What happened to Markbass popularity?

[Pbassmanca]

My blues band rehearses in a studio where there's some kind of Markbass head sitting on a Markbass 410 and 115. It doesn't suck but I won't be replacing my Bergantino gear with it.

I love how rehearsal spaces always seem to have a massive bass rig on hand. An 8x10 or 2x15 cab, to make sure that everyone within the 12 x 15 confines of the space can hear your natural bass tone.........

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks, Jimmy. I don't doubt it. Its a toughie, because I love Ampeg. But once you get that nervous feeling about a brand's reliability, it's hard to shake. Especially when there are brands/models that haven't had as many issues. Still considering it though. The PF800 looks sweet.

I've got a PF800 my own self and it is! But honestly, every major manufacturer has had their share of problematic rollouts. One of the brands you mentioned as being interested in had a very problematic rollout with one of their amps not long ago, and their solution was to reduce its wattage to the exact same wattage as a cheaper amp in the exact same line and not tell anyone until they got found out. Won't mention the manufacturer, but it begins with an M and ends with an Esa But while that was a bad moment in their history, they're still a pretty solid brand.

 

[TheGreatSealof]

Simple.

Markbass amps don't sound one bit vintage, ampeg, tube'ish.
They pack a punch at a very light weight, but i'd describe them as bone dry with tooth-rattling lows and ear piercing highs.
I use a tonehammer for that 'vintage, warm, bit of grind' sound and a Markbass for the opposite.

I agree.

 

[winterburn69]

On the verge: Invalid Link Removed

Not the right shade of green

 

[StatesideRambler]

I may get a chance to plug an Ampeg SCR-DI between my passive basses and my Markbass amp. That should answer my question about using new school toys to render old school sounds. If it comes to pass I'll post a report.

 

[anavar]

as a very happy markbass user (previously an ampeg svt user) these are my criticisms of the brand.

Cons:
- To many products that differ very slightly or have just odd designs (having tubes in the fx loop rather than preamp section, ta501/503).
- Low clipping tolerance, hard to overdrive (mainly the little series, the bigger amps are fine).
- Lack of modern features (but modern tone to boot) like a mute switch or dual speakon connectors.
- Poorly defined tone differences between the range, Lm 3, Big Bang, Ninja...whats the difference? (sonically)
- Poor video demonstrations from the company, especially some of the older amps (rocker 500, r500, Classic 300)
- Expensive.

Pros:
- heaps of watts, stupid loud and cheap on the second hand market.
- some true gems to be found, the Rocker 500 is THE amp they should have made more of.
- good selection of hybrid amps, the TTE500/801, Ta503, r500, studio pre 500.
- The Sd range are absolute weapons, tone like you wouldn't believe and a whopping 1200 watts.
- Insane discontinued catalogue so there is an amp for you within the list, somewhere.
- GREAT cabinets, i have owned a 104hr (MII) and it was fantastic. I currently use an INDO made ninja 212 and its a beast.
- Fairly neutral tone so running a darkglass, sansamp, mxr etc preamp really gels with them.
- tiny, featherweight amps.
- The VLE and VPF filters are really magical, great rock mid scoop and vintage tones can be had with these knobs, anyone who struggles just hasn't given these controls are fair crack.

my opinions on what they should do.

restructure the product line a little better and explain the differences between them and reintroduce the use of the 6205 found in the tube800/rocker 500. if they used more of them and placed them in better stages (gain, vle and vpf for example) in the preamp they could be REALLY special amps.

have 3 little amps, Lm 3, tube800/500, Big bang
bring back the sd/Ta line with the 2x ecc81/83 tubes in the preamp section and a 6205 in the gain for overdrive (like in the rocker 500 which i cannot sing praise for enough)
have a top range line, like the TTE500. They could build an all tube lunchbox amp (they made one work with the DV mark amp chassis so i assume they could possibly do one with markbass) because the Classic 300 was a killer amp just too goofy.

then an artist line i suppose.

but who the hell am i anyway....

 

[Felken]

I love my markbass amp. I like the clean sound, where I can add my own effects. The prices are high though, and that's usually why I avoid mentioning them. But I really like mine.

 

[bdplaid]

View attachment 1169710

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I can't completely disagree it's a bit more orangey than Stryper yellow, but I definitely think it's in the yellow family more than the orange family.

