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Other MarkBass Heads
- Thread starter jnewmark
- Start date
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
I think I still prefer the F1 over all the others, small footprint, easy to adjust on a dark stage (compared to F500) and sounds like a hammer.
I'm using a TA501 I bought used.
Great head, nice warm fat sound but still open and precise. Quite similar to the LMIII, which is a perfect balance between classic and modern sound for me. Also more than loud enough for any situation I gig in.
I got positive comments on it's sound through it's DI from soundman, and I like that I can adjust the level of the DI in case they ask.
The semiparametric mids are a plus over the little mark series. The lower mid frequency can go to 100hz, and I've used this control several times to get rid of excessive boom.
The build-in tube compressor is great, but I don't use it since I already have a compressor on my pedalboard, which I prefer since this goes to the PA while my amp is basically only my stage monitor. Well, at least it looks cool...
New it was a lot more expensive than the LM, but since I bought it used for a good price in excellent condition I have no regrets.
The LMIII is better value, so if I would have to buy new I would choose that one, but I would miss the semiparametric mids.
If you can find a used TA501, I would certainly recommend it!
Great head, nice warm fat sound but still open and precise. Quite similar to the LMIII, which is a perfect balance between classic and modern sound for me. Also more than loud enough for any situation I gig in.
I got positive comments on it's sound through it's DI from soundman, and I like that I can adjust the level of the DI in case they ask.
The semiparametric mids are a plus over the little mark series. The lower mid frequency can go to 100hz, and I've used this control several times to get rid of excessive boom.
The build-in tube compressor is great, but I don't use it since I already have a compressor on my pedalboard, which I prefer since this goes to the PA while my amp is basically only my stage monitor. Well, at least it looks cool...
New it was a lot more expensive than the LM, but since I bought it used for a good price in excellent condition I have no regrets.
The LMIII is better value, so if I would have to buy new I would choose that one, but I would miss the semiparametric mids.
If you can find a used TA501, I would certainly recommend it!
I'm using a TA501 I bought used.
Great head, nice warm fat sound but still open and precise. Quite similar to the LMIII, which is a perfect balance between classic and modern sound for me. Also more than loud enough for any situation I gig in.
I got positive comments on it's sound through it's DI from soundman, and I like that I can adjust the level of the DI in case they ask.
The semiparametric mids are a plus over the little mark series. The lower mid frequency can go to 100hz, and I've used this control several times to get rid of excessive boom.
The build-in tube compressor is great, but I don't use it since I already have a compressor on my pedalboard, which I prefer since this goes to the PA while my amp is basically only my stage monitor. Well, at least it looks cool...
New it was a lot more expensive than the LM, but since I bought it used for a good price in excellent condition I have no regrets.
The LMIII is better value, so if I would have to buy new I would choose that one, but I would miss the semiparametric mids.
If you can find a used TA501, I would certainly recommend it!
I had that head for awhile and liked the compressor, but, ultimately fell in love with the F1.
The difference between SA and TA is very simple: Solid state Amp versus Tube Amp.
The TA503 used tubes in the pre-amp and was therfore a real hybrid, while the TA501 only uses a tube in it's built-in compressor. This is always in the signal chain, so always has an effect on the tone. That's in theory though, I find the tone very close to the LMIII, but that's a warm tone anyway...
They all have the same power module (500W A/B class) of the LMII, but their pre-amp's and EQ is different. The TA and SA series have semiparametric EQ which the LM-series does not. The SA 450 (and now the SA1200 too) and TA501 have two semiparametric mid controls, while with the TA503 all four bands are semiparametric.
Their DI level was also adjustable and was externally switcheable pre-post EQ at a time when the LMII did not have these features. They also have some footswitcheable options, like mute and EQ bypass.
I feel the TA heads are amazing heads, but the price difference with the LMII was just too big. As they cost almost double of a LMII, I guess only few were sold and most people went for the better value LMII, causing Markbass to discontinue the TA series. I certainly don't blame them, but I'm still glad I stumbled on a used TA501.
I never had a chance to play the F1 or F500. How would you describe the difference in sound with the TA501?
The small size would certainly interest me, but I think I would go for the F500 because of the semiparametric mids.
I would say the F1 had a more solid, chunky kind of tone, right out of the box, while the TA501 had a broader, kind of open low end, IIRC. Were the SD heads supposed to be a compromise between the SA and TA?
I owned an LMII, LM800, and LMT800. I preferred the LMT800 over the LM800, just a tad smoother IMO. LMII still my favorite with LMT800 a close second.
