Markbass Rigs

[bigolsparky]

I am new to bass and old to guitar. I started playing bass about 6 months ago and am starting to sound like a bass player (almost). I am gigging in small bars with a 3 piece band and initially purchased a Carvin Micro Bass 12 and run a 15" extension cab. I run most of my sound through the mains so my rig is not a big deal for most gigs, but we play fairly loud and I have decided to upgrade.

I have played the Markbass 112 and 210 combos and was very impressed with the CMD102P. I like the weight and it seems to have a lot of bottom. The Carvin seems a little weak in that area. We have a drummer that really likes to hit so I am hoping for a little more stage volume. I have also looked into the RJ 1X15" with a Little Mark III, but I have not actually played one.

I am hoping someone has played both and can offer opinions on the CMD102P vs RJ 1X15" w/Little Mark III head. These are in the same ballpark as far as price. I am not stuck on Markbass but I have been very impressed with the tone and power of these units and really like the light weight.

 

[Ender_rpm]

AFAIK, the amplifier portion of what you are considering is identical, it just comes down to whether your prefer the sound of one over the other. Me, I'll always go head/cab when possible.

But if you have a heavy hitting drummer, I'd probably go with the combo WITH the 15" extension, if it can handle it, and it sounds good. Or 2x15, or 4x10 in some combination. 2x10 and 1x15 are great for portability, but IMO you need more speaker area to compete with big drums.

 

[dhuff8870]

I own the CMD 102p combo and would recommend it 100%. It's light, sounds great and is loud enough for almost any show. I also purchased the Markbass 2x10 extension cab but, honestly, at most shows I never need to use it.

 

[bigolsparky]

I like these responses. Ender, I too prefer head/speaker rigs to combos. Comes from my days as a guitarist and rattling noises in my combos (usually tubes). I may be considering the LMIII with a 2X10 cab.

 

[leroy diamond]

There is a used Markbass F1 in the for sale section on here and IMO they are better than the Little Mark 111. It is tighter down low and a little punchier.

 

[bigolsparky]

I have decided to go with a 4X10 and am still on the fence about which amp.

 

[Russell L]

Personally, I'd go with two 210s stacked vertically rather than a 410, or two 115s stacked vertically. Better dispersion and you'd have the choice of playing just one cab when appropriate. I went with a LMIII head and two Traveler 151P cabs, but usually only need one. Wish I'd have gotten the RJ cabs instead, though.

 

[Art Araya]

I have the F1 and am pleased with it. Cant compare it to the Mark III

 

[bob atherton]

I now, after working through many larger valve rigs, use a Markbass LMIII and two TC Electronic RS 2x10 cabs. I use just one cab for small gigs and recording and two cabs for bigger gigs. It would drive me nuts having to move a 4x10 cab about. In fact in my rehearsal room I have my Ashdown 4x10 ABM combo. Great combo but stupidly heavy to move.

 

[bigolsparky]

I now, after working through many larger valve rigs, use a Markbass LMIII and two TC Electronic RS 2x10 cabs. I use just one cab for small gigs and recording and two cabs for bigger gigs. It would drive me nuts having to move a 4x10 cab about. In fact in my rehearsal room I have my Ashdown 4x10 ABM combo. Great combo but stupidly heavy to move.

The Markbass cab I am looking at weighs 57 pounds which is about the lightest 4X10 I have seen. 104HR. It is really a little more than I probably need/want. The price of 2 MB 2X10 cabs is about $250 more than the 4X10. How does the low end of the TC compare to Markbass? My Carvin unit is shelved at about 65Hz and the MB 410 "states" that it is 35Hz. After playing both the Markbass hits a lot lower "as stated" to my ears. I haven't heard the TC stuff.

 

[bob atherton]

The Markbass cab I am looking at weighs 57 pounds which is about the lightest 4X10 I have seen. 104HR. It is really a little more than I probably need/want. The price of 2 MB 2X10 cabs is about $250 more than the 4X10. How does the low end of the TC compare to Markbass? My Carvin unit is shelved at about 65Hz and the MB 410 "states" that it is 35Hz. After playing both the Markbass hits a lot lower "as stated" to my ears. I haven't heard the TC stuff.

To be honest I have never compared the two side by side. I used to have an Ashdown ABM 500 head with two Ashdown 2x10 cabs and got the Markbass head first. I had this for about six months and then took the head to a store that sold TC and tried it with the cabs. I was so pleased with what I hear I bought the cabs. In hindsight maybe I should have listed to a load more cabs but I'm not really into trying out too much gear and I could be happier. Maybe ignorance is bliss in this case!

 

[nervous]

Just found this thread on the day after my new CMD102P combo showed up. Haven't played through it yet but of all the great things I've read I am very excited to get this one to a job.

I've been using a single Avatar NEO 210 with some sort of micro head for some time so I know that setup works for me. So with the exceptional form factor of this one if its anywhere near as good as I hope this could be a perfect package for me. And this one is scary light, showed well under 40# on my UPS scale today. Have to recheck that to make sure it was right.

