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Tec Puma Bass amps

#81
One more post... I've been going back and forth with the Markbass F1 and the Puma500. I guess at this point, all I'll say is that it's AMAZING how Markbass can do what they do for the price they charge.

The Puma500 is a bit smoother in the mid mids, and a bit wider down below, but the F1 is close, and does put out a bit more absolute volume (probably due to the slightly more attenuated low end of the F1, the the touch of mid scoop that I hear in the Puma.. which tends to require a little more juice to project that tone). It (F1) has just a touch of slight upper mid 'grit' (which I like) that I don't hear in the Puma (which again is very pure and smooth).
I'll see how this Puma behaves on the gig, and try to do a couple sets with the F1 and then the Puma to really check it out.

There's just SO much great stuff out there right now.

K
 
#82
I haven't fallen in love with any of the micros yet, although I do have a Focus for upright and when I am feeling lazy.

I used to really love the Epi UL502 but migrated over to a Glock HR and haven't found any of the light weights to compare favorably.

So far it sounds like the Puma may?
 
#83
KJung said:
+1.. .there's another product similar (I think called an 'earthquake' or something). It's basically a big magnet and voice coil that you bolt onto a pad to stand on when using in ears or whatever. I have a drummer friend who tours with a major act that used in ears and has very soft stage sound. He has one mounted to the bottom of his drum riser, and he says it gives him the feeling of a full stage sound. Pretty cool.

The rumbleseat from EA was a similar idea, designed as a chair that would translate the feeling of playing through an amp when going directly to the board in the studio. Nice ideal.

And yes, this amp is quite impessive... very clean, pure, crisp, deep and even!
Click to expand...

I'm glad their stuff is finally making inroads into the North american Market.

And hey, I've been meaning to apologize for blasting you in another thread recently - I actually respect your opinion very much, read all your posts, and have very much enjoyed all of your reviews and opinions over the years. I'm just getting over quintuple (!) bypass surgery, having had a heart attack live at a gig on August 11th (the band didn't even know - I got through the gig). I've been in a LOT of pain, recovering from the surgery, taking a TON of drugs that I'm sure the doctors couldn't possibly know the all interactions thereof, and have been generally cranky and bored, especially since I couldn't play at all for a month (the bass, unfortunately, sits right on my main incision - YOWWWWW!!!!!), and have quit smoking. And I'm missing a tour with my band right now that would have paid me a lot of dough, and I'm totally broke having not worked since August...

:bawl:

Anyway, started playing again, got some memory foam to lighten the load on my chest, got my students back again, and am slated to make a full recovery. So I'm sorry for my blasting, man; just put it down to general overall crankiness.

Friends again?

:cool:

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#84
peterpalmieri said:
I haven't fallen in love with any of the micros yet, although I do have a Focus for upright and when I am feeling lazy.

I used to really love the Epi UL502 but migrated over to a Glock HR and haven't found any of the light weights to compare favorably.

So far it sounds like the Puma may?
Click to expand...

The Puma would definitely make the Epi/Glock crowd very happy. It also has a much wider frequency response and much more powerful EQ than the Focus... deeper lows, punchier mids (if you dial that in) and WAY more upper treble sparkle and clarity. It's a nice, creamy, big, pure voicing like the Glock HR and Epi502.
 
#85
Bassflute said:
I'm glad their stuff is finally making inroads into the North american Market.

And hey, I've been meaning to apologize for blasting you in another thread recently - I actually respect your opinion very much, read all your posts, and have very much enjoyed all of your reviews and opinions over the years. I'm just getting over quintuple (!) bypass surgery, having had a heart attack live at a gig on August 11th (the band didn't even know - I got through the gig). I've been in a LOT of pain, recovering from the surgery, taking a TON of drugs that I'm sure the doctors couldn't possibly know the all interactions thereof, and have been generally cranky and bored, especially since I couldn't play at all for a month (the bass, unfortunately, sits right on my main incision - YOWWWWW!!!!!). And I'm missing a tour with my band right now that would have paid me a lot of dough, and I'm totally broke having not worked since August...

:bawl:

Anyway, started playing again, got some memory foam to lighten the load on my chest, got my students back again, and am slated to make a full recovery. So I'm sorry for my blasting, man; just put it down to general overall crankiness.

Friends again?

:cool:

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...


Holy cow. I didn't realize you had those health problems. I'm sorry to hear about that, but it seems everything went OK from you post above.

And hey, when you dish it out, you have to take it also. I have ZERO issue having a good, heated debate about anything. All is good!
 
#87
jasper383 said:
At 2X the price of the LMII or the new GK, what are they thinking?

Is it more competitively priced in the EU?
Click to expand...

I would assume so. This is a very popular company in Germany, from what I understand. And, it is high quality stuff, probably mostly made in house in small batches. When you consider that it's about the same price as an EdenWT550, or AG500, etc., the price seems reasonable (it will spank either of those heads IMO). The Markbass pricing is just 'industry changing amazing' to me, given the quality and sound of those heads. So, most amps do not compare well to that price/value proposition.
 
