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Markbass R500 vs SD800

#2
Never tried the SD800 but I just bought a new R500 last night. I'd planned on getting an F1 but when I tried the R500 that plan went out the window. Nice, tubey tone. What really did it for me was the compession the tube in the preamp section offered over the F1's solid state preamp.

Hope that helps...
 
#4
I tried out the R500 and didn't care for it. Something about the high end, but it seemed to really amplify a lot of my finger/fret noise. It really seemd to bring out the sound of the string hitting the frets. To me this amp just didn't do it for me. I liked the LMII much better.
 
#5
r379 said:
Never tried the SD800 but I just bought a new R500 last night. I'd planned on getting an F1 but when I tried the R500 that plan went out the window. Nice, tubey tone. What really did it for me was the compession the tube in the preamp section offered over the F1's solid state preamp.

Hope that helps...
Click to expand...

Ah, man, you're killing me! I was supposed to be happy with my LMII, but memories of that R 500 keep haunting me... :help:
 
#6
Rhythm5 said:
I tried out the R500 and didn't care for it. Something about the high end, but it seemed to really amplify a lot of my finger/fret noise. It really seemd to bring out the sound of the string hitting the frets. To me this amp just didn't do it for me. I liked the LMII much better.
Click to expand...

I tried the LMII and it sounded sterile to me. The F1 I liked better that LMII and and I was about to buy it and then I tried the R500...had to have it. This in combination with the Epi 212UL S2 I bought will be punchy and LOUD since the 212UL seems to pretty efficient.

Funny how we all seem to hear things differently.
 
#7
r379 said:
I tried the LMII and it sounded sterile to me. The F1 I liked better that LMII and and I was about to buy it and then I tried the R500...had to have it. This in combination with the Epi 212UL S2 I bought will be punchy and LOUD since the 212UL seems to pretty efficient.

Funny how we all seem to hear things differently.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's not so much hearing things differently as preference. The LMII/F1 would be cleaner and tighter than the R500, which is meant to growl and grunt a bit... one man's clean is another man's sterile... and one man's 'tubey goodness' is another man's muddy mess:D

The reviews of all these heads are quite consistent to me, when you take the reviewers tone preferences into acount!
 
#10
KJung said:
Actually, it's not so much hearing things differently as preference. The LMII/F1 would be cleaner and tighter than the R500, which is meant to growl and grunt a bit... one man's clean is another man's sterile... and one man's 'tubey goodness' is another man's muddy mess:D

The reviews of all these heads are quite consistent to me, when you take the reviewers tone preferences into acount!
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And you're right about preferences, and it's our preferences that makes judge us pieces of gear differently.

I'd agree that the R500 is about grunt and growl, but having said that it's stll pretty tight.

Now back to the OP's original question, how does the R500 stand against the SD800?
 
#13
I didn't think the R500 had much treble, but then again it was through one of the tweeterless MB cabs. I did, however, like the tone with the gain cranked pretty high.

Would it make sense to have your bass volume down low for a clean tone and then a boost pedal to get overdrive sounds?
 
#14
I played the R500 and compared it to the LMII and F1 at the same time. I can see that Tube lovers would like the R500, but I didn't like it at all.

FWIW, I just bought a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 amp. It has a tube Preamp section, 600W and is smaller than the LMII. I honestly like it a LOT more than the R500. It has tube qualities, with the punch and power of a Class D power amp section. It sounds like the magical difference between the R500 and the LMII. Sorry for the derail, but I wanted to add my experience with the R500. The GB Shuttle 6.0 is what I wanted the R500 to be.
 
#15
rosstanium said:
Guys, thanks so much for your opinions. Wondering if anyone out there has tried the SD800 as well. That's my original question...R500 compared to the SD800.


Thanks again!
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Well, I just heard the R 500 at NAMM, but I used to own an SD800 (and still own a LMII), and I think I can safely say that the SD800 will have a more quick, clean, and clear tone, and the R 500 will be a bit more warm/full/woolly in the mids, with not quite as much high end snap.

But, this is not based upon a direct A/B comparison, so take it for what it is worth (which is admittedly, not much).

Tom.
 
#16
I own the T902 by markbass which is pretty much the predecessor to the SD800. It's 800 Watts and leans toward the hi-fi end of the spectrum. It reproduces any tone you put through (both good and bad) which I love about it. I've used it with 4x10 cabs and now have a bergie 112HT/112EX combo and I couldn't be happier with my tone. Rarely do I have to turn it up past 3 because it is so stinking loud. Tons of Headroom. It is very well designed, it never gets hot or overheats, and great EQ section. I've had a couple of different 500 watt amps and I must say that I love the extra headroom. As far as tone, I haven't played the R500 so I can't speak of it's tone. Good luck.
 

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