Holdsg
Well-known member
Well, here in the US they cost a lot of money too. But once I went Markbass, I found my tone, and I haven't gone back to anything else since.
- Thread starter bob atherton
- Start date
Well, here in the US they cost a lot of money too. But once I went Markbass, I found my tone, and I haven't gone back to anything else since.
bob atherton
Well-known member
Well, I've just bought a new Little Mark III amp and it will be with me on Tuesday.
For now I will use it with my existing Ashdown ABM 2x10 cabs. In time I would like to get 2 1x12 neo cabs. One for our band rehearsal room and one for home practice. Then for gigs I just pack them both into the back of the car. I think this could be the perfect answer to my needs
For now I will use it with my existing Ashdown ABM 2x10 cabs. In time I would like to get 2 1x12 neo cabs. One for our band rehearsal room and one for home practice. Then for gigs I just pack them both into the back of the car. I think this could be the perfect answer to my needs
melvin7822
Well-known member
Well, I've just bought a new Little Mark III amp and it will be with me on Tuesday.
For now I will use it with my existing Ashdown ABM 2x10 cabs. In time I would like to get 2 1x12 neo cabs. One for our band rehearsal room and one for home practice. Then for gigs I just pack them both into the back of the car. I think this could be the perfect answer to my needs
The Markbass NY 121 is under 30 lbs and super portable.
vguilbault
Well-known member
Hi Bob!
Here is my input.... I was equipped with a Amped SVT410HLF (110 lbs) with a Ampeg B2Re head (about 50lbs..) WAY to heavy... but good tone... I added a SansAmp RBI pre-amp on it to add growl and big tone... To heavy for me at 4:00 am after a gig!!!!
So I got a Markbass CMD102P (combo 42 lbs), and it sounds amazing by itself.. but I'v add my SansAmp RBI, and WOW!!!!! This little bomb sounds just amazing! My tone is THE TONE I was looking for years.... And to add more, when I'm on a gig, I use my CMD102p as a monitor for me (you can tild the amp on it's back..) and take the XLR output from my SansAmp RBI to the mixing board... I never heard a good sound like that!!! Amazing!!!
Good luck!!!
Vincent
Here is my input.... I was equipped with a Amped SVT410HLF (110 lbs) with a Ampeg B2Re head (about 50lbs..) WAY to heavy... but good tone... I added a SansAmp RBI pre-amp on it to add growl and big tone... To heavy for me at 4:00 am after a gig!!!!
So I got a Markbass CMD102P (combo 42 lbs), and it sounds amazing by itself.. but I'v add my SansAmp RBI, and WOW!!!!! This little bomb sounds just amazing! My tone is THE TONE I was looking for years.... And to add more, when I'm on a gig, I use my CMD102p as a monitor for me (you can tild the amp on it's back..) and take the XLR output from my SansAmp RBI to the mixing board... I never heard a good sound like that!!! Amazing!!!
Good luck!!!
Vincent
Movielife
Well-known member
Look out for the new Markbass 2x12 coming out! (4 ohm)
Amps I'd recommend: RH450, F1, LM3.
Amps I'd recommend: RH450, F1, LM3.
drTStingray
Well-known member
Well, I've just bought a new Little Mark III amp and it will be with me on Tuesday.
For now I will use it with my existing Ashdown ABM 2x10 cabs. In time I would like to get 2 1x12 neo cabs. One for our band rehearsal room and one for home practice. Then for gigs I just pack them both into the back of the car. I think this could be the perfect answer to my needs
Bob, can you let us know how you get on with this set up.
I have the same rig set up, more or less than you and have been thinking of using a Markbass amp with the cabs.
Don.
bob atherton
Well-known member
Don, will do. The Ashdown has been just great. My bands have been a bit more blusey, rocky, funky over the past 10 years but now aside from the odd gig with my old power trio Mantiss, it is nearly all jazz/fusion/funk/world/ambient. I'm looking for a tighter more focused sound with a really good mid to nail the fusion sound I can hear in my head but not through the Ashdown.
