Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Tube Challenge
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
I "think" I get what you are saying, and even if not, I will state that "better" is subjective, even here between these two samples. Both sounds are good, and I prefer number two regardless if it's tube or ss. I voted no.1 as the tube amp.
+1 how about dishing out the real deal JimminyM ;-) so we can know the ACTUAL results & put us outta our suspense?? btw- my computer is SO SLOW I can't wait the 1/2 hour to download & listen So I voted ..........
Alright, most of the regulars have had a chance to vote. So let's do it...
The voting is:
AMP 1: 53
AMP 2: 68
That means a small majority thought number two was the tube amp. Well, guess what?
AMP 1: Markbass Little Mark II
AMP 2: Ampeg B-15N
I'd say that means the Markbass amp held its own pretty well against one of the two most legendary tube amps of all time. Obviously it's not a dead-on match, but it made a lot of people think it was a tube amp. Power amp overdrive still separates the men from the boys, but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
And once again, if you didn't vote and state an opinion during the poll, I don't want to hear from you now, you Monday morning quarterbacks!
The voting is:
AMP 1: 53
AMP 2: 68
That means a small majority thought number two was the tube amp. Well, guess what?
AMP 1: Markbass Little Mark II
AMP 2: Ampeg B-15N
I'd say that means the Markbass amp held its own pretty well against one of the two most legendary tube amps of all time. Obviously it's not a dead-on match, but it made a lot of people think it was a tube amp. Power amp overdrive still separates the men from the boys, but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
And once again, if you didn't vote and state an opinion during the poll, I don't want to hear from you now, you Monday morning quarterbacks!
Alright, most of the regulars have had a chance to vote. So let's do it...
The voting is:
AMP 1: 53
AMP 2: 68
That means a small majority thought number two was the tube amp. Well, guess what?
AMP 1: Markbass Little Mark II
AMP 2: Ampeg B-15N
I'd say that means the Markbass amp held its own pretty well against one of the two most legendary tube amps of all time. Obviously it's not a dead-on match, but it made a lot of people think it was a tube amp. Power amp overdrive still separates the men from the boys, but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
And once again, if you didn't vote and state an opinion during the poll, I don't want to hear from you now, you Monday morning quarterbacks!
I was wrong, and I'm not too proud to admit that.
That really says something about the LMII, which I wasn't impressed with in the store, but I really like that clip. I wont say I'm going to sell what I have for one, but I am impressed.
Alright, most of the regulars have had a chance to vote. So let's do it...
The voting is:
AMP 1: 53
AMP 2: 68
That means a small majority thought number two was the tube amp. Well, guess what?
AMP 1: Markbass Little Mark II
AMP 2: Ampeg B-15N
I'd say that means the Markbass amp held its own pretty well against one of the two most legendary tube amps of all time. Obviously it's not a dead-on match, but it made a lot of people think it was a tube amp. Power amp overdrive still separates the men from the boys, but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
And once again, if you didn't vote and state an opinion during the poll, I don't want to hear from you now, you Monday morning quarterbacks!
Fooled me.
LOL! You're killing me, fdeck! Nothing scientific about this test, my brother. This was all just for fun.
- Jul 8, 2007
- 1,272
- 9
- Disclosures
- Lead Designer, Zeibek Boutique Pedals
I voted #2 as the tube amp. To be honest, it was not because I was able to tell the difference of a tube amp, but I recognized the ampeg tone almost immediately 
It's funny. Amp 1, the LMII, has some pretty obvious notches in its upper midrange and high frequency response, yet it sounds brighter.
Isn't that where brightness comes from?
Edit: Sorry! I read "notch" as "hump." My apologies.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
dont let kjung know that..
Alright, most of the regulars have had a chance to vote. So let's do it...
The voting is:
AMP 1: 53
AMP 2: 68
That means a small majority thought number two was the tube amp. Well, guess what?
AMP 1: Markbass Little Mark II
AMP 2: Ampeg B-15N
I'd say that means the Markbass amp held its own pretty well against one of the two most legendary tube amps of all time. Obviously it's not a dead-on match, but it made a lot of people think it was a tube amp. Power amp overdrive still separates the men from the boys, but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
And once again, if you didn't vote and state an opinion during the poll, I don't want to hear from you now, you Monday morning quarterbacks!
This has been fun! I was correct in believing that amp two was the Ampeg. Might not be fair since I own one, but I do believe I would have picked amp two as some kind of tube amp, at least, even if I wasn't familiar with the sound of a B15N.
Which leads me to another thought...
One thing I was thinking as this whole survey and accompanying discussion was taking place: I would actually like to hear the two different amps with you making the effort to dial them in for the same sound using only their onboard tone controls, of course. No outside EQing or compressing. I guess I'm just curious as to whether I'm actually discerning the tube tone difference and all that encompasses, or if I just wrote off amp one due to it's zingy high end, as well as zeroed in on amp two due to the little bit of crunch I heard on the low note your third time through the slap passage. There were other things that made me think amp two was the B15N as well, but, as I said before, I don't think I'm the best at putting some of those things into words.
For what it's worth, I thought amp one actually sounded pretty cool, too. It certainly makes me wonder what all the Mark Bass bashing is all about. Sounds like a fine sounding solid state amp to me, and I would gladly use it in certain situations. Especially those where I'd like an amp I can slip into my coat pocket after the gig!
Anyway, thanks for the entertaining thread!
Matt
Which leads me to another thought...
One thing I was thinking as this whole survey and accompanying discussion was taking place: I would actually like to hear the two different amps with you making the effort to dial them in for the same sound using only their onboard tone controls, of course. No outside EQing or compressing. I guess I'm just curious as to whether I'm actually discerning the tube tone difference and all that encompasses, or if I just wrote off amp one due to it's zingy high end, as well as zeroed in on amp two due to the little bit of crunch I heard on the low note your third time through the slap passage. There were other things that made me think amp two was the B15N as well, but, as I said before, I don't think I'm the best at putting some of those things into words.
For what it's worth, I thought amp one actually sounded pretty cool, too. It certainly makes me wonder what all the Mark Bass bashing is all about. Sounds like a fine sounding solid state amp to me, and I would gladly use it in certain situations. Especially those where I'd like an amp I can slip into my coat pocket after the gig!
Anyway, thanks for the entertaining thread!
Matt
...
but at least now you wisenheimers might not goof on me when I say the Markbass has a tubey sound
...
I bet Markbass is not the only SS head that has this edge.