#88
BassFlute. I pray for A speedy and full recovery to you..

Bassflute said:
I'm glad their stuff is finally making inroads into the North american Market.

And hey, I've been meaning to apologize for blasting you in another thread recently - I actually respect your opinion very much, read all your posts, and have very much enjoyed all of your reviews and opinions over the years. I'm just getting over quintuple (!) bypass surgery, having had a heart attack live at a gig on August 11th (the band didn't even know - I got through the gig). I've been in a LOT of pain, recovering from the surgery, taking a TON of drugs that I'm sure the doctors couldn't possibly know the all interactions thereof, and have been generally cranky and bored, especially since I couldn't play at all for a month (the bass, unfortunately, sits right on my main incision - YOWWWWW!!!!!), and have quit smoking. And I'm missing a tour with my band right now that would have paid me a lot of dough, and I'm totally broke having not worked since August...

:bawl:

Anyway, started playing again, got some memory foam to lighten the load on my chest, got my students back again, and am slated to make a full recovery. So I'm sorry for my blasting, man; just put it down to general overall crankiness.

Friends again?

:cool:

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...
 
#91
KJung said:
My guess is, given the 270 watt into 8ohm, 500 watt into 4ohm, they are using that same B&O class D power module like others.
Click to expand...

Nope, it's one of the the Powersoft (Digimod) ones according to a few different online vendors.

Guess what I'll likely be playing with in my next DIY bass head build? :cool:
 
#92
jasper383 said:
At 2X the price of the LMII or the new GK, what are they thinking?

Is it more competitively priced in the EU?
Click to expand...

This just goes to show what a good deal the LMII is. A couple years ago, if you wanted a quality high-end bass amp that put out around 500-600 watts, you were gonna pay $1200 -1300 at a bare minumum. Markbass has changed the game and has completely redefined the meaning of "high-end". If when the LMII came out they charged $1200 for it I still would have thought it was a great deal. (Before the LMII, the Thunderfunk 550 was the "buzzworthy" amp here on Talkbass, and it was a good deal compared to the cost for a new SWR SM500 or other 500 watt amps.) The LMII is priced lower than what some of the high end companies' "budget line" amps were with comparable wattage. (Like the old SWR Workingman's 400 or the old Nemisis stuff.) So it isn't really fair to compare the price of a new boutique line amp with price of the LMII.
 
#93
Passinwind said:
Nope, it's one of the the Powersoft (Digimod) ones according to a few different online vendors.

Guess what I'll likely be playing with in my next DIY bass head build? :cool:
Click to expand...

:D You always have the real scoop. Cool! It sure does put out some wump in the low end. Nice!

I guess Genz and I think GK use the B&O models, is that correct? Do you know what MB uses? Just curious.
 
#94
KJung said:
:D You always have the reall scoop. Cool! It sure does put out some wump in the low end. Nice!

I guess Genz and I think GK use the B&O models, is that correct? Do you know what MB uses? Just curious.
Click to expand...

I haven't heard or seen what G-K or MB use, but it seems like both might be big enough buyers to have OEM stuff built up for them using the B&O design as a starting point. My impression is that Genz does that as well? There are at least a few different flavors of B&O IcePower modules too BTW, they're not all the same.

Anyhow, the Powersoft modules have some spiffy optional DSP capabilities, but last I heard the implementation was a real PITA to work with, so I'm still kind of looking and hoping for something more DIY-friendly.

It's always tempting to say "those guys just use XXX module/driver/etc., why so much dough?" IME there's a ton more to it than just whipping some premade pieces into a box though, eh? And so yet another TB miniamp saga begins...:bassist:
 
#95
Passinwind said:
I haven't heard or seen what G-K or MB use, but it seems like both might be big enough buyers to have OEM stuff built up for them using the B&O design as a starting point. My impression is that Genz does that as well? There are at least a few different flavors of B&O IcePower modules too BTW, they're not all the same.

Anyhow, the Powersoft modules have some spiffy optional DSP capabilities, but last I heard the implementation was a real PITA to work with, so I'm still kind of looking and hoping for something more DIY-friendly.

It's always tempting to say "those guys just use XXX module/driver/etc., why so much dough?" IME there's a to it more to it than just whipping some premade pieces into a box though, eh? And so yet another TB miniamp saga begins...:bassist:
Click to expand...


The inside of the boxes is way over my head, but I agree with you that these all sound different enough that there is a lot of design work, and I also assume different levels of quality, from one execution to the other. Also, certain micro executions seem to lack real low end oomph, while others like this unit really seem to have the headroom to thunder.

The Puma really is an impressive box, and as Vision points out, would have been considered a deal prior to the Markbass line being launched.
 

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