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The time has come! Markbass MegaThread!

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#241
Hi there!

Does anybody has experience of playing through Markbass TA503 and R500? What do you think about them? How do they compare to LM II tonewise(I'm talking about semi-parametric stuff TA503 has)? Is it worth paying more?
I also know that R500 is more rock oriented head and will it be enough to add overdrive pedal (smth. like ESB ValveDrive) to match its sound?

I understand there're a lot of question, but any comments will be very welcomed:)

P.S. Hope I've chosen the right thread.
 
#242
vision said:
I noticed that same thing, when Ken and I were comparing these heads (there was also a Thunderfunk there) that when we plugged into the SD800 even at our low basement volume you could actually hear the additional headroom. I have no idea of how to articulate that sound, but I definitely took notice of that immediately.
Click to expand...

Man, I hear you. The impact of 'headroom' is hard to convey without hearing it firsthand, but I tend to come back to things like 'effortless reproduction of each note', especially the ones you hit a tad harder, and 'increased dynamics' or 'aggressively articulate', stuff like that.

Tom.
 
#243
vision said:
I noticed that same thing, when Ken and I were comparing these heads (there was also a Thunderfunk there) that when we plugged into the SD800 even at our low basement volume you could actually hear the additional headroom. I have no idea of how to articulate that sound, but I definitely took notice of that immediately.
Click to expand...

could you explain the "more headroom" sound a bit more please.
not sure i understand what it is you are hearing at low volume.

Thanks

EDIT: I guess Tom has just explained that already. I took too long typing the question.
 
#244
tombowlus said:
Man, I hear you. The impact of 'headroom' is hard to convey without hearing it firsthand, but I tend to come back to things like 'effortless reproduction of each note', especially the ones you hit a tad harder, and 'increased dynamics' or 'aggressively articulate', stuff like that.
Click to expand...
Same thing here when I back up a head with my Stewart... it's weird... like even if you don't need to be any louder, all that extra headroom just lest the amp breathe and behave more dynamically.
 
#245
dave_bass5 said:
could you explain the "more headroom" sound a bit more please.
not sure i understand what it is you are hearing at low volume.

Thanks
Click to expand...
At "low" volume, I don't think you'd hear much diff, but as soon as you start asking an amp to work a bit... even if it's not maxed out, it starts to lose a little dynamics... at least IME. When you have an amp that's sitting back breathing easy, it just seems to have a bigger and punchier sound... especially on note attacks, which REALLY helps in mixes, with all that reserve readily available.
 
#246
dave_bass5 said:
could you explain the "more headroom" sound a bit more please.
not sure i understand what it is you are hearing at low volume.

Thanks
Click to expand...


That's a tough one, but I know what Jason (Vision) is talking about. Even at low volume, when you really dig into a note (as Tom mentions), there can be a certain slight 'choking' of the note with some heads. Does this have to do with power, the pre gain structure, etc.... I'm not sure, but it seems to be there. It sure is noticable with the SD800 (and also the Glock HR)... that sort of effortless reproduction of the entire frequency range without any sort of 'compromise'. It's hard to describe.

My layman's (non EE) interpretation is that, even playing at moderate volumes, the deep bass can really suck a lot of power from the head. Having that 300-500 more watts (all other things being equal) allows the amp to reproduce those 'under 50hz' sort of frequencies better, and hence given an overall impression of 'bigger tone, more low end, cleaner, more headroom, whatever you want to call it).

That's why I always push back so hard on the posts that dismiss more wattage as only supplying '3db boost' with a doubling of power (even though on the log DB scale, 3db is actually quite a lot of volume). It really isn't a 'volume' thing at all, however. It's more an even reproduction of the low frequencies at high volumes without any sort of low end compression.


All of the above is 'non EE musings' though... but over many years of many different moderate (300-500 watts) and high wattage (750-1200 watt) heads, the general impression seems to hold.
 
#247
Beskyd said:
Hi there!

Does anybody has experience of playing through Markbass TA503 and R500? What do you think about them? How do they compare to LM II tonewise(I'm talking about semi-parametric stuff TA503 has)? Is it worth paying more?
I also know that R500 is more rock oriented head and will it be enough to add overdrive pedal (smth. like ESB ValveDrive) to match its sound?

I understand there're a lot of question, but any comments will be very welcomed:)

P.S. Hope I've chosen the right thread.
Click to expand...

