to go for my personal tone.That being said, the three MB's that I own seem to be the 'best in class' in their tone goal and performance categories. That makes me believe that the R500 would be strong contender in the 'tube oriented hybird' sort of thing versus the MPulse line, maybe the Ashdown hybrids, etc.
Sorry I couldn't help out there.
K
Edit: I haven't been in a GC in many years. I am very impressed with the service I've received via the phone, but I even had my F1 shipped from the Detroit store so I didn't have to experience the chaos first hand!!!!!
It is fun to really put yourself on the spot. I have a pretty 'hard and fast' rule about 'one comes in then one goes out'. It keeps me from overchurning on stuff. I have to want something more than something else before I put money down on it.
The LMII/410UL(I)/Alleva combination has me (and the people I play with) happier than anything I've ever owned in my long career as a gear hound
Hmmm, I'm a bit confused. In another post you mentioned that you play your Alleva with your SD800/410UL(II), and your LMII/410UL(I) is with your Sadowsky NYC RV5.
To be honest, it has taken me a good while to really believe that the LMII can really overtake amps like the UL502 and the Walter Woods, maybe even the TF550B. At only $600, 6.5lbs, I would never believe that this amp could even compare to some of the "big boys" that all cost at least $1000 more. The LMII is just so small and light (the F1 being even smaller and lighter) and costs so little in comparison, I mean, how on earth does this thing compete????? It boggles the mind, and really makes me rethink a lot of things.
I went to a GC in Vegas to try out some MB stuff and things were fine. FWIW, anyway.
I just recently moved the 410UL(I)/LMII to St. Louis. I gave them MANY nights of gigging (with the Alleva) before I moved them to St. Louis where the Sadowsky lives. This weekend, it will be the 410UL(II) with either the F1 or the SD800 and the Alleva (driving to Lexington to meet up with a band). Next weekend, I'm actually driving to St. Louis, since I have multiple gigs and also some client meetings (I do have another life besides bass!). When that happens... the Alleva comes along
, but I'll use the LMII/410UL(I) rig... my favorite.My gigging life is quite unique, and I'm sure somewhat strange versus most. It's interesting to do 100% of your gigs on the road. The good news is, frequent flier miles from the fly ins. The bad news is... the need for multiple rigs and LOT's of miles on the car
Yes, you do have a very unique gigging situation Ken. If you don't mind going off topic a bit, would you be willing to explain how that happened? How are you able to afford to live in Detriot, yet fly or drive long distances to gigs regularly. Do these gigs pay that well to make it worth it? Do you have a day job that makes up the majority of your income, or does it come from these gigs? Answer only what you feel comfortable replying to. I know this really isn't any of my business.
As you know, I often think about the marketing side of things, and I too cannot quite figure it out. My guess is, the LMII might be serving as a 'loss leader' to some extent (like milk in the grocery store). In other words, a very low profit margin for the MB company, but an enticement to get bass players to try the line, and create some buzz, and hopefully eventually buy additional or trade up to higher margin products. It worked on me!!!!
That's just a guess though... really very, very impressive, especially when you take into account the Euro vs. dollar exchange rate.
Yes, you do have a very unique gigging situation Ken. If you don't mind going off topic a bit, would you be willing to explain how that happened? How are you able to afford to live in Detriot, yet fly or drive long distances to gigs regularly. Do these gigs pay that well to make it worth it? Do you have a day job that makes up the majority of your income, or does it come from these gigs? Answer only what you feel comfortable replying to. I know this really isn't any of my business.
I'll PM you so I don't bore the MB'ers to tears
L
Very possible. They do say themselves that it is kind of the flagship line of the Markbass amps, defining their tone and whatnot. I think if this amp was priced at something like $1000, I probably wouldn't have been so resistant to it at first with all the rave reviews that it is the best thing to happen to bass amps; sliced bread; etc....
- Apr 3, 2003
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FWIW, I am not a person who is adverse to lugging heavy gear (within some bounds of reason), and most of my gigs involve me pulling up with a trailerful of gear. That said, based upon performance alone, I put the LMII near the top of the heap as to what I would want to gig with.
I don't know how they do it, either, but IMHO, they hit the ball out of the park with the LMII (and the rest of their amps are great performers as well). That R 500 just might be my 'ideal' head, though, and I do look forward to trying one out. While it was certainly able to dial in a more raucous, 'tube-enhanced' kinda tone, it also had a killer clean sound, I thought, and I think that if you like the LMII, you'd like the clean tone from the R 500.
Tom.
I don't know how they do it, either, but IMHO, they hit the ball out of the park with the LMII (and the rest of their amps are great performers as well). That R 500 just might be my 'ideal' head, though, and I do look forward to trying one out. While it was certainly able to dial in a more raucous, 'tube-enhanced' kinda tone, it also had a killer clean sound, I thought, and I think that if you like the LMII, you'd like the clean tone from the R 500.
Tom.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,942
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
FWIW, unless I am mistaken, that was likely the rear-ported Traveler 102P 2x10. The 'non-ported', or 'sealed' cabs only come in 4x10, 6x10, and 8x10 configuration.
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