Markbass vs gallien krueger

[jtims]

Please some adviced for me.
This is the first time for me to buy head amp. (usually use my church amp, an now getting pretty annoyed with the sound)

I'm still confused to decide, my current bass guitar is MM stingray 5 string HH. And I usually play rock, pop, jazz and funk.

I pretty much enjoy the typical MM sound with my band play.

So my choice is between markbass LM III/TA501 or gallien krueger 700rb-2..

So help me guys for you who have try/own them. My concerned the most is about the sound type/character., the price here is almost the same.

Thanks!

 

[waleross]

I own the MarkBass 800 which is the next head up from the LMIII and $200 more. It has more power and features but yu would be ok with the LMIII. No comment on GK don't own one. From another thread its is better to get more power when you can afford it. If you are going lite you might as well get the most power, that's what I did. This way you can match it up to most cabs without any problems...............

 

[leroy diamond]

I used to use GK but when I had problems with their gear, they did not answer ant of my emails.I have been using Markbass for several years, as have a bunch of players from around these parts and have found their gear ultra reliable.

 

[Dave W]

GK + MM = Tone Heaven

 

[onlyoneZ]

I have a LMII and a GK 700RB. The GK is going to give you a more aggressive sound than the Markbass, which seems to be warmer. Just depends on your preference. They both sound good, though. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

 

[dave_bass5]

I have a LMII and a GK 700RB. The GK is going to give you a more aggressive sound than the Markbass, which seems to be warmer. Just depends on your preference. They both sound good, though. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

This is my findings as well. I got a GK1001RB-II to replace my MB head (SA450 at the time but i ended up getting a LMII to replace the GK as a spare)and i found the difference to be too big and ditched the GK after a couple fo months, maybe 15 gigs.
I used both on a couple of gigs, changing heads each set and on all gigs i found the GK tone to be a bit thinner and toppy compared to the MB. We did sound check so i had time to mess with the EQ but i always found the MB to have a stronger, fuller, punchier tone.

I should add i dont go for a dirty tone so maybe the GK wasn't the right choice but even the band commented that the tone was a bit "weedy compared to the usual".
The MB has a more thicker low end (IMO) so fills out that area nicely, without being boomy.

Considering the Stingray has, or can get quite aggressive if it wants i think a MB head will be a better option as this can balance things out.
I'd also recommend a MB F1. This has almost the same tone but with a slightly faster and punchier low end. In fact i'd say it was just a tiny bit closer to the GK than my SA450 was, but without actually loosing the warm MB tone.

 

[Ben Heard]

GK + MM = Tone Heaven

This.

I don't use either myself, but I've got a good friend who does and man does it sound good! Mixing the MM and GK growl just seems to be a match made in heaven.

 

[AMJBASS]

I like them both(I guess doesn't help much ha!). Suffice to say the Markbass will be a bit more even sounding while the GK will naturally have an extended bottom and high end. I've owned and gigged quite a bit with both, and for the way I play(mostly doubling on both Upright and Electric in Jazz, Latin, R&B, and Pop), the GK is easiest to get "my sound" out of. Honestly, you will need to try both and see which you prefer. They are both wonderful companies with good products.

 

[Yurtra]

I personally use a MM and a GK700RBII and I can attest to the fact that the combination sounds absolutely incredible, particularly in a band mix. The tone is naturally scooped in the low mids (a frequency area which, in my experience, does typically add a nice fullness to your tone) but this can be somewhat compensated for with a Low Mid boost on the GK EQ. That said, I never find myself wanting for more low end and I never have trouble cutting through in a mix.

I have tried some Markbass heads and find that they do sound fantastic: nice and warm; full and punchy. You really can't go wrong with either head. Your best bet is to go out and try them both if you can.

 

[randmcnally]

In my experience, a GK800RB + a Stingray are very complimentary tonally - a lot of attack, grit, and tone there. That said, when I owned a Stingray, the MarkBass was very attractive for its ability to pull the Stingray out of its "comfort zone" - it could make it rounder, fatter, and smoother. Of course that's just to my ears, and everyone is born with different ears, except cyborgs and clones.

 

[topcat2069]

The GK weighs more

 

[THORRR]

I own the MarkBass 800 which is the next head up from the LMIII and $200 more. It has more power and features but yu would be ok with the LMIII. No comment on GK don't own one. From another thread its is better to get more power when you can afford it. If you are going lite you might as well get the most power, that's what I did. This way you can match it up to most cabs without any problems...............

+ 1 ^^^

I did the same thing when I bought my LMIII-800w.
The extra power gives you lots of headroom and punches
hard when you need it without ever breaking a sweat.
I can push 8-10's hard for 5 hours straight and it never even
gets warm! Amazing little package.

