• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

R.I.P Markbass CMD121P...3rd time (good riddance!)

#22
Sparky Mark said:
The only Markbass head that has failed completely on me was the one in my CMD121P combo. Although it was made in Italy in 2012 it had a class D power section. I think there could be something about the vertical orientation of the head in this combo that induces earlier failure.
I'm confident that Markbass has no more failures than other manufacturers. Markbass must be selling thousands of amplifiers each year so the number of failures reported will follow suit. Ampeg is probably selling thousands and there are plenty of problem threads on here too.
Click to expand...
I believe this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlexanderB
#23
SJan3 said:
I spoke to Markbass and service was supposed to get back with me. They never did.
Click to expand...
Markbass CS seems to be hit and miss. Sometimes I've received excellent informative responses to queries and other times "we longer carry parts to service that product".
The last time I contacted them about a particularly rare Momark module they found a NOS one in stock and sold it to me at a heavily discounted price. Overall, i think they do try their best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlexanderB, steelbed45, SJan3 and 1 other person
#28
eriky4003 said:
SJan3,
I've seen a lot of your posts supporting MarkBass. I hope they help a brother out! Good luck.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm a believer in their product and I had no reason not to be. Great sounding and dead reliable...up until recently.
I'm hoping to get some clarity from them.
The amp is 12 yrs old so I'm not terribly upset about the problem but they have not, to this point, provided anything redeeming.
I did send them a nasty email and suggested that they needed to step up with service to the USA. No reply..
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: eriky4003 and AlexanderB
#29
My experience with MarkBass is that I love their tube tone, which made me take the risk of buying a couple of them. I was disappointed with both my purchases and got rid of them. I don't care what anyone says, I know from experience their Italian stuff was ok but their Indonesian stuff was cheap quality. They are notorious for numerous annoying issues.

You will be happier with Gallien Krueger. It doesn't hurt that they are made in the USA. There is much less of a chance of something going wrong with those and they last longer. I would be willing to bet my bottom dollar on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: elgecko, RocknRay, pbass888 and 1 other person
#30
Hey let me join in:)

My head in 121 combo started coming on at low output; a quick on/off switch got it back to normal. If I used it daily it was fine but if it was off for 2 days+ then low output on start up returned. Recently it has regressed to having to wait 20+ minutes for normal output [like CallMeAl's on this thread].

So like OP I just bought another CMD 121P from fellow TB'er. And plan to use Cab from first one and get problem head fixed or just keep original head in Cab and plug it in also at Gig; in 20+ minutes I will have a backup head if needed:)

I am very content with the performance, portability and build quality of MINI-CMD 121P; both purchases were used first a 2013 now a 2015.

I was going to just by a backup head like Elf or saw a new Nano for $329 and try to get head fixed, also thought to get LMV D2 I saw used for $550 that will fit where Combo Head was. but since I sold my NY 121 to a friend thinking at this point I would not need it for Venues I may be gigging; well that changed and second cab will come in handy now.

So my choice's were $500 for Markbass 121, $550 for LMV D2 + $4-500 for another NY 121 or hit my savings for something like a full Mesa Rig [Head and 2 Cab's] at 2K+

Since my gigging will be part-time and I am 66 hence my final choice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: elgecko and CallMeAl
#31
Jason Schulhz said:
My experience with MarkBass is that I love their tube tone, which made me take the risk of buying a couple of them. I was disappointed with both my purchases and got rid of them. I don't care what anyone says, I know from experience their Italian stuff was ok but their Indonesian stuff was cheap quality. They are notorious for numerous annoying issues.

You will be happier with Gallien Krueger. It doesn't hurt that they are made in the USA. There is much less of a chance of something going wrong with those and they last longer. I would be willing to bet my bottom dollar on it.
Click to expand...

I had a GK head that was a total flop. It sounded great (Fusion 800), but died after about 20 hours of use. Had a little bit of hassle getting the warranty work done. By the time I got it back I had another head up and running and it didn't see much use. Pulled it out to play it again and it died after about 5 minutes of playing. I kinda like the Legacy heads, but I'm hesitant to throw away another grand again. I had a 400RB-IV that I donated to a local school and I'm pretty sure that will be running until someone forgets and leaves it outside in the rain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocknRay and SJan3
#32
MultiScaleMale said:
I had a GK head that was a total flop. It sounded great (Fusion 800), but died after about 20 hours of use. Had a little bit of hassle getting the warranty work done.
Click to expand...

There are lemons with everything man made. But that clearly has to be the exception rather than the rule. Although I understand your hesitancy buying another Gallien Krueger, remember we are comparing them with MarkBass.

Count the number of Talkbass member complaints over the years with GK malfunctions and compare it with MB. You will see there is actually no comparison.
 
#33
Jason Schulhz said:
There are lemons with everything man made. But that clearly has to be the exception rather than the rule. Although I understand your hesitancy buying another Gallien Krueger, remember we are comparing them with MarkBass.

Count the number of Talkbass member complaints over the years with GK malfunctions and compare it with MB. You will see there is actually no comparison.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess a Legacy 500 would only be a $649 risk and I have backups.
 
#35
Jason Schulhz said:
There are lemons with everything man made. But that clearly has to be the exception rather than the rule. Although I understand your hesitancy buying another Gallien Krueger, remember we are comparing them with MarkBass.

Count the number of Talkbass member complaints over the years with GK malfunctions and compare it with MB. You will see there is actually no comparison.
Click to expand...
I think you're not in touch with how many Markbass amps have been sold over the last 20 years. I doubt GK is any more reliable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlexanderB and Sparky Mark
#36
Jason Schulhz said:
There are lemons with everything man made. But that clearly has to be the exception rather than the rule. Although I understand your hesitancy buying another Gallien Krueger, remember we are comparing them with MarkBass.

Count the number of Talkbass member complaints over the years with GK malfunctions and compare it with MB. You will see there is actually no comparison.
Click to expand...
How would you know? You've only been a member for a year.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back