Clever use of police caution tape. The guy on the right looks like Terri Garr
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What happened to Markbass popularity?
- Thread starter ThinCrappyTone
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So I'm curious. Why do you guys think the quality would go down if they make them in Indonesia instead of Italy?
i don't think they're using cheaper materials or anything like that since they're saving on labor costs. Why would the Amps sound different?
iPhones are made in China. Most high tech electronics are made in Asia. Is there any reason to prefer an Italian markbass over an Indonesian one?
i don't think they're using cheaper materials or anything like that since they're saving on labor costs. Why would the Amps sound different?
iPhones are made in China. Most high tech electronics are made in Asia. Is there any reason to prefer an Italian markbass over an Indonesian one?
If you ever decide to try it again, put all EQ knobs at 12:00 and turn off the VLE and VPF knobs by turning them fully counter clockwise. The VLE will start to make the amp sound more vintage as you turn it up while the VPF will scoop out your mids.
I guess until one reaches the ability to be offered these "gigs" and then can walk in their endorsement/infomercial shoes, one can't judge, BUT...
Keith Urban & his "gee-tars" (Gawd, that Female co-host!)
I believe I saw the Randy Jackson pitch too, and it was equally "bleeghhh" inducing.
Vic & the power cable, .....that's a whole other large thread.
I've often wondered- and I did not just fall off the turnip truck
..WHY, when they have made so much $$ already certain celebs must add to their treasure- by pitching what they know is BS.
I know, I know...You can never be too thin or too rich I guess!
Previously, I was using the SWR SM400 head with a variety of 4x10 and 2x10 cabs. It was always a struggle to tame that crazy EQ preamp.
Once the Neodyne speaker technology started to get popular, I started looking into downsizing.
I started with the CMD121P combo (made in Italy). I got it after asking a busy gigging bassist about hers. She said the only time she used something bigger was "for show". That has been my experience too. It's obnoxiously loud once you get up over halfway.
I then wanted something even smaller for coffeehouse-sized gigs where I could play my upright. I looked at the MicroMark 45w combo at 500 bucks new. I waffled for a long time (it seems like a practice amp and was way expensive for that). I finally pulled the trigger and now I play more gigs on this than any amp I own. The nice thing about these MB amps is they all have high-impedance input jacks so I don't need a preamp to match the impedance with the piezo pickup on the upright.
Finally I found that I needed something in between. The CMD-121P is just too loud a lot of the time I'm playing in small places and the MicroMark just can't be heard with a rock drum kit. I got the MiniMark 150w 2x8 combo. Made in Indonesia but it's been fine so far. It sounds so different from the 1x12 combo, it's useless to compare them.
I know I sound like a fan boy, but I've owned Ampegs and GKs and Fenders, but these MB amps get me the tone I need (usually without a lot of tweaking, although I do often have to work around their scooping and vintage speaker emulator features, especially with the upright). Maybe I like hi-fi tone but they're portable and get me a sound I like. I play with quite a few singer-songwriter types and the small bass amps don't scare them. (It really is a thing, I've found.)
I would never say I'm getting V4B or B15 tone, but it's warm enough for me and no one's ever complained about it. I will say that I've also always been happy with Fender small bass combos, but the impedance matching thing with my upright was the only reason I didn't go that route.
The MBs are expensive but they suit me perfectly and that is not something I say about a lot of gear. (And I no longer own any bass amp gear that weighs more than 30 pounds, which is nice for an old geezer like me.)
The default tone is definitely the mid-scooped thing, and you have to work at getting something different. But it works for me with my upright and my P-basses, so that's all I need.
Once the Neodyne speaker technology started to get popular, I started looking into downsizing.
I started with the CMD121P combo (made in Italy). I got it after asking a busy gigging bassist about hers. She said the only time she used something bigger was "for show". That has been my experience too. It's obnoxiously loud once you get up over halfway.
I then wanted something even smaller for coffeehouse-sized gigs where I could play my upright. I looked at the MicroMark 45w combo at 500 bucks new. I waffled for a long time (it seems like a practice amp and was way expensive for that). I finally pulled the trigger and now I play more gigs on this than any amp I own. The nice thing about these MB amps is they all have high-impedance input jacks so I don't need a preamp to match the impedance with the piezo pickup on the upright.
