It appears the Status is pumping out too much mid and treble already so the Markbass is "balancing" this by me cutting the mids.
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The time has come! Markbass MegaThread!
- Thread starter SundanceChile
- Start date
- Status
Hey you MB heads, please put in your .02.
I'm succumbing to my curiosity about these helium-filled MB heads and I'm gonna try one next week. My question is, given my cabs, do I try the LMK2 or should I splurge for the SD800?
I've got 3 Epi UL cabs to mix/match: a 4 Ohm 210 and 8 Ohm 115 and 112. I figured I'd use the 2 8 Ohm cabs together 95%
of the time. According to the Epi power recommendations, either those 2 or the single 210 should handle either head. Right now I run the 210 and 115 with an Ampeg PB800, and I tend to run the input gain at marginal clip and the master at 2 or 3 0'clock. I realize watts don't equate to loudness and I've heard the MB stuff is loud, but I don't want the LMK2 if I'll have to run it higher than half way. Waddya think?
I'm succumbing to my curiosity about these helium-filled MB heads and I'm gonna try one next week. My question is, given my cabs, do I try the LMK2 or should I splurge for the SD800?
I've got 3 Epi UL cabs to mix/match: a 4 Ohm 210 and 8 Ohm 115 and 112. I figured I'd use the 2 8 Ohm cabs together 95%
of the time. According to the Epi power recommendations, either those 2 or the single 210 should handle either head. Right now I run the 210 and 115 with an Ampeg PB800, and I tend to run the input gain at marginal clip and the master at 2 or 3 0'clock. I realize watts don't equate to loudness and I've heard the MB stuff is loud, but I don't want the LMK2 if I'll have to run it higher than half way. Waddya think?
I've found that its much better to run the LMII at 4 ohms.
As stated in the Bass Player magazine review, when the
head is pushed hard at 8 ohms, the top end can get squashed
and unplesant. At 4 ohms you have much more headroom.
If you feel you're going to need the volume and headroom,
go for the SD800. jmho
+1
...but then he might also have to get new cabs to really "best" take advantage of all that extra "oomph". I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable pushing an SD800 hard through a 112/115 combo, and especially not a single 210.
IMHO, the LMII is a great matchup with 112/115 and 210 combo options.
I'm officially in the Markbass club!
Just sent Dave at ClubBass cash for a LMII.
Its going to replace my Focus SA rig.
Just sent Dave at ClubBass cash for a LMII.
Its going to replace my Focus SA rig.
Ha... I'd been emailing him about grabbing a LMII for the last few days and thought you'd grabbed the one I was looking at (he said he was down to one in stock). Just got an email from him and am sending cash his way as soon as the quote gets here!
Now I just need to pick a cab to go with it...
I just gigged this past weekend with the LMII, SD800, and a Glockenklang Heart-Core. Cabs were my trusty Bergantino HT210/HT115, and for basses, I had my Skjold Custom 5, MTD 435, Sadowsky P/J 5, CIJ Fender Thinline Hollowbody, and an early Tobias Killer-B 4-string. Smallish to medium sized bar, no PA support for the bass, though drums, guitars, and vocals were all in the PA. It turned out to be a pretty loud show, on the whole, though we had initially planned on keeping it a bit quieter (which is why I didn't even run a DI to the board - turns out I didn't need it, anyway).
The LMII did amazingly well, I thought. It had no problem filling the entire room (I was told that it was even slamming way back in the bathrooms, which were at the far end of the bar), and I was really digging its powerful, punchy yet articulate tone. It had a pleasant degree of musical warmth, but it was very articulate from top to bottom. I also enjoyed the hint of bark/growl I could get when really digging in. In fact, I most definitely preferred it to the SD800 (though I could tell that the SD800 had more volume to offer - but again, the LMII was doing the job just fine). The SD800 also sounded very good, but it didn't have the same visceral punch to the gut like the LMII or Glock. I might have been able to dial some improvement in this regard, but I certainly wasn't able to do so quickly. I mean, it was not bad at all, and it performed just fine, but it didn't quite offer the same immediate satisfaction that I got from the other two.
