• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Markbass vs Aguilar vs Ampeg vs TC Electronics

#22
wattsman said:
1. Markbass Little Mark III and Traveler 12/15
2. TC Electronic rh450 and RS210
3. Aguilar tone hammer 350 and Aguilar GS115
4. Ampeg Portaflex PF350 and 115
Click to expand...

1. This is a light and loud package, but you don't get warm.
Crisp, defined and rather dry is what i'd call the LMIII.

2. The TC is quite nice, but i'd be put off by the fact that the amp is so weak and the para-EQ is too much of a hassle for my taste. I could get a decent sound quite fast, but from decent to great is a very long way (to me, at least).
I Heard the RS cabs scratch easily.

3. Soundwise, this is what you're looking for. Rich lowend, warm, tubelike sound and a super light head. But a cab that's not lightweight. To go light with the aggies, you'd need the SL112 and to go loud enough for rock, you'll need two.

4. I don't have any experience with the Ampeg cab, but the head is quite nice. The PF 500 was on my list when i bought my last head, but i decided on the Tonehammer because i liked the overdriven sounds way better.
 
#24
Thanks for all the comments. Since the opinios are very divided i will go with only 2 options.
Aguilar th 500 with a gs115 or markbass III with a traveler 15. Which you guys think will give me a deeper sound ?
 
#26
i vote the lmiii. i've been using the same thing (in combo head version) for a couple years now. very deep sound, and can be quite warm too if you dial the filters right and shape tone the rest of the way with your fingers. if weight is a serious concern, you could consider a pair of ny121 - each one is about 20 lbs and super light. i'm not a fan of the piezo tweeter in mine, but you can turn them off like i do with the attenuator. the traveler series should give you a nicer horn if you're into the mid-hi range bass freqs.
 
#27
wattsman said:
Thanks for all the comments. Since the opinios are very divided i will go with only 2 options.
Aguilar th 500 with a gs115 or markbass III with a traveler 15. Which you guys think will give me a deeper sound ?
Click to expand...

Not sure about GS,but my DB series aguilar 12 were very deep and clean! probably best cab I had. But I had LM3 with traveller 15 combo too. like said before, traveller aint light,for your back problems,you MUST check markbass club series 12, its almost double lighter, has the same power output and cuts better on the stage.
remember, if you play big venue, when stage monitors are on,you can forget on your 15 (or 12 ofcourse) cab, its like its not there.
for a smaller venues, this combo above helps very much plus its back saver.
 
#28
wattsman said:
Thanks for all the comments. Since the opinios are very divided i will go with only 2 options.
Aguilar th 500 with a gs115 or markbass III with a traveler 15. Which you guys think will give me a deeper sound ?
Click to expand...

It's hard to know what you mean by "deeper", but I've owned both of these. The LMIII has a true deep tone, but the TH500 will sound much thicker and fatter, both solo and in a mix. The TH500 also has more wump and power.

The reason the TH will sound fatter is because it's bigger in the low mids. To approximate the deepness of the LMIII though, all you have to do is cut low mids on the TH very slightly, and it causes the bottom end to sound more extended and less fat.

The difference in these two heads to me is more about the top end. The LMIII will sound very extended and a bit more airy up top. The TH will be more organic and warm.

So IMHO, both have a great bottom end, but the TH has the ability to sound vintage and warm. I know the LMIII has the VLE knob, which can take some of that top end off, but IME all that does is mute the highs and little else. The Drive control on the TH is similar but it also introduces a gain circuit which also tightens the lows and adds harmonic content.

TH wins for flexibility I think. The LMIII is still a fantastic head though if you like it always super clean.
 
#29
thanks guys, i just purchased a MIII and will go pickup a traveler 12 i saw in GC. I will let you know how that goes!! thanks for all your help! great attitude in this forums, really appreciate it!
 
#30
Eublet said:
+1. The Aggie rig would sound much better, but a single 112 or 210 is NOT the cabinet for a rock band to say the least.

I've got a BG250, and it won't cut it either in that environment.

IMHO you need a 212, a 410, or bigger. A single 115 might get it done for some people, but it needs to be a big 115 with a lot of power driving it (not something like the BG250).

I also would NOT consider the Aggie GS line for rock applications. A pair of DB112's or a DB212 however would be absolutely brutal with a TH500 for rock.
Click to expand...

Eublet, just wondering why you feel the Aggie GS cabs aren't conducive to rock.
 
#33
Thanks for the reply BradJonesBass and Eublet. I purchased my 2 GS112's before the DB series came out and bought my TH500 a couple of years later. I would love to A B the GS and DB's some day. New cabs not in my budget as gigs are rare lately .
That said, I'm hearing a lot of mid content with the GS's out of the TH. I can compare them with my sealed Ampeg 4x10 which is less scooped and
sounds good. I was happy with the GS's on my last couple of gigs (roots rock ) though.
None the less, cabinet GAS persists.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back