The time has come! Markbass MegaThread!

[BurningSkies]

turn the vle and the vpf off (all the way to the left).

I think the VPF killed your tone. It tends to take out the "cut-through" frequencies. The VLE can get a little out of control as well. But I found that using the VLE in conjunction with the High frequency control worked for me. the VPF too out too much punch and tone.

After my initial use of the VLE/VPF, I've actually taken to using them much more selectively in a band setting...Lately I've taken to tweaking the actual EQ a bit more (it only takes a little) to get what I want.

 

[rudedogg]

I think the VPF killed your tone. It tends to take out the "cut-through" frequencies. The VLE can get a little out of control as well. But I found that using the VLE in conjunction with the High frequency control worked for me. the VPF too out too much punch and tone.

This could be true, A live situation is DEFINATELY different than rehearsal ( room dynamics and all). I am very used to playing the Trace amp in this particular club, ive done it many times with two bands in the past few years, so i know the settings on the T.E. eq. like the back of my hand, This was my first go of it with the LMII, and it was the first time ive used the M.B. live. Im not writing it off yet, as im very impressed with the sound i get at rehearsal. BTW, i also only run one cab, or different brand cabs at rehearsal, so its all still new to me. The bandmates are REALLY impressed with the LMII at rehersal, but thought it was a bit flat sounding live, but moved a ton of air( killer low end ). so maybe a bit more tweaking is necessary. I am going to play an outdoor venue saturday afternoon, which i will use the T.E for, cause i know just what to do, and i am lazy, And a smaller indoor venue Saturday evening, at which i will have some time to experiment with the LMIIs sound. I will run both with and without P.A. support for fun, and give a new report. Any suggestions are appreciated, i will try all and report back!

John

 

[joelb79]

IF your moving a ton of air but not getting "heard" then you are taking way too much mids from your tone. My suggestion again ends with less VLE and VPF usage, and boosting the bass and treble to get your ultimate tone.

 

[rudedogg]

IF your moving a ton of air but not getting "heard" then you are taking way too much mids from your tone. My suggestion again ends with less VLE and VPF usage, and boosting the bass and treble to get your ultimate tone.

I will agree with you on the cutting too many mids idea, which sounds great for recording or in house practice. But i am getting plenty of lows and highs, so will eliminate the voicing filters, or at least tweak them accordingly. No need to boost those as i will only get the same results only louder!! I just looked at my LMII which is set to how i used her last night. The low and high mids are at 11:00, or slightly cut and the VLE is at 8:00 and the VPF at 10:00. I think eliminating the VPF may do much as it does cut the mids a bit.

 

[DyerWolf]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

 

[BurningSkies]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

Depends upon the 2x10. I personally don't find any 2x10 giggable. At 8ohms it runs about 350 watts. I've used mine with a single 8 ohm cab in practice with a full band and would have no qualms about using it in a stage setting as such. Of course the cab I'm talking about is a 1212, so it's a single cab solution cab anyway.

 

[rudedogg]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

It all depends on what type of gigging you are doing. I personally think the LMII is a powerful little amp, but more speakers equal more volume. I could personally not get by with the LMII and one 2x10 at any of our gigs. BUT i dont think i could get by with ANY 2x10 and any amp. what kind of music and venues are you playing??
John

 

[DyerWolf]

It all depends on what type of gigging you are doing. I personally think the LMII is a powerful little amp, but more speakers equal more volume. I could personally not get by with the LMII and one 2x10 at any of our gigs. BUT i dont think i could get by with ANY 2x10 and any amp. what kind of music and venues are you playing??
John

Well it's been along time since I've gigged actually, but I'm hoping to start something up again in the fall. Would probably be small clubs/bars in a college town, playing jazz and blues/rock.

 

[bugbass]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

I don`t think the problem here will be the LM, but your 210. I run my LM at 8 ohms(300W), I don`t miss my Eden amp(800W).

 

[Brad Johnson]

Well it's been along time since I've gigged actually, but I'm hoping to start something up again in the fall. Would probably be small clubs/bars in a college town, playing jazz and blues/rock.

Depends on the instrumentation, PA and how much actual volume you'll need.

 

[dave_bass5]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

Ive been using my SA450 this year with various single cabs, all at 8ohms and with no problems being heard apart from when i had a MB 151P for two gigs. The best i have had is my UL115 as its quite full range and does seem to go loud although i have never had the master past 12 o'clcok.
A couple of month ago we had a few larger gigs come in so i got a GK 1001RBII as that puts out 430watts at 8ohms but i didnt find it was any louder than my SA450 for the sound i wanted in to the same cab.
For my other band i use my LMII (i have been using the SA450) in to a 4ohms 1210 and that can drown the band out if pushed.

 

[JayAmel]

I've been GASsing for a Little Mark II for some time, but I just had one concern. I currently only have an 8ohm 2x10, how giggable is the LMK at 8ohms? Are most of you who have been using it been playing at 4ohms? I'm just a little concerned that I need to either buy another 8ohm cab, which would defeat the point of the whole portability thing I'm looking for, or buy a head that can output more to 8 ohms. Thoughts?