I only played these at NAMM, but I am hoping to spend more time with both the TA503 and the R 500 at some point. I really liked the tone of both of these heads, and it is somewhat different from the LMII, moreso with the R 500, of course. I hesitate to say much more than that, because NAMM is not the best environment for critical listening, but I do feel comfortable saying that the TA503 and R 500 each have their own personality, and might make for a more attractive head for a given player, based upon that player's personal preferences. I do recall that at NAMM, it was the R 500 that impressed me the most (not counting the all-tube Classic 300, of course!), but having spent some time with the LMII and SD800, I'm back to thinking that Markbass just offers a whole mess of killer sounding heads, and exactly which one is best for you is going to be a personal journey for every player. :cool:
 
#248
Vic said:
At "low" volume, I don't think you'd hear much diff, but as soon as you start asking an amp to work a bit... even if it's not maxed out, it starts to lose a little dynamics... at least IME. When you have an amp that's sitting back breathing easy, it just seems to have a bigger and punchier sound... especially on note attacks, which REALLY helps in mixes, with all that reserve readily available.
Click to expand...

Vic
Thanks for the reply. I do understand about headroom when used to describe pushing the amp hard but it was you (i think) and Tom saying about it at lower volume i didnt understand.
when i hhad my MB 151P i did experience my SA450 running out of steam. i was on about 2oclock on the master and it seemed i just couldnt get any more out fo it by turning up.If anything it lost dynamics and got lost in the mix. Now i have a very good 4ohms cab i can see for 99% of my gigs the SA450 will be fine. After all, if i can drown the drums out now then im too loud already. Its just coming from the 700watts GK head i think i might feel a difference. Maybe not but the SD800 would be a very good replacement. Its just a costly gamble for me.

I really have to sort out what i need very soon. I doubt i can wait too long to replace my GK head. I love the sound of my SA450 but i would like more headroom, and power for the slightly bigger gigs.

Thanks for all the help guys, best MB thread i have read.
Now, when do we start talking about GC again ;-)
 
#249
tombowlus said:
but I tend to come back to things like 'effortless reproduction of each note', especially the ones you hit a tad harder, and 'increased dynamics' or 'aggressively articulate', stuff like that.
Click to expand...

KJung said:
That's a tough one, but I know what Jason (Vision) is talking about. Even at low volume, when you really dig into a note (as Tom mentions), there can be a certain slight 'choking' of the note with some heads. Does this have to do with power, the pre gain structure, etc.... I'm not sure, but it seems to be there. It sure is noticable with the SD800 (and also the Glock HR)... that sort of effortless reproduction of the entire frequency range without any sort of 'compromise'. It's hard to describe.

My layman's (non EE) interpretation is that, even playing at moderate volumes, the deep bass can really suck a lot of power from the head. Having that 300-500 more watts (all other things being equal) allows the amp to reproduce those 'under 50hz' sort of frequencies better, and hence given an overall impression of 'bigger tone, more low end, cleaner, more headroom, whatever you want to call it).
Click to expand...

You both described it far better than I!
 
#250
Okay, who's checked out the Markbass cabs? I never paid them too much attention because of the looks, but the yellow/orange thing is starting to grow on me. :hiding: I'm interested in the 104HF (4x10). What speakers are they using in these? What tone profile do they fit? How do they compare with the Epifani UL line?
 
#251
vision said:
Okay, who's checked out the Markbass cabs? I never paid them too much attention because of the looks, but the yellow/orange thing is starting to grow on me. :hiding: I'm interested in the 104HF (4x10). What speakers are they using in these? What tone profile do they fit? How do they compare with the Epifani UL line?
Click to expand...

Ive only owned the 151P and i didnt like it but its totaly different to the 104HF so my opinion isnt really valid on this.
 
#252
vision said:
Okay, who's checked out the Markbass cabs? I never paid them too much attention because of the looks, but the yellow/orange thing is starting to grow on me. :hiding: I'm interested in the 104HF (4x10). What speakers are they using in these? What tone profile do they fit? How do they compare with the Epifani UL line?
Click to expand...

The only Markbass cab I have owned (other than my Ernie Ball Music Man HD210 and HD212's, which I love, BTW) is the Traveler 102P. It was included in one of my 2x10 shootouts, FWIW.

Tom.
 
#255
vision said:
Okay, who's checked out the Markbass cabs? I never paid them too much attention because of the looks, but the yellow/orange thing is starting to grow on me. :hiding: I'm interested in the 104HF (4x10). What speakers are they using in these? What tone profile do they fit? How do they compare with the Epifani UL line?
Click to expand...


They use custom B&C Neo's according to the website, but I've never heard any of the cabs. They seem to get mixed reviews at best here on TB.
 
#257
vision said:
I remember being REALLY impressed with those at the '06 GTG...
Click to expand...

Yup, I remember that like it was yesterday........

[harp music playing.... fade to blurry.... an image forms....]

Picture142.jpg
 
#259
KJung said:
They use custom B&C Neo's according to the website, but I've never heard any of the cabs. They seem to get mixed reviews at best here on TB.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been searching reviews on them this afternoon. That's cool that they are using B&C's. One shortfall that is consistantly mentioned is a lack of high end sizzle in the tweeter/crossover, which is crucial to me. Also the 104HF has dimensions larger than the Epi 410UL which is another turn-off for me. I think the 410UL would be a better option for me if I ever decide to get a larger cab.
 
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