It's like this, get a Markbass head and your done searching for a bass head period! Now you can get on with playing bass - wow, that's a revolutionary way of thinking isn't it? A bass player playing bass and not being a gear obsessed drone like I have been for so many years.
Now what do I have to say about cabinets? I do not like Markbass cabs at all, nope, not gonna happen - enough said. I suggest Epifani actually - their stuff is as good as it gets and it's also stupid light ( hey, is there a theme starting here with this stupid light stuff or what? ). Personally, I have finally solved the bass amp riddle that has frustrated me for years. For me that riddle was solved by the pairing of an Epifani 4ohm cabinet ( take your pick as the UL2-410 and the UL2-212 both sounded fantastic ) and a Markbass head - oh damn it's just wonderful! These two companies alone are setting the standard, don't ignore it. These two companies together are fronting the evolution of bass amplification from this point forward. My opinion? Yes. Fact? More than likely in this case.
Case in point, I just acquired a Markbass SA 450 head, there is no point in even comparing it to anything else on the market. It's stupid, I mean stupid light, it sounds fabulous - clean, deep and even a little warm sounding actually. Oh, and it was very affordable. So I ask you, what else do you need in an amp? Personally, I play often and I gig often. I need a bass amp that doesn't get in the way, yet provides the necessary support for the bands I play for. Why on earth would I use anything else if the Markbass gets it done? Did I mention that this amp is stupid light?
Now while nothing is perfect and we always need to base gear decisions on somewhat of a compromise, I really don't think there is a downside to using Markbass. The load ins/load outs are so much easier due the ultra light weight of the head itself. The amp lets my bass sound come through as natural and pure as I could ever want it to and it was truly plug and play - I run the head flat with a slight adjustment on the VLE and VPF and that's it. Not to mention it cost way under $1000.00. In a world where I normally cannot even tolerate a bass head's tone if the amp's cost is under $1000.00 this is truly revolutionary.
So if you are contemplating getting into Markbass, just do it. There is no downside ( save the lack of a mute control of course! ) from what I can see. I am a working professional bassist. I play with all kinds of different artists. Loud classic rock bands, jazz trios, Reggae groups and even some country acts here and there. The Markbass amp can do it all without breaking a sweat.
I don't work for Markbass, this is not a sales pitch. I don't get anything out of telling you this other than providing you with a realistic answer to your bass amp frustrations. This is an honest and direct message to my bass playing brethren that it's time to stop lugging around heavy gear, I mean why would you do that now that you know Markbass and Epifani exist? The tone is in your hands and your bass, the amp should never get in the way. It should be nothing more than a transparent extension of your bass.
The bass amp evolution revolution is happening and has been happening for sometime now. I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, but now I have no regrets what so ever. I mean like I mentioned earlier, what part of light, great sounding gear that is affordable doesn't work for you?
Okay, enough of me sprouting about what you should do. Go get a Markbass head as soon as you can, you'll thank me, you'll thank all the fellow TBers that know what I am talking about and you'll sure as heck thank yourself. Not to mention you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. I know I did.
Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
Link Removed
Now what do I have to say about cabinets? I do not like Markbass cabs at all, nope, not gonna happen - enough said. I suggest Epifani actually - their stuff is as good as it gets and it's also stupid light ( hey, is there a theme starting here with this stupid light stuff or what? ). Personally, I have finally solved the bass amp riddle that has frustrated me for years. For me that riddle was solved by the pairing of an Epifani 4ohm cabinet ( take your pick as the UL2-410 and the UL2-212 both sounded fantastic ) and a Markbass head - oh damn it's just wonderful! These two companies alone are setting the standard, don't ignore it. These two companies together are fronting the evolution of bass amplification from this point forward. My opinion? Yes. Fact? More than likely in this case.
Case in point, I just acquired a Markbass SA 450 head, there is no point in even comparing it to anything else on the market. It's stupid, I mean stupid light, it sounds fabulous - clean, deep and even a little warm sounding actually. Oh, and it was very affordable. So I ask you, what else do you need in an amp? Personally, I play often and I gig often. I need a bass amp that doesn't get in the way, yet provides the necessary support for the bands I play for. Why on earth would I use anything else if the Markbass gets it done? Did I mention that this amp is stupid light?
Now while nothing is perfect and we always need to base gear decisions on somewhat of a compromise, I really don't think there is a downside to using Markbass. The load ins/load outs are so much easier due the ultra light weight of the head itself. The amp lets my bass sound come through as natural and pure as I could ever want it to and it was truly plug and play - I run the head flat with a slight adjustment on the VLE and VPF and that's it. Not to mention it cost way under $1000.00. In a world where I normally cannot even tolerate a bass head's tone if the amp's cost is under $1000.00 this is truly revolutionary.
So if you are contemplating getting into Markbass, just do it. There is no downside ( save the lack of a mute control of course! ) from what I can see. I am a working professional bassist. I play with all kinds of different artists. Loud classic rock bands, jazz trios, Reggae groups and even some country acts here and there. The Markbass amp can do it all without breaking a sweat.
I don't work for Markbass, this is not a sales pitch. I don't get anything out of telling you this other than providing you with a realistic answer to your bass amp frustrations. This is an honest and direct message to my bass playing brethren that it's time to stop lugging around heavy gear, I mean why would you do that now that you know Markbass and Epifani exist? The tone is in your hands and your bass, the amp should never get in the way. It should be nothing more than a transparent extension of your bass.
The bass amp evolution revolution is happening and has been happening for sometime now. I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, but now I have no regrets what so ever. I mean like I mentioned earlier, what part of light, great sounding gear that is affordable doesn't work for you?
Okay, enough of me sprouting about what you should do. Go get a Markbass head as soon as you can, you'll thank me, you'll thank all the fellow TBers that know what I am talking about and you'll sure as heck thank yourself. Not to mention you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. I know I did.
Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
Link Removed
