Markbass Megathread PART 3

[Halftooth]

I got to my GC in Concord, CA at around 7:40, with maybe 15 people already there. Doors opened at 7:50, and I got right to getting my LMII.

They didn't really care too much about bringing the card. Well actually, some employees thought it was necessary, and I heard probably 10 people say they left it at home. But the manager was cool and just said to give 'em the discount.



did you buy it? man, it retails at $599 + tax.

I was right behind you, probably by 15 minutes, and I too got a LMII.

Actually, they almost didn't give me the discount because I didn't have the card. Again, same situation as you, a manager was the one who got me the amp from the back, and he told the guy ringing me up to give it to me anyway.

So far, my first impressions of the amp are pretty favorable. It's loud and fast responding which pretty much are the attributes that I look at with a SS amp.

The nearest thing that I can compare it to that I own is a Thunderfunk TF550B. The LMII is every bit as loud from what I can tell. Tonally it's close with the two tone knobs that function like the TFs Timber and Enhance knobs.

Overall I'm very pleased...I think I like the TF550B a little better mainlky because of the tone and eq flexibility, but for $480, this is a hard deal to beat and I'm quite happy I bought one!

 

[musicman7722]

I just upgraded my LMII to a CMD 121p yesterday at GC in Danvers MA. Boy I almost did on Black Friday. I stood right there looking at the amp but there were so many people and it just wasn't a friendly atmosphere to try stuff out. Of course my wife is all over me in a joking way since I lost out on a savings of around $150 but what can I say.

I fired it up with my active Jazz V with EMG Pups and my SABDI and wow. Amazing. There was a guy one isle over just shredding this Les Paul an a sickening volume and the amp cut right through. I grabbed my lead guitarist who was checking out lights and he almost fell over. So the lil guy is here at the house. My wife thinks its cute but still heavy. So I let her try to lift my Hartke 3500 head in a 210 combo cab. About 70 pounds. Anyway I have 4 GB gigs and a club date over the next 2 weekends. That will be the test. Chris P

 

[KJung]

I was right behind you, probably by 15 minutes, and I too got a LMII.

Actually, they almost didn't give me the discount because I didn't have the card. Again, same situation as you, a manager was the one who got me the amp from the back, and he told the guy ringing me up to give it to me anyway.

So far, my first impressions of the amp are pretty favorable. It's loud and fast responding which pretty much are the attributes that I look at with a SS amp.

The nearest thing that I can compare it to that I own is a Thunderfunk TF550B. The LMII is every bit as loud from what I can tell. Tonally it's close with the two tone knobs that function like the TFs Timber and Enhance knobs.

Overall I'm very pleased...I think I like the TF550B a little better mainlky because of the tone and eq flexibility, but for $480, this is a hard deal to beat and I'm quite happy I bought one!

Remember, while the VPF on the LMII has a similar effect as the enhance control on the TF, the VLE is totally different from the Timbre, and is 'off' when turned fully counterclockwise (like the enhance/VPF controls).

The VLE is similar to a classic Fender on board passive tone control, and acts as a wonderful 'upper treble roll-off' at low levels (under 9 o'clock), and rolls off treble and upper mids at higher settings.

You will find the LMII to have a MUCH more extended treble response than your TF, which IMO is very nice. Just a little bit of that filter will soften the sizzle nicely. You will also find the low end of the LMII quite a bit more extended than the TF, but nicely controlled by very small adjustments to the bass control.

Enjoy!!!!

 

[DigMe]

Just wondering, were you using the 1/4" jack in the center of the speakon? Mine cut out once when using the speakon with a speakon cable. Had a close look and realized the center pin of the jack was not making solid contact with the plug. A couple seconds of adjustment with a pair of small pliers fixed it. Worked perfectly since. The center pin of the speakon jack also contacts the 1/4" plug when used that way. Worth a look.

I was using the dedicated 1/4" jack below the speakon output.

Either way, the speakon not working is the least of my problems. I'm more concerned with the amp totally cutting out. I'm thinking it's possibly a thermal problem. The fan is running on the back but it doesn't cut out immediately...just after it's been played on for a few minutes.

bc

 

[Halftooth]

Remember, while the VPF on the LMII has a similar effect as the enhance control on the TF, the VLE is totally different from the Timbre, and is 'off' when turned fully counterclockwise (like the enhance/VPF controls).

The VLE is similar to a classic Fender on board passive tone control, and acts as a wonderful 'upper treble roll-off' at low levels (under 9 o'clock), and rolls off treble and upper mids at higher settings.

You will find the LMII to have a MUCH more extended treble response than your TF, which IMO is very nice. Just a little bit of that filter will soften the sizzle nicely. You will also find the low end of the LMII quite a bit more extended than the TF, but nicely controlled by very small adjustments to the bass control.

Enjoy!!!!

Thanks for the info on the VLE and VLF!

I do find that the treble and lowend is more extended ont he LMII as compared to the TF.

The TF seems a little warmer, but I actually like the edgy, punchy tone of the LMII a bit better the more I play with it.

