The time has come! Markbass MegaThread!

[tombowlus]

I'm probably the only one here that didn't know about it but I just got the E-Newsletter from Markbass..........Have you guys seen the Classic 300 Tube Amp?? I'll bet that's awesome!!!

Yes, I tried this at NAMM, and I liked it a lot.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Yes, I tried this at NAMM, and I liked it a lot.

I can't imagine it not sounding great. They really seem to know what they're doing.

I don't need one. I certainly couldn't justify one......... but that never stopped me before

 

[SundanceChile]

I can't imagine it not sounding great. They really seem to know what they're doing.

I don't need one. I certainly couldn't justify one......... but that never stopped me before

I'm going to have to have my girlfriend stop me this time...

All I can think of when I see that tube head is their response to Orange.

 

[Brad Johnson]

+1... it's up on the site now. Fancy with all that automatic tube biasing, checking, etc. It looks a lot better than the earlier prototypes that were floating around. Nice!!!!

I'm also totally digging the way they are putting different front ends on their power sections... clean tube sound, rock tube sound, ultra clean class D sound, warm SS sound, etc. Very clever, and I assume a great way to keep production simple and costs down, but using many similar components across units.

I'm usually Mr. Skeptic, but these guys are blowing me away. Now, they need to get the cabs up to snuff (at least from the reviews I've been reading).

It was fun watching you go from skeptic (justifiably so) to convert

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I'm still deciding over getting a LMII or an F1. The difference between carrying them isn't that much- F1 would go in a gig bag pocket, LMII in a small shoulder bag that I'd probably hang on the gig bag, but the idea of a 1-space head keeps piquing my interest

 

[Jeff Moote]

I'm still deciding over getting a LMII or an F1. The difference between carrying them isn't that much- F1 would go in a gig bag pocket, LMII in a small shoulder bag that I'd probably hang on the gig bag, but the idea of a 1-space head keeps piquing my interest

It's a tough call made even tougher if you have the money for either.

Consider the tonal differences: the LMII has a warmth that you don't find with other heads in this size/weight category since it's Class A/B not Class D. You may prefer that, or with your already warm and tight BMS you might prefer the open Class D tone of the F1.

I think the logistics of carrying it should be secondary to that, really. I'll keep my LMII for the tone, even though the size of the F1 is attractive.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

It was fun watching you go from skeptic (justifiably so) to convert

Convert?? That's putting mildly, I hear he's getting a Markbass tattoo

 

[theophilus762]

sweet punchy and articulate.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

The apparent extra warmth of the LMII would suit me better, although A. I don't know how apparent it is, B. probably won't sound much different in a mix, an C. my playing can kill the characteristics of any amp and make it sound bad

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I'm going to have to have my girlfriend stop me this time...

All I can think of when I see that tube head is their response to Orange.

I agree. I don't play gigs and our music room is pretty small. My son is taking up more and more space with his guitar stuff. Having an amp like that would really be MAJOR overkill for me.........but I LOVE the glow of tubes

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Hey KJung, you'd be a good one to ask about it. Based on your comparison between the LMII and the SD800 as a substitute F1, what are your thoughts on what would work best with the Berg mini stack? If the lows on the LMII are really extended, I thought they might work best with the BMS as the lows on it are not as pronounced as some other cabs. Whaddya think?

 

[Vic]

So I keep hearing "warmth" on the LMII... that usually means a bit dull on the high end. So, is that true? Is the LMII missing some of the crystalline stuff up there?

 

[GRoberts]

So I keep hearing "warmth" on the LMII... that usually means a bit dull on the high end. So, is that true? Is the LMII missing some of the crystalline stuff up there?

The LMII is not missing any of "cystalline stuff" at all. The high end is not dull at all. Nor is it brittle or harsh when boosted.

