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Noticed something with the Markbass amps
- Thread starter BullHorn
- Start date
I wasn't the only one hearing this.
I paid so much, I'm not going to say these things for no reason. Other people noticed it too, both at the shop and at the gig.
I've been using mine with a variety of fives and sixes and a variety of cabs for a couple of years. Haven't had this problem so far. Then again, I don't recall any rig where I've had this problem.
If you do call Markbass make sure you have your serial number handy. You never know what they will say. Oh yeah, there's serial numbers 123456 - 23456 that have a coupling cap that is out of tolerence... Also don't be afraid to send it back to them with a COMPLETE description of the problem for them to test the thing out completely. Sometimes one might be slightly out of spec, and only human ears can hear the problem. Either that or you're finally going deaf and next week your world will be silent, SORRY. Funny it just seems so natural to give you crap about this one. 
BOB
BOB
It could be low frequency hearing loss. Getting your ears checked was a good suggestion. Always wear earplugs!!
I have been working on getting the perfect tone out of my favorite bass, an ebony fretboard 5-string F-bass, and my favorite amp, the Little Mark II. Love the tones the Little Mark II produces, but string articulation at the low end is not as clear as my Genz Benz GBE 750 and certainly not as clear as my Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ with same bass and cab. Took it to the music store to A/B with an EBS HD 350, which also had clearer articulation at the low end. I was only noticing it on B string. The Little Mark II produces a powerful low end sound, but the note is not as clear. When A/Bing vs the Genz and Mesa 400+, I ran everything through Aguilar GS 112s, and when A/Bing vs the EBS HD 350, it was through the EBS 4x10. There is something very musical about the Little Mark II, it is my all-around favorite, and I don't like it when my musician friends say they prefer one of my other amps to the Little Mark II for a certain tone - I am looking for an excuse to get rid of most everything else. However, I'll remind some or our friends who have been rude on this posting that it's ok to love this underpriced lightweight gem, and still admit it is not the best amp for every situation. I agree that you should try turning down the VLE and especially the VPF. I get best low end articulation with just a little tiny bit of VPF, VLE around 9 o'clock or 10 o'clock, a very small boost of low-mid and then remove a bit of mid-highs and highs to darken tone to taste.
So people actually use the two filters at the same time?
One is a mid scoop of sorts, and one rolls off the highs - why would you need both on at once?
The LMII does have an EQ section.
One is a mid scoop of sorts, and one rolls off the highs - why would you need both on at once?
The LMII does have an EQ section.
I think it's silly too, but different strokes.
Anyway, to answer the OP's post, maybe you are one of those rare people who just don't like Markbass amps. I would suggest not using them.
VLE and VPF are just another way to shape the tone. I understand VPF boosts bass around 35k (as well as boosting treble and cutting mids). That's interesting because the low EQ knob is centered a bit higher, at 40k. I find the VLE takes off highs in a very musical way, and maybe a bit different than I can get with the mid-high and high knobs. Some guys prefer the simplicity of the VLE and VPF and keep others at 12 o'clock. I say try it all. If I wanted to memorize how to get my favorite tones on different songs, I would appreciate the simplicity of using the VLE and VPF and keeping others at 12 o'clock.
could it be that your low E string is worn or something that makes the harmonics slightly out of tune with the fundamental or similar?
Because you might want to roll off some highs and mids. The EQ section does not do the same thing as the filters.
Nothing silly about that.
If you say so, Brad. Cutting treble with the VLE only to add it back again and scoop the mids with the VPF seems like the long way around to me, though.Because you might want to roll off some highs and mids. The EQ section does not do the same thing as the filters.
Nothing silly about that.
!
I'm not alone. I sent markbass a ticket through their site and will wait for a reply from them. I'll try to get an appointment at the military ear doctor.
Jimmy, what are you saying here? At low levels, those filters work beautifully together for certain tones. You don't seem to understand what these filters do.Back to the topic:
Again, I'm sure the OP hears what he is hearing. However, when those above say that the Genz, the Mesa400+ (god help me) and the Eden heads are 'clearer' in the low end, that makes absolutely no sense to me. If some, on the other hand, said some of these heads had a bigger, deeper low end, or a more pronounced low mid push, etc., that would make perfect sense to me. That's the disconnect I'm getting here. Might some like the general tonality of those heads better? Of course.
Something is strange here with this issue. We've all done SO many A/Bing of all these heads, in various rooms and at various volumes, in solo and gigging situations, and I don't remember anyone hearing any of this.
That being said, wattage does matter, and if you are really pushing any head beyond its capabilities (especially at 8ohms), then the low end will blur and compress a little bit. So, this might just be a volume type thing.
I think quite a few of us are pushing back the OP since it is so different from our experiences. I find the LMII to be one of the best heads around for 'hearing the windings on the E and B string'. I agree it's not the biggest low end in the business (I believe the deep low end is rolled off internally), but to my ear, it's about the clearest low end in the business, if again, by clear, you mean the full range of frequencies (lows and highs) coming through your rig. That's one of the first tests I do with a head I'm considering... making sure I can hear a significant TREBLE component on my B string, not just a big, deep, powerful thud.
