Markbass prices in the UK always seemed to be on the high side when compared to the likes of Thomann and maybe the slight weakening in the Euro has helped too?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Evolution of products is a good thing - non-advertised ("invisible from the outside") design changes are not.
Again, if I as a customer have bought a certain product, like it and want to purchase another one with the same characteristics, I must be able to trust the manufacturer has not changed those characteristics.
"Characteristics" in this case can include (but is not limited to):EQ points and Q, input gain, line output voltages, tapering of the potentiometers, power consumption, impedance tolerances on the speaker side, "tonal characteristics" (which has changed in this case, as class A/B has been replaced by a different sounding class D amp).
I should be upset, even angry, if I bought something that was sold on incorrect premises/false marketing.
I don't think there is one manufacturer that would give up their right to state that "all specifications are subject to change without notice".
You are being a bit dramatic over this issue, design changes happen all the time with all kinds of products because of all kinds of factors.
Sure, I am a "square" person in this respect. In general, I expect full trace-ability and transparancy in scenarios like this. And while I was not impressed from a quality point of view, by the release and redesign of for instance Ampeg PF500, I think they were much better at communicating (much smaller) engineering work done. (As an example.)
Also, with so few "building blocks" as in compact bass amp, fitting a new, and quite different, power amp is enough to create a "development step", "Mk II, "V2" etc.
The (not insignificant) differences between LMII and earlier LMIII are IMHO smaller than the "hidden" differences between LMIII class AB and LMIII class D.
Last edited:
Response to my inquiry:
"Thanks for writing and for your interest in Markbass.
From some years our cabinets features our Markbass Custom Speakers from few manufacturer companies (including B&C) exclusively made under our specifics.
Thank you once again."
So reading between the lines they are no longer B&C.
Really sad for a company that had a unique mission of made in Italy quality and warm tube like dynamics in their little Mark products. Have never seen a company go so wrong way. I thought something was wrong with a new 121 combo, but root caused to these changes, big difference in the tone in a negative "cheaper" amp way. Ugh.
Totally agree! I can live with Monsanto and Nestlé any day, but what Markbass has comitted against all bass players and against humanity in a broader sense is unparalleled in history.
I believe the Corona, CA factory and the Ensenada, Mexico factory are about 186 miles from each other. You're correct that the parts are mostly dissimilar. There's no doubt that the MIM Fenders are more inexpensively made; the finished products are nevertheless of remarkably good quality in most cases.
Ridiculous statement. Their products are excellent by most people's standards. They have variety, are well built, sound great, are light and easy to tote.
Why the hate on this product??
I've had my LM3 for 9 yrs and it is a killer amp. Just bought a 121HR cab. Sounds great!
MANY top shelf players endorsing and using their product. And don't tell me they only use because of endorsement.
Players like Richard Bona, Alain Caron, Marcus Miller etc. will not use gear that doesn't satisfy their creative needs.
Ive been a longtime Markbass-user, used too own the 121p combo from italy and played several other italy made rigs back in the day. Let me tell you the new stuff is just as good in everyway, maybe even better due too the upgraded tweeters, my old combo had a horrible sounding piezo while my newly aquired 2x12 ninja cabinet have a 1-inch voicecoil tweeter(which sounds so much smoother and better).
Also I have owned the Markbass little mark ninja(1000w) for quite some while, played it at different cabs, heard other bassplayers used it through the DI and let me tell you its better than the old Markbass littlemark 2 in every way, also less struggling at high volumes due too the power amp. Keep in mind, Markbass use their own developed class-d system.
Markbass also recently got some kinda reliability award because they have an incredible low amound of failiure-ratios on their gear, is it made in Indonesia? yes, do the use B&C anymore ? No but their stuff is still amazing. Compared too alot of brands going overseas with crappy quality control "cough ampeg" they still have their quality-controll intact, making a good product is all about quality-routines, not were its made.
Also I have owned the Markbass little mark ninja(1000w) for quite some while, played it at different cabs, heard other bassplayers used it through the DI and let me tell you its better than the old Markbass littlemark 2 in every way, also less struggling at high volumes due too the power amp. Keep in mind, Markbass use their own developed class-d system.
