What happened to Markbass popularity?

[lbbc]

I played on a Markbass rig at a gig (when they were a relatively new company). I liked the looks but not necessarily the sound. When looking for a new smaller compact rig, I tried many combos... including Markbass. I found them way over priced and not the sound I was looking for.

 

[troy mcclure]

I still rock my F1 every gig but I think Markbass didn't loss popularity as much as other folks caught up to the class D trend. Mine is 9 or 10 years old has played about 600 + gigs and I had 1 issue that was easily fixed.

 

[Slevage]

Best size vs sound amp I've owned. I used mine Sunday and will use it tonight.
In both situations, the 112 combo was chosen. When I add the 112 cab, I can keep up with a fairly loud band- still popular with me.

 

[OldPlucker]

Indonesian quality at Italian prices. Their move was to increase margins by decreasing costs and quality.

 

[djaxup]

I still see lots of bands using their stuff on stage. TB may have moved on but I have the impression they still get used a lot, especially the older italian stuff.

 

[Stranger Danger]

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.

All class D heads do that.

 

[mcnach]

Indonesian quality at Italian prices.

sounds to me like it was same Italian quality at lower prices, rather
The prices went down!

I know because I had bought a CMD121P combo two years earlier and when I went to sell it (got separate LM3 and cabs from another company) and it hurt the resale price a lot since a new one suddenly cost around £200 less!
my timing sucked.

 

[madjazzbass]

View attachment 1169691

Haaaaa!! THAT is Hilarious!!

 

[B-line]

If it helps, bought 25 and 15 years ago before the big no more Wals price hike (and only 2 basses bought since then - so over time I've spent much less on those basses than the average GAS-fuelled TBer has on their current "perfect, keeper, last bass I'll ever buy" bass!

I totally understand...


But it still doesn't help!

(Awesome basses, btw)

 

[sigmafloyd]

You're right.. in the class of cheap junk the Rumble is at the top of the heap.

Have you actually played through one of the newer ones? They are really good

 

[leegreenman]

Indonesian quality at Italian prices. Their move was to increase margins by decreasing costs and quality.

Yes, it's frustrating that lower production costs didn't corolate to lower prices, but I've seen no evidence that quality decreased.

 

[B-line]

Yes, it's frustrating that lower production costs didn't corolate to lower prices, but I've seen no evidence that quality decreased.

Took the words right outta my mouth!

 

[mcnach]

Yes, it's frustrating that lower production costs didn't corolate to lower prices, but I've seen no evidence that quality decreased.

The price went down, at least on some products... My CMD121P cost me nearly £800 two years or so before the switch. Then they went down to around £600. They're about £660 today! (same shop I got mine!)

Quality wise, I have not observed or heard of any first-hand credible report of lower quality... so, I don't know!

 

[brianrost]

Ithey were the "it" brand and super popular not too long ago

The "it" brand is a constantly moving target. SWR, Ashdown, Trace, GenzBenz and many others have all held the throne at times. The great stuff remains great forever, if last year's "it" brand has lost the throne then that's good for people buying used.

 

[leegreenman]

The price went down, at least on some products... My CMD121P cost me nearly £800 two years or so before the switch. Then they went down to around £600. They're about £660 today! (same shop I got mine!)

Quality wise, I have not observed or heard of any first-hand credible report of lower quality... so, I don't know!

I don't think American prices have decreased. Interesting.

 

[Haroldo]

The price went down, at least on some products... My CMD121P cost me nearly £800 two years or so before the switch. Then they went down to around £600. They're about £660 today! (same shop I got mine!)

Quality wise, I have not observed or heard of any first-hand credible report of lower quality... so, I don't know!

It's my understanding that in the EU (or the after Brexit, maybe) there is no Markbass monopoly, whereas here in the US, GC totally calls te pricing shots.

 

[wheelsup247]

I recently started a thread that asked the TB hive mind which "tube-ish" class D head they thought was better for my purpose: fat, vintage, ampeg-ish; but light and powerful.

I suggested two models that I had been considering: Boogie D800+ and the GK MB800. So most of the comments were about them, of course.

But lots of people chimed in with other great options such as Genz Benz, Darkglass, Quilter, Genzler, Demeter, and a few others; even SWR was mentioned.

Conspicuously missing from the entire thread was any mention of Markbass. Which is weird to me, because A) they were the "it" brand and super popular not too long ago; B) I've seen lots of pros using them, so obviously they don't suck and C) on paper, and based on reviews from a while ago, they seem to potentially have the tone I was describing.

So, just curious... it "seems" like the shine has worn off. No longer a top tier choice in their category. Or am I wrong?

But assuming I'm not wrong (and tell me if I am!), and they really have declined in popularity, any idea why? Reliability? Customer service? Inherent issues? Tragic design flaws? Better options from other mfgs? Boredom?

Thanks in advance!

I had an Italian made Little Mark Tube 800 for several years, and loved it. I had to sell it to raise funds for my Sadowsky. Once I was ready to buy another amp, A few weeks ago, I found a floor model Italian made Littlemark II sold as new from a reputable dealer in a store on the west coast, and it arrived DOA, and never worked at all. Markbass decided to not pay for shipping to the warranty shop, or honor the warranty. When I decided to return the Italian made Littlemark II and buy a brand new Littlemark III, I discovered Markbass had moved production from Italy to Indonesia. It was at that point I decided to buy and Aguilar TH 500 because it was (a) in my tight budget (b) an item sold by the reputable dealer I was returning the Little Mark II to, and (c) made in the U.S.A. I have not received the Aquilar TH 500 yet, so cannot substantively comment on the sound, though logically that sound will be a combination of my technique, my bass, and yes, my two mint Italian made Markbass NYC 604 cabinets.

 

[DirkP]

Haaaaa!! THAT is Hilarious!!

It's Italy. Doesn't hurt the sales of other italian manufacturers.

 

[mcnach]

It's my understanding that in the EU (or the after Brexit, maybe) there is no Markbass monopoly, whereas here in the US, GC totally calls te pricing shots.

All those price changes I mentioned were before the Brexit vote.

So, if prices did not go down in the US... whose fault was that? Hmmm. It doesn't seem fair to blame MarkBass.

 

[mcnach]

I had an Italian made Little Mark Tube 800 for several years, and loved it. I had to sell it to raise funds for my Sadowsky. Once I was ready to buy another amp, A few weeks ago, I found a floor model Italian made Littlemark II sold as new from a reputable dealer in a store on the west coast, and it arrived DOA, and never worked at all. Markbass decided to not pay for shipping to the warranty shop, or honor the warranty. When I decided to return the Italian made Littlemark II and buy a brand new Littlemark III, I discovered Markbass had moved production from Italy to Indonesia. It was at that point I decided to buy and Aguilar TH 500 because it was (a) in my tight budget (b) an item sold by the reputable dealer I was returning the Little Mark II to, and (c) made in the U.S.A. I have not received the Aquilar TH 500 yet, so cannot substantively comment on the sound, though logically that sound will be a combination of my technique, my bass, and yes, my two mint Italian made Markbass NYC 604 cabinets.

A few weeks ago you bought a new LMII? They have been discontinued for 8-9 years, I think... I'm not surprised Markbass thought there was something dodgy about the issue, reputable dealer or not.
That is very strange...