Thanks! That gives me a good idea, in case I ever want to buy an F1 without the chance of trying it out.
I thought SD stands for solid state, class D (while the SA and TA amps were all class A/B). So not really a compromise between SA and TA, but more of a continuation of the SA but with a different power module, dictated by their wattage (500W heads: A/B ; 800 and 1200W heads: class D). There was also the TSA500, which had both tube and solid state preamps. The SA, SD, and TA doesn't really reflect the intention of Markbass tonally, just indicates the nature of their preamp and/or power module.
The LM800 has a class D power section rather than the class A/B of the LMII/III. I've heard that it sounds different (less warm, more like the F1/500) to the LMII/III because of this.
No direct experience, just what i've read
The LM800 has a class D power section rather than the class A/B of the LMII/III. I've heard that it sounds different (less warm, more like the F1/500) to the LMII/III because of this.
No direct experience, just what i've read
To my ears it has more of the warmth of the lmii through the mids rather than the somewhat brighter and more modern sounding F1.
I am sure Ken had a great little video a while back comparing the lmii and f1. With some eq they can be made to sound similar, I think for my tone goals I preferred the warmer lmii slightly over the more clinical f1.
I owned an lmii for some time, demo'd the F1 several times and now have the lm800 as a keeper.... Until gas returns again!
I'll soon be trying an LM800, and will use it primarilly for my Blues band gig. Looking forward to hearing if it really is a louder LMIII, or closer to an F1. Everyone has a different opinion !
I've had my Little Mark Tube 800 for a couple of days now. Awesome. My other rig is 20+ year old SWR SM-400 into Eden 4x10. A friend plays through an awesome sounding discontinued Mark Bass (he also has/had SVT's, SWR, Trace, Ampeg and a vintage B15) and when I called him to ask which amp to buy for a modern sound he said the Tube 800- plus it has a good tube sound. I haven't heard a better modern sounding amp and this one replicates a wide array on vintage quite well. That's my 2 cents.
I'll soon be trying an LM800, and will use it primarilly for my Blues band gig. Looking forward to hearing if it really is a louder LMIII, or closer to an F1. Everyone has a different opinion !
Well, after noodling around around with it, I would have to fall into the camp of " a louder LMIII ". Kind of disappointing to me, as I was hoping for a louder F1 ! Fat and warm, lots of low end would how I would describe it, and , with most MB heads I have played, sounds the best with everything set 12 noon ( except the VPF and VLE knobs, which are off ) and master to taste. If anything, I have a tendency to turn MB bass head knobs to the left, especially the bass knob. So, on to the next gas attack ! BTW, the LM800 is up for sale in the classifieds. Only 1 year old !
Interesting thread, some of these heads have not been talked about in a while. I liked the LMIII for sure but it would run out of steam/compress too soon for me, perhaps the low end bump. A great sounding little amp though. I later picked up a very nice F1 that I have gotten good results with. The compression is tighter if that makes any sense or less bottom squish something like that. I have wanted to try one of the LM800's but they have been fewer and far between. My trusty Shuttle 9.0 through one Berg HT112ER cab is the bomb though.
The compression thing is the whole reason that I sold my lmii, it was especially bad at 8 ohm. I ran a shuttle 9.0 for a long time which was a great amp, but when I a/b'd it with the Lm800 I thought the Lm800 sounded deeper, fatter and a little cleaner. I would also say the Lm800 is a bit louder than the shuttle but that might be a due to different volume pot tapers.
Both are great amps for sure and sound amazing through Bergs.
Still no mute on the Lm800 which is just silly, so am using a polytune as a mute switch.
Well I'm fixing to try out an LM800 as I just swapped John my F1 for his LM800 thanks John!!!!. I have been wanting to try one of these but like I said you never see them. Everyone ran out and purchased the "tube" version instead.
I doubt I could ever be persuaded to part with my Shuttle 9.0 (which I also got from John oddly enough) it does such a good job into a small 8 ohm cab.
I am excited about trying the LM800 with one of my 1x12 8 ohm Bergs.
Yeah, we got a regular swap meet going on !
The F1 is my fave MB head of all of them, and now that my gig situation calls for lower watts, I can shake hands with an old friend again ! Thanks, Greg ! Hope you dig the 800. 
I am back with MarkBass after a few years away from that wonderful company !!! Got myself a used R500.... The little monster clearly is meant for Rock !!! I immediately recognized the neutral MarkBass tone !!! It has the 'grit' that I am after and the lightweight makes it wonderful to carry once again !!!