Anyway, lot's of heads out there. If one doesn't work for you, another will.
OK, weird way you think about that Jimmy.
How about this, you want that touch of bass bump and mid scoop but the acompanying high end is just too much sizzle for you, you can do that with VPF up to 9 Oclock and VLE to taste to just ease off the sizzle. Again I've found with very new strings and a very pokey tweeter (in an Eden cab for instance) you can take the VLE up as high as 10 or 11 oclock to tame the sizzle if you want too, and it really doesnt affect the mids/low end as much as the eq in the main eq section (totaly different filter characteristic and design).
The VLE is not a normal shelving eq in most amps and is definitely different from the ones in the eq section. So the result is different.
I own a Markbass amp and well this is ********. I play a 5 string Fender jazz a 4 string 65 jazz and a squire 80 model converted to a fretless and well man the tone is sublime.
Never had a hiccup.
Never had a hiccup.
Are you using a taper wound string? Could be causing some harmonic wabbling in the mids that the clarity of the MB gear is allowing to shine a bit better than some other heads would. If the taper gets anywhere near a pickup, this will start to happen. Ideally, you want the taper to be right at the bridge saddle.
Similarly, a poorly constructed or defective string can cause issues like this, even if it looks and plays fine.
No issues with any MB heads and low-end and note distinction in my experience. It's actually the opposite, which is why I think your just hearing something that the more blurry heads you've used in the past didn't allow for. Nothing wrong with blurry at all by the way. I love those classic sounds.
Try rolling your VLE way up, say around noon, and see if the problem disappears. At least then you'll know if it's a mid-range issue.
Similarly, a poorly constructed or defective string can cause issues like this, even if it looks and plays fine.
No issues with any MB heads and low-end and note distinction in my experience. It's actually the opposite, which is why I think your just hearing something that the more blurry heads you've used in the past didn't allow for. Nothing wrong with blurry at all by the way. I love those classic sounds.
Try rolling your VLE way up, say around noon, and see if the problem disappears. At least then you'll know if it's a mid-range issue.
Yuck. Honky nasalness that no amount of screwing with the mids can remove. The reason I didn't like Markbass at first was for exactly that reason. I'll take my VPF somewhere around 10:00, TYVM. VLE, yeah, I normally leave that at zero since its function is to roll off the highs.
As others have said, you are hearing something you don't like. You tried different basses, different cabs, different heads and checked with others who heard the same thing you did. Your process of elimination isolated it to the brand of amp being the thing that was providing the less than satisfying tone.
Leaving aside the exact technical description of what it is you don't like - it's there, you've verified that it's not just you hearing it and you've isolated that it's the amp contribution to the setup that you're not digging. If I were you that would mean time to change out the amp to something that makes noises you like better.
I've been trying to reduce the weight of my rig for a while on a budget (i.e. no AI, WW, etc.) and have tried the "big 2" (LMII & Shuttle 6.0 - I never liked the GKs I tried so I didn't try that little one). For me I liked the LMII better than the Shuttle but neither made me happy tonally although the weight/power/cost tradeoffs were ideal. So I'm playing other stuff. Maybe you should be too.
Don't let the haters get you down - too many folks invest too much of themselves in their gear choices and take it as a personal insult if you don't like what they like (seems more prevalent with the more popular and/or highly hyped flavor of the month). Listen to all the opinions (although I admit I give more weight to the reasoned ones that say something like "Hmmm, it doesn't do that for me - have you tried x, y or z? If those don't work then different strokes for different folks, try brand A"), try the things suggested and if you can't get a sound that helps make you want to play then move on to something that does. Trust your ears and your gut - not unverified input from the interwebs.
Leaving aside the exact technical description of what it is you don't like - it's there, you've verified that it's not just you hearing it and you've isolated that it's the amp contribution to the setup that you're not digging. If I were you that would mean time to change out the amp to something that makes noises you like better.
I've been trying to reduce the weight of my rig for a while on a budget (i.e. no AI, WW, etc.) and have tried the "big 2" (LMII & Shuttle 6.0 - I never liked the GKs I tried so I didn't try that little one). For me I liked the LMII better than the Shuttle but neither made me happy tonally although the weight/power/cost tradeoffs were ideal. So I'm playing other stuff. Maybe you should be too.
Don't let the haters get you down - too many folks invest too much of themselves in their gear choices and take it as a personal insult if you don't like what they like (seems more prevalent with the more popular and/or highly hyped flavor of the month). Listen to all the opinions (although I admit I give more weight to the reasoned ones that say something like "Hmmm, it doesn't do that for me - have you tried x, y or z? If those don't work then different strokes for different folks, try brand A"), try the things suggested and if you can't get a sound that helps make you want to play then move on to something that does. Trust your ears and your gut - not unverified input from the interwebs.
