Markbass Mini CMD 121P

[Powman]

The Traveler 121H has a 12" and a 1" compression driver with custom horn.
The New York is a smaller cab, with the same speaker and a piezo tweeter.
The different tweeter gives the cab a different character in the high end.
The Traveler is a bigger cab, so it will give you a somewhat "bigger", fuller sound, but then it's not as portable as the New York 121.

Either cab is a good match for the Mini CMD 121P, you just have to decide whether the extra oomph of the bigger cab is worth it to you relative to the sacrifice in portability, and I guess price.
I have both cabs, and I think that the Traveler 121H is a better sounding cab overall, but the New York 121 is just fantastic when you add it to the combo.

Cheers,
Peter

Thanks again for the advice, Peter.

I am considering both. I want to try out both side by side, but I actually may be leaning towards the Traveller 121.

Is it a bad idea to mix a 15 inch speaker the CMD 121H? Is it better to stick with a 12 incher?

[mrpackerguy]

I've owned both and kept the Walkabout Scout. If they didn't make a Walkabout Scout, I'd own the 121p, but there's just something magical about the tone you can dial up and out of the Walkabout. The 121p is easier to tote and a great combo amp suitable for small and medium sized venues like the Walkabout. If you are patient, they come up on TB used around the $750 range, same as the 121p.

[Deaj]

I demo'd a CMD12 when I first took notice of the Markbass amps. The little 1x12 combo seems like the perfect grab & go bass amp - small, lightweight, ultra portable, and fantastic tones! I really like 12's for bass too. After demo'ing most of the Markbass amps, however, I found I preferred the 1x15 Jeff Berlin signature combo. It's front ported with a larger enclosure and no tweeter/horn. It sounds like a loud, clean Ampeg B-15 N - perfect fit for me. I'd still like to get a CMD12 someday.

[Peter Murray]

Thanks again for the advice, Peter.

I am considering both. I want to try out both side by side, but I actually may be leaning towards the Traveller 121.

Is it a bad idea to mix a 15 inch speaker the CMD 121H? Is it better to stick with a 12 incher?

There's nothing "wrong" with mixing speakers... obviously every recipe will have a different "flavour" in the end. The 15 will add low-mid warmth, will take it in a less aggressive, less pointed direction. Good for more old-school stuff, not so good for most rock or pop (in my opinion). Many people feel that there is a sonic benefit to sticking with one speaker size, that the cabs match up better that way. It's what I tend to do, but there's no rule. Adding a 12 to a 12 will simply give you more "12ness"... Adding a 15 will add 15ness to your 12ness, and adding 10s will add 10ness to your 12ness!

Cheers,
Peter

[Evangelos]

Hi there,

I recently bought a Markbass CMD 121P LM3 combo amp.

It looks alright, yet I'm having a couple of issues with it.

1. The cooling fan: it runs the whole time (as soon as Ι switch on the amplifier) and it sounds rather loud to me - that said, I don't really know what is considered loud and what not. You can definitely hear the fan running in a quiet average size room. This is my biggest concern/issue with this amp - i wish the fan would be quieter...

2. A hissing tweeter: it makes a hissing sound even with the volume turned completely down. I could put a piece of insulation foam between the tweeter and the protective grille, in order to muffle it. I think the foam will absorb the hissing noise.

Have you had any such issues with this amp. Are you generally happy with it? I mostly use it for practice at home and I am thinking of returning it and getting some other (smaller) amp, given that I have a 30 day satisfaction/return guarantee. It would be a shame as I find the CMD 121P to be a combo amp with lots of possibilities.

Cheers,
Evangelos

[spencer]

That fan is not loud.. Go grab a db750 that's loud! N

[Evangelos]

That fan is not loud.. Go grab a db750 that's loud! N

Thanks for the quick reply!

Do you mean that this level of fan noise is normal for an amp of that much power?

Does it not bother you when you practice/study? Do you just get used to it?

Cheers,
E

[spencer]

It has never bothered me, I never thought about fan noise with it. Only two times I actually thought about a fan and it was with the gk1001 because it wasn't on at first and then came on which I noticed.. When I first hot the db750 I thought it was loud I don't hear it anymore

[Evangelos]

It has never bothered me, I never thought about fan noise with it. Only two times I actually thought about a fan and it was with the gk1001 because it wasn't on at first and then came on which I noticed.. When I first hot the db750 I thought it was loud I don't hear it anymore

Well, it is probably a matter of getting used to it - or getting a small practice amp without a fan.

By the way, do you think I could use the "tuner out" or the "effects out" to connect a pair of headphones? I haven't dared to do so yet as I wouldn't want that anything happens to the amp...

[spencer]

I would just try it keep volume in bass low and slowly increase, however I doubt it will put out serious volume..

[baske]

Hi there,

.

2. A hissing tweeter: it makes a hissing sound even with the volume turned completely down. I could put a piece of insulation foam between the tweeter and the protective grille, in order to muffle it. I think the foam will absorb the hissing noise.


Cheers,
Evangelos

I had the same feeling about the hissing tweeter,
thats because its a piezo,
Ive put a real tweeter in the 121 and the problem was gone!

Seeya

[Evangelos]

I had the same feeling about the hissing tweeter,
thats because its a piezo,
Ive put a real tweeter in the 121 and the problem was gone!

Seeya

Hi there and thanks for the reply. Yes, I might do the same or just muffle the piezo with a piece of foam.

But what about the fan noise? What is your experience with it?

I would just like to practice quietly at home with this amp but fan noise somewhat ruins it...

cheers,
E

[Movielife]

How loud is the fan?

I have a LM3 amp...and yes the fan is always on, its not loud though. My old Trace 400GP12SMX... that was fairly loud.....and weighed a tonne!

[Evangelos]

How loud is the fan?

I have a LM3 amp...and yes the fan is always on, its not loud though. My old Trace 400GP12SMX... that was fairly loud.....and weighed a tonne!

Well, as loud as an average computer fan - perhaps a bit louder.

I may have unrealistic expectations, in terms of quietness, from a 300/500wrms amp...

[Movielife]

Try and compare it to another amp/combo. My fan is by no means silent....but it doesnt interfere with my playing. I don't sit that close to it though.