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Markbass...Thoughts? Love? Hate?

Yes, I must say I like my current config of Mini CMD121P 12" and 2x10 Avatar Neo. I got the Avatar as it was cheap but ended up using it as I like this kind of combo for certain gigs where 'the air has to move' . The combos are more expensive, then again you get more flexibility as you could just take a 24 lbs system to certain gigs and especially to rehearsals. I put my 121P in the front seat!
 
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.

I love my new Minimark - still gets loud considering its 2x6" speakers and even louder with my extension MB 210.
Great for recording too

 
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?

I wasn't going anywhere... sorry for the questions. I have no suggestions.
 
The heads sound fantastic. They have a heavy, thumping warmth to them, with stellar clarity. My big thing is that through the cabs I've tried em with, NO boom-ing, woofing lows. Just a solid THUDDDDD sound, which I prefer. The ONLY reason I'm not sold on them is that there is absolutely NO grit to be had anywhere with them. Even the tube model, which sounds good,(but, IMO, sounds more like a slightly warmer LM, NOT "valvey"), has this issue. And, God help you if the clip light comes on. WORST sound I've ever heard from anything that expensive. It still keeps me up at night......

In short, unless you want some fuzz,grit,growl, or grind to come from your head, Markbass is a solid bet.:bassist::bassist:
 
I've been playing a front ported 6x10 for well over a year and the thing is bullet proof. It's the best sounding cab I've had yet! Atop that I just added the SD800. . .holy headroom! I've never been so blown away by volume, tone flexibility, and over-all sound! frankly. . .I'm in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
The heads sound fantastic. They have a heavy, thumping warmth to them, with stellar clarity. My big thing is that through the cabs I've tried em with, NO boom-ing, woofing lows. Just a solid THUDDDDD sound, which I prefer. The ONLY reason I'm not sold on them is that there is absolutely NO grit to be had anywhere with them. Even the tube model, which sounds good,(but, IMO, sounds more like a slightly warmer LM, NOT "valvey"), has this issue. And, God help you if the clip light comes on. WORST sound I've ever heard from anything that expensive. It still keeps me up at night......

In short, unless you want some fuzz,grit,growl, or grind to come from your head, Markbass is a solid bet.:bassist::bassist:

If you want the grit, there are all kinds of pedals to add this to the overall sound, VT, Sansamp et rest.
 
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 ;)

have you tried different speaker combo's??
 
quite so. I love the sound of the VT, and I think by posting in this thread, I accidentally figure out what my first "real" rig has to be:D:bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist:

Yep. This way your rig is very flexible, get the grid or distortion when you need, when not you get the really nice midrange bump of MarkBass. Plus other combinations. I tend to think of bass systems like a producer, like to key in various sounds, mostly because I tend to get bored with one sound after a while... MarkBass is perfect for this kind of tinkering even if the base sound itself is quite nice.
 
have you tried different speaker combo's??

Not yet, but that`s the conclusion I`ve come to. I think I`m going to try some Ampeg HLFs and the Aguilar GS series. The Aggie 2x12`s look really nice and at 70lbs they won`t be different than my 6x10 at 71lbs. Hopefully these cabs will also work well for whenever I get the funds for a DB750/1.

Speaking of my Markbass 6x10, I`m just curious what you guys think these would go for used. I haven`t ever seen them go on ebay or here before... but maybe that just tells me that they are great quality and worth keeping :p

*mods - I think I can ask for value suggestions, but if not just delete and message me so I know*
 
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 ;)

Not yet, but that`s the conclusion I`ve come to. I think I`m going to try some Ampeg HLFs and the Aguilar GS series. The Aggie 2x12`s look really nice and at 70lbs they won`t be different than my 6x10 at 71lbs. Hopefully these cabs will also work well for whenever I get the funds for a DB750/1.

Speaking of my Markbass 6x10, I`m just curious what you guys think these would go for used. I haven`t ever seen them go on ebay or here before... but maybe that just tells me that they are great quality and worth keeping :p

*mods - I think I can ask for value suggestions, but if not just delete and message me so I know*

mix it man. try some 10's and 15's that's always a popular combo. I used to play 12's on top of a 15 and that had plenty of bass but I went to the 10's for the clarity. Mesa makes an awesome 4x10 with a 15 in the middle. I've gigged with a friends and love the thing! My markbass was discontinued but you can still get the rear ported one. I love the thing, it is indestructible and sounds amazing. had it for almost 2 years and it's still goin strong. I paid 900 so I'd imagine you could get around 700/800 for them used
 
Hello all,
Here's a little input on my part.
I've been using my SD800 through all of my Schroeder cabs, for over a year now, with good to great results.
For the small venue trio gigs I use my Mini12+ (4o)
For the medium venue trio & 4pc; my 1210R (4o)
For the large and outdoor gigs; the 410L (4o)

I have just begun using a SansAmp BDDI between my Smith5MW and the SD800 and it's taking a little period of adjustment.
The Schroe's are a bit mid-foreward and the BDDI cuts a little mid so, I'm learning!!!

The SD800/410L together are intense!!!!!

Later, Kirk
 
The Amps, Cabs, and combos sound like an ok speaker in a cardboard box.

They sound very "dull" to me with poor dynamics. Like a pbass with the tone knob almost all the way down.

And I love the sound of a p bass. They just aren't comfortable enough for me to play anymore.

Peace
 
mix it man. try some 10's and 15's that's always a popular combo. I used to play 12's on top of a 15 and that had plenty of bass but I went to the 10's for the clarity. Mesa makes an awesome 4x10 with a 15 in the middle. I've gigged with a friends and love the thing! My markbass was discontinued but you can still get the rear ported one. I love the thing, it is indestructible and sounds amazing. had it for almost 2 years and it's still goin strong. I paid 900 so I'd imagine you could get around 700/800 for them used

I actually have the rear potted 6x10
 
Not yet, but that`s the conclusion I`ve come to. I think I`m going to try some Ampeg HLFs and the Aguilar GS series. The Aggie 2x12`s look really nice and at 70lbs they won`t be different than my 6x10 at 71lbs. Hopefully these cabs will also work well for whenever I get the funds for a DB750/1.

Speaking of my Markbass 6x10, I`m just curious what you guys think these would go for used. I haven`t ever seen them go on ebay or here before... but maybe that just tells me that they are great quality and worth keeping :p

*mods - I think I can ask for value suggestions, but if not just delete and message me so I know*
What you need is fEarful style 15/6. They are LOUD, light (around 45LBS) and really is the lowest, deepest cab I've ever heard. They can take alot of punishment... ie alot of volume / 1000w and will produce DEEP lows if you need them via eq.
 
Love the tone of the heads. I just upgraded to a Tube 800. I have a 102P cab (the smaller 210) but have discovered that the Markbass 604 blows it away (the 4x6 cab). I've always walked by the 604 thinking by the looks of it that it didn't do much. I was wrong. Like all of the MB cabs it's a bit expensive but it's a monster (kicks out the lows really good). Probably the best cab they make. I'm getting one.