New amp... decisions...

[henryjurstin13]

It started a few week ago, when I kept drooling over images of SVT rigs... and I kept coming across my old 8x10 stacks, and I really wanted that wow factor of nostalgia. But, I'm trying to not go back to HUGE & HEAVY.

I've been playing a Markbass NY121 stack with a Markbass LMT800 (with a VT Bass) for a few years now (mainly a Lakland J bass, but often a Lakland Decade & Hollowbody too). Love it. Zero problems, I'd just like to find something that already has some of the tone inside that I'm leaning on the VT to get. So, even though a SVT-CL would be nice -- I'm trying to find what I want in a smaller/easier/modern package. Cabs available are a pair of Markbass NY121, Markbass NY151, and Ampeg SVT-410HLF.

Comparing the Markbass LMT800, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, and Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2. I'm curious who else has been down this road & what other's experiences have been. I'd love to keep both -- but, y'all can keep all those comments. I can't buy/keep both.

First of all, I still like my LMT800. I know lots don't dig the Markbass, but there's a mid-punch clarity that I really dig a lot. And the VLE knob is my jam!!! I'm not looking to replace it.... I just want something new/different. I don't gig much these days, few times a year with my old jamband (stages big & small).

Aguilar TH500 was a bit of a surprise for me. I had no idea it would get as downright nasty as it can!!! I love the Gain/Drive knobs interactions with each other & the ability to get dirty like a DIMED SVT!!!!! Really dig the simplicity too. I think this is definitely the less is more route. This reminds me a lot of what I wished my Ampeg PF800 sounded like.

Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2 was a longshot in my first opinions, because so many have said it won't do vintage/svt/round/etc... with the added EQ, compression, and headphone jack -- this one is literally chocked full of features. I felt like I was doing a really good job of getting vintage/svt type of tones. It's not nearly as one-dimensional as many have made it out to be. (FYI, I don't know that I'd ever use the B3K side of that drive engine.)

 

[Zbysek]

I dig my Markbass amp (old LM3).

When I start feeling like getting something knew, I get preamps or pedals.

Tone Hammer way my last acquisition.

 

[evs]

Apologies, I know it's not on your list, but the Markbass Little Mark Vintage might get you there.
It is warmer, fatter and has more girth than the other LM heads I have tried.
It sounds ballsy, and to my ears, more in the direction of an ampeg type sound.
Little Mark Vintage – Markbass

 

[SJan3]

If you love your LittleMark Tube 800 and many do, the Aguilar would be the perfect Yang to your Ying.
* FWIW I don't know why you would think lots of people don't love their MarkBass gear. There's a huge following here!

 

[4StringDave]

It started a few week ago, when I kept drooling over images of SVT rigs... and I kept coming across my old 8x10 stacks, and I really wanted that wow factor of nostalgia. But, I'm trying to not go back to HUGE & HEAVY.

I've been playing a Markbass NY121 stack with a Markbass LMT800 (with a VT Bass) for a few years now (mainly a Lakland J bass, but often a Lakland Decade & Hollowbody too). Love it. Zero problems, I'd just like to find something that already has some of the tone inside that I'm leaning on the VT to get. So, even though a SVT-CL would be nice -- I'm trying to find what I want in a smaller/easier/modern package. Cabs available are a pair of Markbass NY121, Markbass NY151, and Ampeg SVT-410HLF.

Comparing the Markbass LMT800, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, and Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2. I'm curious who else has been down this road & what other's experiences have been. I'd love to keep both -- but, y'all can keep all those comments. I can't buy/keep both.

First of all, I still like my LMT800. I know lots don't dig the Markbass, but there's a mid-punch clarity that I really dig a lot. And the VLE knob is my jam!!! I'm not looking to replace it.... I just want something new/different. I don't gig much these days, few times a year with my old jamband (stages big & small).

Aguilar TH500 was a bit of a surprise for me. I had no idea it would get as downright nasty as it can!!! I love the Gain/Drive knobs interactions with each other & the ability to get dirty like a DIMED SVT!!!!! Really dig the simplicity too. I think this is definitely the less is more route. This reminds me a lot of what I wished my Ampeg PF800 sounded like.

Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2 was a longshot in my first opinions, because so many have said it won't do vintage/svt/round/etc... with the added EQ, compression, and headphone jack -- this one is literally chocked full of features. I felt like I was doing a really good job of getting vintage/svt type of tones. It's not nearly as one-dimensional as many have made it out to be. (FYI, I don't know that I'd ever use the B3K side of that drive engine.)

If you love your current rig, why would you change to something else/bigger and heavier just so you don't need to use a pedal?

 

[henryjurstin13]

Apologies, I know it's not on your list, but the Markbass Little Mark Vintage might get you there.
It is warmer, fatter and has more girth than the other LM heads I have tried.
It sounds ballsy, and to my ears, more in the direction of an ampeg type sound.
Little Mark Vintage – Markbass

I'm so glad you posted this, it is VERY interesting!!! I got about 3 minutes with the Randy Jackson signature head last week, and I dug it quite a bit too. I'm not sure I like how the VLE/VPF has been forced into 3 presets, but I'd likely either live in FLAT or OLD all the time anyways.

