Which markbass to get

[BernardBass]

That's neat, I know they tweaked it for him. I watched his thormann interview and he said they renamed them so I assumed they're still performing the same function. Do you have any links that get deeper into the tech specs and differences?

from the markbass site:

LM3
CONTROLS

• GAIN: -60 dB to +23 dB range
• MASTER VOLUME
• LINE OUT LEVEL
• GROUND LIFT (switch on rear panel)
• PRE/POST EQ (switch on rear panel)

EQUALIZATION

• LOW: center frequency: 40 Hz; level: ±16 dB
• LOW MID: center frequency: 360 Hz, level: ±16 dB
• HIGH MID: center frequency: 800 Hz, level: ±16 dB
• HIGH: center frequency: 10 kHz, level: ±16 dB
• VPF (Variable Pre-shape Filter): center frequency 380 Hz
• VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator): frequency range 250 Hz-20 kHz

Little Marcus 800
CONTROLS

• GAIN: -46 dB to +23 dB range
• MASTER VOLUME
• LINE OUT LEVEL
• MUTE switch
• GROUND LIFT (switch on rear panel)
• PRE/POST EQ (switch on rear panel)
• FSW input for (optional) footswitch to turn on/off EQ1 and EQ2

EQUALIZATION
EQ1

• ULTRALOW: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 65Hz)
• LOW: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 180Hz)
• MID: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 500 Hz)
• HIGH MID: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 1.4 KHz)
• HIGH: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 3.8 KHz)

 

[mcnach]

Maybe it's the Irish Scottish thing, but we seem to be cut from the same cloth lol if I had the money I would have gotten a D800+... Man those things sound unreal. And sure cliff Burton being the reason I got into bass, mesa was always the holy grail for me as a kid. Still is to be honest...

I ended up getting the 1000 marcus limited edition (red and gold) lol so if that doesn't work out I'll sell it and get the ninja and report back on that as well

Hopefully have it in a few days from thomann!

Let us know how you like it! On paper, the EQ points on the Marcus Miller seem more to my liking but I've never tried one myself.

Yeah the D800+ is pretty nice but... if you like Mesa, put away your credit card and check out their new TT800

 

[mcnach]

Good question. My guess is that it upgrades whatever DI unit is in there from the factory with whatever is inside their Super DI pedal. Since I own one of those pedals (they are available cheap used) I don’t really need the upgrade personally. But it is nice to have an internal one so you don’t necessary have to carry a separate pedal.

Have you compared the internal one to your pedal?

Just curious what it is they felt was worth an upgrade.

 

[selowitch]

Have you compared the internal one to your pedal?

Not in any scientifically rigorous way. I am not brave or curious enough to dissect either device. Perhaps the pedal uses a better transformer? In any case, I like the pedal a lot so I just use that. Great for recording or going to FOH.

 

[mam1862]

If I was going Markbass I would go either LMIII or the Big Bang. With a 4ohm cab either of those will get the job done. I've owned both in the past and had good experience with them.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Hey guys,

Just my two cents here. No in-depth comparison but still might be useful.

My current rig:
Bass: Fender Victor Bailey Jazz V

Amp: Little Market Ninja (since January) beefore that I owned a Little Mark III.

Cab: Markbass 410 HF 4 ohm & Ninja 122 8 ohm.

I tried yesterday in a nearby music instruments store these 3 heads with my own Markbass Ninja 122 cab:

-Little Mark Ninja
-Little Marcus 1000 and
-Ampeg SVT 7 pro

I didn't have the time to go in depth so I just set all 3 amps flat (Markbass filters on 0 and all other knobs at 12 'o clock) for a quick comparison.

My personal conclusion:
I prefer by far the Little Marks Ninja! It was according to me by far the clearest/cleanest sounding amp.

I was surprised at how dark the Little Marcus 1000 sounded. At first it almost sounded muddy to me (with all knobs except both filters set flat).

As for the SVT 7 pro, I was just curious to test it but didn't really like it. Not as clean and round to my taste. And it also seemed a little less loud than the Little Mark Ninja to me.

Bottom line for having owned the Little Mark III and now owning its big brother the Little Mark Ninja, I can confirm the latter gives me the same satisfaction soundwise. It has the same characteristics with a lot more power.

I'm delighted with this amp.

 

[jeff7bass]

Time to make the choice!

 

[Kaplan]

I've not heard the little Marcus but that surprises me considering how much edge Marcus Miller has on his bass for slap.

He turns up the Millerizer

 

[BernardBass]

lol i have a feeling i might be selling this for a ninja...

Only difference with the limited is it has the level cut/boost which has a "parametric" eq what ever that will do?

Limited edition -
CONTROLS

• GAIN: -46 dB to +23 dB range
• MASTER VOLUME
• LINE OUT LEVEL
• MUTE switch
• GROUND LIFT (switch on rear panel)
• PRE/POST EQ (switch on rear panel)
• FSW input for (optional) footswitch to turn on/off EQ1 and EQ2

EQUALIZATION
EQ1

• ULTRALOW: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 65Hz)
• LOW: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 180Hz)
• MID: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 500 Hz)
• HIGH MID: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 1.4 KHz)
• HIGH: Level ±16 dB (Freq. 3.8 KHz)

EQ2

• OLD SCHOOL: Variable LOW PASS From 20KHz to 200Hz
• PARAMETRIC EQ: from 500Hz to 12KHz (Level -16dB /+16 dB)

But ye old typical Ireland... took 2 days to get here from Germany and 5 days later still no sign of it...but ill get back to folks when i eventually get this bloody amp delivered and played a bit.

