Other MarkBass Heads

[Turlu]

One question to all MarkBass lovers out there.

Would swapping the 12AX7 tube preamp for another tube that is expensive (75-100$) make a difference in Tone or not?

Let me know your experience if you can!

 

[marxbear]

I run two F500's, one per pickup on my Attitude Bass and they are outstanding.

I originally went with the F500 because of the size and weight but very soon fell in love with the tone. Both housed in the same rack case and still lighter than my old Eden Amp.

The only thing I would have added was a foot switch for the mute function.

These are now no longer produced, but if one died on me I would uncover every rock to find a replacement!!!

 

[Red Planet]

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.

I just got in an LM800. I have played it a little so far. I like how it sounds and reacts into a 4ohm load. I need to spend some time with it. I plan on directly ABing it with the Shuttle 9.0 each into one Berg HT112ER.

I believe the LM800 is one of the better offerings MarkBass has produced though it was overshadowed by the interest in the Tube version. Then they flooded the market with boatloads of product. All the 500 watters with the immense compression in the power section and the brick wall at noon on the master just could not do it for me into a small 8 ohm cab. Worked great into more cone and 4 ohms I must admit.

I will report back after I have a chance to AB the two Amps.

 

[Red Planet]

One question to all MarkBass lovers out there.

Would swapping the 12AX7 tube preamp for another tube that is expensive (75-100$) make a difference in Tone or not?

Let me know your experience if you can!

Which Amp?

 

[Turlu]

I got the R500. Sounds great as is but I am tempted to try other tube preamps too!

Let me know!

 

[Red Planet]

I would thing you could benifit from a nice 12ax7 in it as opposed to the JJ. I would even try a JJ ECC803 as well.

I'n my Shuttle 9.0 I have a Long Plate 1955 Mullard ECC83 in it and it sounds fantastic.

You will not hear a drastic differences in any one tube hybrid amp but it does helps some, to use a good quality tube.

I always suggest using a Long Plate 12ax7/ECC83 in any of the one tube hybrid amps. You get more affect with the larger plates and it is usually not an issue using a long plate in V1 of a one tube setup as far as microphonics. A long plate can be a problem in V1 of an all tube system.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The vintage Mullards I have I got from Charlie Kittleson back in 2005. I purchased 6 NIB at $150.00 each. Good vintage tubes are getting harder to come by and there are way more counterfeits out there than anything else.

 

[Red Planet]

I finally got to spend some time AB'ing the LM800 with the Shuttle 9.0.

The results were quite remarkable in a good way. Let start by saying I had both set flat EQ wise and I had to Gain Match the Inputs with the clip indicator for each amp. The Input on the MB was set at 9:00 and the input on the GB was at Input Gain 11:00 and Input Volume 12:00 on the two, this allowed the clip light to come on occasionally when I really hammered the B string on the Stingray with both amps.

Both amps were hooked to one Bergantino HT112ER 8 ohm cab. I set the master on both amps at 12:00 and the tweeter controls on both Berg cabs was set at 9:00. The Bass control on the Stingray was full up and the Treble was 3/4 up (the way I like it).

Oddly enough both amps sounded surprisingly similar. The GB was maybe slightly more woolly and smoother with a slight difference in the midrange between the two amps. The MB has a little more going on around 900 hz (to my ear) and has just a little more clarity. Most of this is to be expected as the GB has a 1955 Mullard in it.

Power and low end wise both amps sounded to me about the same volume and bottom end. I will have to try them cranked a little more and see if they react the same when pushed.

All in all I'm happy with both amps and either will certainly get the job done on about any gig especially with more speaker cone. I could only imagine what one of these would sound like through two 4x10's though I would never need that much.

FGor kicks I did run the DI from the GB into the MB and added 2 more 1x12 cabs just to see what that was like. Kaboom, mamma was not very happy up stairs.

 

[IanA]

I finally got to spend some time AB'ing the LM800 with the Shuttle 9.0.

