Markbass is an Italian company and has never had a manufacturing presence in the USA. They did move their manufacturing from Italy to Indonesia.
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What happened to Markbass popularity?
- Thread starter ThinCrappyTone
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Markbass is an Italian company and has never had a manufacturing presence in the USA. They did move their manufacturing from Italy to Indonesia.
Not what I'd call "bang for the buck". Just so expensive compared to other brands that I've never been interested. Also not a whole lot of people like Guitar Center here and they're GC exclusice amps.
I was borrowing a markbass head for a while and I found it to have too much of a modern sound. It also over compressed the sound if you tried to overdrive it at all. It did not sound bad in any sense just not what I'm going for. Probably would be perfect fit for gospel or modern R&B.
I actually knew that as well. Someone else corrected me a few posts later...
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It did work well with a two notes preamp in front of it and basically just using it as a power amp but a little on the pricey side to use in that way.
Maybe I'm wrong, but Markbass is an italian brand and as far as I know this is where the amps were made prior to shifting some production to the East. That said, also the Genz Benz Strealimer, which gets as close to an all tube head as you can get with class D, was built in China.
I love the Markbass Compressore. But I've never been wild about their amps unless it's Michael League who's playing through one.
But as far as Markbass's diminished popularity goes, I think it has more to do with evolving tastes rather than an actual issue with their products per se.
The bass world seems to oscillate between liking the fat and warmer classic tube sound and the so-called modern clean with fast transient response and punchy sound. A lot of which mirrors what's happening in terms of this year's most popular playing techniques. A slapper, tapper, or twenty notes a second Jaco fan will want a very different amp than a classic rocker who cut her teeth on the late 60s and early 70s music scene.
My whole critique of Markbass is it's not really an iconic sound - and it's expensive. There's plenty of modern amps with their own voice and feel (Mesa being one of several good ones) as well as plenty of classic amps that each have a unique sound since that's the way tube amps are.
Markbass just didn't bring enough of its own to the party IMO. Nothing wrong with the amps. Just nothing special enough (as far as my ears were concerned - YMMV) to make it worth the risk of wandering that far from the mainstream at those prices. I already do that enough with the basses I prefer to play.
But as far as Markbass's diminished popularity goes, I think it has more to do with evolving tastes rather than an actual issue with their products per se.
The bass world seems to oscillate between liking the fat and warmer classic tube sound and the so-called modern clean with fast transient response and punchy sound. A lot of which mirrors what's happening in terms of this year's most popular playing techniques. A slapper, tapper, or twenty notes a second Jaco fan will want a very different amp than a classic rocker who cut her teeth on the late 60s and early 70s music scene.
My whole critique of Markbass is it's not really an iconic sound - and it's expensive. There's plenty of modern amps with their own voice and feel (Mesa being one of several good ones) as well as plenty of classic amps that each have a unique sound since that's the way tube amps are.
Markbass just didn't bring enough of its own to the party IMO. Nothing wrong with the amps. Just nothing special enough (as far as my ears were concerned - YMMV) to make it worth the risk of wandering that far from the mainstream at those prices. I already do that enough with the basses I prefer to play.
I got tired of the tone, had a F1, little mark and a tube 800. Still using a markbass 108 cab but using a TH500 to power it. My Bongo 5 has never sounded better.
I love the Compressore too. Great pedal!I love the Markbass Compressore. But I've never been wild about their amps unless it's Michael League who's playing through one.
But as far as Markbass's diminished popularity goes, I think it has more to do with evolving tastes rather than an actual issue with their products per se.
The bass world seems to oscillate between liking the fat and warmer classic tube sound and the so-called modern clean with fast transient response and punchy sound. A lot of which mirrors what's happening in terms of this year's most popular playing techniques. A slapper, tapper, or twenty notes a second Jaco fan will want a very different amp than a classic rocker who cut her teeth on the late 60s and early 70s music scene.
My whole critique of Markbass is it's not really an iconic sound - and it's expensive. There's plenty of modern amps with their own voice and feel (Mesa being one of several good ones) as well as plenty of classic amps that each have a unique sound since that's the way tube amps are.
Markbass just didn't bring enough of its own to the party IMO. Nothing wrong with the amps. Just nothing special enough (as far as my ears were concerned - YMMV) to make it worth the risk of wandering that far from the mainstream at those prices. I already do that enough with the basses I prefer to play.
I am still using a LM II with a Euphonic Audio Wizzy 12 and a P bass with flats. It's a great combination. I also use a hollow body bass with nylon flats with this same amp setup. There's plenty of highs and the lows are smooth. I am very happy with this setup.
I can only speak for myself here but when I have compared then to other amps in the past they lost simply due to their sound. It just wasn't good enough to justify the additional cost. When you're sitting in a GC with three or four brands of comparable amps, and the most expensive one can't distinguish itself over the others, that's not good.
Again, speaking for myself.
Again, speaking for myself.
I recently switched to primarily using a Markbass cmd121p combo for most playing situations, plus a 112 extension cab when needed. I like the combination of power and portability and I don't have a problem dialing in sounds I like. It's not as flat as the GenzBenz Shuttle 6.2 nor as vintage voiced as the Ashdown ABM500 that are my previous two rigs - somewhere in between the two.
I'm based in the UK so the market is probably quite different to the US, but whenever I've played through Markbass amps/cabs/combos in store they haven't really "spoke" to me. The tone has always been OK but nothing that would make my ears prick up. Although that could just as easily be down to the display basses I used at the time. I dunno. It seems to me that Markbass is the "Ford" of bass amplification - there's certainly nothing wrong with them, they're reliable, but there are more and more competitors coming in offering something extra or different at the same price point.
Thanks. I've had the patriotic fingers for a while bit just yesterday found the one with the blue background.
Back on topic.....
Still love my LMII and it is vintagey IMO. I do have an SVT too, but for practice and small gigs, the LMII is great.
Tb members never liked them starting with the color. The sound isn't for everyone and a lot of people say they're overpriced.
I see them being used a ton, most often than any other brand, amongst under 35 bassists. I think they're still the "it" brand.
Jazz dudes like them too
I see them being used a ton, most often than any other brand, amongst under 35 bassists. I think they're still the "it" brand.
Jazz dudes like them too
Loved my LMIII. I traded it away to fund other gear but was sad to let it go. I now own the lower wattage Blackline 250 model. Sounds great. Def not 'tubey' in the true sense but plenty of fat low end.
