MarkBass- VPF vs new 3 position knob

[Steevo00]

About to drop the hammer on my first Markbass head!
Does the new switchable pre-filter sound the same as the VPF knob, I’m assuming it would be the VPF at max? Or did they re-shape the tone?
I had a chance to play through the older style with the VPF knob. It is the best sounding pre-shaped filter for slap that I’ve ever encountered. But with the VPF knob maxed, I think it’s just a little too extreme, worried about my speaker with all that added bass EQ.
Then I realized the solution to that was simply to turn down the bass (and treble) just a tiny bit with my on board preamp. So having the pre-shape foot-switchable now becomes a win for me!
I’m leaning towards one of the new models with the three position knob.
Can anyone confirm that the filter in the three position switch is in fact the same EQ shape as the old VPF?

 

[SJan3]

About to drop the hammer on my first Markbass head!
Does the new switchable pre-filter sound the same as the VPF knob, I’m assuming it would be the VPF at max? Or did they re-shape the tone?
I had a chance to play through the older style with the VPF knob. It is the best sounding pre-shaped filter for slap that I’ve ever encountered. But with the VPF knob maxed, I think it’s just a little too extreme, worried about my speaker with all that added bass EQ.
Then I realized the solution to that was simply to turn down the bass (and treble) just a tiny bit with my on board preamp. So having the pre-shape foot-switchable now becomes a win for me!
I’m leaning towards one of the new models with the three position knob.
Can anyone confirm that the filter in the three position switch is in fact the same EQ shape as the old VPF?

Having owned both, I'd estimate that the switch approximates the VPF at 1/2 way.
The VPF was more flexible but you can get the same tones by adjusting the Low mid and to a lesser extent the High mid controls. Or, if you like, just throw the switch. You can still supplement by adjusting the 4 band EQ to taste.
So, the same tones are available. Just a different way to get there. FWIW, I had a LittleMark lll and now have a LittleMark 58R. Happy with both.

 

[Steevo00]

Having owned both, I'd estimate that the switch approximates the VPF at 1/2 way.
The VPF was more flexible but you can get the same tones by adjusting the Low mid and to a lesser extent the High mid controls. Or, if you like, just throw the switch. You can still supplement by adjusting the 4 band EQ to taste.
So, the same tones are available. Just a different way to get there. FWIW, I had a LittleMark lll and now have a LittleMark 58R. Happy with both.

Thanks for your reply! Do you notice any difference in the bass EQ? I read that the bass EQ frequency sits a little higher on the new units- it was 40Hz, now 68Hz.
If it’s low frequency shelving I’d be ok with that but the website says “center frequency”, so I’m thinking it’s not.
I did get to try the new spec head in a 121 combo. That combo overall seemed a little lacking fundamental in the lowest notes on the E string. Right where that 40Hz bass knob would’ve helped, but the 68 didn’t seem to…
Maybe it’s just the tuning of that combo.

 

[SJan3]

Thanks for your reply! Do you notice any difference in the bass EQ? I read that the bass EQ frequency sits a little higher on the new units- it was 40Hz, now 68Hz.
If it’s low frequency shelving I’d be ok with that but the website says “center frequency”, so I’m thinking it’s not.
I did get to try the new spec head in a 121 combo. That combo overall seemed a little lacking fundamental in the lowest notes on the E string. Right where that 40Hz bass knob would’ve helped, but the 68 didn’t seem to…
Maybe it’s just the tuning of that combo.

I think the cabinet in the combo may be the culprit. I've used the 58R with my 5 string and the B string spoke well. I'd try the head with the cabinet of your choice and see what kind of results you get but I haven't heard anyone complain about a lack of lows with that head. If anything I'd suggest that the Lows are perhaps a bit "tighter". It's a quick reacting head, not flabby sounding at all. YMMV