 

[BernardBass]

Howdy lads,

Eventually got it and my first reaction is... me likey. muchy.

I can see why people wouldnt like it... and i understand. It is most definitely more bass and less "nasal" flat than the LM3... but, drop the ultra and low back... its the lm3 sound right there.

found this before where a guy has done a side by side: Little Marcus vs LMK

The ultra and low combination to me is great, if you dont have a HPF this will work... lows without the mud. You just need to spend a few minutes dialing it in.

Now... all that said, I havent figured a way to turn on/off the 2 eq's seperately.. and I dont have a foot switch... which I think may play a huge hand in the versatility of this.

Im forever fiddling with my onstage to front of house sound so being able to make some big changes from the amp and my bass directly is really important to me. I have to try emulate about 6-7 bass tones in 1 gig. (well i dont have to i like to try) so this amp has balls loads of bass. AC/DC studio and modern tone is bass land. I can get that with this head easily. Without the mud.

had a quick play with the parametric eq2 and yeah its a controllable mid sweep with the vlf beside it.

While i love sound engineers I dont trust them with my sound so I pre eq and even with my DI or the head di I still have control/shape my sound out the front of house lol which generally they dont like but I do warn them plenty.

I have a modified johneast jretro preamp with an added 3 way toggle for parallel/single coil/series so I can generally control 90% of my sound from there, but at times its best from the amp. FrankenGeddyJazz

 

[BernardBass]

lol

 

[BernardBass]

Ok lol the foot switch is a must.... holy divine jaysus!!

3 options:

no eq - as far as I can tell... (both lights off). More traditional little mark sound, mid range focused and a lot less bass... pretty high output
eq1 only - subtle but fatter sound. seems to be a little scooped.
eq2 only - mid sweep cut/boost... lol can dial in some real geddy "crackle and grit" with this!

eq1 +eq2 is a blend between the 2.

my favourite new toy...

 

[aproud1]

Ok lol the foot switch is a must.... holy divine jaysus!!

3 options:

no eq - as far as I can tell... (both lights off). More traditional little mark sound, mid range focused and a lot less bass... pretty high output
eq1 only - subtle but fatter sound. seems to be a little scooped.
eq2 only - mid sweep cut/boost... lol can dial in some real geddy "crackle and grit" with this!

eq1 +eq2 is a blend between the 2.

my favourite new toy...
View attachment 3895991

Glad to hear that. Sounds like a cool amp. Always appreciate a good Predator reference.

 

[Nuage420]

i was under the impression on my little marcus EQ 2 was off when the dials were at zero? Can anyone confirm this? Is it the same for all Markbass? what would a foot switch do and why if that is the only way to change a setting wouldn't it be included?

 

[BernardBass]

i was under the impression on my little marcus EQ 2 was off when the dials were at zero? Can anyone confirm this? Is it the same for all Markbass? what would a foot switch do and why if that is the only way to change a setting wouldn't it be included?

So I have the limited edition, which is slightly different it has 3 knobs, 1. mid sweep 2. 16db cut/boost and the old school. There is no option for "off" on the semi parametric controls

hence why i need the foot switch to turn the channel/Eq2 on and off.

Yours however, "old schhol + millerizer" vle, vlf can be turned off

Is it the same for all Markbass? yes, vle and vlf are on nearly all MB models in some form or fashion.

I like having the options that the foot switch opens for my tone choices in a live situation. Its not necessary for all models, and its not included probably to make money lol

 

[Nuage420]

So I have the limited edition, which is slightly different it has 3 knobs, 1. mid sweep 2. 16db cut/boost and the old school. There is no option for "off" on the semi parametric controls
View attachment 3897269

hence why i need the foot switch to turn the channel/Eq2 on and off.

Yours however, "old schhol + millerizer" vle, vlf can be turned off
View attachment 3897268

Is it the same for all Markbass? yes, vle and vlf are on nearly all MB models in some form or fashion.

I like having the options that the foot switch opens for my tone choices in a live situation. Its not necessary for all models, and its not included probably to make money lol

Aha! Stuff to look forward to when i move up to a big boy rig

 

[BernardBass]

Aha! Stuff to look forward to when i move up to a big boy rig

Each rig suits the players needs dudeio!

 

[Nuage420]

Each rig suits the players needs dudeio!

I hear that loud and clear!

 

[Nuage420]

Oh yes, my only audience is my poor wife and kids so it's safe to say I have plenty of headroom. I won't be needing anything more for a long time

 

[BertnErnie]

yeah im in an acdc tribute and up against 2X100watt (4x12) guitar cabs.... so im usually crazy loud + lots of low mids to cut. also i try emulate the different tones for the different songs so i go from crazy vintage to quite modern at times.

plus i do love my funk, motown, blues and metal... so lol all that from 1 head cab and bass is a tall ask but my setup does it quite well...but only at home.

it feels like bass players need to be frequency ninjas to just find that spot where we dont mess with the rest of the band and youre lucky if a guitarist knows what the knobs on his guitar do. lads in my band no matter the venue have the same amp and guitar settings just to give you an idea of what i have to deal with lol

I too was in an ACDC cover band. Competing with loud Marshall cabs from two guitarists is why I eventually left.
I found that I spent lots of money on amps and cabs just so I could hear myself. Result: blown speakers, blown cash, blown eardrums..... it was a continuous race to the top with volume.