^^ Actually, looks like we did hear back from you -- perhaps I missed it, distracted by the large photo?
I've messaged my local seller, and hope to try it out soon.
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Markbass Micromark 801 Opinions?
- Thread starter junglejem
- Start date
I've messaged my local seller, and hope to try it out soon.
Seller let me try it out -- in a large garage, which was really unforgiving to low-end resonance. Putting it in a corner let the sound bloom a bit.
The Micromark is well-named, being comically small -- feels like a lunch box. Certainly adequate for practice, but I'll still have to hear it in action with other musicians.
Hat for size reference
The Micromark is well-named, being comically small -- feels like a lunch box. Certainly adequate for practice, but I'll still have to hear it in action with other musicians.
Hat for size reference
OK - not an easy decision really. Seems not quite enough though definitely there.
Haven't tried it for bass yet, but used it along with keyboard monitor, and it did indeed make a (just barely enough) difference. Obviously it can't be like a (ahem) real amp ...
So it does just barely seem to serve, even if it doesn't inspire confidence. May just be a matter of getting used to it (like any new gear).
Will report further if/when I get to a jam-situation where I play bass.
But really: augmenting the keyboard is what I was looking for. And it does, though I'm wondering if it's really better than a Rumble 50.
Interesting. Please share more info when you get around to using it with your bass. I'm looking for something ultra portable that I can use in small coffee shop settings. Probably just a couple of acoustic guitars, cajon, and myself on bass. I feel like the micromark 801 would be loud enough? But I've never played through one.
The 801 would be more than enough for that setting.
About 13 years ago, I bought the smaller version with the 6” driver, and used it for rehearsals with a community band that had a drummer,keyboards,several guitars,sax, and multiple vocalists. It was primarily a vocal band that played at a moderate volume.
I was amazed how much presence it had and how well it worked in that ensemble.
I later sold it when I bought a cmd121p combo, but bought the newer 8” version just 2 years ago as my only home amp.
It has a bit more power and sounds a bit fuller in the bass frequencies, plus has a direct out XLR for recording or pa reinforcement.
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If it's like the XLR out on my Minimark it is a preamp out that is affected by the controls including the volume control. Something to keep in mind for PA use.
Good to know! I’m planning to try it out for recording purposes in the upcoming months.
I’ve not used it at all previously.
My guess it is intended for recording, primarily. When I've used it for gigs it was miked to the FOH as there is no pad for the XLR out.
I've done exactly that as guitarist/vocalist, a local pizza restaurant; I think it would be ideal in that setup.
Catching up on this thread - I need something smaller, less bulky than my Rumble 25, and under 25 lb. The 801 would work, but well above my price point, and they never come up used - anything out there under $200 used that fits that? Looking to improve my tone from the Peavey Rage 158 I'm using now, in a lunchbox size?
NVM - I found the Bass Player article, read a bunch of others, and now finding micro options out there used.
(Warning: I've been playing MarkBass amps for maybe 20 years now, so yup, I guess I'm a fanboy.)
I bought a MicroMark 1x8 combo maybe 10-15 years ago (still made in Italy), thinking it would be used only as a practice amp. I played upright at the time (as well as electric), but I used it to gig at a small room that it was perfect for. That band was ukulele, electric guitar, drummer with brushes, and my upright bass, on a very resonant wooden stage that boosted its output immensely.
I was as surprised as anyone when I ended up using it for 2/3rds of my gigs (mostly small semi-acoustic things), but that's what ended up happening.
It's no good on its own with a drummer, but for acoustic duos in small rooms, it slays. As others have said, putting it in a corner or on a resonant stage really increases the amount of volume you can get out of it. I also discovered a little while ago (couple years ago), that running my Sadowsky bass preamp/DI into the Micromark boosted the pre-amp/post-amp volume just enough to match a reasonably quiet drummer (brushes, bamboo sticks, etc.) on both upright and electric bass.
I think they're just wonderful amps. The Italian one is still going strong, after a lot of years and hours played. (I did buy another one, just to have a backup to my 15 year-old one.)
My main amp nowadays is one of the newer MiniMark 2x8 combos (which now have a full four-band EQ section instead of just the scoop adjustment). I played that amp by itself with the loudest band I've ever sat in with (multiple dual 4x12 cab with tube heads). It was on the edge of its volume capabilities, but it kept up. It's been a great amp for a lot of medium sized rooms with regular rock band volumes.
I ended up selling a CMD-121P because the MiniMark combo was plenty loud enough for what I play now. A colleague once described the CMD-121P perfectly: "The only time I need something else is just for show. It has plenty of power for anything, but it doesn't have the visual impact of a half or full stack." (That has been my experience as well.)
I bought a MicroMark 1x8 combo maybe 10-15 years ago (still made in Italy), thinking it would be used only as a practice amp. I played upright at the time (as well as electric), but I used it to gig at a small room that it was perfect for. That band was ukulele, electric guitar, drummer with brushes, and my upright bass, on a very resonant wooden stage that boosted its output immensely.
I was as surprised as anyone when I ended up using it for 2/3rds of my gigs (mostly small semi-acoustic things), but that's what ended up happening.
It's no good on its own with a drummer, but for acoustic duos in small rooms, it slays. As others have said, putting it in a corner or on a resonant stage really increases the amount of volume you can get out of it. I also discovered a little while ago (couple years ago), that running my Sadowsky bass preamp/DI into the Micromark boosted the pre-amp/post-amp volume just enough to match a reasonably quiet drummer (brushes, bamboo sticks, etc.) on both upright and electric bass.
I think they're just wonderful amps. The Italian one is still going strong, after a lot of years and hours played. (I did buy another one, just to have a backup to my 15 year-old one.)
My main amp nowadays is one of the newer MiniMark 2x8 combos (which now have a full four-band EQ section instead of just the scoop adjustment). I played that amp by itself with the loudest band I've ever sat in with (multiple dual 4x12 cab with tube heads). It was on the edge of its volume capabilities, but it kept up. It's been a great amp for a lot of medium sized rooms with regular rock band volumes.
I ended up selling a CMD-121P because the MiniMark combo was plenty loud enough for what I play now. A colleague once described the CMD-121P perfectly: "The only time I need something else is just for show. It has plenty of power for anything, but it doesn't have the visual impact of a half or full stack." (That has been my experience as well.)
No. There's a lot to be said for what it offers in such a small package. There's also a lot to be said for something which accomplishes exactly what you need but no more, and takes up as little space as possible in the process. It certainly does better than one would expect from a 1x8.