Both are great SS amps to say the least!

 

[Vic]

I do find that the treble and lowend is more extended ont he LMII as compared to the TF.

The TF seems a little warmer, but I actually like the edgy, punchy tone of the LMII a bit better the more I play with it.

Ok, this is strange... I'm gonna' have to give another listen to mine to be fair, but I'm not sure I'm going along with you and Ken on this... (not that that's a requirement, of course )...

While I agree this is true with the EQ "flat" (oh how I hate that term in these contexts ), the TFB EQ is so clean and flexible, I've ALWAYS been able to get as much low end and high end as I've ever needed without any trouble at all.

I love my LMII, but I'm not sure I agree that it's got what I'll interpret here as a seemingly "wider usable frequency range" than the TFB.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Ok, this is strange... I'm gonna' have to give another listen to mine to be fair, but I'm not sure I'm going along with you and Ken on this... (not that that's a requirement, of course )...

While I agree this is true with the EQ "flat" (oh how I hate that term in these contexts ), the TFB EQ is so clean and flexible, I've ALWAYS been able to get as much low end and high end as I've ever needed without any trouble at all.

I love my LMII, but I'm not sure I agree that it's got what I'll interpret here as a seemingly "wider usable frequency range" than the TFB.

Why does "flat" bother you? It only means the EQ is set at 0, no boost or cut. Has nothing to do with preamp voicing, filters, etc.

 

[Vic]

Why does "flat" bother you? It only means the EQ is set at 0, no boost or cut. Has nothing to do with preamp voicing, filters, etc.

You just answered your own question.

 

[KJung]

You just answered your own question.

+1... I find that the TF sounds the most 'transparent' to my ear with everything flat and the enhance at about 9 o'clock... nice an even to my ear (through my cabs anyway).

To get that tone from the LMII, as I've posted before, I can get pretty close by reducing the bass control to about 11 o'clock, boosting the low mids ever so slightly, dialing the VLE to about 10 o'clock to match the very different treble responses of those heads, and just dial in a touch of the VPF (maybe 8 o'clock).

I cannot reverse this though, and get the TF to mimic my favorite settings on the LMII (pretty much flat with just a touch of upper mid cut and VPF and VLE at about 8 o'clock)... the deep bass and especially the upper treble just doesn't seem to be there IMO.

 

[tombowlus]

I cannot reverse this though, and get the TF to mimic my favorite settings on the LMII (pretty much flat with just a touch of upper mid cut and VPF and VLE at about 8 o'clock)... the deep bass and especially the upper treble just doesn't seem to be there IMO.

+1 That upper treble on the Thunderfunk was always something that kinda kept me from being head over heals in love with it. I really, really like the Thunderfunk (and its AMP ancestors), and think of it as a highly competent head, with a TON of great features and flexibility. But, it never really sounded all that 'exciting' to me, and even though I am predominantly a fingerstyle player who likes a strong foundation, I also like that bit of air and 'life' to a note, and while the T-Funk is not weak, per se, in this regard, it's not as grin-inducing as some other heads (including the LMII) on this particular quibble.

Again, on the whole, I do very much like the Thunderfunk in all its iterations. But man, that LMII sure is good at putting a smile on my face.

Tom.

 

[KJung]

+1 That upper treble on the Thunderfunk was always something that kinda kept me from being head over heals in love with it. I really, really like the Thunderfunk (and its AMP ancestors), and think of it as a highly competent head, with a TON of great features and flexibility. But, it never really sounded all that 'exciting' to me, and even though I am predominantly a fingerstyle player who likes a strong foundation, I also like that bit of air and 'life' to a note, and while the T-Funk is not weak, per se, in this regard, it's not as grin-inducing as some other heads (including the LMII) on this particular quibble.

Again, on the whole, I do very much like the Thunderfunk in all its iterations. But man, that LMII sure is good at putting a smile on my face.

Tom.

That's a good way of putting it, and is similar to what I hear, and again, the primary difference is more in the upper 'zing', although I hear a similar thing in the lowest bass region. That lower bass compression actually sounds good to me though, since I hate the 'boom' on a gig, but as you state, I always missed a little 'life' way up top. Even dialing the VLE in a touch still results in very nice upper treble articulation when you are either really digging in or, heaven's forbid, slapping

The treble shelving control on the TF starts off too low to really add sparkle without 'gank' to my ear, and the upper mid semi parametric has too tight of a Q to really dial that in, again, IME. Not bad by any means, just more of a 'modern vintage' tone versus the more 'modern' capability of the LMII.

Interestingly (and you've posted this also), the SD800 takes it almost too far... HUGE deep low end, and really sizzly (somewhat clinical) top end. The LMII seems a perfect balance of this to me.

 

[Vic]

I find that the TF sounds the most 'transparent' to my ear with everything flat and the enhance at about 9 o'clock... nice an even to my ear (through my cabs anyway).