If you love your LittleMark Tube 800 and many do, the Aguilar would be the perfect Yang to your Ying.
* FWIW I don't know why you would think lots of people don't love their MarkBass gear. There's a huge following here!

You are right, and I've combed through those Markbass club threads several times & again!

If you love your current rig, why would you change to something else/bigger and heavier just so you don't need to use a pedal?

Lil bit of money burning a hole in my pocket, and the endless desire to try new gear... I miss the SVT out of nostalgia, but I really don't think I want to go back to carrying that weight around at all. Just looking for new/different, not getting rid of any current gear.

 

[Lo-E]

Given everything you’ve said, TH500 all day long.

I like Markbass stuff. I think it sounds good and it’s easy to get good sounds without much fiddling about.

I bought my TH-500 because it was available locally for very cheap and I thought it would be a good backup amp but it ended up being the head I use the most and much of the reason for that is it’s ability to get “Ampeggy” when I need it to.

It’s not an SVT. It’s never going to be. It’s very capable of getting a similar flavor, though, and the drive control is not only interactive with the gain control but also with the midrange controls. There are a lot of cool tones in there and I’ve been able to use it with a very wide variety of house backline cabinets and have never had trouble getting great tones.

 

[henryjurstin13]

Having spent several different sessions going between my LMT800, TH500, and MT500v2.... I'm really leaning towards the Tone Hammer 500. I think I wanted to like the Darkglass the best because it has lots of added features & is viewed as more versatile, but the Aguilar just gets it right easier/simpler & quicker (for my hands/ears).

After I'd plugged up my pedals and spent about 20 minutes playing without touching any of my pedals, it occurred to me how much this was ticking my boxes. The Aguilar was just doing everything I wanted with a few simple twists of the knobs. Loud/clean/clear punchy for scooped Jbass slaps, as well as dirty/muddy vintage tones (similar to a roaring SVT). This decision is likely going to lead me down another cruel, dark path of Aguilar cabinets.... but, that's a story for another day.

 

[SJan3]

Having spent several different sessions going between my LMT800, TH500, and MT500v2.... I'm really leaning towards the Tone Hammer 500. I think I wanted to like the Darkglass the best because it has lots of added features & is viewed as more versatile, but the Aguilar just gets it right easier/simpler & quicker (for my hands/ears).

After I'd plugged up my pedals and spent about 20 minutes playing without touching any of my pedals, it occurred to me how much this was ticking my boxes. The Aguilar was just doing everything I wanted with a few simple twists of the knobs. Loud/clean/clear punchy for scooped Jbass slaps, as well as dirty/muddy vintage tones (similar to a roaring SVT). This decision is likely going to lead me down another cruel, dark path of Aguilar cabinets.... but, that's a story for another day.

I never liked my Jazz Bass better than through a Tonehammer amp. What a great combo, IMHO.

 

[musicman556]

Unapologetic fan of the TH500 here. Yea, the simplicity (once you understand the Gain and Drive knobs and how they work together) is just fantastic. You'll never get the squeaky clean and tight sounds you can get from the Darkglass out of the ToneHammer, though. I have a GK Legacy head when I want bright and sharp. When you want thick, heavy blunt force - it's Aggie time. They didn't name it the "tone HAMMER" for nuthin!

I played a TH500 atop a Subway 115/210 stack outdooors this weekend. I just found a recording a friend shared on FB a few minutes ago, and while our performance was sloppy (a budding drummer, new-ish guitar player, shaky singer... all your typical small church last-minute thrown together event shenanigans) I gotta say the bass sounded GREAT! lol! The keyboard player, who was the most talented and experienced of the lot of us, came up to me afterwards and said he was so glad I brought plenty of firepower and that it was easy for him to hear me. He said he just tuned everyone else out and followed me, lol! Poor guy!

You can see my controls levels in the pic... just a little drive and gain, boosted lows and some extra low mids, and some highs, just about yer traditional smiley face EQ. No pedals besides a tuner, passive P bass with a DiMarzio DP127 split rail pickup. With this drive/gain setting I had thick and warm cleans when playing everything from softly to "regular/normal" and got a bit of that sweet gritty breakup when I laid into it with right-hand attack. Perfection.

Sound guy was a friend of a friend who actually did really well with the little he had available. We started to run a line into FOH but didn't have enough power & speaker in the PA to handle the bass. He was also glad I brought more than a little combo amp.

The TH had plenty of grunt to spare. I don't think I'll ever be in a situation where I wish I had the TH700, unless I wanted to add a 3rd 8ohm cab. I believe the TH700 is 2.7 ohm stable, while the 350/500s are just 4 ohm stable. I think even the TH350 could have handled this situation with power to spare, really.