FWIW, that older (now discontinued) Glock Heart-Core really rocked my world.This model is the predecessor to the Bass Art Classic, and while it has a reputation for being perhaps the most 'true' and 'accurate' sounding Glock head, it is 'only' rated for 400w into a 4 ohm load, and I was not sure that it would be loud enough for demanding live gigs. Well, I am never one to put too much emphasis on quoted specs (and for the record, yes, I am interested in specs, measurements, etc., but for me, at least, the evaluation is not complete until I've heard something with my own ears, preferably in a live setting), and this is a case where the observed performance certainly exceeded my expectations, based upon the power rating. I never had either knob up past 10 o'clock (and mostly a good bit lower than that, since I had to keep turning down), and this head just kicked! The Glock seemed to have a lot more headroom to offer, and I certainly had to push the LMII a lot harder to get the same output. Tonally, the Glock just killed, and required very little EQ (just a dash of high end boost) to nail 'my tone.'
That said, considering the added weight (though not as heavy as the much deeper Heart-Rock, the Heart-Core is definitely of the lead sled variety), size, and added cost (I think the going rate for a used Heart-Core is about double the new price of an LMII), the LMII compared remarkably well. It took a tad more EQ, and I had to push it a bit harder, but I was able to get close to the same performance out of the LMII (compared to the Glock). It certainly had me grinnin' just as hard.
It's really hard not to be super excited about that LMII, if you ask me.
Tom.
Tom,
Care to compare this to the Sadowsky SA200 and the Kern IP777 preamp?
Jim
When I initially emailed him he said he had two left. I guess you and I got the last two. I'm sure he'll order more. These things are selling well, but I wonder if its just a TB phenomenom?
It was $752.60cdn shipped to Vancouver. Locally they are $750 plus tax.
With higher priced stuff I find it cheaper to buy out of province because you dont have to pay PST only GST. Even with shipping its cheaper. Especially if the item is lightweight.
I'm getting a schroeder 1212R to go with mine. Should be ready soon!
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Well, that's kinda like asking who's better, Bach or Beethoven?
Seriously, a tough call, and of course it depends on what you are using as a power amp. Do you mean comparing the SA200 to the Kern going into the SA200's power amp in? I have not tried that, though I bet it would sound great. Probably not really any 'better' or 'worse', just a different shade of 'excellent' as compared to the SA200.
Tom.
P.S.
Though I am not sure what this has to do with Markbass.
Yeah thats about what mine was shipped to Van in a couple weeks after I move down there... I jumped on it as I think that was a sale and his regular price was higher.
I'm debating a berg 112 from him, or an epifani 112 from ultimate bass... The wait is killing me though, hope yours lives up to the hype.
I read his question to ask about the SA200 and Kern compared to the SD800, not to each other.Well, that's kinda like asking who's better, Bach or Beethoven?
Seriously, a tough call, and of course it depends on what you are using as a power amp. Do you mean comparing the SA200 to the Kern going into the SA200's power amp in? I have not tried that, though I bet it would sound great. Probably not really any 'better' or 'worse', just a different shade of 'excellent' as compared to the SA200.
Tom.
P.S.
Though I am not sure what this has to do with Markbass.
I owm am LMII and the Berg 112's (HT and EX) This is an outstanding rig! A fellow TB'er tried his LMII with the Epi UL112 and he didn't like it. He also has Berg 112's. Your milage may vary. Just thought I'd put my vote in for the Bergs. They work GREAT with the LMII. Gary
Thanks for the input... I think some of your posts in other threads have been part of the influence, seeing some 5 string users makes me less worried about the low/lowmid difference everyone talks about. I've done hours of reading comparisons on here and thats the way I'm leaning (except just 1 cab for now, it needs to be portable), but you know how it is deciding on something to buy...
Does someone ever try the LMII / Schroeder Mini12+ combination.
I have the opportunity to buy this rig, but I've never tried a MB / Schroeder rig...
I have the opportunity to buy this rig, but I've never tried a MB / Schroeder rig...
- Status
