Why the negativity regarding Markbass?

[Scribbler]

And what would you say is the difference in sound between the MarkBass and the Marshall?

The Markbass has greater clarity which I need because I put other stringed instruments (guitar, mandola, etc) through it as well as a Rickenbacker (1976, 4001) and it's perfect for all of them ...
But I have to admit that the biggest attraction for me IS that, whereas the Marshall weighs an effing ton, the Markbass doesn't!

 

[Up the dose]

The amps are solid, good sounding class D amps. The 1×12 combo is light , sounds good ,is a great city gig amp, though also a bit pricey. The yellow speakers look kind of juvenile. That's the rub. People don't dig the speakers.

 

[Scribbler]

The amps are solid, good sounding class D amps. The 1×12 combo is light , sounds good ,is a great city gig amp, though also a bit pricey. The yellow speakers look kind of juvenile. That's the rub. People don't dig the speakers.

The speakers... fabulous. I love that yellow... was definitely a decider for me. We players of guitars and basses are an ultra-conservative lot who take ourselves VERY seriously and don't like the introduction of something 'frivolous' or that smacks of any kind of levity. Or even looks like a new idea... or sometimes even something new, period. There aren't many activities where an old, bashed up version of something (sorry, 'road-worn'...) that looks like it's on its last legs is going to cost up to twice as much as a pristine one.

 

[TrevorG]

The speakers... fabulous. I love that yellow... was definitely a decider for me. We players of guitars and basses are an ultra-conservative lot who take ourselves VERY seriously and don't like the introduction of something 'frivolous' or that smacks of any kind of levity. Or even looks like a new idea... or sometimes even something new, period. There aren't many activities where an old, bashed up version of something (sorry, 'road-worn'...) that looks like it's on its last legs is going to cost up to twice as much as a pristine one.

Ha ha. Fair point but I have to say it's not just the conservative musos that don't like the livery. I've had singers look at my rig as if I've brought a distraction into the room to steal their thunder. Likewise corporate gigs don't like anybody advertising but them. If someone offered me a Messa Boogie stack in exchange for my rig - I'd turn them down flat. If someone offered me my exact same rig without the yellow, I'd take it.

 

[Scribbler]

Ha ha. Fair point but I have to say it's not just the conservative musos that don't like the livery. I've had singers look at my rig as if I've brought a distraction into the room to steal their thunder. Likewise corporate gigs don't like anybody advertising but them. If someone offered me a Messa Boogie stack in exchange for my rig - I'd turn them down flat. If someone offered me my exact same rig without the yellow, I'd take it.

Love the bit about the singer! I have to admit I partly played bass instead of guitar more often because a) there are much better guitarists (I'm the only guitar/bass player in our outfit so no competition...) and b) I can hide in the background... I have to admit that the yellow rather blows the latter one out of the water!

 

[cflat]

You'll never hear me badmouthing them, Markbass makes quality stuff that doesn't break and is really smartly designed.

I had 2 mulitamp S..one died almost immediatly upon turning on, the next one dies within 24 hours.
2Strikes/Markbass is out

 

[Flamingo21]

^ Floor models, perhaps?

 

[el murdoque]

They are small, light loud and yellow. What's there to dislike?

Back when I was shopping for a 412 full stack I'd have taken the MB version, but they did not have an 8 ohms 212 cab. Now that they do, I'm done shopping for cabs and settled on something else.
I've owned MB heads and always liked them. Very simple, yet effective - I've had all EQ controls between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock at all times.
Plug it in, tweak a tiny bit and you're set.
I think the two strongest factors that can bring people to dislike them is their strong and bold choice concerning color (I dig yellow), and the fact that the sound of their equipment is quite direct. A sloppy player will sound sloppy. A bass that's below par in the sound quality will sound below par.
There's not much to mask that and not much to hide behind. Just plain old what you put in there comes out louder.

 

[BostonJazz72]

View attachment 2826957
I wonder what the top horn is made of. Must be awfully strong.

Paul Lairat's basses are very solid. The horns/splints are made of mahogany, maple, and walnut. Really love mine.

 

[Scribbler]

Fabulous! And, on a practical note, what a brilliant place to put the knobs... nicely out of the way of being knocked by one's plucking hand.

 

[Scribbler]

They are small, light loud and yellow. What's there to dislike?