I did a few gigs last year with an LMII coupled to an Ashdown MAG210T cab (8 ohm). Those were gigs where I was DIed and went through the PA, and we all had individual stage monitors, so the setup was enough. The LMII does its job perfectly, but runs only 300W at 8 ohm, instead of 500 at 4 ohm. Then it actually depends most essentially on the cab. If your cab has good response, then it should be fine. If your cab is weak, then there will be no possible miracle.

 

[JayAmel]

I think the VPF killed your tone. It tends to take out the "cut-through" frequencies. The VLE can get a little out of control as well. But I found that using the VLE in conjunction with the High frequency control worked for me. the VPF too out too much punch and tone.

The VPF takes out only one frequency : 380 Hz. Cutting it adds "warmth" to the tone. You can simultaneously roll off 380 Hz and boost another frequency, such as I do at 250 Hz (with the EQ of my bass). There's nothing wrong with that : so you can get the growl, the cutting through and the warmth at the same time.

 

[dave_bass5]

Does anyone think the XLR out is quite hot?
I used my SA450 in to our desk at the weekend and found i had to turn the input gain right down on the desk and had the DI level on about 4 and i still almost peaked at the desk.
Last week i used my LMII in to my other bands small PA using the tuner out and that too was very hot.
I have used the SA450 out before and not really found it to be a problem almost full up but this was the first time with our desk. Maybe its just our desk.

 

[dave_bass5]

The VPF takes out only one frequency : 380 Hz. Cutting it adds "warmth" to the tone. You can simultaneously roll off 380 Hz and boost another frequency, such as I do at 250 Hz (with the EQ of my bass). There's nothing wrong with that : so you can get the growl, the cutting through and the warmth at the same time.

One of the good things about the SA450 (and some of the other MB heads) is that they have a better Mid control although i do find i dont need it much.

 

[KJung]

The VPF takes out only one frequency : 380 Hz. Cutting it adds "warmth" to the tone. You can simultaneously roll off 380 Hz and boost another frequency, such as I do at 250 Hz (with the EQ of my bass). There's nothing wrong with that : so you can get the growl, the cutting through and the warmth at the same time.

That's not quite correct. It's a classic 'enhance' type control that cuts mids with a moderate Q centered around 380, but boosts lows and highs at the same time. So, it does a LOT more than just cut 380, and at even moderate levels, it not only cuts a lot of mids, but then simultaneously increased the lows and highs... resulting in the dreaded smiley face EQ.

This control can sound quite nice at a setting under 9 o'clock with certain cabs and basses and in certain rooms, but in general, can do a more bad than good. It should be used with caution!

 

[dave_bass5]

That's not quite correct. It's a classic 'enhance' type control that cuts mids with a moderate Q centered around 380, but boosts lows and highs at the same time. So, it does a LOT more than just cut 380, and at even moderate levels, it not only cuts a lot of mids, but then simultaneously increased the lows and highs... resulting in the dreaded smiley face EQ.

This control can sound quite nice at a setting under 9 o'clock with certain cabs and basses and in certain rooms, but in general, can do a more bad than good. It should be used with caution!

To add to what Ken said it actually boosts at 35hz so goes lower than the low EQ knob

 

[Vic]

That's not quite correct. It's a classic 'enhance' type control that cuts mids with a moderate Q centered around 380, but boosts lows and highs at the same time. So, it does a LOT more than just cut 380, and at even moderate levels, it not only cuts a lot of mids, but then simultaneously increased the lows and highs... resulting in the dreaded smiley face EQ.

+1, except it's MUCH more drastic than a typical graphic EQ smiley... Admittedly, this graph is at "full", which would be madness for anyone, but while the "Q" is really pretty narrow on the cut freq, look at how huge and wide the boosts are. That's gonna' suck the "slice/cut" from any rig.

...It should be used with caution!

... as such, a BIG +1 to this.

 

[wingnut]

turn the vle and the vpf off (all the way to the left).

Ran my MKII with an ashdown 15" w/o pa support this weekend with a loud country/country rock band. Had two electric guitars and drummer and vocals from everyone. This was in a casino with a large open stage. I had the eq's at 12 oclock and the vle/vph set at 8 oclock. The gain and the master were both at 12 oclock. Played a music man sub bass (happy father's day from my little wifey!) 4 string. Had no problem being heard in the audience and on stage. All the other musicians were blown away by how much sound I was getting from this small set up. I agree with joel that the vle/vph can get you in trouble if you over do it. They do sound better to my ear blended together and a little goes a long way. The more I use this little head the more I believe in it!

 

[Smallequestrian]

I am really quite intrigued/impressed by the 102p Combo. It sounds much fuller and has better low end extension than the Little Mark paired with the Traveler 102p. I think this is mainly due to the combo being front ported and a bigger box than the traveler 102p.

My problem with the combo is that the tweeter lacks an attenuator. I may have to wire one up myself. Right now since I am not playing much and I am fighting the choice between getting the combo for $900 (I have a 10% coupon at GC) or having $1300 invested in my EA NL210 and a Little Mark II. I will be moving soon and its matter of allocating my assets properly.