The results were quite remarkable in a good way. Let start by saying I had both set flat EQ wise and I had to Gain Match the Inputs with the clip indicator for each amp. The Input on the MB was set at 9:00 and the input on the GB was at Input Gain 11:00 and Input Volume 12:00 on the two, this allowed the clip light to come on occasionally when I really hammered the B string on the Stingray with both amps.

Both amps were hooked to one Bergantino HT112ER 8 ohm cab. I set the master on both amps at 12:00 and the tweeter controls on both Berg cabs was set at 9:00. The Bass control on the Stingray was full up and the Treble was 3/4 up (the way I like it).

Oddly enough both amps sounded surprisingly similar. The GB was maybe slightly more woolly and smoother with a slight difference in the midrange between the two amps. The MB has a little more going on around 900 hz (to my ear) and has just a little more clarity. Most of this is to be expected as the GB has a 1955 Mullard in it.

Power and low end wise both amps sounded to me about the same volume and bottom end. I will have to try them cranked a little more and see if they react the same when pushed.

All in all I'm happy with both amps and either will certainly get the job done on about any gig especially with more speaker cone. I could only imagine what one of these would sound like through two 4x10's though I would never need that much.

FGor kicks I did run the DI from the GB into the MB and added 2 more 1x12 cabs just to see what that was like. Kaboom, mamma was not very happy up stairs.

I think your comparison is very similar to where I was with those two amps, I thought the low end was a little deeper on the lm800, and the the volume taper is less gradual than on the shuttle making the lm800 feel louder earlier on.
You are right about the shuttle sounding woolier, the lm800 is very clean sounding.
When I did my a/b comparison it was through my HD212. The rig was crazy loud!
I gigged the shuttle for a long time and was really happy with it, I just thought the lm800 has the edge for me.
Glad you are liking it.

 

[Turlu]

I would thing you could benifit from a nice 12ax7 in it as opposed to the JJ. I would even try a JJ ECC803 as well.

I'n my Shuttle 9.0 I have a Long Plate 1955 Mullard ECC83 in it and it sounds fantastic.

You will not hear a drastic differences in any one tube hybrid amp but it does helps some, to use a good quality tube.

I always suggest using a Long Plate 12ax7/ECC83 in any of the one tube hybrid amps. You get more affect with the larger plates and it is usually not an issue using a long plate in V1 of a one tube setup as far as microphonics. A long plate can be a problem in V1 of an all tube system.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The vintage Mullards I have I got from Charlie Kittleson back in 2005. I purchased 6 NIB at $150.00 each. Good vintage tubes are getting harder to come by and there are way more counterfeits out there than anything else.

That is awesome info! I will look into it!

Thanks!

 

[Turlu]

I just ordered the long plate ECC803S from tubeDepot !!! I will post my comments soon ! The stock tube is the JJ ECC83 in the R500 at the moment !

 

[Red Planet]

Also I should have mentioned this before.

If you purchase a JJ tube that has a yellow label on it, this means it was not QC'ed through the JJ ISO 9008 Quality system. It was manufactured to the same specs but goes through production without testing. The yellow label tubes are bulk processed (for New Sensor) per their request for "cheap". You get what you pay for and there is no such thing as a free lunch. Also note the yellow label is not to be confused with a Gold label tube that has gold pins.

Look for the red label, if it's not the red label or the gold label you are taking your chances.

Bob at Euro Tubes is the best source for genuine JJ tubes run through the quality system.

 

[Turlu]

Thanks! I ordered the gold pins tubes !! Hoping it will sound good!

 

[Red Planet]

Thanks! I ordered the gold pins tubes !! Hoping it will sound good!

Good luck and let us know if there was any improvement.

 

[Turlu]

I installed the new tube preamp in my R500 and tested it out fully at rehearsal.

I noticed an improvement in overall warmth and low end to my Tone !! The grind is more distinctive than before too. Definitely a great upgrade and at 25$-30$ it was worth it in my opinion! It does not make a huge difference, but it is there, fully !

 

[Red Planet]

I installed the new tube preamp in my R500 and tested it out fully at rehearsal.

I noticed an improvement in overall warmth and low end to my Tone !! The grind is more distinctive than before too. Definitely a great upgrade and at 25$-30$ it was worth it in my opinion! It does not make a huge difference, but it is there, fully !

