TRBboy

New Amp Day! (well, Friday was 😅) I took a bit of a gamble on this amp having not been able to try one first, although I have had a number of markbass amps so kinda feel like I know what I'm getting. As my Little Mark Tube had sold in record time (and before this one arrived), I had my fingers crossed that it was going to be good! 😬👍 Going by the specs and reviews, it seemed like it was going to suit me well. First impressions: Oh Damn! It's bigger than the usual markbass amp size! 😮😂 I honestly was not expecting that! Fortunately I have a bag that's exactly the right size for it. It's also stupidly light for a 1000w amp. I don't know if it's an illusion because it's bigger, but it feels lighter that other MB heads I've had (and definitely lighter than my LMII). Well, I needn't have worried, this thing sounds absolutely incredible! The usual markbass quality is there, but this amp seems to have a little special sauce somehow! Someone whose opinion I value described these amps as having some extra 'Mojo' above the LM range, and I think that's a good description. The seperate solid state and tube gain knobs are a bit of a gimmick in my opinion, certainly where you only have a single tube in there, as its not enough of a difference compared to a full tube preamp to really be that exciting. That said, there is a discernable difference between the two sides, solid state is tighter, faster and more articulate, and the tube gain is softer and rounder. I don't think I'd describe it as warmer as it doesn't seem to add any tonal qualities, it's more the dynamic response that's altered. I was unsure how I'd like the graphic eq, as I'm a fan of simple and I like the usual markbass 4-knob eq, plus of course the VLE/VPF, which are handy for quick adjustments. This graphic is great though! Clearly you have a lot more control over your tone, but the frequency bands they've chosen and the way it's been executed means that the tone is always musical even if you cut some fairly extreme shapes! I normal roll with a low mid (and slight low end) bump on little mark amps, but I seem to be able to get more pleasing results on the Stu, and able to find just the sound I want more easily. And man does it sound great! 😍 Oh and by the way, YES IT'S VERY LOUD!!! I nearly had to get a structural engineer in to check the house out 😂👌 PLUS.... The illuminated eq sliders and Jack sockets are super cool! 😎 So, I'm very happy thus far! Two gigs this coming weekend, so we'll see how it fares in real use. Massive thanks to the team at Bass Direct for their excellent service as always 😉👍

Meet up with Jez last night to buy a Bass Crybaby off him, it was exactly as described and he was a thoroughly nice chap to chat to!

I've had LOADS of different straps over the years in search of ultimate comfort, and have landed on the Gruv Gear Mono strap, by far the best I've tried, for me anyway. If you're on a budget the 4" wide Levys or Planet Waves nylon straps are pretty damned comfortable.

Very cool indeed mate! Enjoy! 😎👌

I concur with what @BigRedXis saying. The problem is in your situation that you don't know whether it's the pickups themselves or the preamp that's not giving you the sound you want. If you set all the controls 'flat' on your preamp (recognising that flat isn't always actually flat with a preamp) and adjust eq on your amp or a preamp pedal, that'll tell you as much as possible about whether the pickups or the preamp is the issue. If you can get a sound you really like that way, yes it's probably the preamp that's not delivering. If not, then maybe it's worth looking at upgrading the pickups first. If you're okay with a soldering iron, you could play with bypassing the preamp altogether to hear the true sound of the pickups, that would be the most accurate way to figure it out I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Absolute bargain! They're great basses, I used to have a black sparkly one. I always remember doing some pit work, and I was mainly using a 5 string Yamaha TRB and a US jazz. I brought the ATK along one day, and after rehearsal/soundcheck the engineer came scurrying down and said "Wow! What have you done to your bass sound today, it sounds INCREDIBLE!" 😂👍

I've tried a few different brands, but keep coming back to Alpine Musicsafe Pro. Comfy, I can hear what I need to just quieter, and you get 3 different attenuation filters with them. The fact they're pretty cheap is a plus. 😅 The unexpected bonus for me is it helps me massively with vocals; I can 'hear myself' in my head when I'm singing! 👌 Been using musicians plugs for years, and I think I'd find it very uncomfortable gigging without them now.

As others have said, try as many as you can, but in general terms you can't go far wrong with something like an Ibanez SR, a Yamaha, or A Cort of some sort. I reckon a Sire V5 5 string would be a good shout too, although I haven't tried one myself. Some of the low-mid range 5ers can feel really clumsy and difficult to play, but there are so many variables, and so much of it is personal, you really need to schlep around some music shops and get your hands on as many as possible if you can.

I had the 500w 2x10 combo with the 1x15 ext cab for a few years. They're great VFM I think. The 2x10 will go loud, but in my opinion the drivers start to really sound like they're struggling at volume, like they're being pushed to their limits. Ultimately this is why I changed

Yes you're absolutely right, but most people will choose an active bass because it gives them more control over their sound. I was making the point in relation to choosing an active/passive instrument, not in relation to signal loss with wireless systems. My bad for not being clear enough.