I can dial in crystal clear sweet highs using more of the LMII EQ. Or, I can get that sweet, crystal clarity by dialing in just a little more of the VPF knob. I'e been setting the VPF to from 11 to 12 o'clock. That gets it done. At a recent gig where when we were playing a lot louder (Outdoors), I just dialed the VPF knob up a bit to 1 O'clock and the sound got brighter on the top end with a touch more low end. The VPF boosts the lows and highs. Nothing is missing in this sound. The VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker effect) knob gives a bit of toned down vintage grind. Sort of like a treble roll off, but it adds a bit of a wooly, chewy midrange that cuts really well in the band mix. The warmth that I hear is a simple fatness that gives the tone some meat without ever sounding brittle or solid state. The LMII is quite versatile. I can get pretty much any sound I want. Hope that helps. Gary

 

[Jeff Moote]

So I keep hearing "warmth" on the LMII... that usually means a bit dull on the high end. So, is that true? Is the LMII missing some of the crystalline stuff up there?

No - at least that's not what I think of when I'm saying "warm". The high end is not subdued at all. When I say warm I mean the response is more natural (full, to my ears) - if I can use an analogy from pickups: take some very even and responsive passive pickups versus active EMGs; both will have a good response top to bottom, but I'd call the passive pickups warm and the EMGs "cold" (relatively).

I associate it more with harmonic content (distortion, really) than with a particular frequency response.

 

[B String]

Hey KJung, you'd be a good one to ask about it. Based on your comparison between the LMII and the SD800 as a substitute F1, what are your thoughts on what would work best with the Berg mini stack? If the lows on the LMII are really extended, I thought they might work best with the BMS as the lows on it are not as pronounced as some other cabs. Whaddya think?

You are correct sir! The LMII is a good match with the Berg
HT112 for the very reason you mention. It helps bring out
as much low end as the box will allow. The SD800 is eq'd
higher in the low end. (60hz -sd800, 40hz-LMII)

 

[Jeff Moote]

You are correct sir! The LMII is a good match with the Berg
HT112 for the very reason you mention. It helps bring out
as much low end as the box will allow. The SD800 is eq'd
higher in the low end. (60hz -sd800, 40hz-LMII)

That EQ difference won't matter much though, because both are more or less shelving controls if you look at the curves. The SD800 will actually sound bigger when boosting bass, due to that.

 

[Vic]

Re: "warmth" vs clarity up high... thanks guys... or not, of course.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I'm far from an expert at describing or discussing tone or comparing amps for that matter. My experience with playing differnt amps is limited. I have my LMII set flat and can dial in all the crystal clear highs I want, especially with my active basses. With my passive basses I can get all I want with the VPF. Today I played my Fender Jazz clone. I really liked the sound and feel of my DR Fat Beams on my Jazz bass before, through the LMII, the really sound fantasic. Plenty of what I would call that complex zingy tone that Marcus Miller has. I could NEVER get that sound from my old amp. Can a good amp improve your playing??...........probably not but I've been practicing a lot more. Can a good amp make a half assed player sound better???..........YUP!!!

 

[B String]

That EQ difference won't matter much though, because both are more or less shelving controls if you look at the curves. The SD800 will actually sound bigger when boosting bass, due to that.

I thought I read that there is a difference in tone from
the SA450 (and sa800) to the LMII. That difference is in
the bass. A little less low spread, a bit more low punch.
When I looked at the graphs, it seemed the low point in
the eq curve, (between the lows and low mid) was at about
60-80hz, on the LMII. I like those notes. Those are some
of my favorite notes. MONEY NOTES!
Seriously, these are just specs. The proof is in what
you hear and feel in your hands. I still say the LMII is a
very good value.

 

[Jeff Moote]

Seriously, these are just specs. The proof is in what
you hear and feel in your hands. I still say the LMII is a
very good value.

I agree that what you hear is what matters. The specs say that the differences in tone are not due to EQ position, which is all I was saying. There is quite likely a difference in the voicing of the amps set flat, which accounts for a more significant difference.