Bought a Markbass F1 today.

[Oldtoe]

I'll give a full report after I've gotten to play with it through my 410 cabinet for a bit; but I really am in love with these amps. I tried the Little Mark II first, but it didn't scratch the itch like the F1. What a great piece!

One thing, though. The GC in Plano, TX has a floor model F1 that has gone kaput. I bought the only other one they had in stock. The floor model will turn on and receive a signal but has no output. I told three different people there, but I don't think they did anything about it. Maybe one of the powers-that-be can help with getting it fixed if they read this.

Meanwhile...I'm going to play with my new toy! My back is already thanking me.

 

[Jodizzle]

Give it to me when you are done.
No questions asked.

 

[Big Poppa]

love the f1

 

[Kristopher]

You know, I gave Markbass a second try a few days ago at GC. Played a Stingray through a LMII and a Markbass 2x10 cab. I have to say that I was blown away by the sound. I think my problem before was that I tried the LMII through the Ampeg 410HLF cab, which didn't work at all. If my current rig ever craps out on me, Markbass is going to be first on my list of gear to check out.

How would you say the F1 differs from the LMII? They look very similar from what I'm reading on the website.

 

[INMT]

Im still waiting to A/B the mark bass stuff with that new GK digital powered amp. To be honest I know I could go direct box to a board with the Stingray and just just fine. That thing owns.

 

[EBMM7181]

Hey Ben - make a sound clip of it!! I always enjoy listening to your awesome bass playing. You are truly a bad mofo on the bass

 

[T-bone]

Hey Oldtoe,

I can't wait to read your report. I'm currently looking at Ashdown (evo II) and Markbass (LMII). I don't itch quite like you, but maybe I should step up to the F1.

I'm tappin my toes buddy.........tbone

 

[Oldtoe]

I seem to have overlooked the fact that I do not own a speakon/speakon speaker cable. My other amp uses a banana/speakon and a 1/4" to 1/4". Rats!

Guess I'll have to patronize the local mullet-run music store tomorrow and hope they have one.

 

[Oldtoe]

Hey Ben - make a sound clip of it!! I always enjoy listening to your awesome bass playing. You are truly a bad mofo on the bass

Bless your tasteless soul, my friend!

 

[russinator]

Most modern speakon jacks are dual function with a 1/4" right in the center.

 

[Oldtoe]

Of course they are!

Just, um, testing you. That's all.

*damn*

 

[RobertB]

How would you say the F1 differs from the LMII? They look very similar from what I'm reading on the website.

I was trying to determine that the other day too. From what I can tell, the main difference is the F1's digital front end/power amp.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Ben, that MarkBass stuff is good, damn good! I find that I'm using my "vintage" MarkBass Club 450 more and more. I weighs twice as much as my LMII (Dang good stuff too), but I have it in a rack with a dbx 160A and it just kills!

You play good enough to be heard Ben, good and loud my friend!

 

[oli@bass]

I tried the Little Mark II first, but it didn't scratch the itch like the F1. What a great piece!

Congratulations! The F1 is an incredible amp.
However, if you're finished loving the clean sound and starting to look for a bit of dirt, I highly recommend to pair the F1 with a SansAmp RBI. This combination just kills.

I was trying to determine that the other day too. From what I can tell, the main difference is the F1's digital front end/power amp.

It should be the same. But IMO the F1 is a tiny bit more "direct", "clean", "in your face". It's hard to described in words. Then again, I hear flies cough ...Also, the F1 has power to waste. It feels extremely dynamic, you get the impression as if the string on the bass is directly connected to the speaker cone. I'd recommend to try the MB amps through their cabs, because that's where you really can hear (or feel) the difference.

 

[Oldtoe]

This amp is what I've been looking for all my life. It's mostly transparent and makes my Bongo speak loud and clear. If I dig in, I can put a little hair on the sound. It's a nice, "whole" sort of tone; and does absolute justice to a good-sounding bass. Honestly, I'm completely in love. This thing is very loud through my 4-Ohm 410 cabinet. 9 o'clock on the master was loud enough to rattle the pictures in my living room into a crooked mess. Wonderful.

 

[Baird]

love the f1

+1

Congratulations! The F1 is an incredible amp.
However, if you're finished loving the clean sound and starting to look for a bit of dirt, I highly recommend to pair the F1 with a SansAmp RBI. This combination just kills.

And +1.

I own all kinds of Ampeg gear and since I got my F1 last summer, I haven't gigged with anything else. It is light and sounds great. I am still using Ampeg cabs though (1x15 and 2x10) and it is a great combination.

The F1 paired with a SansAmp RBI is amazing and I always use the RBI. They sound even better with you add a BBE Sonic Maximizer.

 

[Morrow]

I just love it when you get all happy and **** , Ben .

 

[Oldtoe]

Me, too, Morrow. And then the pills run out.

 

[b0b4f377]

Thread necromancy *gasp*

I'm looking into Markbass amps, specifically the F1 or SD800, since they're the ones that have 2 speakon outs. Wondering if you still have your F1, Oldtoe, and what you'd have to say about it now. What's your in-depth review?

 

[smallequestrian]

Thread necromancy *gasp*

I'm looking into Markbass amps, specifically the F1 or SD800, since they're the ones that have 2 speakon outs. Wondering if you still have your F1, Oldtoe, and what you'd have to say about it now. What's your in-depth review?

You don't need two speakon outputs. You can daisy chain the second cab by connecting it to the first. The SD800 is voiced much differently (not as nice IMO) then the F1. The F1 and LMK sound pretty close, with the F1 being a bit cleaner than the LMK.