Finally I found that I needed something in between. The CMD-121P is just too loud a lot of the time I'm playing in small places and the MicroMark just can't be heard with a rock drum kit. I got the MiniMark 150w 2x8 combo. Made in Indonesia but it's been fine so far. It sounds so different from the 1x12 combo, it's useless to compare them.
I know I sound like a fan boy, but I've owned Ampegs and GKs and Fenders, but these MB amps get me the tone I need (usually without a lot of tweaking, although I do often have to work around their scooping and vintage speaker emulator features, especially with the upright). Maybe I like hi-fi tone but they're portable and get me a sound I like. I play with quite a few singer-songwriter types and the small bass amps don't scare them. (It really is a thing, I've found.)
I would never say I'm getting V4B or B15 tone, but it's warm enough for me and no one's ever complained about it. I will say that I've also always been happy with Fender small bass combos, but the impedance matching thing with my upright was the only reason I didn't go that route.
The MBs are expensive but they suit me perfectly and that is not something I say about a lot of gear. (And I no longer own any bass amp gear that weighs more than 30 pounds, which is nice for an old geezer like me.)
The default tone is definitely the mid-scooped thing, and you have to work at getting something different. But it works for me with my upright and my P-basses, so that's all I need.
For me, easy. Had a bad customer service experience. With so many good choices, one time was one time too many. Ymmv.
Overseas mfg. where labor costs are highly reduced is a fact of life in MI and just about everything else.
I heard no difference in the outputs of my Italian LMIII and my Indonesian-built LM800T.
The units are designed by MarkBass engineering and then sent to a factory where hopefully QC is strictly maintained.
There is however, to many including myself, a certain regard for "Made in USA" or in this case, Italy.
I believe all parts are the same, it's simply where the units are assembled.
I hear you. The only solid state amps I can say I ever really liked were the old Acoustic amps made back in the 70s. I used both their 360 stack and a 150 head with a 301 bottom (or a single ported 15 cab) as my main rigs for many years despite being an Ampeg user most times in my musical life.
From the above I think it's pretty obvious I'm not into a hifi or "modern" bass amp sound.
I thought that MarkBass had a fairly decent service/warranty arrangement through GC; but I haven't had to examine that.
Would you share details or is it too painful to relive?
Just curious, thanks.
Are you talking about their 'budget' range or stuff like the LM3 made in Italy vs Indonesia? Because if the latter... I honestly can't tell any difference. Their cheaper range was meant to be... well, cheaper, from the get-go.
My MB rig. Doesn't seem ugly to me.
Exactly... I like my LM3 a lot, but... a tube amp emulation it ain't. There are other class D amps that do try to approximate that vibe.
Truer words were never spoken. Except P Bass with Tort. That, alone, endures.
What I do t get is that the yellow and black has people divided. How does introducing lime green (ninja) and tomato red (Big Bang) help?
I do think the colors make the brand instantly recognizable, so it's a, they are what they are and everyone knows it kinda thing. For the all black uniform crowd, a quick look at their website showed a "blackline" offering. Granted it's just one cab, but who knows, if the 15" black line outsell the yellow and black cabs with the same specs, maybe you'll see MB offering two colors like Orange has been doing for a few years now.
I do think the colors make the brand instantly recognizable, so it's a, they are what they are and everyone knows it kinda thing. For the all black uniform crowd, a quick look at their website showed a "blackline" offering. Granted it's just one cab, but who knows, if the 15" black line outsell the yellow and black cabs with the same specs, maybe you'll see MB offering two colors like Orange has been doing for a few years now.
Lol! Yeah, I get that.....I don't love the neon green logo on my Berg cabs but the Markbass colors are too much for me.
FWIW Looks can be deceieving because I saw Stryper a year ago and have to say that while I'm totally not into that style of music their singer had one of the most amazing, powerful voices I've ever heard live. The band was really good, sounded totally professional and tight....espesically compared to some of the other 80's groups still touring....and best of all they weren't wearing those getups. Lol!
Bain did own a majority, but recently sold off a huge chunk so they are no longer the controlling party. Thing is with these huge retailers, they get soooo yuuuge, one little hiccough in their cash flow and their only option is to beg their vendors to cut them some slack, file for bankruptcy, or start courting private equity firms like Bain. Gander Mountain got scooped by Goldman quite a while ago, and Gander may be the block again. Not sure if Goldman still owns them or not.
Who'd Bain offload their interest in GC to? P.S I'm a Green Bay sprout, but it's been ~45 years since I called NEW home.
