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Markbass...Thoughts? Love? Hate?

#61
jmattbassplaya said:
Haha, I guess it`s the subsonic that it`s missing then ;)

I dunno, to me their low end only goes down so deep and then it seems to cut off right before it gets to the sweet depth. (using an SD800, btw) That said, the amp can get plenty loud and whats lovely about it is that it maintains stellar clarity the louder it gets, but again the low end just seems to drop completely out after a certain point in the sonic spectrum and it seems to be right before it gets to the 'sweet spot' where funk just oozes out.

That said I don`t push the amp or crank the lows past 2, but in my mind I shouldn`t have to. If the amp isn`t giving me what I want with everything close to high noon it probably just isn`t for me. I`ve also done some more drastic EQing on the head and it`s been able to really kick, but it still doesn`t get the low end richness that I`m craving. That said, it could definitely be the MB 6x10 that`s causing it to be incapable of reaching those lows since it has a natural high mid voicing, but meh. After playing an SVT-CL I`ve been craving tube warmth and kick, and as such I`m looking into getting hybrids to help get the best of both worlds.

It`s not like MB`s are bad amps - far from it (I`d actually be one to argue they are the top brand of bass amps, all around), it`s just that the voicing isn`t for me. I`ll probably pick up a used LMII as a backup head (more than probably, actually), but right now I`m thinking I need tubes and a more low voiced cab.

But yeah, that`s where I stand currently - but I`ll be back to Markbass soon enough ;)

Oh, and to answer your question about the genre I`m doing - right now neither myself or my band are settling down in any one genre so it`s pretty loose right now. With that in mind I don`t want my gear to limit me in case we go into some deep RnB, funk, or venture into electronica/dub any.
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My fives and sixes with low B's sound amazing with my LMII at gig levels. Maybe it's something else?
 
#62
Brad Johnson said:
My fives and sixes with low B's sound amazing with my LMII at gig levels. Maybe it's something else?
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I doubt it. At this point I think it`s all subjective. My Warwick Corvette 5er also sounds great through my Markbass - I mean really great. Good punch, nice round notes, lots of clarity, but it just doesn`t feel like the low end drops as low as I want. Just for comparison sake, the SVT I used literally shook the stage (hell it shook the concrete ground from the show earlier that same day). It felt and sounded huge in the low end and really supported the band (and that was with a 4 string). The MB, on the other hand, just seems to sit in the band instead of supporting it (even with a 5). It`s absolutely great for large jazz ensembles and larger rock bands with keys players, but rock trios? I just think I need a more supportive low end than something that just sits in the band, if that makes any sense.

And believe me when I say that I absolutely adore Markbass. They are phenomenal amps and if I had the chance I`d endorse them (or would they endorse me?) in a second. But since they don`t I have no chance to ask them to make me an amp that does what it does now but with an extended low end, more headroom/power, the ability for more natural overdrive/grit, and a blendable SS and tube preamp I have to look elsewhere. The TSA500 on paper comes close but probably needs more power and I`m not sure if it fixes the low end problem.

As it stands, Markbass amps (to me) are amazing. I can`t speak more highly about them and they`ll forever have me interested in their products and suggesting them to new bassists. But at this point in time I have to look elsewhere for the sound I`m craving, and that`s okay... I don`t think their sales will take THAT big of a hit if I stop buying them ;)
 
#64
do i love the vt? most definitely. i would marry it if it had boobies. but that kind of low end jmatt's talking about is nowhere to be found in the vt. i think it's more of a cab problem than an amp problem. something tells me that this cl rig had an hlf cab under it.
 
#67
no doubt, it's not a subsonic boost, but it has way more impact on the sound becoming (seemingly) fuller in the lows than a boost to the 50hz and below range which to me seems to be the dwelling place of boom.

I'd say this is somewhat the same as the difference between a P and a J, the J can rattle the floor but the P sounds way fuller even though it has a lot more emphasis on the mids than the J.
or at least thats how I perceive it.
 
#69
jmattbassplaya said:
I doubt it. At this point I think it`s all subjective. My Warwick Corvette 5er also sounds great through my Markbass - I mean really great. Good punch, nice round notes, lots of clarity, but it just doesn`t feel like the low end drops as low as I want. Just for comparison sake, the SVT I used literally shook the stage (hell it shook the concrete ground from the show earlier that same day). It felt and sounded huge in the low end and really supported the band (and that was with a 4 string). The MB, on the other hand, just seems to sit in the band instead of supporting it (even with a 5). It`s absolutely great for large jazz ensembles and larger rock bands with keys players, but rock trios? I just think I need a more supportive low end than something that just sits in the band, if that makes any sense.

And believe me when I say that I absolutely adore Markbass. They are phenomenal amps and if I had the chance I`d endorse them (or would they endorse me?) in a second. But since they don`t I have no chance to ask them to make me an amp that does what it does now but with an extended low end, more headroom/power, the ability for more natural overdrive/grit, and a blendable SS and tube preamp I have to look elsewhere. The TSA500 on paper comes close but probably needs more power and I`m not sure if it fixes the low end problem.

As it stands, Markbass amps (to me) are amazing. I can`t speak more highly about them and they`ll forever have me interested in their products and suggesting them to new bassists. But at this point in time I have to look elsewhere for the sound I`m craving, and that`s okay... I don`t think their sales will take THAT big of a hit if I stop buying them ;)
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Just curious, how did the SVT sound with the Warwick?
 
