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Micromark 801 or Vox Vx50ba?

_sky_

_sky_

Jan 8, 2012
355
347
Portugal, Lisbon
#1
Hello there,

I'm looking For a small bass combo amp and i'm between the markbass micromark 801 and the vox 50ba. One of the main reasons is the size. I've ruled out the Phil Jones double four because of it's price.

Between these two, which one has the clearer sound and more low end keeping in mind their a practice amp?

Probably the micromark Will have the cleanest sound but does the price difference justifies it?

Can they be used to Jam with a guitarrist or even a drummer?

Cheers
 
#2
_sky_ said:
Hello there,

I'm looking For a small bass combo amp and i'm between the markbass micromark 801 and the vox 50ba. One of the main reasons is the size. I've ruled out the Phil Jones double four because of it's price.

Between these two, which one has the clearer sound and more low end keeping in mind their a practice amp?

Probably the micromark Will have the cleanest sound but does the price difference justifies it?

Can they be used to Jam with a guitarrist or even a drummer?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Without even hearing the Vox, I can say that you will get better performance for the Markbass amp. There's a reason why so many pros use MarkBass. Vox, not so much but the final audition should be yours.
But I stand behind Markbass as a user for over 11 years. Great tone and bulletproof.
 
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#4
SJan3 said:
Without even hearing the Vox, I can say that you will get better performance for the Markbass amp. There's a reason why so many pros use MarkBass. Vox, not so much but the final audition should be yours.
But I stand behind Markbass as a user for over 11 years. Great tone and bulletproof.
Click to expand...

I had once the other micromark (?). A 9 inch cube. For the size it delivered a great sound, even with higher volume. Of course I know i cant perform with a drummer and guitar player but that little fellow was great. Sold it for stupid reasons
 
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#7
I've literally bought a dozen small practice amps over the last three years. All of them went back except for the Gallien Krueger MB108. It's 25 watts and has a punchy tone, and the best bass response of all the comparably priced practice combos. Bear in mind that the Markbass has that funky "variable" control rather than bass/mid/treble controls, which would work better with an active bass than a passive.

mb108.PNG
 
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#8
_sky_ said:
I had once the other micromark (?). A 9 inch cube. For the size it delivered a great sound, even with higher volume. Of course I know i cant perform with a drummer and guitar player but that little fellow was great. Sold it for stupid reasons
Click to expand...

I have seen a couple jazz quartets (bass, drum, horn, piano) in San Diego where the bassist, one electric and one upright, used the small MarkBass amp. The bass came through loud and clear in both shows.
 
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#9
alaskaleftybass said:
I've literally bought a dozen small practice amps over the last three years. All of them went back except for the Gallien Krueger MB108. It's 25 watts and has a punchy tone, and the best bass response of all the comparably priced practice combos. Bear in mind that the Markbass has that funky "variable" control rather than bass/mid/treble controls, which would work better with an active bass than a passive.

View attachment 4082634
Click to expand...

Since I use a passive/active bass (Sire V7), the lack of EQ in the amp is not an issue. Thanks for your recommendation.
 
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#10
I don't know the Vox at all, but love the Markbass 801. Love it even more with a preamp -- especially for upright -- because that VPF filter is really not enough for tone shaping. Since cost seems to be important, take a look at the Fender Rumble 40, which is one hell of a good sounding amp for $199.
 
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#12
alaskaleftybass said:
I've literally bought a dozen small practice amps over the last three years. All of them went back except for the Gallien Krueger MB108. It's 25 watts and has a punchy tone, and the best bass response of all the comparably priced practice combos. Bear in mind that the Markbass has that funky "variable" control rather than bass/mid/treble controls, which would work better with an active bass than a passive.

View attachment 4082634
Click to expand...
I second the MB108. A lot of output from that little combo. And cheap.
 
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#13
BluesWalker said:
I have seen a couple jazz quartets (bass, drum, horn, piano) in San Diego where the bassist, one electric and one upright, used the small MarkBass amp. The bass came through loud and clear in both shows.
Click to expand...

I had the 801 Markbass for few years in the early 2010s for a twice a week jazz restaurant gig (capacity about 70 people)in the theater district NYC.It did sound good for upright and electric and kept up to a drummer and guitarist at moderate volume.
 
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#14
IMO the MiniMark (801 and 802) are surprisingly good sounding for their size. The only thing that kept me from choosing one of them for my "little coffee house rig" was the lack of more tone shaping. FWIW, I'm a big fan of the Markbass EQ and voicing filters on their other amps. I also feel like the Markbass quality might be a little higher than Vox.

I went with an Eden EX110 and a GK MB200. If the only bass I had was active with on-board EQ I might have been tempted, but my Warwick Corvette Standard is passive and benefits from a little extra EQ at times. A GK combo probably would have worked just as well, but I like the flexibility of using individual components.
 
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#15
Al Kraft said:
IMO the MiniMark (801 and 802) are surprisingly good sounding for their size. The only thing that kept me from choosing one of them for my "little coffee house rig" was the lack of more tone shaping. FWIW, I'm a big fan of the Markbass EQ and voicing filters on their other amps. I also feel like the Markbass quality might be a little higher than Vox.

I went with an Eden EX110 and a GK MB200. If the only bass I had was active with on-board EQ I might have been tempted, but my Warwick Corvette Standard is passive and benefits from a little extra EQ at times. A GK combo probably would have worked just as well, but I like the flexibility of using individual components.
Click to expand...

I mostly play with a Sire but I have a passive fretless so that MID knob will be missed.
 
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#16
_sky_ said:
I mostly play with a Sire but I have a passive fretless so that MID knob will be missed.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. With my MM Sterling or Warwick Fortress 1 I think I could easily live with the minimal EQ. Being 4 string player also helps a bit with these tiny rigs IME. I'm not sure if 5 and 6 string folks would be as happy.

Now if you don't mind bringing a preamp pedal like a TH, BDDI, PDDI, Xotic Bass RC, etc. you can easily get by with a head having minimal EQ. I actually keep my Xotic RC in my my Warwick Corvette carrying bag and always have a Tech 21 BDDI V2 in my gig bag (just in case).
 
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#17
Al Kraft said:
I know what you mean. With my MM Sterling or Warwick Fortress 1 I think I could easily live with the minimal EQ. Being 4 string player also helps a bit with these tiny rigs IME. I'm not sure if 5 and 6 string folks would be as happy.

Now if you don't mind bringing a preamp pedal like a TH, BDDI, PDDI, Xotic Bass RC, etc. you can easily get by with a head having minimal EQ. I actually keep my Xotic RC in my my Warwick Corvette carrying bag and always have a Tech 21 BDDI V2 in my gig bag (just in case).
Click to expand...

I don't mind using a pedal but the only one I have to handle mids is a joyo american sound.
 
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