MarkBass users Head count.

[Red Planet]

Hello everyone.

I'd like to see a which MarkBass heads your using thread, hence the post.

Which MarkBass heads do you currently own and what do you like about them?

Note this would not be a thread for what you do not like about them.

I'd like to get an idea of which heads are being used and why?

I'll start.

I currently own the MarkBass LMIII head.

It's size and weight are certainly pluses.

I really like the Tube like Tone of the thing. It is very warm and full sounding, especially to be such a little bitty cute amp.

It's simplicity to operate is just such a breeze.

It is pretty darn loud to me for all that sound being in such a small package.

Though many have stated they do not like the look I rather prefer it. It took me a while to warm up to the Yellow and Black color scheme but it grows on you. The look reminds me of something out of the 40's.


As usual no pics no amp.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I purchased a Markbass R500 a few months back used from Guitar Center.

I absolutely love the tone - very solid amp built for rock - and I like the idea that almost NO ONE else has this amp. People are always asking me about it, and it kills my SWR 350x that I replaced.

Also weighs about as much as my DVD player, so it's easy to lug around in my rack case to gigs. Very reliable amp indeed.

here's a stock photo

 

[Foamy]

LittleMark II
I love the limiter!!! (couldn't resist)
I just love the tone when everything is set at noon!
Louder than all get-out!
I even like the looks - very distinguishable and a good way to me.
I like the looks I get when the others around hear it for the first time, usually after kind of blowing it off as a tiny also-ran head. Fools!

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

LMII here. Its been on over 50 gigs since I got it new in 2007 and I've never had a problem. This is the amp for me. Its killed GAS for anything else. Easy to use, portable and sounds excellent. I've built mine a DIY rack to keep to the form of small and lightwieght.

 

[UncleBalsamic]

Good thread. It should be useful.

 

[KJung]

You knew I couldn't resist this thread.

I've owned quite a few of the MB heads (LMTube800, SD800, SA450), but settled on an F1 and an F500. I still have my LMII as a backup.

These are my go-to heads for the following reason:

1) The are clean and even sounding, so they do a great job of translating the growl and sizzle and grind of my J Bass type instruments relatively accurately, but also with some warmth and character.

2) They are loud as heck, and replaced both my Walter Woods Ultra 1200 and Glockenklang Heart Rock (and Thunderfunk550b... all great amps).

3) The neutral voice matches up perfectly with the cabs I like (primarily Epifani and Bergantino 410's). And, they are among the most 'plug and play' amps on the market IMO.

4) Small and lightweight... probably the best 'power to size and weight' ratio of any heads on the market right now IMO.

5) VERY good reliability (VERY few problem posts on the MB line of heads).

Into a large 4ohm 410, these two heads WUMP, and again are great for an 'accurate, quick' tone great for use in pop and jazz music with roundwound strings, etc.

 

[Joeykun]

Markbass F1
PROS

• The Punch - 500watts (into 4 ohm) Plenty of headroom!
• The Tone - Does not color the sound of the bass
• The Weight - Perfect!
• The Size - A lot of amp in a one rack space!

CONS

• None

 

[Joe Murray]

I'm using a LMII and LOVE it!!!!!!!
I think everything was covered above though.
Agree 100%
...but just to contribute, I have to bring up again that this head amplifies the bass without coloring it (although the option is there if desired). That (for me) is perfect.

 

[WalWarrior]

LMII. I got it for ease of portability along with my Markbass 2X10 sitting atop a Markbass 1X15.

I just got a Mesa 400+ with a 12 space shock rack and I'm thinking of mounting the LMII in that case to run a Dual Amp config. We'll see...

 

[Jefenator]

LMII here.

I was - and still am - taken by the inherent tone the thing has. Warm, friendly, slightly punchy, never sterile.

I got it to power a small cab (as pictured above). That setup has all but retired my former go-to rig (tiny G/K combo).

As a bonus, it also works great with a bigger 4 ohm cab. That makes it a convenient - and capable - backup for the pre+power rack or the tube head. And it definitely gets the nod for those awkward ride-shares and gnarly load-ins.

 

[chroma601]

LMII here. Best tone I've ever had in my 42 odd years of bass playing. (There were even years too, but all of them were odd. But I digress...) The most amazing thing is the suppleness. Grace notes are clear. The tiniest fingering inflections are powerfully reproduced. My other amps were brutes. This one is both subtle and powerful.

 

[XXL]

SD800!!

Ive had it for 3 years. It works well with any situation for me. I love that I have 750 watts of power at 4 ohms that wieghs in at around 6 pounds or so. I can match it with anything from an 8x10 to a 1x12 for great results. Its been on many a gig of all kinds for years and has not once even hiccuped any problems. Great Stuff!

 

[whoapower]

CMD 102P (LMII 2x10 combo) - gigged many times. Nice clean sound. All in one package. Very light and easy to haul around.

 

[Red Planet]

Foamy I hear ya on the limiter.

There are things I do not like about any given product thats why I said pluses only. My posts are such Neo Green at times and tend to stand out a little.


Looks like we will see a lot more LMII's than any, it is such a popular head. Keep em coming even if you have what everyone else has.

Ken how did the SA450 compare in tone to the LMII?

Sorry for the blurry pic, I took some new pics of the LMIII but my flash drive has got up and walked off. Have a family of 6 living in my basement since the dowturn and things get missing. I figure it's in one of Jr's Trains.

 

[Foamy]

CMD 102P (LMII 2x10 combo) - gigged many times. Nice clean sound. All in one package. Very light and easy to haul around.

Same combo here. I can't imagine a better sound.

 

[Green Mind]

My s450

 

[KJung]

Ken how did the SA450 compare in tone to the LMII?

Identical to my ear when set flat. Since, at the time, I was running my LMII literally flat, the larger size of the SA450 was not a positive trade-off for me, so I eventually sold it. Nice head, and the semi-parametric mids would be nice for some. Now that the LMIII has the full featured DI, the semi-parametric mids and larger size is the only difference.

My guess is the SA450 will go away once the MoMark kicks in, since you can build that exact spec (and the SD800), and it will actually cost less (I think).

 

[Carlo Tanori]

Me and my F1 on the gig. I also own the LM II. Choosing which one to use on the gig.........hmmmm, that's a tough one.

 

[Tim1]

SA450 with a VT pedal for practicing and as a backup to my SVT on gigs. I prefer the extra size - it looks great in a shallow 2 rack SKB case and is so easy to carry anywhere.

 

[Toonfish]

Hi there...

As we are talking of it... My Markbass system composed as follows :

- Little Mark II 500w Marco Limited Edition 2008
- 104HF 8 ohms
- 104HF 8 ohms
- Sennheiser EW100 Wireless system
- Korg DTR-1 Tuner

On the back I have also permanently connected in line the APHEX Punch Factory optical compressor.

I Switched from Aguilar DB750 + GS410 last year because of my back spine and I did not regret it at all.

I am in the process of buying a MoMark amp or the new Little Mark Tube 800, have to do some testing before buying. In any case I will not drop the LMKII Marco Limited. I have also as a backup head a Gallien Krueger 1001-RBII in case of a failure but I'm trusty in those italian heads because of the perfect engineering inside.

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Cheers, Eric aka Mr Toonfish.