OT - Mark Bass vs Mesa Boogie

[Boogie.Man]

For the last several years I've noticed a lot of praise and interest in Mark Bass products. But I haven't seen near as much for Mesa Boogie. I went through quite a few Mark Bass combos and they just didn't do it for me like the Scout Combo. My only downside to the Scout is the weight. IMHO, my three Music Man basses and my Mesa Boogie go together hand-in-glove.

I'm just curious why the preference for Mark Bass?

 

[bizmarckie]

I had a Mesa M-Pulse 600 that I traded in for the Markbass head I have now, and the only reason was size/weight. I prefer the Mesa Tone I had, but I still really like the sound I get now, and it's very convenient in my situation to have something so small.

 

[leond]

While I've never owned any Markbass products, I have tried them many time. I thought the tone was good but never wowed me.

The first time I tried a Mesa M9, I knew it was something special. After playing it for six months, I have absolutely no amp GAS.

For those not familiar with the M9 (or M3 and M6), it's not the typical Mesa tone. A much quicker, tighter tone than their other heads.

 

[rizzo9247]

light vs heavy

Both great companies. I don't own any Markbass gear, but love it when I plug into the various head/cab combos at stores. Ridiculously light weight and looks great to boot.

On the Mesa end, I have a Mesa Boogie Diesel 1x15 cab and powered it with a walkabout head (since sold) and it was one of the best sounding rigs (for rock) to my ears.

 

[Boogie.Man]

I like Mark Bass

I do like Mark Bass. But if I can only have one combo it's the Scout. I briefly owned the Mark Bass Mini Mark and the 2x10 combo. They were nice amps. The last one I tried was a Micro Mark. I ordered it as a secondary amp for easy carry. Unfortunately, that 70 mHz cutoff was very noticeable with my two 4-string Music Man basses. It also suffered from a sloppy manufacturing issue. The top of the Micro Mark cabinet has a rectangle routed out that the fold down handle fits into. It had been routed at an angle which left the handle at an angle. This is the only Mark Bass I have ever seen with a QC problem, so it doesn't sour me on them.

I may order their 12" combo some day in the future.

 

[Musicman Nut]

For the last several years I've noticed a lot of praise and interest in Mark Bass products. But I haven't seen near as much for Mesa Boogie. I went through quite a few Mark Bass combos and they just didn't do it for me like the Scout Combo. My only downside to the Scout is the weight. IMHO, my three Music Man basses and my Mesa Boogie go together hand-in-glove.

I'm just curious why the preference for Mark Bass?

Here is my Take for what it's worth, I have tried everyones Neo Speakers including AccuGrooves and to me this is what I've found. In small nite clubs to medium Clubs the Neo Stuff is Just OK, Out Door events forget it they just don't happen. So I use 2 Fiffteen inch PowerHouse Mesa Boogie Cabs Loaded with the New 600 Watt EV's. Yes the Mesa PowerHouse 600 watt fifteens did not cut it.

Amps- Markbass Amps are incredible, the high Power ones do the job and yes they are light, I also use and Love the Mesa Boogie Carbine M9 Bass Amp that Kills, but it's heavy.
Of corse the Ultimate Bass Amp Ever is my 1969 SVT but it's a dog to carry around.
This again is Just my own take on all this stuff.

 

[MingusBASS]

I have a Little Mark II that fits in a small mixer bag that I use for all of my small gigs. I can carry my bass on my back, the LMII bag on my shoulder, an Ampeg SVT210AV(27 lbs with a handle on top) cab in my left hand and my guitar stand in my right.

The results are killer and I don't have to break my back...


that's what I have the SVT-VR and Bergantino NV-610 for, for big gigs!

 

[Holdsg]

+1 on Markbass for power/tone/weight ratio that meets my needs. I think GC has also gone heavy into Markbass, which can now be found in every store I frequent; whereas the Mesa stuff is sometimes hit or miss instore. I have yet to play thru the M9, so perhaps I don't know what I am missing.

 

[Bassmedic14]

I've never owned any Markbass but have played one before and it's awesome. But I really like a Mesa for the tone alone so I would say Mesa.......But it's strictly what tone you prefer and the type of music you play and what fits best for your band!

 

[Kristopher]

I recently had a bit of money come my way, and with the way money burns a hole in musicians pockets, I set off to Guitar Center. I purchased a Mesa Boogie M6 Carbine to replace my GK 1001RBII. The MB sounded great in store playing solo, but after I brought it to rehearsal and did the A/B test with the GK, I took the MB back. I could get the MB dirt with the GK, but I couldn't clean up the sound on the MB to match the clean sound on my GK.

I also tried a Markbass head at my GC excursion (I forget which, it was the same price as the M6 Carbine) but it didn't do anything for me. That's twice I've tried Markbass while amp shopping without being all that impressed. Lots of people swear by them, though. To each their own!

 

[Manfloozy]

So... my humble opinion. Mesa Boogie Scout Combo for a Combo wins, hands down. The thing is amazing. It is rich and has a presence and warmth that it amazing for its size.