To get that tone from the LMII, as I've posted before, I can get pretty close by reducing the bass control to about 11 o'clock, boosting the low mids ever so slightly, dialing the VLE to about 10 o'clock to match the very different treble responses of those heads, and just dial in a touch of the VPF (maybe 8 o'clock).

I cannot reverse this though, and get the TF to mimic my favorite settings on the LMII (pretty much flat with just a touch of upper mid cut and VPF and VLE at about 8 o'clock)... the deep bass and especially the upper treble just doesn't seem to be there IMO.

+1 That upper treble on the Thunderfunk was always something that kinda kept me from being head over heals in love with it...

That's a good way of putting it, and is similar to what I hear, and again, the primary difference is more in the upper 'zing'...

The treble shelving control on the TF starts off too low to really ad sparkle without 'gank' to my ear, and the upper mid semi parametric has too tight of a Q to really dial that in, again, IME. Not bad by any means, just more of a 'modern vintage' tone versus the more 'modern' capability of the LMII.

Ok, this is great usable stuff. Man, I'm gonna' have to go back and A/B these guys... 'cause I don't recall having a problem with high end on the TFB, but, I must admit, I've been using other amps a bit more lately (for non-tone related reasons).

Oh, and I just GOTTA laugh at "gank"!

So what we want here is plenty of zing and not too much gank in an easy-to-schlepp package... I think we have it...

 

[tombowlus]

That lower bass compression actually sounds good to me though, since I hate the 'boom' on a gig

+1 Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that, but yes, I definitely hear that low end compression, too.

 

[KJung]

The 'gank' is not a good thing (that 1-2K harshness)! Again, I love the TF for what it is, and with my very bright basses and modern cabs, I also never had a 'problem' with getting a nice full range, bright tone. There's just something more 'alive' in that LMII top end that is very rare to my ear... natural, musical, no harshness, but the big sizzle. The LMII is probably the best head I've ever experienced (even better than the HD350) to translate a pseudo Marcus Miller type tone out into a room. Interestingly, the F1, while plenty bright, doesn't do the same sort of upper treble, smooth, natural sizzle to me either.

Anyway... good stuff that LMII

 

[Altitude]

OK, I'm in. I joined the LMII club this weekend. Only basement time so far, but as far as I can tell the LMII will do everything I liked about my iAmp 800 (which I have already sold) just a little better. I really like the EQ voicings and find that shaping the tone in interesting ways yields musical results on the LMII, rather than obnoxious results.

It also seems to get along a little better with my Avatar 410. I found that the iAmp provoked a strong harsh upper midrange out of that cabinet that required more than average EQ acrobatics to tame - odd, because it had no such effect with my Avatar 210/112 setup. I'll see for sure on this weekend's gig.

And, I spent some time deconstructing my gigbag. Among the stacks of dozens of totebags I get from the conferences I attend, I found one with a padded internal compartment perfectly sized for the LMII. I have managed to get all of the cables, power cords, tuners, etc. into this one little bag, along with the LMII. It should have a nice impact on my load-in. I'm going to post a new thread with the complete contents and weight, which I think is still under 25 pounds for everything. Only a year ago I was playing through an Ashdown MK500 sitting in a heavy Grundorf rack, which weighed more than that alone!

 

[CElton]

Oh, and I just GOTTA laugh at "gank"!

So what we want here is plenty of zing and not too much gank in an easy-to-schlepp package... I think we have it...

Hilarious. I think we need to add "gank" to the definitions somewhere.

Ken definitely has a way with words.

Now, which knob should be used to add "growl"???

 

[Vic]

The 'gank' is not a good thing (that 1-2K harshness)!

Agreed! (seriously)

 

[tombowlus]

The 'gank' is not a good thing

It never is....

 

[Brad Johnson]

You just answered your own question.

If I answered my question, your answer addresses what your problem with it is... it's not the statement, it's what you want to think it is.



"flat" EQ on a bass amp does not mean that the amp overall is flat on a scope, not by any stretch of the imagination. It doesn't mean that the onboard "eq"ualization was set to make the amp appear flat on a scope either. I would've thought that would obvious to people who understand equalization and as such would know that having say five set bands of EQ couldn't possibly address enough to set it scope flat.


It means the onboard EQ is set neither boosted nor cut. That's all it's ever meant on bass amps. So why would anyone have a problem with that when it's really that simple?

 

[Brad Johnson]

+1... I find that the TF sounds the most 'transparent' to my ear with everything flat and the enhance at about 9 o'clock... nice an even to my ear (through my cabs anyway).

To get that tone from the LMII, as I've posted before, I can get pretty close by reducing the bass control to about 11 o'clock, boosting the low mids ever so slightly, dialing the VLE to about 10 o'clock to match the very different treble responses of those heads, and just dial in a touch of the VPF (maybe 8 o'clock).

I cannot reverse this though, and get the TF to mimic my favorite settings on the LMII (pretty much flat with just a touch of upper mid cut and VPF and VLE at about 8 o'clock)... the deep bass and especially the upper treble just doesn't seem to be there IMO.

+1?