Back when I was shopping for a 412 full stack I'd have taken the MB version, but they did not have an 8 ohms 212 cab. Now that they do, I'm done shopping for cabs and settled on something else.
I've owned MB heads and always liked them. Very simple, yet effective - I've had all EQ controls between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock at all times.
Plug it in, tweak a tiny bit and you're set.
I think the two strongest factors that can bring people to dislike them is their strong and bold choice concerning color (I dig yellow), and the fact that the sound of their equipment is quite direct. A sloppy player will sound sloppy. A bass that's below par in the sound quality will sound below par.
There's not much to mask that and not much to hide behind. Just plain old what you put in there comes out louder.[/QUOTE)

I love that clarity... whatever little subtle something one does on the bass comes out loud and clear.
I've mainly got a Steinberger L2 going into mine, so that really is Clarity Plus... occasionally a Rickenbacker 4001 or a Wal fretless and all three have a habit of being clear as a bell through a Markbass... I love that.
I know it sounds odd , but I use a Marshall head (the only head i have ATM) and that still has that focus.

 

[Flamingo21]

I love that clarity... whatever little subtle something one does on the bass comes out loud and clear.

 

[Pepebass]

I was able to take out the amp from the CMD 102p combo because it is reproducing a high pitch noise no mattter all knobs are down.

 

[SJan3]

I've used them 2 times on supplied backline. Hated the sound, and I couldn't get decent volume. I was expecting to love 'em, and I was disappointed.

You likely didn't know how they operate.

 

[Al Kraft]

I've used them 2 times on supplied backline. Hated the sound, and I couldn't get decent volume. I was expecting to love 'em, and I was disappointed.

That's surprises me based on my own experience. I've used them on backlines as well (I don't own any Markbass gear) and was satisfied with the sound and volume. IMO the Markbass EQ and voicing filters are thoughtfully designed and very effective. I wonder if you had some equipment supplied that wasn't performing at 100%.

Markbass gear in general isn't the voicing/sound I gravitate towards (I'm more in the Mesa, GK, Aguilar, Berg camp), but I've yet to hear or play a Markbass rig that I couldn't get a decent sound out of. My experience is mainly with their 15" and 10" loaded cabs and various versions of the Little Mark heads.

 

[jeff7bass]

When they moved production from a high wage country to a low wage country without lowering prices, I lost interest in wanting to own one.

And they swapped out the seriously good B&C drivers for some other brand.

 

[SJan3]

And they swapped out the seriously good B&C drivers for some other brand.

There is no indication that the current yellow line speakers are inferior to the b&c speakers.
Those who listen with their ears as opposed to their eyes don't hear any meaningful difference and MarkBass claims that the new speakers are made to the same sonic standards as the old ones.
And current quality control has been shown to be the same or better since the move to Indonesia.

 

[jeff7bass]

There is no indication that the current yellow line speakers are inferior to the b&c speakers.
Those who listen with their ears as opposed to their eyes don't hear any meaningful difference and MarkBass claims that the new speakers are made to the same sonic standards as the old ones.
And current quality control has been shown to be the same or better since the move to Indonesia.

Sorry but no. At least not at first. Maybe they improved them after people squawked.

 

[SJan3]

Sorry but no. At least not at first. Maybe they improved them after people squawked.

You have your opinion.

 

[Al Kraft]

I have no firsthand knowledge of, or insight on any Markbass quality changes with the transfer of manufacturing but it is not uncommon to have some start-up problems when moving to new facilities. While I'm a big fan of US manufacturing, there are some very high quality production capabilities elsewhere in the world in a wide range of industries.

IME changing country of manufacture can pose challenges (of all sorts) for a company while trying to maintain the same standards as their original in-house manufacturing and actually seeing the benefits they had hoped in their bottom line. I believe this is why GK eventually closed their China facility and brought all manufacturing back to the US.

However, despite the country of manufacture (or more correctly in most cases assembly) many of the electrical and electronic components in amplifiers pretty much have to be sourced globally. In other words, many of the end products we buy are built from components that were not made in the company of "manufacture" of that end item.

I'm not sure Markbass is any better or worse than anyone else at managing these challenges. I will say that here in the US I think I can get quicker and easier help/customer support from companies like GK, Mesa, Aguilar, Tech 21, and Bergantino than I can from an offshore company. That said, Markbass gear has been very reliable for the people I know who own their equipment.