Markbass Heads

[D.I. Joe]

People of Basschat

Last week while doing the usual Manson's routine of trying-and-not-buying I discovered the miracle that is the Markbass F1. I also tried a Markbass TTE 500 and Hartke Kilo - all through the same pair of Hartke Hydrive cabs - and this was easily my favourite of the three. I think that I'll most likely make the jump to Markbass once I get fed up of my Ashdown ABM (well, if really) or if I suddenly have an influx of funds, but I've noticed that the Little Mark heads seem more readily available and are often cheaper (the F1 was in on sale for £599)

So my question is: is much difference in the sound between the F1 and the LM?

[IanA]

The F1 is not as warm sounding as the lm amps, it is a little more tight and bright, but either can be eq'd to sound similar to the other. The F1 has the edge on size, its ultimate incarnation is the F500 which has a semi parametric eq.
Personally I love my LM800, best of both amps imho.
If you like the F1 (now discontinued) you may also like the Genz Shuttle 9.2.....

[chrismuzz]

Having used both, the F1 wins for me. Much more upper midrange content, and a much more cutting attack. Every other amp I have played since feels like the attack is squashed down flat, like a badly set up compressor. The LM heads are still amazing, with a nice warm sound..But if you want bright, the F1 will be a life changer!

[ezbass]

Yeah the LMs are warmer sounding than the F1, but a bit more bulky.

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1364337387' post='2025222']
Yeah the LMs are warmer sounding than the F1, but a bit more bulky.
[/quote]

Yep! 2u rack space instead of 1u because of the larger analog power amp. Identical in every other dimension though.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Iana' timestamp='1364337097' post='2025210']
....The F1 is not as warm sounding as the lm amps....
[/quote]

+1

I first heard the LMK and loved the sound. Later I owned an LM2 and then an F1 and the F1 was my least favourite Markbass amp.

It had no warmth in comparison to the LMK and LM2.

Our drummer has rated some of my amps as great and some have been good, The F1 has been the only amp I've bought to a gig that he didn't like and I trust his ears when it comes to bass amps.

The LM2 sounded great just running it with a flat EQ. IMO, that's always a sign of a good amp.

[Pembo]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1364338286' post='2025238']

The LM2 sounded great just running it with a flat EQ. IMO, that's always a sign of a good amp.
[/quote]

I've got the SA450, which is similair. Just tweek the VLE/VPF tones and it's done.

[Lozz196]

Little Mark Tube 500 is a cracking amp as well. As above, just tweaked the VPF to get a great sound from it. Currently have the LM2 in a combo, and again, either tweak the filters, or minimal adjustment on eq to get a great sound.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Lozz196

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1364338286' post='2025238']
+1

I first heard the LMK and loved the sound. Later I owned an LM2 and then an F1 and the F1 was my least favourite Markbass amp.

It had no warmth in comparison to the LMK and LM2.

Our drummer has rated some of my amps as great and some have been good, The F1 has been the only amp I've bought to a gig that he didn't like and I trust his ears when it comes to bass amps.

The LM2 sounded great just running it with a flat EQ. IMO, that's always a sign of a good amp.
[/quote]

The F1 is definitely... specialised... It works great for metal though and I love it!

[D.I. Joe]

I wish they had an LM that I could have tried now! It's interesting to hear everyone's points about bright/warm qualities of the sound.

I found the F1 to be surprisingly warm sounding. Even with the EQ flat and filters off I didn't think that it sounded at all sterile (unlike the LH500 I tried a few months back!) and with filters I thought the tone to be warm and rich but still very clean and defined.

Though I must admit I did not tweak the EQ very much as I was so impressed by the tones achievable just from the VLE and VPF so I didn't venture into the realms of metallic brightness (tbh it's not really my bag anyway). It sounded lovely with the Deluxe Jazz I was trying out anyway!

[D.I. Joe]

Now I have GAS

[molan]

Don't discount the TT heads either. They partner really well with MB cabs.

I tried one with an MB 4x10 last week and it sounded really nice. Personally I prefer it to both the LM and F1 / F500's.

For a warmer sound I'd go for an Aguilar TH500 over all of these three - worth auditioning one of these as well.

[chris_b]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1364343338' post='2025314']
....For a warmer sound I'd go for an Aguilar TH500 over all of these three - worth auditioning one of these as well....
[/quote]

+1

[IanA]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1364343338' post='2025314']
Don't discount the TT heads either. They partner really well with MB cabs.

