Still using the same Little Mark II (class A/B) amp I’ve had since they first came out … go two of them
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What happened to Markbass popularity?
- Thread starter ThinCrappyTone
- Start date
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- markbass
I have 3 preClass D Little Mark amps. Running through a Barefaced Super 3rdT and couldn't be happier with my sound. I no longer look for amps
I gave the Markbass Vintage head a chance and it didn’t come close to sounding as good as my Carvin BX700. I also tried a Markbass 2x12 - I liked it enough to get a 3x10 and I LOVE that cab and sold the 2x12. It sounds great with the Carvin and weighs 36 pounds.
My feeling is Markbass stuff is hit or miss… they make a lot of different things and maybe if you’re lucky you’ll find something they make that works for you. But there are a lot of options out there these days that are as good or better.
My feeling is Markbass stuff is hit or miss… they make a lot of different things and maybe if you’re lucky you’ll find something they make that works for you. But there are a lot of options out there these days that are as good or better.
There's truth in your assessment. I've bought and returned a few of their amps but the LittleMark ll/lll were super. I'm now auditioning a LittleMark 58R and so far, so good..
I bought, and returned the 58r head, and 3x10 cab. Loved the tone and volume. But the fan was really loud, and always on, which is unacceptable for some of my quiet gigs. Plus, in the first 15 minutes, the head popped and shut down three times with a brand new cable. I switched cables, and it didn't happen again for the next 30 minutes. Great tone, huge punch and volume. But, I couldn't trust it. I can't have loud pops that are followed by me running back to cycle the head off and on. This was a real let down as I liked the set up and the cab was amazingly light. My TH500 never did that, and is still going strong at about 10-12 years old.
Oh well.
Oh well.
Markbass nowadays seems about on the same level as Acoustic.
Except some of the little Acoustic combos surprisingly sound good. And they have REAL metal knobs!
Except some of the little Acoustic combos surprisingly sound good. And they have REAL metal knobs!
V
Bummer. I would have tried 1 exchange. Maybe you got a bad one. Mine is doing well so far and the fan isn't noisy at all. I had a Tonehammer 500 and thought it's fans were noisy. I now have the TH350 and it's much quieter.
That's a bit of a stretch.
The existence of this thread, which started over 7 years ago.
Markbass is to the early 2020's as Crate was to the early 2000's.
Still around, but barely what they once were.
A thread on Talkbass does not make anything a reality.
Markbass continues to be a major bass innovator.
After leading the class D amp revolution, they are now leading the ultra light cab revolution.
How about a 410 cab weighing 35.5lbs? That is incredibly light and they sound good too.
It's easy to read the weight online and dismiss the number until you lift one of these cabs! I did and I was shocked.
A 410 from Aguilar is 98 lbs, one from Ampeg is about 70lbs and one from Mesa Boogie is 55 lbs.
I seriously think any rumor of Markbass demise is premature.
Markbass continues to be a major bass innovator.
After leading the class D amp revolution, they are now leading the ultra light cab revolution.
How about a 410 cab weighing 35.5lbs? That is incredibly light and they sound good too.
It's easy to read the weight online and dismiss the number until you lift one of these cabs! I did and I was shocked.
A 410 from Aguilar is 98 lbs, one from Ampeg is about 70lbs and one from Mesa Boogie is 55 lbs.
I seriously think any rumor of Markbass demise is premature.
I concur. I got my 3x10 because the weight to price ratio was great. I love my old Carvin 1x15 but at 85 pounds it was just more than I wanted to lug around. And I see lots of deals on used cabs on Craigslist that used to be cutting edge - only to look up the weight and find a 2x10 weighs twice what my Markbass 3x10 weighs.
Love them or hate them, they are pretty dominant in the marketplace.
Also let's look at their distribution: Markbass is sold exclusively in over 300 stores at Guitar Center and Musicians Friend.
Very few, if any bass amplification brand has that kind of footprint. It's not unusual to find 4 to 5 different Markbass heads and cabinets in the average Guitar Center. Markbass introduces the MB58R line and it's in national distribution almost overnight. I have no idea how many units are sold ever year but this kind of distribution must yield some serious volume.
Very few, if any bass amplification brand has that kind of footprint. It's not unusual to find 4 to 5 different Markbass heads and cabinets in the average Guitar Center. Markbass introduces the MB58R line and it's in national distribution almost overnight. I have no idea how many units are sold ever year but this kind of distribution must yield some serious volume.
To the OP;
Markbass is just fine.
There are many great amp manufacturers out there, play what suites you.
Well, lets see what the pros think, shall we?
Freddie Washington
Andrew Gouche
Marcus Miller
Hadrien Feraud
Brian Bromberg
Joe Dart
Stu Hamm
Mohini Dey
Jeff Berlin
Michael League
Richard Bona
Dominic Di Piazza
Mark Egan
Michael Manring
Alain Caron
Tom Kennedy
This is the list of some of the finest bassists in the world.
This is an impressive list of endorsing superstars as any manufacturer of bass gear could ever dream of.
BTW, PC boards stamped by robots do not degrade if made in a country not in Europe or the US. In fact, what electronics are manufactured in the Europe or the US?
One additional note about the sonic character of the Markbass Cabinets, the are mid-forward. That is why many soloists like them. They cut through and take up a very articulate place in the mix.
A couple of weeks ago - Hiromi at the Blue Note in NYC - Hadrien Feraud on Bass playing through his Markbass rig. (cell phone recording) Check this out... killing!!!
Markbass is just fine.
There are many great amp manufacturers out there, play what suites you.
Well, lets see what the pros think, shall we?
Freddie Washington
Andrew Gouche
Marcus Miller
Hadrien Feraud
Brian Bromberg
Joe Dart
Stu Hamm
Mohini Dey
Jeff Berlin
Michael League
Richard Bona
Dominic Di Piazza
Mark Egan
Michael Manring
Alain Caron
Tom Kennedy
This is the list of some of the finest bassists in the world.
This is an impressive list of endorsing superstars as any manufacturer of bass gear could ever dream of.
BTW, PC boards stamped by robots do not degrade if made in a country not in Europe or the US. In fact, what electronics are manufactured in the Europe or the US?
One additional note about the sonic character of the Markbass Cabinets, the are mid-forward. That is why many soloists like them. They cut through and take up a very articulate place in the mix.
A couple of weeks ago - Hiromi at the Blue Note in NYC - Hadrien Feraud on Bass playing through his Markbass rig. (cell phone recording) Check this out... killing!!!
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I REALLY wanted to like the Alain Caron combo they offered. On paper it seemed right up my alley, but I couldn't get it to do what I wanted, just never warmed up to it.
Probably a fine amp, it just didn't suit me.
Probably a fine amp, it just didn't suit me.