For a seperate amp/cab setup, I like Markbass. Some of their cabs don't do it for me. But I played one of their larger 15" cabs today (151HR, rear ported) and it sounded great. Again, depends on which head too... that 15 was paired with a LM Tube 800... sounded phenominal. The smaller Markbass combos are GREAT for power, volume, weight... but for -ME- fell short on the tone compared to the Scout, they were more raw... more transparent... more "in your face".... some may love that too. But for me the 121P lacked "depth"... the 121P+NY121 will bring a house crumbling down though... and really is a thing of beauty.

I've never spent quality time with a big boy Mesa head... but in the few minutes at GC with two big a$$ powerhouse cabs underneath could tell that the big boy (M6 I believe) could and would tear my head off. Even at low gain, low master, it had a very dirty/gritty/grindy rock tone... and tons of ballz/power. If you do the rock thing... awesome stuff.... if you do Jazz/Blues/Country.... it may or may not be your thang.

Again, just humble opinions. I don't think you will go wrong either way though... both top notch stuff... both gear I would buy again in a heartbeat.

 

[b-unit]

I own both a bunch of Mesa gear and a Markbass LMIII head. The LMIII is clearly a good product. Its light, powerful and loud. Its also a bit sterile and slightly plain sounding compared to my Walkabout, M9 Carbine and Big Block 750. But the Mesa amps are designed to have a certain personality.

The Walkabout is a legend for its warm tubey tone and I have to admit its probably one of the single most beautiful little amps I have ever played through. The Big Block is very similar but has more power and weighs a lot more.

The Carbines are something altogether different. Ungodly powerful, punchy and clear but with a fantastic tone. My M9 weighs 25 pounds but for 900 wayts of glory, I think its a real winner.

Going back to the Markbass after your ears are tuned to the various Mesa flavors results in the LMIII sounding a tad boring. But really, its a great amp in its own right, just not as colored as the Mesa stuff.

After playing through Eden gear for many years, my Mesa gear is really in another league. Playing a Bongo 5 through my Carbine into a Powerhouse412 cabinet is simply a revelation!

 

[toomanyslurpees]

I just did something I thought I would never do and shifted away from tube amps, I've had my SVT-CL as my main (only one minus my guitar amp, a musicman RD100 that served as a backup if it came to it) amp since 2001. I'm playing alot more now and doing many smaller gigs, and the SVT is stupid heavy. I also picked up a pignose B100V about a year ago, a dirt simple tube amp which is great for very small gigs but entirely featureless (seriously, no standby switch, no line out, not mute switch, might as well be no tone knobs because they have next to no effect, but the one thing it does, it does awesome at the right volume)

So anyway, I've been wanting one amp that can do it all without breaking my back. I considered alot, Markbass for sure, didn't look too much at Mesa, maybe unfair for Mesa 'cause I'm not too into their guitar amps so I've never given mesa much of a chance.... Ended up with an Aguilar AG500sc, one of my 2 cabs is a Aguilar 210 and I've really liked it. I found this amp for a decent deal in a pawn shop which is good being that Aguilar no longer has distribution in western Canada. One practice in with it and I think I made a good choice, really happy with it so far.

 

[shakinbacon]

Markbass makes great gear as does Mesa

Frankly, I think Markbass gets so much praise here partially because it is great equipment and partially because BP threw his influential recommendation that way. Nothing wrong with that, but it helps to keep in context if your trying to understand why there is so much praise.

Genz Benz is my preference for my needs.

Anyone looking for musical equipment gets the same recommendation from me:
1) Try as much gear as you can in your price range
2) ask questions
3) hone in on exactly what you are looking for
4) repeat 1-3 as necessary

 

[Basscake]

I never owned a Markbass but i've tried a fair few. Mostly the small nifty 12" Combos.
I like the high volume that comes out of this tiny little box and I really would appreciate its portability, but soundwise I missed some clarity. That may be better on the bigger cabs. And maybe it's not too important in a band enviroment. Or maybe its just me...

 

[rodl2005]

Well here in AUSTRALIA Mesa Stuff is SUPER $$$$$$$$$$!!!!!! Mark Bass isn't too bad. Ampeg- pretty Expensive too. :-( BUT I grabbed a LMII a few yrs ago & have been nothing but pleased with it-thru a Berg AE112 usually, I DO use a SVTII & NV610/NV215 on bigger gigs, but the LMII 's size/power & versatility of great sounds make it indispensable. Throw a VT bass pedal in front........!!!!! Lately have been LOVING my Traynor YBA200> Bergantino NV610. My Stingray4 thru that- sounds like a damn machine gun!!!
I'd LOVE to try a WA scout- 15" (or 12") combo. But have seen none in my town sadly!

 

[dave_bass5]

Ive never owned (or played) a Mesa amp but i do own 2 MB heads.
Im not keen on their cabs though so i use Schroeder 12xx cabs. Ive also used Epifani and Ashdown cabs with my MB heads.

For all my gigs 500watts is way more than i need so my rgis work perfectly.

I find my basses sound like they should through my rigs. I wont say the heads don't add anything but to my ears they are pretty flat (or just pleasing) and let the bass tone through.

 

[Freddels]

I have the Walkabout Scout 12 combo and I would say that the only Markbass combo that would compare would be the Jeff Berlin model. The Scout is about 54 lbs and the Berlin model is about 47 lbs. The Scout is a little easier in size to carry though. I love the form factor of the Markbass CMD121 but I can never really get the tone that I like out of it. The Berlin model has THE tone (in my opinion).