Markbass also recently got some kinda reliability award because they have an incredible low amound of failiure-ratios on their gear, is it made in Indonesia? yes, do the use B&C anymore ? No but their stuff is still amazing. Compared too alot of brands going overseas with crappy quality control "cough ampeg" they still have their quality-controll intact, making a good product is all about quality-routines, not were its made.
If their non b&c drivers and class d amps were so bad and falling apart after a couple of years use I dont really think so many top-shelf players would endorsed it, I mean Marcus Miller, Richard Bona, Stu Hamm, cmon?
Do those top-shelf players even keep the same rig for a couple of years?
I'd think they'd get new ones often enough, being an endorsing artist.
I'd think they'd get new ones often enough, being an endorsing artist.
Long time Markbass user (exclusively for the past 8 years or so).
Without multiple quotes, I'll give a few responses based on my experience to some things I read here.
RE: Class AB vs. D:
Having owned both AB and D versions of the same model head (both still Italian),
I don't remember them sounding remarkably different, although I didn't own them concurrently.
RE: LM800 vs. LMT800:
Having concurrently owned a LMT800 (Italian. Still my main amp) and a LM800 (Also Italian),
although not identical, with the LMT800's pre set to 100% solid state, both amps sound very close.
The LM800 might be just a little more mid forward, but not much.
RE: "They should label...."
All my Italian Markbass gear is clearly labeled "Made in Italy".
The one Indonesian cab I owned and my current Nano 300 (a great little titan, BTW) clearly say
"Designed in Italy Assembled in Indonesia".
FWIW, an article on Markbass said the amps come back to Italy and are inspected and given a run through
before being shipped out. Not sure about the cabs.
RE: Italian made vs. Indonesian
My only "apple to apple" comparison here is two 104HF cabs.
I thought, being used together, they seemed to sound relatively the same
(although the Indonesian model was noticeably/curiously lighter in weight).
It wasn't until I used them separately that I noticed the Indonesian one wasn't as punchy.
I still own my Italian one.
This isn't an indictment on the Indonesian Markbass product (My Nano 300 has been great).
Just my experience. YMMV.
Without multiple quotes, I'll give a few responses based on my experience to some things I read here.
RE: Class AB vs. D:
Having owned both AB and D versions of the same model head (both still Italian),
I don't remember them sounding remarkably different, although I didn't own them concurrently.
RE: LM800 vs. LMT800:
Having concurrently owned a LMT800 (Italian. Still my main amp) and a LM800 (Also Italian),
although not identical, with the LMT800's pre set to 100% solid state, both amps sound very close.
The LM800 might be just a little more mid forward, but not much.
RE: "They should label...."
All my Italian Markbass gear is clearly labeled "Made in Italy".
The one Indonesian cab I owned and my current Nano 300 (a great little titan, BTW) clearly say
"Designed in Italy Assembled in Indonesia".
FWIW, an article on Markbass said the amps come back to Italy and are inspected and given a run through
before being shipped out. Not sure about the cabs.
RE: Italian made vs. Indonesian
My only "apple to apple" comparison here is two 104HF cabs.
I thought, being used together, they seemed to sound relatively the same
(although the Indonesian model was noticeably/curiously lighter in weight).
It wasn't until I used them separately that I noticed the Indonesian one wasn't as punchy.
I still own my Italian one.
This isn't an indictment on the Indonesian Markbass product (My Nano 300 has been great).
Just my experience. YMMV.
Last edited:
You know one time I took the amp out of my MB Jeff Berlin combo and made a plate to put over the top of it so nothing would get inside of it. And used it on top of different speaker cabinets . I played on top of a 212 and a 410 and ran through a PA system it worked great. Then when I got done I would take the top off I made and slip it back in the combo. I eventually sold the other cabinets but like I said it work great I still have the top I made for it somewhere. I don’t know why I did that but I thought it was cool. Remember we’re the guys that make your girl friends dance.