Cool.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've been running a TTE-500 for over a year now. It's hands down the best hybrid head I've owned - I also own a Genz Benz Streamliner 900, which is great - but the TTE-500 kills it for warmth and old school tone.

The TTE-500 absolutely loves sealed cabs, but it also goes nicely with ported cabs. I use it in classic rock, blues, mixed covers and original hard rock bands, with a variety of cabs - Markbass CL104 (sealed 4x10), Fender Neo610 (ported), Fliptops repro B-15E (sealed 1x15).

As an aside, I've previously owned a LMII and a LM800, and in my experience the Markbass 500w analog power amp module in the likes of the LMII and the TTE-500 is much warmer sounding than the 800w digital power amp module in the 800w Markbass models - which are louder but quite harsh sounding.

Here's a rough Pro Tools track from a recent recording session using the TTE-500 direct from the balanced DI output, with no effects or post-processing at all (sounds best with earphones or headphones). Bass was a passive Cataldo JAEbird (Fenderbird) with a pair of Thunderbucker Ranch '66 pickups ....

https://soundcloud.com/mdeayton/cold-heart-shaker-rough-mix

 

[tombowlus]

I was on the MarkBass site and noticed a bewildering array of bass heads , 18 or so, and was wondering if anyone uses heads like the TSA 500, the LMRocker,the R500, TA501,503, SA450, etc. ? I realize some have been discontinued, but its eems like, at least here on TB, it's all about the LM III, or F500. Anyone use these other MB heads that don't get discussed too much here ? I have tried the SD1200, the LMII, F1, and TA501. The F1 was my fave so far.

My favorite Markbass head is actually the Studio Pre 500, but it didn't get much love and is no longer offered. I don't think that people really understood what it was all about. It sounds and preforms reasonably similarly to the LMII when used as a clean amp, but it also has three different overdrive sections which can be dialed in (one, two, or all three at a time, no less), and it is capable of some really great overdriven tones, which can then be blended with the clean tone. Great head, but little understood...

That being said, I definitely agree that Marco offered up a tone of just slightly different heads. The cost of certifying so many slightly different products would seem to be prohibitive, but I presume that it made sense to him to do so.

 

[Musicman20]

This is probably just boredom kicking in, or good memories of my ex-Little Mark 3, but can anyone comment on what the best current Markbass amp is?

I have fond memories of just plugging in and slightly boosting low mids/adding a little VLE. It was beautifully crisp, clear, warm and full in tone.

The amps I have now are fantastic...no doubt about that...but I do sometimes miss the LM3.

It seems daft to go back again to the LM3, but is there anything else similar/better that they offer.

I dont think Im sold on the Big Bang.

I wish they still made the F500!

Views on the LM800? (Non-tube).

 

[jamesmikelly]

I love my LM800 but I don't have a cab to handle it anymore so I'll probably part ways with it soon. I have to say it's one of the punchiest heads I've ever played through and was very important in converting me into a SS bass guy.

 

[Aussie Mark]

This is probably just boredom kicking in, or good memories of my ex-Little Mark 3, but can anyone comment on what the best current Markbass amp is?

I have fond memories of just plugging in and slightly boosting low mids/adding a little VLE. It was beautifully crisp, clear, warm and full in tone.

The amps I have now are fantastic...no doubt about that...but I do sometimes miss the LM3.

It seems daft to go back again to the LM3, but is there anything else similar/better that they offer.

I dont think Im sold on the Big Bang.

I wish they still made the F500!

Views on the LM800? (Non-tube).

If you like the LM3, buy another LM3, or one of the other 500w Markbass models. I find the 800w digital power module too harsh sounding compared to the analogue 500w models. The 500w models have a lot more character and warmth than the LM800 I owned.

Yes, the LM800 has more headroom than a LM3, but I've never had to crank any of the 500w Markbass heads I've owned - Markbass seems very honest with their power ratings. Into an efficient cab, 500 watts is more than enough for just about any indoor venue.

To answer your first question, the best Markbass amp in the current range IMHO is the TTE-500 (see my post earlier in the thread for more info)