Double Bass MarkBass with DB?

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Just my two cents: I used to have a LMII, which is a killer amp with electric bass, but sounded terrible with both my double bass and EUB (NS Design). Now I'm using an Acoustic Image Contra, which sounds wonderful with both DB and (especially when hooked to my 2x10 Nemesis speaker) Electric bass...

Although there are amps that generally sound better than others on DB, I don't think it can be said that 'this one is great but this one sucks'. The bass, strings, pickup, amp and cabinet all work together in making the sound that the player and audience want to hear. Of course, the sound in the player's head down through the body and fingers are essential.

There are some really fine jazz players in town using Polytone, GK, Ampeg Portabass, Acoustic Image, Walter Woods, SWR, yada, yada, yada. They all generally sound very good. A good friend uses a Contra with an old German bass/Full Circle or a Polytone with a Rodier/Realist. That works for him. I will know in a few days if this setup is better for me.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

..... I will know in a few days if this setup is better for me.

This won't be necessary. I had the best sound tonight I've ever had. Clean, punchy and a nice tight low end. The amplified tone sounded pretty much like my bass, but with a feeling of weight behind it, balls if you like. A friend sat in for a tune and I was just as floored by the tone in the room as I was at the bass; a really nice sound. He's looking to buy a MarkBass as well.
Call me impulsive, but the Focus is now for sale.

 

[Monte]

This won't be necessary. I had the best sound tonight I've ever had. Clean, punchy and a nice tight low end. The amplified tone sounded pretty much like my bass, but with a feeling of weight behind it, balls if you like. A friend sat in for a tune and I was just as floored by the tone in the room as I was at the bass; a really nice sound. He's looking to buy a MarkBass as well.
Call me impulsive, but the Focus is now for sale.

This has been my impression with my Markbass CMD 121p as well. I haven't used a bass amp for YEARS (last one was a Series 1 AI Contra when they first came out), but I'm just very happy with the clean sound I can get.

I go into the XLR through my Schertler Pre A III (dry out which is no eq from the preamp, just the notch filter and gain) with my Dyn B, and it sounds fantastic. Contrary to Adrian's experience, I find the eq much more useful for DB, although you do have to mess around with it awhile to get used to it and find the cleanest settings. Oddly enough, it doesn't knock me out for electric bass.......I rarely play and haven't gigged with mine in about 3 years, but in my house at least the Fender J sounds better through my Bose PAS on the Fender Jazz setting.

 

[Old Dude]

The Full Circle on my 7/8 Wilfer flatback has been going into an FDECK HPF-Pre in front of an LMII set flat with an EA CXL-112 cab for a couple of months now and the results have been excellent, really exceeding all expectations. After a couple of gigs I sold My Clarus 2R Series III.

Some points of clarification, the LMIII is rated the same as the LMII; 300 watts @ 8 ohms, 500 watts @ 4 ohms. The center frequency of the Low EQ on the LMIII is 60 Hz, on the LMII it was set at 40. The LMIII has a selectable Pre-Post on the DI and I think there has been something changed in the way the limiter functions.

 

[RShew]

Hey guys,

I had a Markbass CMD 121P for a while and loved it. I wanted to start using a mic more so I switched it out and started experimenting with my AI more and different cabs. After a lot of frustration I am heading back to Markbass as I really dug the sound. Trying to decide between another CMD 121P or using my current cabs (EA Wizzy10 and MLine) with a LMK II or III. Are you guys that like the Markbass w/upright using the combo or the head? Which cabs?

BTW- I wrote Markbass about the new acoustic 121 amp. It's supposed to be in the states in a few months. My only worry there is that the wattage is a bit low. The CMD 121P was my "loud" rig and I don't know if this one could compete.

 

[Ed Goode]

The 121P combo has been working wonderfully for me, both DB and slab. I have been using the unit for the past two years and it has yet to disappoint in any setting I've tried. If I need more coverage than the combo alone, I use a Traveler 151P cab and it has more than enough power and clarity.

Getting used to the EQ settings when you first get it is a tiny bit tricky. These controls are very sensitive, just a small tweak changes the tone a lot. I usually start out with the VLE/VPF off, make the best adjustment I can through a Bassbone, then tweak from there. Very clean presentation

 

[Gearhead43]

Although there are amps that generally sound better than others on DB, I don't think it can be said that 'this one is great but this one sucks'. The bass, strings, pickup, amp and cabinet all work together in making the sound that the player and audience want to hear. Of course, the sound in the player's head down through the body and fingers are essential.

There are some really fine jazz players in town using Polytone, GK, Ampeg Portabass, Acoustic Image, Walter Woods, SWR, yada, yada, yada. They all generally sound very good. A good friend uses a Contra with an old German bass/Full Circle or a Polytone with a Rodier/Realist. That works for him. I will know in a few days if this setup is better for me.

+1 Good points. I just think it's funny how one player can say "It sounds great!" and the next guy says "It sounded terrible!" . Haha.

Goes to show that the advice of others can only take you so far. Gotta use your own ears to make the real choices.