Do have to add some more rubber feet though. Too many regular use surfaces without protection.


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[Dp1363]

The Markbass cab I am looking at weighs 57 pounds which is about the lightest 4X10 I have seen. 104HR. It is really a little more than I probably need/want. The price of 2 MB 2X10 cabs is about $250 more than the 4X10. How does the low end of the TC compare to Markbass? My Carvin unit is shelved at about 65Hz and the MB 410 "states" that it is 35Hz. After playing both the Markbass hits a lot lower "as stated" to my ears. I haven't heard the TC stuff.

If you are willing to go a few more pounds of weight, go with the 104HF over the 104HR. Incredible bottom and fullness. Definitely fuller than the 104 HR. I was in your boat and was considering 2-210 cabs but the price of the 104HF was much better than the two separate cabs and I think the 4 speakers in one cab sounds better too.

 

[MarkA]

I've got experience with three Markbass heads: the LM II (in the form of the 121P combo, but I've used it to drive other cabs), the F500, and the VCR-sized SD800. The F500 is just like the F1 mentioned in an earlier post, but with a semi-parametric EQ. The F500 is indeed a little tighter and quicker than the LM II, but it's also smoother. F500 is maybe a bit more "3D" with slightly better note separation in chords (I noticed this vs. an Aguilar TH500, too, for what it's worth). The top end on the LM II is more open and the midrange has a bit more grind/texture, which I like. For my taste, the F 500 is a little too smooth through a very smooth-sounding cab, but can sound really good through a cab with a bit of midrange grind (like my tweeterless, mid-loaded 2x12). The LM II is a bit warmer and more organic. The EQ on the F500 is more flexible but kinda fiddly.

The SD800 looks like it should be a big F500, but it's not, quite. Has a more extended bottom end. Low mids are different in a way I haven't quite got a handle on, yet. Power section on the SD800 is even more immediate and quick than the F500 (which is known as being a quick amp) in that the notes stop on a dime -- has more of that lead-sled-ish authority. It's also a little warmer/more textured sounding -- between the LM II and the F500 in that regard.

Never played a Markbass 410, so can't help much there.
------
Reviews of the Big Bang are intriguing. Supposed to be super-quick and hit hard, but I've never played one. The F500 (and, I believe, the F1) and SD800 are both out of production, but sometimes come up used for good prices.

 

[gorneyg]

I have the 2x10 combo, a 151P, a 102P 2x10 and a Little Mark 800 Tube. I like them all in different situations.
I can get away with the combo in small rooms with a trio. In larger rooms I like the 2x10/1x15/800 combination just to keep it clean and get a little more projection.
I'm an Eden fan but just got tired of moving a cabinet that weighs more than the Markbass 'stack' I have now...and I was moving 2 Eden cabs too.
There are other cabs and heads out there I MIGHT prefer but the cost is higher and so is the weight.

 

[bigolsparky]

I have the 2x10 combo, a 151P, a 102P 2x10 and a Little Mark 800 Tube. I like them all in different situations.
I can get away with the combo in small rooms with a trio. In larger rooms I like the 2x10/1x15/800 combination just to keep it clean and get a little more projection.
I'm an Eden fan but just got tired of moving a cabinet that weighs more than the Markbass 'stack' I have now...and I was moving 2 Eden cabs too.
There are other cabs and heads out there I MIGHT prefer but the cost is higher and so is the weight.

The light weight is what has drawn me to Markbass as well as the low end. It isn't easy to get both.

 

[bob atherton]

Just seen a big typo in my last post. What I should have said is that " I could not he happier " with my setup, not "could be happier". That one little word makes all the difference.

Last night I went to a local club and a double bass player was going through a Markbass 12" combo. It was probably the best DB sound that I have ever heard. He was a great player as well, so it was a real treat.

 

[nervous]

Got to try mine for the first time today. Only in the garage but a nice chance to hear what it can do and a side by side comparison with what I have been using. And with a second 210 cab. Initial impression was, as all have said, that it has some very capable power and punch. Second impression was that it is capable of being a very bright sounding setup. Almost too much so. But that might be more a product on my bass than the combo because my other setup was less than stellar with my EMG/DR High Beam equipped Spector ReBop. It's been giving me fits with its treble tones. With some work I have them well paired but this is not the best pickup/pre package yet. But the amp worked great. I'll see live but the piezo horn does seem to need some taming.

I will add some additional rubber feet to keep all sides from getting torn up. An odd design feature is the slightly angled upper front and rear corners. Not serving any purpose and if they were square one could add matching plastic corners. Anything to make it more roadworthy. Feet will help though. I also checked the weight on this one again. It's listed at 44# in the specs but this one is a noticeably light 36#!

A few pics comparing it to the setup I've been using and in the two "stacks" using the same 210.

Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[cchorney]

From our gig last Saturday night. Markbass CMD102P over Markbass 102HF, all vertically aligned.

 

[nervous]

In the same "light" here is how mine worked for me last Friday. First time out. Sat in harmony with my vocal monitor and was perfect. It virtually disappears.