I tried one with an MB 4x10 last week and it sounded really nice. Personally I prefer it to both the LM and F1 / F500's.

For a warmer sound I'd go for an Aguilar TH500 over all of these three - worth auditioning one of these as well.
[/quote]
I did an a/b test last week with the tone hammer and my Lm800, in comparison the th500 felt cheap and tacky, the sound was ok but nothing to get over excited about. (Lots of bass and low mid, and not very open sounding in the high end. The Shuttle 9.2 and the RH750 also sounded and felt better, all imho of course!

[D.I. Joe]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1364343338' post='2025314']
Don't discount the TT heads either. They partner really well with MB cabs.

I tried one with an MB 4x10 last week and it sounded really nice. Personally I prefer it to both the LM and F1 / F500's.

For a warmer sound I'd go for an Aguilar TH500 over all of these three - worth auditioning one of these as well.
[/quote]

I was hoping to really like that head but it didn't sound as good to me as the F1 or the Kilo. It could just be that I needed a liitle more time to play with the EQ, but to me it sounded a little muddy in the lows and the highs sounded a bit harsh for my liking - just not as tight as the F1. Then again, I was using Hartke cabs so it would be nice to try the MB heads out with the matching cabs. Guess I'll have to try a TH at some point too.

So...much...gas!!

[molan]

[quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1364376869' post='2025498']
I was hoping to really like that head but it didn't sound as good to me as the F1 or the Kilo. It could just be that I needed a liitle more time to play with the EQ, but to me it sounded a little muddy in the lows and the highs sounded a bit harsh for my liking - just not as tight as the F1. Then again, I was using Hartke cabs so it would be nice to try the MB heads out with the matching cabs. Guess I'll have to try a TH at some point too.

So...much...gas!!
[/quote]

Was it a TT500 or an 800?

I've not tried them back to back but it was an 800 I used recently (in fact I may even have another go today!).

[D.I. Joe]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1364378627' post='2025533']
Was it a TT500 or an 800?

I've not tried them back to back but it was an 800 I used recently (in fact I may even have another go today!).
[/quote]

500. I wouldn't think the 800 would be much different would it? More headroom I suppose...

[Opticaleye]

If the TTE sounded muddy, maybe the colour control was up. You need it turned down if you like a defined tone. Also it's very easy to press in the input pad which will give you a more lacklustre tone on most basses.

I find my TTE (with the colour control set low) to be slightly more defined than my LM11. It certainly cuts through in a live situation (in a very tubey sort of way)

[davehux]

Had an LM II and an F1 at one point, for comparison. Sold the LM II. Still got the F1

I play in quite a loud band, with keys and guitar, and I found that the F1 had that bit of extra crispness to cut through. Play the 2 together in a quiet room, and you'll probably prefer the LM II, but on stage is a different matter.

Horses, courses, etc

PS - just noticed you're in Snozzle. We'll be playing at The Barley Sheaf in Gorran (nr Meva) this Saturday - come and hear it in action :-)

Edited March 27, 2013 by davehux

[franzbassist]

[quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1364382900' post='2025605']
500. I wouldn't think the 800 would be much different would it? More headroom I suppose...
[/quote]

500 is an analog power section, while the 800 is digital.

[quote name='Opticaleye' timestamp='1364388716' post='2025742']
If the TTE sounded muddy, maybe the colour control was up.
[/quote]

+1 to this.

[D.I. Joe]

[quote name='davehux' timestamp='1364389914' post='2025769']
PS - just noticed you're in Snozzle. We'll be playing at The Barley Sheaf in Gorran (nr Meva) this Saturday - come and hear it in action :-)
[/quote]

Would do but we're doing a wedding in Padstein that night! I'll come along at some point though

[quote name='Opticaleye' timestamp='1364388716' post='2025742']
If the TTE sounded muddy, maybe the colour control was up.
[/quote]

It was. Perhaps that was it then. I didn't really spend much time experimenting tbh

[NoirBass]

My F1 through my Berg 12's is a thing of immense beauty.

That is all.

[Opticaleye]

With the TTE colour control at a low setting you still get excellent tube character to the tone but with solid -state like definition and attack. Rolling the colour up thickens the tone out more (great for blues and rock gigs) at the expense of some detail .

With my Markbass cabs I don't think that I could achieve a harsh tone. I've tried or own all of the Markbass heads mentioned and find the TTE to be a massive upgrade.