PICK ONE NEW HEAD MESA OR MARK BASS ?

[Deleted member 165050]

I own a MarkBass, but I'd choose the Mesa.

 

[Rice]

If your paying $750 for the used Mesa, might as well shell out the extra $50 and get a Mesa 800. After going through an exhaustive process of trying almost a dozen heads, Mesa 800+ won. And fwiw, I plugged in a Mark for a 3 minutes and put it right back in the box.

 

[redwingxix]

If your paying $750 for the used Mesa, might as well shell out the extra $50 and get a Mesa 800. After going through an exhaustive process of trying almost a dozen heads, Mesa 800+ won. And fwiw, I plugged in a Mark for a 3 minutes and put it right back in the box.

Because it's not in stock locally. Plus, I can always return or sell the mesa toward the 800 if I want to later.

 

[redwingxix]

Thanks for all the opinions, everyone. I'd say my mind is pretty made up if I do need to grab another head tomorrow.

 

[five7]

M6 or better yet 800+

 

[Rice]

Because it's not in stock locally. Plus, I can always return or sell the mesa toward the 800 if I want to later.

There ya go! That's the other thing about Mesa... It'll more or less hold their value. Bonus: they have 5 year transferable warranty, so ya...

 

[4stringmf]

Mesa. If you haven't done so, try the Carbine against the MP 600 and BB 750...

If you do decide Mark Bass..... be sure you don't have any cats!

 

[redwingxix]

Also, my understanding is that the carbine has a tube preamp and the Mesa 800 does not, correct?

 

[mexicant]

Actually, Mesa customer service is outstanding. I sent my Walkabout to them a while back just for a cleaning and factory update. Good communication. Quick turnaround. Reasonable price. The whole experience was a breeze.

I would go for the Mesa all day long and twice on Sundays.

Right,I got burned by markbass. Now I'm a mesa convert!

 

[aproud1]

I do like both and could happily gig either. The Mesa pretty easily decimates the LMT800 in terms of overall tone, volume and authority. IMO of course.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

If given the choice...Mesa is a better designed product.

Mask Bass? I don't get this sticker, at least in regards to amps. Markbass amps are pretty darned neutral, definitely more than Mesa in my experience. Their cabinets may be a different story but it's not like any mainstream cabinet is giving you a neutral voicing.

I am a long time Markbass user, I have been very satisfied with their quality. I have dropped (and significantly dented) my SD800 and it has never even hiccuped. That being said, their customer service does suck something fierce so it is unlikely I buy another one. Mesa support, on the other hand, gets solid reviews.

 

[primusfan1989]

Even though I won't buy anything without trying it out first, Id take a Mesa over a Markbass any day of the week

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Practicing last night and my Rumble 500 head starting making some crackling noises intermittently (it actually was doing this at last rehearsal but I wrote it off as a bad cable) so I swapped cables and basses and it continued until at one point all the output dropped out for about ten seconds, then came back. I use different cables and cab at rehearsal so the only common component is the head. Naturally gig is tomorrow night and with work and hockey games I won't have time to really do any further troubleshooting or serious amp shopping before setup tomorrow. However, the venue is down the street from a GC so I would have time to run down there and pick up a new head if my rumble is acting up and they have two heads in stock that are priced within $50 of each other that I'd consider, but haven't played either one. So the question is:

Mesa M6 carbine (used) or Mark Bass Little Mark Tube 800 ?


Thanks for your input.


The extra info:

Primary use is for classic rock and soul covers and originals band

Will be paired with fender 410 neo cab for gigs (until I divest myself of that)

Primary basses used are Fender Precision elite and G&L SB2

Markbass head is $699 new, M6 is $650 used, but add $100 for the GC pro coverage

Just sold my Rumble 500 combo the other day so the price differences are irrelevant, and now of course have no backup amp.

Yes I can go DI into the board, but the drummer and I like having my own cab on the backline, so this is an option if absolutely necessary.

I am concerned about having to mail the markbass somewhere for service as opposed to just taking the mesa back to GC if there are any issues.

I know that I will hear get the one that sounds better responses, but I'm seriously only going to be able to run in, grab one or the other and get back to the gig to finish set up.

No brainer... Mesa.

 

[jeff7bass]

"M6 is $650 used, but add $100 for the GC pro coverage". That's 3 years, right? Do that.

 

[redwingxix]

Well, $129 for three years $100 for two, but yeah I'd probably get the three year

 

[rmayer]

Definitely Mesa. For the extra $50 I’d consider a new D800. More power, 400/800 watts and a 5 year warranty. If your cabinets can take the extra power this would be the way to go. And Sweetwater has it in stock.

 

[onosson]

In the minority apparently, but I'll add a positive vote for the LittleMark Tube 800. It's my current gigging amp, and has been for probably somewhere around 6-7 years now. It has been extremely reliable over that time, and for me the tonal options couldn't be much improved upon (which is not to say it's better than any other amp out there).

 

[2cooltoolz]

Sounds like you've made up your mind, but another +1 for the Mesa. I've been playing through my M6 Carbine for a couple years and love it! I also have a Mesa D800 (not +) I bought for the lighter weight, and while it is a great amp, it has not moved the M6 out of #1. I don't have the vocabulary to explain why, but the M6 just has my sound (and "feel" at volume). And, yeah, they were around $1300 new, so I think $650 is a great price.

 

[fauxtoe]

A used Mesa D800 can be picked up between $500-600. I grabbed mine for $530 back in May.

I have a Markbass F1 that is currently a paperweight and I’m afraid of what the repair cost would be if I ever decide to revive it. It worked one day, had no output the next. No warning.

Go with Mesa and get fantastic customer service!

 

[munkeyfish]

Well, $129 for three years $100 for two, but yeah I'd probably get the three year

I sprung for the 3yr on my GK MB115II combo. Glad I did, It just went into Red Ring for some reason.