Also I'm now 52 and when I got the 2x10's about five years ago I swear they were lighter than they are now...
Over the next couple of months I have quite a few jazz/fusion gigs, I'm in the studio next Thursday and I have one gig with Mantiss. Should be a good road test for the Markbass. I'll get back here with an update.
snowbum
Well-known member
I am not sure "HOW" portable you are looking for, but I have found a diamond in the rough when it comes to nice tight punchy amp tone with a MM bass (sterling for me)
Now keep in mind, these amps are not in the Arena rocking size (coffee shop, studio size) but I just acquired an Orange Crush 35b amp (The ones being made now are 50 watt). It is 35 watt with a 1x12 speaker in a little 20ish pound combo.
I originally purchased it as I was looking for a small amp for some more intimate venues that I play, and let me tell you I was blown away. I used it yesterday at the bigger venue I play at and ran it line out to the board, and I got that nice tight punchy sound from the pre-amp direct to the board (I was testing to see if all that tone was just the combo 12 inch, but its not). So if you have a nice sound system to work with this is a great option. Bear in mind when I play venues that a little combo like that won't work, I use my GK 1001RB and 4x10 cab (wanting to get a 2x12).
Anyways, for the incredible price (I scored mine on CL for 100 bucks), I have been blown away with the punchy tone of the Orange crush bass line. Their Terror bass tube head sounds pretty dang awesome too.
But for a studio amp, or small venue, or ability to run to a large FOH, I have been pleased.
Now keep in mind, these amps are not in the Arena rocking size (coffee shop, studio size) but I just acquired an Orange Crush 35b amp (The ones being made now are 50 watt). It is 35 watt with a 1x12 speaker in a little 20ish pound combo.
I originally purchased it as I was looking for a small amp for some more intimate venues that I play, and let me tell you I was blown away. I used it yesterday at the bigger venue I play at and ran it line out to the board, and I got that nice tight punchy sound from the pre-amp direct to the board (I was testing to see if all that tone was just the combo 12 inch, but its not). So if you have a nice sound system to work with this is a great option. Bear in mind when I play venues that a little combo like that won't work, I use my GK 1001RB and 4x10 cab (wanting to get a 2x12).
Anyways, for the incredible price (I scored mine on CL for 100 bucks), I have been blown away with the punchy tone of the Orange crush bass line. Their Terror bass tube head sounds pretty dang awesome too.
But for a studio amp, or small venue, or ability to run to a large FOH, I have been pleased.
bob atherton
Well-known member
Thanks Scott. As I say I've got a Markbass Little Mark III on the way to me at the moment and I'll be using it with my two 2x10 Ashdown cabs for now. I think that I will be looking for two small, maybe 1x12 neo cabs, to use with the MB, but I think the Ashdowns will give me a feeling of what I may be looking for. The Orange sounds like a great combo!
It would be nice if the heaviest thing that I have to carry to a gig would be the SR4 in its case...!
It would be nice if the heaviest thing that I have to carry to a gig would be the SR4 in its case...!
snowbum
Well-known member
No doubt, lighter is better Thats why I quit the skinny stringer haha, my pedalboard I had weighed more than my tube amp
Those MB amps do sound amazing, and I think you will be happy with the tone you get for sure, there is a reason you hear so many MM and MB combos!
I would like to find a 1x12 or 2x12 cab to go with my GK at some point, the GK has a nice mid growl too, but I was just absolutely floored at what that little 35 watt Orange could pull off.
Thats why I quit the skinny stringer haha, my pedalboard I had weighed more than my tube amp Those MB amps do sound amazing, and I think you will be happy with the tone you get for sure, there is a reason you hear so many MM and MB combos!
I would like to find a 1x12 or 2x12 cab to go with my GK at some point, the GK has a nice mid growl too, but I was just absolutely floored at what that little 35 watt Orange could pull off.
bob atherton
Well-known member
My new MB comes today, I can’t wait.
