Off Topic Markbass kicks butt

[adouglas]

Due to circumstances beyond our control, last night's gig was played through another band's PA.

To keep things as simple as possible, rather than set up my regular Bose rig I brought a Markbass CMD121p combo and plugged it in to the PA. I put it on a barstool so it was at a bit above waist height.

For a very small and light 1x12 combo, this thing sounds amazingly good when cranked up. Plenty loud.

That is all.

 

[JayDawg]

I recently played a few Markbass amps and was very impressed with them. If I had the money right now I would look at getting a nice little set up with them.

 

[cyoungnashville]

ive done a couple live gigs with these amps now. im really really impressed with the clarity and punch on stage. i used to use eden amps, which had plenty of punch to spare, and a killer deep tone. unfortunately once the band joined in, it all kinda turned to mud in the mix and i was constantly being asked to turn down. now i have every bit of support on stage i ever got from eden, BUT... i can clearly hear every single note / nuance. not to mention the tone is amazing, and i can be twice as loud now without being asked to turn down. so... all that to say, i am now 1/3rd qualified to answer classified ads stipulating "pro attitude / pro gear / reliable transportation."!!!

 

[Woitseck]

comparison

Can anybody compare Markbass Little Mark Tube vs. Ampeg SVT 7 PRO (i think its around the same $ )?? And if markbass heads go well with speakers? I'm kinda hesitating before choosing with which set i would like to stick with... So...

Markbass LMark Tube + Markbass speakers (2x10" or 4x10", though that's 800W)
Markbass LMark Tube + ampeg speakers (i don't know which one)
Ampeg SVT-7 PRO + markbass speakers
Ampeg svt-7 pro + ampeg speakers...

Can somebody give me any useful advice?

THX

 

[0DDJ0B]

I personally like GK cabs with my LMIII. I just recently made the switch from a CMD121P and NY112.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Can anybody compare Markbass Little Mark Tube vs. Ampeg SVT 7 PRO (i think its around the same $ )?? And if markbass heads go well with speakers? I'm kinda hesitating before choosing with which set i would like to stick with... So...

Markbass LMark Tube + Markbass speakers (2x10" or 4x10", though that's 800W)
Markbass LMark Tube + ampeg speakers (i don't know which one)
Ampeg SVT-7 PRO + markbass speakers
Ampeg svt-7 pro + ampeg speakers...

Can somebody give me any useful advice?

THX

Until recently I owned both a Markbass LM800 (not the LM Tube model) and an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro.

My thoughts -

* the 800 watt Markbass had just as much volume as the Ampeg (advertised as 1000w).
* the Ampeg does a good job of getting an SVT tone (but not as good as the new Genz Benz Streamliner)
* the Markbass is a more versatile head, with a wider range of tones. It can do old school and hi fi.
* the Ampeg weighs 15lbs, the Markbass 6 or 7 (off the top of my head)
* the Ampeg is a much larger physical unit than the Markbass, so while the Markbass is easy to pick up in one hand, the heavier/larger Ampeg is a bit trickier to lug around when it's not in a rack case/bag
* the Markbass sounded best with front ported cabs. The Ampeg sounded good through either front ported or sealed cabs.
* Strangely, the Markbass head didn't sound as good as the Ampeg into a Markbass CL152 sealed cab.

 

[Holdsg]

I have the LM Tube 500W and have played it thru both MB cabs and other cabs.
I don't know if its been mentioned earlier, but the tube in the LM Tube is really subtle, which I like, but its not geared to emulate the SVT, just add some warmth and presence to the already great MB tone.
I was pleased with the MB cabs, but I was persuaded by others here and elsewhere to try other cabs.
I prefer the tone of my Bergantino 210HS to the MB Traveler 210 I used to have as a small room/portable rig, but I also added 20 lbs to the amount of cabs I have to lug.
I have not been interested in anything Ampeg since they started being built overseas. again, probably the gear snob in me.

 

[OldManMusic]

I'm with adouglas on this. I have been using the Markbass CMD121p combo since November 2010 and it does eveything I need it to and then some. Sweet tubby tones with my Bongo H.

 

[syciprider]

My main rig is a CMD 121P. I like the weight to power ratio and the easy to use, non para EQ tone controls. I never found it wanting although the places I play always have PA.

 

[Grga]

With the LM II I use two lightweight cabinets from the cabinet builder FMC (Germany).

FMC Gallerie - fmc-audios jimdo page!

Both of the cabinets have neodyme speakers and they come with 8 ohm, so together they work like charm with the LM II. I use 15' and 12'+8'+Horn. The 15' has a subswitch.. good to use for Rock or Reggae for example.

 

[MadMatt]

I use 15' and 12'+10'+Horn.

I have the FMC 12"+8"+Horn on my RH450. Excellent combination. If any of you ever come to Germany check them out. FMC is one of our best kept secrets here in old europe.... uh... used to be... Darn'it!

 

[drTStingray]

i agree. I played through an f500 with a 4 x 10 cab and ive never heard anything to beat it in the room or on stage. When ive got some funds i may switch but for now ashdown does the job for me but is comparatively heavy.

 

[Alvabass]

I love my MoMark head.

 

[MattOfSweden]

With the LM II I use two lightweight cabinets from the cabinet builder FMC (Germany).

FMC Gallerie - fmc-audios jimdo page!

Both of the cabinets have neodyme speakers and they come with 8 ohm, so together they work like charm with the LM II. I use 15' and 12'+8'+Horn. The 15' has a subswitch.. good to use for Rock or Reggae for example.

I have the FMC 12"+8"+Horn on my RH450. Excellent combination. If any of you ever come to Germany check them out. FMC is one of our best kept secrets here in old europe.... uh... used to be... Darn'it!

The FMC cabs look very interesting, thanks for letting the secret out guys!

 

[MattOfSweden]

To make an on topic comment as well, I played a gig with a friend's Markbass LMII and my TecAmp M212 the other weekend, and had an amazingly good sound. Very impressive! (Played my 20th anni SR4 btw).

 

[Grga]

The FMC cabs look very interesting, thanks for letting the secret out guys!

You're very welcome Matt. The owner of that company is Hans Struck. He is a good bass player by himself and has a lot of know how building these cabinets. If we can help you out let us know. I'm a member of the FMC test network, so from time to time people come around for testing my cabinets. No joke, all but one person placed an FMC order after these meetings.

 

[MadMatt]

No joke, all but one person placed an FMC order after these meetings.

Guilty as charged

 

[mfallmann]

I have the FMC 12"+8"+Horn on my RH450. Excellent combination. If any of you ever come to Germany check them out. FMC is one of our best kept secrets here in old europe.... uh... used to be... Darn'it!

I have a 2x12 + 8" FMC and a 2x10 + piezo FMC. Both rated 400W @ 4 Ohm. Together with my Carvin BX500, I can tear down walls ...

 

[RaginRog]

I'm a believer too...love my cmd 102p so much, i recently picked up another LM III to use with an old Peavey 410.

 

[ksandvik]

Due to circumstances beyond our control, last night's gig was played through another band's PA.

To keep things as simple as possible, rather than set up my regular Bose rig I brought a Markbass CMD121p combo and plugged it in to the PA. I put it on a barstool so it was at a bit above waist height.

For a very small and light 1x12 combo, this thing sounds amazingly good when cranked up. Plenty loud.

That is all.

Yep. CMD121p is my main workhorse. Either just that one via PA, or standalone for quiet gigs, or with a 2x10 extension cabinet for full 550W of power. It's like layering (clothes), you could mix-and-match the setup with this combo. This is why I like it a lot.