OK so I tried Markbass gear today...

[Eggman]

And was blown away....

Ended up coming home with the LMII head only to try with my Ampeg Portabass 2x10 and my Avatar 2x12. Both are 4 ohm so I couldn't run them together.

Tried the CMD102P combo (like Ritchie just got) - very cool - great sound - incredibly light, though a bit bigger than I thought it would be.

Then tried the Mini CMD121P - the ultra small combo with one 12" in it. Amazing - small with huge sound.

Hooked both up to a Traveler 102P extension cab and almost blew myself out of the room.

So after the test run at home - I determined that the Ampeg and Avatar speakers do not sound as good as the Markbass speakers - close - but not as clear and defined.

So now what do I do:

1. Keep the LMII head and get the Traveler 2x10 and the Traveler 1x15?
2. Return the head and get the 2x10 combo with either a 2x10 or 1x15 extention, or
3. Return the head and get the small 1x12 combo with the 2x10 extention?

Opinions please. Looking for well-rounded tone for rock and jazz and keeping the whole package small and transportable.

 

[silverburst]

Hmmm. What do you plan to do with them? I have the CMD 102P and the Mini CMD121P. If I needed more volume I would stick the CMD 102P on top of an extension cab, and I think that would take care of most situations. The Mini CMD121P is almost too good to be true for its size.

Sell me your 30th *(subliminal message)

 

[maddog]

From what I remember on the Dallas trip, the 12 didn't handle the low B of a 5er with authority. If you didn't try one out and it matters to you, it may be worth a trip to be sure.

I definitely want to get an LMII and possibly the traveler 210 but saving for grad school. Was thinking of the LMII and an Avatar 210. Sounds like the avatar might be OK but the traveler would be the best match. Do labs still buy blood plasma?

 

[Big Poppa]

buy them all.

 

[Kirby]

From what I remember on the Dallas trip, the 12 didn't handle the low B of a 5er with authority. If you didn't try one out, it may be worth a trip to be sure.

I definitely want to get an LMII and possibly the traveler 210 but saving for grad school. Was thinking of the LMII and an Avatar 210. Sounds like the avatar might be OK but the traveler would be the best match. Do labs still buy blood plasma?

Hey Tom, sitting here in the hospital right now and I know our blood bank still buys plasma! Where there is a will there is a way!

 

[Big Poppa]

Eggman Bill

What do you want it for I think a combo is really cool to have around the house and small gigs and the extention cabs for bigger gigs. You may want to wait on the head for the new F1.

 

[Eggman]

Eggman Bill

What do you want it for I think a combo is really cool to have around the house and small gigs and the extention cabs for bigger gigs. You may want to wait on the head for the new F1.

That is what I was thinking - a combo for smaller things and an extention cab for larger things. But that can still work with a head and two cabs.

Will the F1 be any different in specs than the LMII - other than 2 lbs lighter?

 

[Tom F]

In my gigging life I always found (even though I couldn't afford it at the time) that a separate head and cab were more useful for some of the NYC clubs that provided cabs, but no head. It always seemed redundant when I set up my old 1x15 combo next to the 4x10 or 8x10 that was set up on stage. Of course, now that I'm not playing out so much, the combo seems easier. I think when I eventually save up some $$ for a new amp it will be a Markbass head/cab setup.

That being said, the Markbass gear is light enough that the combo is an easy choice no matter what your situation!

 

[bovinehost]

BP, what's that combo you have at the house? That was nice.

I like the LMII head paired with almost any cabinets. Got a gig next month and plan to bring nothing but the Markbass stuff.

Jack

 

[Vanni]

keep the LMII and get the cabs you like more...
I'ts a more versatile setup than the combo with an extension cab.
You can go to gig with only the head, if there is already a cab.
And you can't adjust the tweeter in the MB combos.

I used my old MB combo (it's the older version of the Mini CMD 121P) with the traveler 2X10, and this two thing matched beautifully. I'm sure the traveler 2X10 + 1X15 stack rocks as well.

Markbass user since 2003
(I still have the combo Mini 121, and a old MB S450 head)

 

[Big Poppa]

Jack, I donr know what it is it was the only one in the world. Their prototype......I still have it in my office

 

[MingusBASS]

Keep the LMII and get some MB cabs. They just match up so well, I'm actually thinking of getting a mb cab to use for smaller gigs.

 

[Eggman]

Thanks for the replies, y'all.

Having slept on it and reading the Markbass site and this thread, I think I am going to get the Traveler 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. That would allow me to mix and match.

So one last question - as BP suggested: LMII or wait for F1? Only differences I see are that the LMII has a balanced line input and the F1 has two speakon outs and weighs two pounds less. Anyone else have any more info?

Thanks

 

[Kirby]

Thanks for the replies, y'all.

Having slept on it and reading the Markbass site and this thread, I think I am going to get the Traveler 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. That would allow me to mix and match.

So one last question - as BP suggested: LMII or wait for F1? Only differences I see are that the LMII has a balanced line input and the F1 has two speakon outs and weighs two pounds less. Anyone else have any more info?

Thanks

I asked this question of Peter a while back although I cannot remember the differences he stated. It made up my mind to go with the LMII rather than the F1. I want to say the LMII would have more tone shaping capability, maybe a warmer sound. I really cannot remember other than it was significant enough to make me stay with my original decision of an LMII. Maybe Peter will chime in here and help us.

 

[MingusBASS]

The F1 has a digital power supply and so it will react a little faster but will be missing a little low end compared to the LMII. The F1 is 2 lbs lighter and if I recall correctly, will be at least a couple hundred $ more when they finally come out. Although I'm sure the F1 will be awesome and sell very well, I doubt I'll be making the switch from my already stellar LMII.

 

[Eggman]

Thanks for those F1 replies - that helps.

 

[maddog]

Peter's input:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/307610-post28.html

Both have the same preamp (solid state) specs, switching mode power supply, EQ controls, filters, and back-end features (effects loop, balanced line out, ground lift).
Differences:
The F1 has a digital power amp. The LM II has an analog power amp.
The F1 does not have an unbalanced XLR input
The F1 has two combo speakon/1/4" speaker outputs... the LMII has one combo
output and one 1/4" output.
The F1 has a more user-friendly voltage conversion (you can do it yourself--but you do need to open the amp)
The F1 is half the size of the LM II and almost 2 lbs. lighter (4.6 lbs)

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Peter Murray]

Jack, I donr know what it is it was the only one in the world. Their prototype......I still have it in my office

That's a Minimark... so far, the only one in North America!

MARKBASS

 

[Peter Murray]

Thanks for those F1 replies - that helps.

Looks like information has spread well here without me, but if you still have any unanswered questions, please let me know!

By the way, I got my Egyptian Smoke Bongo H two weeks ago and am fully completely LOVING it.... and will post a fuller commentary as soon as I get some pics together! It's the bomb.

 

[tiffles]

good to hear bongos are the answer to all my bass dreams