Just a thought, but if I swapped out my Ashdown 10 drivers in my 2x10 ABM cabs with something like the Celestion 10” orange Neo’s then I might get a slightly lighter cab with more mid punch, or I might get a bag of nails!
Has anyone here swapped out there old 10’s for the Celestion orange Neo’s?
Just a thought, but if I swapped out my Ashdown 10 drivers in my 2x10 ABM cabs with something like the Celestion 10” orange Neo’s then I might get a slightly lighter cab with more mid punch, or I might get a bag of nails!
Has anyone here swapped out there old 10’s for the Celestion orange Neo’s?
bob atherton
Well-known member
I’ve now got the LMIII and I’m very pleased with it. I did a quick listen with my Ashdown ABM 500 head and then tried the LMIII. It gave me much more of the sound that I was after. It has more scale, depth, balls and grunt than the Ashdown.
The Ashdown gives a very pure sound that is quite hi-fi but not really valve/tubey enough. The Ashdown actually has a tube in the pre amp the one can dial in, but if I do this I loose all the focus and punch of the bass. With the Markbass it has no tubes at all yet, quite uncannily, reminds me much more of my old Hiwatt 100 head from the 70’s than the Ashdown has ever done.
I was in the studio all day Thursday and it was a place that I have not played in before, The engineer just miced up the Ashdown cab, no DI at all. I thought this was quite unusual and very old school, but went along with it. I have now heard the mix and the sound is massive. If someone said that it was an Ampeg 8x10 on a good day with a bit of extra punch and focus that would sum up the sound. I’m now thinking that maybe I will stick with the Ashdown 2x10’s and not go for the Aguilar BD112's that I have been gassing over.
Still don’t know if I might change the drivers in the Ashdown cabs though. I still think the Celestion orange series ones might fit the bill. I’ll stick with the Ashdown bluelines for now anyway.
The Ashdown gives a very pure sound that is quite hi-fi but not really valve/tubey enough. The Ashdown actually has a tube in the pre amp the one can dial in, but if I do this I loose all the focus and punch of the bass. With the Markbass it has no tubes at all yet, quite uncannily, reminds me much more of my old Hiwatt 100 head from the 70’s than the Ashdown has ever done.
I was in the studio all day Thursday and it was a place that I have not played in before, The engineer just miced up the Ashdown cab, no DI at all. I thought this was quite unusual and very old school, but went along with it. I have now heard the mix and the sound is massive. If someone said that it was an Ampeg 8x10 on a good day with a bit of extra punch and focus that would sum up the sound. I’m now thinking that maybe I will stick with the Ashdown 2x10’s and not go for the Aguilar BD112's that I have been gassing over.
Still don’t know if I might change the drivers in the Ashdown cabs though. I still think the Celestion orange series ones might fit the bill. I’ll stick with the Ashdown bluelines for now anyway.
Movielife
Well-known member
The Markbass amps just work wonders with the EBMM basses....they just fit together perfectly.
bob atherton
Well-known member
Well in the end after a lot of listening and talking to other bassists my search for two 1x12 cabs has now ended. I have bought two 2x10 cabs!
I've now ordered two of the TC Electronics RS210 cabs. They have a smaller footprint than any of the 12's I tried, and stack into a scary looking tower that I hope will be gig friendly, certainly sounds good anyway.
So I will now have one cab at our rehearsal room, the other cab at home for practice and for small gigs one cab will do. For bigger gigs I'll give the scary-stack a go.
Thanks for all the help here, Bob.
I've now ordered two of the TC Electronics RS210 cabs. They have a smaller footprint than any of the 12's I tried, and stack into a scary looking tower that I hope will be gig friendly, certainly sounds good anyway.
So I will now have one cab at our rehearsal room, the other cab at home for practice and for small gigs one cab will do. For bigger gigs I'll give the scary-stack a go.
Thanks for all the help here, Bob.