No experience with the GK but I can definitely vouch for the LMIII.

 

[jtims]

This is my findings as well. I got a GK1001RB-II to replace my MB head (SA450 at the time but i ended up getting a LMII to replace the GK as a spare)and i found the difference to be too big and ditched the GK after a couple fo months, maybe 15 gigs.
I used both on a couple of gigs, changing heads each set and on all gigs i found the GK tone to be a bit thinner and toppy compared to the MB. We did sound check so i had time to mess with the EQ but i always found the MB to have a stronger, fuller, punchier tone.

I should add i dont go for a dirty tone so maybe the GK wasn't the right choice but even the band commented that the tone was a bit "weedy compared to the usual".
The MB has a more thicker low end (IMO) so fills out that area nicely, without being boomy.

Considering the Stingray has, or can get quite aggressive if it wants i think a MB head will be a better option as this can balance things out.
I'd also recommend a MB F1. This has almost the same tone but with a slightly faster and punchier low end. In fact i'd say it was just a tiny bit closer to the GK than my SA450 was, but without actually loosing the warm MB tone.

Nice reply!!! so I will also considerate the F1. How about the TA501??? Any suggest?

 

[jtims]

This.

I don't use either myself, but I've got a good friend who does and man does it sound good! Mixing the MM and GK growl just seems to be a match made in heaven.

These kind of quote I get a lot... I've tried one and GK does fit me.
On the other hand after watch some review on youtube and input from you guys. MM do tempted me so much!!!
Want hear some more from you before deciding... =D

 

[Doug Parent]

Out of all MarkBass heads I have tried, the F1 or F500 would be my first choice over a LM2 or LM3 which I find looser in the low end. The F1/F500 series has maximum punch and thickness in the low end. I have a GK700RB-II as well that I switch out for variety, and I still really like that head. It's brighter for sure.

 

[jtims]

This.

I don't use either myself, but I've got a good friend who does and man does it sound good! Mixing the MM and GK growl just seems to be a match made in heaven.

These kind of quote I get a lot...!
Actually I Have try GK before. But after watch some youtube and read from you guys, MB do tempted me!!!!!
Unfortunately no near store have one so I can tried...
Will hear some more from you guys before deciding... =D
Great input guys....

 

[dave_bass5]

The two heads do sound very different but if you like the GK then go for it. Recommendations are all well and good but you really need to try it out, and with your cab or one you plan on buying as that too can make a difference.

Sorry, i dont have any experience with the TA501.

 

[jtims]

The two heads do sound very different but if you like the GK then go for it. Recommendations are all well and good but you really need to try it out, and with your cab or one you plan on buying as that too can make a difference.

Sorry, i dont have any experience with the TA501.

Yup, but the laney amp I used to use, from the tonal are almost the same with the GK. GK is better but i dont think I will experience "out of the box" thing

 

[jtims]

Out of all MarkBass heads I have tried, the F1 or F500 would be my first choice over a LM2 or LM3 which I find looser in the low end. The F1/F500 series has maximum punch and thickness in the low end. I have a GK700RB-II as well that I switch out for variety, and I still really like that head. It's brighter for sure.

Comment???

 

[marijn van gils]

Nice reply!!! so I will also considerate the F1. How about the TA501??? Any suggest?

No experience with the F1, but I do own a TA-501 and played through a LMIII.

To my ear they sound virtually identical. Open and defined, but warm, fat and punchy, so I wouldn't pay the extra price of the TA-501 for sound reasons.

The extra features of the TA-501 are nice to have:
- the semiparametric mids can be very usefull to adapt to the room you're playing. The sound of both amps is great with everything flat, but this is for my personal use the most usefull extra feature.
- The DI output is adjustable and it has a pre-post switch on the outside, which I both find a big advantage over the LMII, but the LMIII has these too. The input is less sensitive than the LMII, which I also like a lot.
- The compressor is by far the best onboard compressor i've heard: warm and musical. It's usefulness depends on wheater you want a comp and what you want out of it, but it's meter sure looks cool!
- EQ on/of and mute are footswitchable. Can be handy for some, but I don't use it.

In short, I would certainly prefer a used TA-501 over a used LMII or a new LMIII. I bought it because I could get it used and cheaper than a new LMIII, and I'm really happy with it.

IMO, a new TA-501 has too much of a price difference with a new LMIII to be worth it, considering you get the same base sound. I think that's why they are rather rare. If you really want any of the extra features except the compressor, I would check out some of the newer offerings from Markbass instead, like the MoMark TA 500.

A used LMIII would be the best bang for the buck, but maybe the price difference of a used TA-501 would be worth the extra feaures? To me it was, but YMMV.