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Tec Puma Bass amps
- Thread starter KJung
- Start date
vision
It's all about the groove!
- Feb 25, 2005
- 3,988
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- Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
Markbass is an Italian company and all of their products are made in Italy. I can't think of anyone every "thumbing their nose" at any products being made in Italy. This is no different than the Tec Puma amps which this thread is about that are made in Germany. If anything, the Markbass amps should cost MORE in the states because they are being made in Europe and the US dollar is weak, so their "overseas" production has nothing to do with their low US cost.
This is a big difference from a company like Ampeg which is American and had products made in the states and then moved production to China to save on costs. I'm not knocking Ampeg, but you're comparing apples and oranges. It would be like Ford or GM moving all their production to China, and you comparing that to BMW or Ferrari because they are all produced "overseas".
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Genz-Benz has a plant in Asia (I forget exactly where right now) who makes their amps, but all amps are checked over in the USA before they ship out. I do believe that all of the cabs are made in the USA though.
Tom.
- Jun 24, 2006
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- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
Im not one who will put down any nationality. I really don't. But don't say made in the United States when in reality it isn't.
The economy here in the US is a concern to me and one of the reasons is having companies building there product partially or fully outside the US. Now I do not have an issue with a company who starts and finishes there product where they live. It helps there economy. But when an American product is being done overseas I have an issue with that. Companies like Ampeg, MTD, Fender and now Genz Benz, etc etc. Its like OK I can have it done outside the US, cut cost and make even a bigger profit. Everybody needs money but what about our unemployment. We need to give some kind of tax break to keep American products American. But Im getting political and this isn't the time or place. But any American product being made overseas I'm shying away from. But I would consider buying a product from start to finish in there own country. Believe or not it makes sense to me.
So KJung did a gig with the Tec Puma Yet? How did it sound in a live situation?
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
lawsuit ! what do you think its worth,.. I have a real good Jewish lawyer pit bull friend .. hahaha 
it was Eden's fault!
Cheers,
Cameron
Hey guys, my comment on overseas amps was not meant to derail this thread into a political debate, and was in no way knocking any company that makes thier product overseas. I was really just commenting on the fact that the bass community seems to be much more accepting of bass products, like the Puma, that are made all over the world.
Now back to our regulary scheduled program....... How's that Puma amp working out for you Ken?
Now back to our regulary scheduled program....... How's that Puma amp working out for you Ken?
If you guys don't mind me saying so, I don't think this thread is the place for a (potentially heated) discussion of US companies having stuff made abroad, since this thread is about a product from, and made by, a foreign company.
Sounds like a huge and potentially ugly derail risk to me.
IMHO/FWIW
Sounds like a huge and potentially ugly derail risk to me.
IMHO/FWIW
FYI - current German prices:
MB LM2 - EUR 675
MB F1 - EUR 899
Tecamp Puma 500 - EUR 899
Eden WT550 - EUR 1.350
Aguilar AG 500 - EUR 1.370
GB Shuttle 6.0 - EUR 639
It appears, Markbass has a more volume oriented distribution network set up, while the Tecamp stuff is being imported in the US on a small scale. At least over here, prices are the same -
and considerably lower than the WT550 and the AG500...
- Mar 11, 2005
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- Employee - Basscentre Melbourne
I'll have a 4ohm 40 pound 212 on the way when they arrive in the states in about a month
looking forward to seeing and hearing about that one!
Ken- How does the Puma500 compare to the Thunderfunk 550? I have always loved the more aggressive cutting low mids/ tight low end of the Thunderfunk but the highs are not as sweet and open sounding as my old original i-AMP, which I miss alot...
Ken, how does it compare to the TF550B? I am interested in it based on your next gig. I know different rooms will portray a sound that may not be what the amp is all about. So putting it next to the MB is a good idea. Maybe next to the TF 550B would be nice also I know thats asking alot but maybe on a gig somewhere down the road. The amp looks real nice. The way you feel about Markbass would really make me interested in the Tec amp if you feel its your new go to amp.
Guys Im not going to be political again I promise............................... Go Ron Paul.
Sorry.
No seriously, Looking foward of hearing how the amp did on a gig. Looks great and what you have said about it so far looks like something I would buy. I would think you would use your AE410 which I also have so your comments would be appreciated.