I'm sitting here looking at two of them, and they are closer to the Orange orange, than yellow. And it sucks. But the amps do not. But I like the opposite of tube amps.
To my ear, MB is more flat, and sounds more like a solid state amp, and that includes the MB Tube 800 I used to have.
Look elsewhere for tube and grit, but otherwise I think they are excellent, reliable amps.

 

[MikeOnBass73]

Play an older USA made Markbass vs. a newer, Chinese made Markbass. You'll know immediately why the luster has worn off. There is no comparison.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you mean older Italian made and current Indonesian made. My Markbass gear is all Italian made. I have not tried the current Indonesian made gear yet so I can't say if there is a difference in sound but I am sure producing in Indonesia over the EU in Italy must be saving them some decent money. I bet the low priced labour factor has tarnished their appeal.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I do not believe I am colorblind, but Markbass signature colors are black and orange, not black and yellow.

Nope definitely yellow

 

[Medicine Man]

Doesn't sound as good as my svt or mesa stacks, but my 102p is just the ticket for small stages. I agree there is better stuff for sound quality out there, but all of it is heavier, quieter or more expensive. Not much is cheaper, lighter, and louder all at the same time than markbass combos. Imho, of course.

 

[bdplaid]

The VLE and VPF filters are really magical, great rock mic scoop and vintage tones can be had with these knobs, anyone who struggles just hasn't given these controls are fair crack.

Oh, yes! And MB can be used without a speaker attached, making it a really awesome DI for recording. I used mine with the VLE as speaker emulation to great effect for a CD and was complimented on the tone while using a Jazz.

 

[anavar]

Oh, yes! And MB can be used without a speaker attached, making it a really awesome DI for recording. I used mine with the VLE as speaker emulation to great effect for a CD and was complimented on the tone while using a Jazz.

Yes!, another great feature. I used my TTE500 with no speaker load and boosted with darkglass pedals for a metal release and it sounds ferocious!

 

[Buster Brown]

Play an older USA made Markbass vs. a newer, Chinese made Markbass. You'll know immediately why the luster has worn off. There is no comparison.

Indeed. My early model MarkBass CMD121P and the NY 121 Extension cab are GREAT! But I was in a GC a year or so back and played the same Combo and I didn't like it all.

When they moved production to China from Itlay - they screwed the pooch (IMO).

 

[MMiller28]

I do not believe I am colorblind, but Markbass signature colors are black and orange, not black and yellow.

Well, you'd be wrong, because it's absolutely yellow. Time to see an optometrist.

 

[pfschim]

I've got a PF800 my own self and it is! But honestly, every major manufacturer has had their share of problematic rollouts. One of the brands you mentioned as being interested in had a very problematic rollout with one of their amps not long ago, and their solution was to reduce its wattage to the exact same wattage as a cheaper amp in the exact same line and not tell anyone until they got found out. Won't mention the manufacturer, but it begins with an M and ends with an Esa But while that was a bad moment in their history, they're still a pretty solid brand.

subtle

 

[Jeff Scott]

...When they moved production to China from Itlay [sic]- they screwed the pooch (IMO).

Indonesia, where the Markbass products are being made, is not a part of China.

I do agree, however, that IMO, Markbass started loosing their interest/customer base with the move of production out of Italy.

 

[BluesWalker]

I had a LMII for a couple of years (don't drop a solid state ICB amp onto a concrete surface) and then I bought a LMIII which hasbedn my main amp since 2008. I use a MB Traveler 2x10 and/or a MB Traveler 1x15 cabinet. I am so satisfied that I gave up looking at other amps/cabs several years ago. The sound is very clean and is easily modified, if desired with effect pedals.

I recently bought the micromark as a practice amp and have ended up using it at gigs; it has plenty of power for live work.

 

[twinjet]

Thanks. I've had the patriotic fingers for a while bit just yesterday found the one with the blue background.

Back on topic.....

You may deserve your own thread here, twofer...

Had a MicroMark 801 that, for its size, was a real oomph box. Didn't end up keeping it as I ended up selling to afford a GK, but that micro is what sold me on the G&L I sport today. Not bad at all.

 

[selowitch]

When I get compliments on my playing or tone, I seldom suggest that my MarkBass CMP 121P is responsible for the good sound ... though it surely is a piece of that puzzle.
My trick is to set the Gain just ever so slightly above the Master Volume. I am not looking for distortion, but a slight bit of overdrive. Works great!