#70
JimmyM said:
do i love the vt? most definitely. i would marry it if it had boobies. but that kind of low end jmatt's talking about is nowhere to be found in the vt. i think it's more of a cab problem than an amp problem. something tells me that this cl rig had an hlf cab under it.
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+1,000!!!

In 35+ years of bass playing, I have never been a big "pedal guy"...that changed with the VT. Basically, I use it for EVERYTHING!! Cooking, dishes, farming, hell, I even use it in the microwave! I once tried to drive it to work....damn wheels kept falling off....bummer :D

But seriously folks..;)

I really do love the VT. And, yes, I use it extensively with the Markbass AND the SVT4Pro...damn it sounds great!!
 
#71
air_leech said:
Jmattbassplaya,

have you tried a Tech 21 Bass VT with your rig?

if you haven't give it a try before you start shelling top dollars on a new rig.
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Like Jimmy said, I don`t think the VT will add the lows I want. It`ll get me that nice tube sound, but I highly doubt it`ll create more subharmonic lows... then again, maybe it would?

JimmyM said:
do i love the vt? most definitely. i would marry it if it had boobies. but that kind of low end jmatt's talking about is nowhere to be found in the vt. i think it's more of a cab problem than an amp problem. something tells me that this cl rig had an hlf cab under it.
Click to expand...

I can`t remember if it was an HLF or not, but in any case I was daisy chaining an Ampeg 4x10 and 1x15 together and running them at 4ohms.

Brad Johnson said:
Just curious, how did the SVT sound with the Warwick?
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I wouldn`t say amazing, but it was really nice. Very thick lows, good growl, and it had a lot of thump. That said, at times it seemed to lose clarity in the low end and you didn`t so much hear the individual notes as much as you just felt them (if that makes sense). I think this had more to do with one of the guitarists in my group constantly cranking his bass all the way up, though :hmm:
 
#72
Re bottom end: What you hear on stage is not what's happening in the room. I heard CHRIS TARRY play a MB rig, probably a LMII into 2 2x10s, and he was bottom heavy loud at the back of the room. In fact I had a word with him on the break and told him I play bass and love bass but man, you're burying the band. So he backed off a bit for the next set and things sounded great -- balanced.

I had an MB 12" combo for a while and found the sound to be a bit of a mystery so I went in another direction. But I've heard some live recordings from that time and damn if my bass doesn't sound fine!

FYI: I moved to an Aguilar AG500SC into one or two Bergantino HT112ER cabs. A little more weight to schlep but sounds fiiiiiiiiinnnne ;-)
 
#74
When my all tube Trace head was in the shop for 6 months, I needed a new head. Based purely on hype, I went to GC to check out the LMII. I walked out with a LMII and Traveler 151P 1x15 cab. People who don't like the sound of the Markbass cabs in the store, you MUST try the Traveler 151P + LMII/III combo on stage. I consider it the super fat fliptop for 2010! I gig this rig regularly all over NYC and sometimes I forget that my Trace V6 and 2x15 cab aren't on stage with me!

And while I don't love all of their product line, I think that's the point. There's something for everyone. Really. And the LMII/III just sounds SO good for it's size/weight it's really a gigging bassists dream. Not to mention the 151P is 37 pounds!
 
#78
jmattbassplaya said:
Like Jimmy said, I don`t think the VT will add the lows I want. It`ll get me that nice tube sound, but I highly doubt it`ll create more subharmonic lows... then again, maybe it would?



I can`t remember if it was an HLF or not, but in any case I was daisy chaining an Ampeg 4x10 and 1x15 together and running them at 4ohms.



I wouldn`t say amazing, but it was really nice. Very thick lows, good growl, and it had a lot of thump. That said, at times it seemed to lose clarity in the low end and you didn`t so much hear the individual notes as much as you just felt them (if that makes sense). I think this had more to do with one of the guitarists in my group constantly cranking his bass all the way up, though :hmm:
Click to expand...


You're getting subharmonics with an SVT cab?

One more question... how far away from your cabs do you play?
 
#79
Brad Johnson said:
You're getting subharmonics with an SVT cab?

One more question... how far away from your cabs do you play?
Click to expand...

I see where you are going with your question so I'll stop you there and let you know that I'll often use my wireless set to get an idea of how we sound outfront. Like I've said a hundred times already I sit well in the band, I'm just not supporting it the way the svt did. Actually the way I sound on top of the amp seems to be thicker and deeper in the low end with my MB than when im out front.

In any case it seems what I need to try are different cabs. I enjoy my tone, just not the lack of low end. Any suggestions here? Keep in mind I often play with minimul pa support and often go unmiked. The aguilar gs line looks promising - any opinions?
 
#80
I was shopping for a new bass and demoed some markbasses at the same time. I was surprised that I, my bass playing friend and the store owner all agreed that the 12" and 15" combos sounded a lot better than the littlemark tube 800 through a markbass 4x10 with the particular bass I ended up buying. Probably due to the cabinet. The 4x10 was indeed very high-middish and just didn't punch out the lows like the combos did. But the combos actually sounded very good, I loved how they delivered lows and sounded like they'd cut through reinforced concrete.. Too bad they're so pricey and powerful, I'd love a more modern sounding recording amp, but I don't wan't to spend a ton of cash for 400 watt amp when I have no use for 350 of those watts. And the micromark combo, although sounding really great for such a tiny little thing, didn't deliver what made me like the larger combos.
 

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