I'm not quite sure I understand what this thread is all about after reading it, but I'll chip in anyway. 😅😬 I've always detected a loss or 'change' of some sort with any wireless system I've tried, with either active or passive basses. That's just to my ears. However, several years ago I took a punt on a Smooth Hound system, and it's amazing! I can't detect any tradeoff in the signal, and I'm really happy with it. The main thing I don't understand about this thread is why you seem desperate to use this as a justification to buy an active bass. If you want one, get one? I've had lots of both over the years, and have ended up deciding I generally prefer passive basses, however I wouldn't turn my nose up at an active bass, there's a lot more to it than just a preamp.With an active preamp you have more control of the sound at the bass, that's all there is too it. As I tended to set and forget, and I'm always stood right in front of my amp anyway it's not an issue for me. I've ended up where I am because I came to the conclusion (again just my perception/opinion/ears) that passive, single coil basses seem to offer a purity of tone that often gets lost somewhere with active basses. Again, this statement has no basis in fact, purely personal preference! I'd personally buy a bass firstly for the feel/playability, second for the tone, thirdly for the looks. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Obviously I'm a long time Sandberg fan, but I REALLY like the look/sound of these and would love at something similar! I've long had a hankering for a shorty with a humbucker, but I think I'm possibly going to build one after my current build 😊

This sounds cool! Will see if I'm free, but fingers crossed! I went to one very small bass doo in Birmingham about 8-10 years ago, but that's the only one I've been to. Just getting back to BC after a lengthy hiatus. 🙏

Well, I played my first gig with the LMT on Friday night, and it performed admirably! Sounded really good, and it was easy to dial in something that worked well with the room we were playing in. I ended up with the SS/Tube preamp blend set at about 3 o'clock; the valve side does seem to have a bit more grittiness and presence, but the solid state side has a fuller, tighter low end response as far as I can tell (could be complete nonsense though!). I still continue to be impressed with this GR cab, I've had some great gear over the years but this just WORKS (especially well with a Markbass head it would seem!). Although I enjoyed the LMT, I'm still not sure if the LMII is my favourite out of the few I've tried recently! 😂

I think next gig I need to do one set with the LMT and one with the LMII. Out of the 3 the Markbass heads I've tried recently, I kinda feel like the LMII is my favourite! 😂 Although tbf it's the only one I've gigged so far. May do some comparing in the cellar today.....

Seems great so far! Do you notice a real 'boost' when you have the preamp blend set to 12 o'clock? Is that a P5 too..... 😃 I keep ogling the 5 string version!

I won't do a seperate post, but my replacement for the LM800 has arrived today; a lovely Little Mark Tube! I've only given it a quick try, but it sounds great so far. Inherently brighter than the LM2 possibly? We will see. No gig this weekend though sadly!i will report back after next Friday's gig. 😊👍

I think some people are asking too much if I'm honest, but you're right the prices vary wildly! There are bargains to be had out there though, you just have to keep looking. 😊

Not that anyone's particularly interested 😂 but I had the speaker out tonight. Not many clues, but a quick Google of the number on the magnet suggests to me that it's an Eden speaker. I think 300w RMS, 8 ohm impedence. I was only curious because it sounds SO good. Mystery solved, I think. 🤷🏻‍♂️

As an old boss of mine used to say, one man's Coq au Vin is another man's chicken in a basket! 😂

That's a big part of the problem here isn't it, there's so many variables at play that make up the 'sound' we all hear, including the fact that we likely all hear things slightly differently! I can't find anything scientific that says a class A/B power amp should sound any different to a Class D poweramp, assuming all other things are equal. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I am no electrical expert, but I don't believe there is from everything I've read so far. Watts are Watts are Watts, regardless of amp class. Harmonic content may be noticeable between say solid state and tube, but then you can have an A/B class power stage of either of those 🤷🏻‍♂️ I just read an interesting point that most PA/FOH/Live sound installs have been class D powered for quite some time now, and no one complains that they are lacking vs heavy transistor amps. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah I know what you mean, and I do just try to use my ears as much as I can. I tried all sorts with the shuttle, watched Ed Friedland's review and settings, etc. I ended up boosting the lowest mid range frequency as he did, because actually it did sound best. The versatility of the preamp wasn't the problem, and you could easily dial in a nice tone. The problem for me was that there didn't seem to be enough breadth or 'guts' to the sound. In the band mix it just got a bit lost and felt a bit 2 dimensional. As an aside, I have to say that coming back to Markbass after nearly 10 years is a beautiful thing! It's the happiest I've been with my sound for a very long time! And that GR cab just slays! 😎😜

Ah okay, I've no experience of that one myself. From the Class D heads I have had, I've certainly found that they're not all created equal. The GB Shuttle 9.2 I had was powerful, and had a good eq section, but I always somehow found it lacking. It just wasn't 'present' and seemed to be lacking body. In contrast, the Aguilar AG700 I had was excellent, warm, powerful, full sounding, and just generally awesome.... Yeah I regret selling it! 😂 I found the fender rumble much the same. Both sounded great in a loud rock band, whereas the Shuttle always seemed to get a little lost. So in essence, I don't think the power amp classification creates an absolute rule on whether the amp will be good or bad in a band context, like with any class of amp it's just down to the overall design and execution, and whether it is the right amp to deliver your expectations.