I know thats asking alot but maybe on a gig somewhere down the road. The amp looks real nice. The way you feel about Markbass would really make me interested in the Tec amp if you feel its your new go to amp.Guys Im not going to be political again I promise............................... Go Ron Paul.
Sorry.No seriously, Looking foward of hearing how the amp did on a gig. Looks great and what you have said about it so far looks like something I would buy. I would think you would use your AE410 which I also have so your comments would be appreciated.
Hey guys! I did on outside gig (private party...amazing view of downtown Louisville from up in the Indiana Hills. the stage was a small, temp wooden one and we played under a large tent with no 'hard surfaces' around except for the temporary dance floor) Saturday night. Only horns and vocals going through the PA (we just needed to cover the dance floor).
I used the Sadowsky MV5 with singles and 4ohm 410UL. It was a beautiful thing with the Puma500. I did not directly compare to the F1 (didn't really have the time to switch out), but I can tell you that the Puma absolute volume will not quite keep up with the LMII or F1 (I've yet to hear another micro that can). The LMII/F1 just seem to keep getting louder and louder, to the point where I never have even come close to their maximum volume potential on a gig. The Puma seems to naturally compress after certain point.
However, the Puma500 got plenty loud and had a fatter, smoother, creamier sound than the MB heads. It's different from the volume difference with the Genz 6.0, which does not get as loud as the LMII or F1, but also lacks in low end punch and extension (IMO and IME). The Puma is fatter and bigger down low, which I assume eats up a touch of the rated power versus the more mid present MB stuff which seems rolled off just a touch higher in the deep low end. It reminds me a lot of an Epi502 with better balance in the mids when set flat, and better control over the mids if you want to sculpt a bit. It also has a smoother upper mid response, and the capability of a more forceful low mid punch than the F1/LMII.
Regarding the 550b comparison, since I've done so many gigs with the TF550b, I can comment on that without doing a direct on-gig comparison. Just like the MB heads, the Puma500 is louder (ar at least just as loud), has much better low end capability (i.e., deeper, fuller low end extension), and MUCH better upper treble response (the slap tone on the Puma500 is just stunning). Per the comment above, due to the way the low mid control is voiced, the Puma500 can more than match the low mid presence of the TF550b, while at the same time giving you more extended low end and a much more transparent top end.
However, it is a different tone than either the TF550 or MB heads. It's a bit more pure up top and 'round' down low than the MB heads, and almost feels like it has a bit of 'give and compression' built into it. It feels quick and accurate, but doesn't have that brutal 'immediacy' that the MB heads (especially the F1) have. I think this is do to a softer upper mid voicing.
The main thing I dig about the Puma is the 4 band EQ voicing. That low mid at 250 is just perfect for dialing in some very forceful low mid punch (especially on the wide 410UL voicing). The bass control and hi mid control are voiced almost identically to the F1/LMII, although I didn't find the need to cut the upper mids slightly to remove a bit of 'gank' with the Puma like a typically do with the LMII and especially the F1 when slapping. And, the treble control voiced just a touch lower than the MB treble (I believe at 6K versus 10K) is more usable for boosting a bit of sparkle in than the MB (although I don't really find the need to boost anything up top with either lines of heads, since they are both so even and extended up into the high treble area).
Finally, the 'taste' knob really does work similarly to the Thunderfunk 'Timbre' knob, and I find, just like the TF, even slight movement of that knob of center results in either too much low cut, or too much upper mid/treble cut for my taste and preference of a reasonably 'flat' sort of sound platform. It does behave similarly to the Markbass VLE when slightly turning clockwise (reducing upper treble and eventually upper mids).
All in all, it's a keeper, and I again would think that those who love the Epi or Glock amp voicings and are looking for a micro head would LOVE the Puma500!
I used the Sadowsky MV5 with singles and 4ohm 410UL. It was a beautiful thing with the Puma500. I did not directly compare to the F1 (didn't really have the time to switch out), but I can tell you that the Puma absolute volume will not quite keep up with the LMII or F1 (I've yet to hear another micro that can). The LMII/F1 just seem to keep getting louder and louder, to the point where I never have even come close to their maximum volume potential on a gig. The Puma seems to naturally compress after certain point.
