Why does markbass have so many amp models?

[Sparky Mark]

Some models including the CMD combos and the LM3, have stayed in production for many years and probably make up the majority of sales. I consider Markbass to have been the most innovative bass amp manufacturer over the last 15 years. It constantly adds and removes models from its offering but no one should feel pressured to keep replacing theirs as if it were the latest iPhone. A common feature of all Markbass amps is the Markbass own design class D power amps of various output levels.
Even though the LM4 has recently been announced I still prefer the LM3 feature set or the Big Bang if you want to pay the extra for a mute switch and aux in. (I still prefer the LM3 XLR balanced line in on the front panel).
A relatively low risk, low cost entry to the Markbass amp tone is through a second hand LM2 or LM3. Some of the more complicated designs lose a bit of the trademark punchy sound of these earlier models in my experience.

 

[lomo]

And yet none have an aux/line in

Their FX loops are all wired in parallel, so you can use the return jack as an aux in. Fixed.

 

[lomo]

Their marketing is aggressive. It shows in their colour scheme, early deal with MuFriend, etc. They are marketing to many targets. Not a bad thing. Not my thing.

 

[nonohmic]

Their FX loops are all wired in parallel, so you can use the return jack as an aux in. Fixed.

Great to know!

 

[fhm555]

i don't buy that. Aguilar also has endorsements from some *HUGE* players and doesn't feel the need to release a janek, grey or garrison model. If an amp is a solid amp with a wide tonal range, it should be pretty sufficient for general usage...

When i shop for new amps I decide how much wattage I want, then read up on any current offerings in that range. Once i find a few i like based on controls, in/out features, and rep among current users, i set out to try those I’m interested in. Once that’s been done i pick one from the examples I was able to try.
never once in my amp buying life have I worried about models i’m not interested in. I’ve got a full enough plate researching and organizing opportunities to try the amps I’m interested in to waste any time or effort on wondering why there are so many amps i have no real interest in.
the quickest way for a sales minion to run me out of a music store is to start pushing celebrity endorsements. I’m buying an amp based on my needs, research, and a test drive, not because KroniK K. Kanuty of Flock Of Fragile Black Glass Swans, endorses it.

 

[lomo]

Great to know!

The same is true of the Quilter amps, which I love. No other major brand I am aware of does this, although there must be others.....most wire the FX loop in series so plugging something only into the FX return jack will mute the main bass input.

 

[nonohmic]

The same is true of the Quilter amps, which I love. No other major brand I am aware of does this, although there must be others.....most wire the FX loop in series so plugging something only into the FX return jack will mute the main bass input.

Also good to know. I was looking at the Quilter as well. I like it's variable power output/labeling.

 

[micahwc]

When i shop for new amps I decide how much wattage I want, then read up on any current offerings in that range. Once i find a few i like based on controls, in/out features, and rep among current users, i set out to try those I’m interested in. Once that’s been done i pick one from the examples I was able to try.
never once in my amp buying life have I worried about models i’m not interested in. I’ve got a full enough plate researching and organizing opportunities to try the amps I’m interested in to waste any time or effort on wondering why there are so many amps i have no real interest in.
the quickest way for a sales minion to run me out of a music store is to start pushing celebrity endorsements. I’m buying an amp based on my needs, research, and a test drive, not because KroniK K. Kanuty of Flock Of Fragile Black Glass Swans, endorses it.

KroniK K. Kanuty is the best bass player of all time and Flock Of Fragile Black Glass Swans held the best concert I've ever been to.

 

[fhm555]

KroniK K. Kanuty is the best bass player of all time and Flock Of Fragile Black Glass Swans held the best concert I've ever been to.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

It's kind of bewildering to figure out which one might work for a given purpose.

I wish they'd just offer 3 or 4 basic models...

The signature models have different voicings.

An amp can have an identical appearance, with the same controls, yet sound different due to things like differing tone control center frequency and Q, gain staging, etc...

In my experience, many MB product have distinct sounds and may or may not do other sounds well. Other manufacturers have different design and marketing philosophies.

I own four different brands of amplifiers and I like and keep them all for different reasons.

 

[non]

looking at their website, 22 heads alone! wow!

 

[AlexanderB]

And yet none have an aux/line in

As mentioned, the Big Bang has a dedicated 3.5mm Aux input, and so does the MARKBASS EVO1, both heads are in the current portfolio of active products.

In addition to that, the following combos also have a dedicated Aux input:
CMD 101 Micro 60
Micromark 801
Micromark 802

I will also echo that many of the other amps offer a blendable second channel, or a fixed second input on the front, for additional audio input. As a last resort, one could use the (parallel) effects return for additional audio.

 

[NoElephant]

I use this with the XLR input on my MarkBass Amp to add bluetooth:

https://www.altoprofessional.com/products/bluetooth-total-2

 

[selowitch]

that's what I'm talking about though. What is the CMD series? What is the overarching purpose for the models and where is the hierarchy? Do they all share a common preamp and poweramp design but with a couple added features or tweaks? It just seems like a funny marketing strategy

I don’t deny that it’s odd. I honestly didn’t think much about the specs when I bought my first CMD 121P back in 2009. I just figured a 1 x 12" combo with 300 watts of power would meet my needs and it has.

 

[Cave Puppy]

Why ask why?

 

[SJan3]

that's what I'm talking about though. What is the CMD series? What is the overarching purpose for the models and where is the hierarchy? Do they all share a common preamp and poweramp design but with a couple added features or tweaks? It just seems like a funny marketing strategy

Not funny. Diverse. Do some research on how different signature models tend to cater to certain styles. And others like the LittleMark lll and Big Bang are universally popular for their diversity. I'm not so sure why you find variety problematic.
P.S. CMD is their combo series

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Check out Ashdown, currently offering 18 models just in the Heads category. There are so many discontinued models the interweb had to be enlarged to hold the online manuals.

 

[lowendrv]

I'm not a MarkBass user . But the world is all about different flavors .
Why would Porsche do something silly and make so many variants ?
Porsche Models - Porsche USA

 

[Turnaround]

Say you are an electronics wiz that decides to design and build bass amps. You design one, build it and get it into production. Now what? Design another, build it and get it into production. Then what? Would you sit around and not do what you love? Maybe take up knitting?

 

[ArteK]

I currently have three Markbass amps:

• 801 Micromark, the single 8-inch speaker combo (45W) that I bought mostly for upright, but now use for about 75% of my gigs (small rooms, coffee house, etc.)
  
  
• 802 Minimark, basically a more powerful version of the Micromark (two 8-inch speakers, 150W), with a deeper cabinet that I bought to use with a drummer, because the Micromark was just a little too underpowered
  
  
• CMD-121P, their flagship 1x12 300W combo amp, which I use for any big room or outdoor gigs I do

I once had an extension cab hooked up to the CMD-121P for an outdoor gig (500W at 4 ohms through a couple of 1x12 cabs), but it was so loud I had to disconnect it. I've never needed anything bigger than the CMD-121P, but I'm not playing big room "refrigerator" amp type gigs. In fact, the two smaller amps pretty much cover 100% of the gigs that I've played over the past five years. Granted, I'm doing mostly singer-songwriter and acoustic level gigs lately, so this won't apply to people playing in double guitar loud rock bands with Bam Bam on drums.

Obviously, I'm happy they have a variety of amps to choose from.

Sorry to come off as such a fanboy, but they just work for what I need (which admittedly, is fairly modest volume levels with good punchy Precision and upright bass tone).