However, the Puma500 got plenty loud and had a fatter, smoother, creamier sound than the MB heads. It's different from the volume difference with the Genz 6.0, which does not get as loud as the LMII or F1, but also lacks in low end punch and extension (IMO and IME). The Puma is fatter and bigger down low, which I assume eats up a touch of the rated power versus the more mid present MB stuff which seems rolled off just a touch higher in the deep low end. It reminds me a lot of an Epi502 with better balance in the mids when set flat, and better control over the mids if you want to sculpt a bit. It also has a smoother upper mid response, and the capability of a more forceful low mid punch than the F1/LMII.
Regarding the 550b comparison, since I've done so many gigs with the TF550b, I can comment on that without doing a direct on-gig comparison. Just like the MB heads, the Puma500 is louder (ar at least just as loud), has much better low end capability (i.e., deeper, fuller low end extension), and MUCH better upper treble response (the slap tone on the Puma500 is just stunning). Per the comment above, due to the way the low mid control is voiced, the Puma500 can more than match the low mid presence of the TF550b, while at the same time giving you more extended low end and a much more transparent top end.
However, it is a different tone than either the TF550 or MB heads. It's a bit more pure up top and 'round' down low than the MB heads, and almost feels like it has a bit of 'give and compression' built into it. It feels quick and accurate, but doesn't have that brutal 'immediacy' that the MB heads (especially the F1) have. I think this is do to a softer upper mid voicing.
The main thing I dig about the Puma is the 4 band EQ voicing. That low mid at 250 is just perfect for dialing in some very forceful low mid punch (especially on the wide 410UL voicing). The bass control and hi mid control are voiced almost identically to the F1/LMII, although I didn't find the need to cut the upper mids slightly to remove a bit of 'gank' with the Puma like a typically do with the LMII and especially the F1 when slapping. And, the treble control voiced just a touch lower than the MB treble (I believe at 6K versus 10K) is more usable for boosting a bit of sparkle in than the MB (although I don't really find the need to boost anything up top with either lines of heads, since they are both so even and extended up into the high treble area).
Finally, the 'taste' knob really does work similarly to the Thunderfunk 'Timbre' knob, and I find, just like the TF, even slight movement of that knob of center results in either too much low cut, or too much upper mid/treble cut for my taste and preference of a reasonably 'flat' sort of sound platform. It does behave similarly to the Markbass VLE when slightly turning clockwise (reducing upper treble and eventually upper mids).
All in all, it's a keeper, and I again would think that those who love the Epi or Glock amp voicings and are looking for a micro head would LOVE the Puma500!
So, looks like you really like that little box don't you?
I tried the Black Cat and Tiger amps last weekend and I was blown away by their supertight sounds. I have always been a Glockenklang fan and I'm currently using Hevos. Since I as looking for a replacement for my Hevos I came across the TecAmps and they really are great.
I'm looking at the Performer series now. I can't wait to get my hands on one.
I tried the Black Cat and Tiger amps last weekend and I was blown away by their supertight sounds. I have always been a Glockenklang fan and I'm currently using Hevos. Since I as looking for a replacement for my Hevos I came across the TecAmps and they really are great.
I'm looking at the Performer series now. I can't wait to get my hands on one.
So, looks like you really like that little box don't you?
I tried the Black Cat and Tiger amps last weekend and I was blown away by their supertight sounds. I have always been a Glockenklang fan and I'm currently using Hevos. Since I as looking for a replacement for my Hevos I came across the TecAmps and they really are great.
I'm looking at the Performer series now. I can't wait to get my hands on one.
Yeah, it's a keeper! I think those who dig the Glock would like these a lot. The fat, warm low end reminds me a bit of my old Heartrock, and the pure hi fi treble response also brings the Glock to mind. However, the mids are much more even and voiced much better for 'punch and burp' if you want it.
They probably will. The Tiger was a bit more moder/aggressive, the Black Cat had tighter lows (not that the Tiger wasn't tight ).
I tried a DB750 next to them but for me the tone of the TecAmps worked out much better. They really match nice with my UL310's.
And even the normal rack-mount heads are really light!
).I tried a DB750 next to them but for me the tone of the TecAmps worked out much better. They really match nice with my UL310's.
And even the normal rack-mount heads are really light!
