Musicman20 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Not sure if I've seen it mentioned on this thread, but apparently the new reissue of the Musicman amps are going to be made by Markbass in Italy. So their standard gear is now made in Indonesia and the Musicman amps are Italian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgnofski Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I have owned quite a few Italian made Markbass amps, including LittleMark series 2's & 3's - two LMK's and two - (one of which blew up) - F1's' All of them were great amps - even the F1 that blew up ...................... until it blew up !! Due to not gigging very much in my dotage - if at all , but still being a fan of the MB sound I bought a MB Blackline 250 and in my very humble opinion the build quality, sound and functionality is no better and no worse than the other MB amps I've owned, is as loud as heck & sounds 'fab' !! There were two big pluses for me in buying one of these - the cost and as an old codger, I prefer the more subdued appearance of the fascia. Top marks to Marco for producing a high quality product, at a price that even us Pensioners can afford !! Oh and by the by - I knew exactly where it was manufactured prior buying, without very much digging & as with the Italian models - it weighs next to nothing........... !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgbass Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 I'm back to using the Markbass CMD 121P Combo / NY121 cab. The Combo is Italian mfg. (May 2013) The cab is Indonesian mfg. If the newer cabs are heavier, mine may be an older mfg. They sound great, and are built like Brick Shizt Houses. Great job, Marco Markbass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgbass Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I had a fantastic session today with the Markbass Mini CMD 121P/NY121 Combo, and Cab. The Am. Spl. Precision is really sounding good with the two 12's. Nothing cheap about this Markbass.[/font][/color] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/wEtOeqt.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1399989607' post='2449631'] A little update on my latest NY121 [/quote] Markbass' failure rate is ridiculously low so you've been very unlucky! Sure your replacement will be perfect once the drivers have been "broken in" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Does anyone know when Markbass started fitting copies of B&C drivers rather than the real thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399991992' post='2449661'] Does anyone know when Markbass started fitting copies of B&C drivers rather than the real thing? [/quote] Who manufactures them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399991992' post='2449661'] Does anyone know when Markbass started fitting copies of B&C drivers rather than the real thing? [/quote] Quite recently. They make them themselves now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1399997679' post='2449750'] Quite recently. They make them themselves now! [/quote] Really? That surprises me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I found an interesting copy of the Markbass Magazine from 2009 online today. The front page reads: [font=sans-serif][size=7] "100% Made in Italy[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] The only way to maintain and grow the worldwide success of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Markbass is to keep manufacturing our products in Italy, where we[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] have full control over the entire process, from the quality of our[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] materials to our rigorous testing procedures. We stand firm on this,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] despite the fact that so many other companies have moved their[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] production to Asia, seduced by the short-term economic benefits of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] lower production costs.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Manufacturing in Italy not only keeps us on top of our quality control,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] it also allows us to continuously—and quickly—innovate and refine[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] our products.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] We couldn’t work this way with an offshore factory, because we’d be[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] locked into inflexible long-term production schedules. Our products[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] cannot afford this type of inflexibility! We’re a company with vision,[/size][/font] passion, and blah blah blah." (Don't shoot the messenger. I'm a Markbass user and I like their stuff.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399999456' post='2449779'] I found an interesting copy of the Markbass Magazine from 2009 online today. The front page reads: [font=sans-serif][size=7] "100% Made in Italy[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] The only way to maintain and grow the worldwide success of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Markbass is to keep manufacturing our products in Italy, where we[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] have full control over the entire process, from the quality of our[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] materials to our rigorous testing procedures. We stand firm on this,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] despite the fact that so many other companies have moved their[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] production to Asia, seduced by the short-term economic benefits of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] lower production costs.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Manufacturing in Italy not only keeps us on top of our quality control,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] it also allows us to continuously—and quickly—innovate and refine[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] our products.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] We couldn’t work this way with an offshore factory, because we’d be[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] locked into inflexible long-term production schedules. Our products[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] cannot afford this type of inflexibility! We’re a company with vision,[/size][/font] passion, and blah blah blah." (Don't shoot the messenger. I'm a Markbass user and I like their stuff.) [/quote] Maybe that was the case in 2009. Quite a bit of time has passed since then and they are a much more stable and established company now, perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399999456' post='2449779'] I found an interesting copy of the Markbass Magazine from 2009 online today. The front page reads: [font=sans-serif][size=7]"100% Made in Italy[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]The only way to maintain and grow the worldwide success of[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]Markbass is to keep manufacturing our products in Italy, where we[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]have full control over the entire process, from the quality of our[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]materials to our rigorous testing procedures. We stand firm on this,[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]despite the fact that so many other companies have moved their[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]production to Asia, seduced by the short-term economic benefits of[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]lower production costs.[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]Manufacturing in Italy not only keeps us on top of our quality control,[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]it also allows us to continuously—and quickly—innovate and refine[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]our products.[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]We couldn’t work this way with an offshore factory, because we’d be[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]locked into inflexible long-term production schedules. Our products[/size][/font] [font=sans-serif][size=4]cannot afford this type of inflexibility! We’re a company with vision,[/size][/font] passion, and blah blah blah." (Don't shoot the messenger. I'm a Markbass user and I like their stuff.) [/quote] Oh dear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Yep I remember all this from when I got my old Markbass rig. That's why this thread kicked off to begin with! A few pages back Marco addressed pretty much everything mentioned though so see if you can find it and see what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 I've never liked the idea of pacific rim production... particuarly when our high st prices isn't reflected in the savings to the manufacturing costs. I don't know their product line and prices well enough to know whether the prices have gone down but that is the real reason why most people buy fridges and washers from China because they are dirt cheap. If you don't get that benefit, then Markbasses own words back in 2009 are quite damning, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1400154891' post='2451240'] It is a bit of an ideological U-turn, isn't it? [/quote] That's what I thought. It was a bit of an overreaction but I ended up selling/trading my Markbass rig on the back of this. I can't deny the stuff is top notch quality, but I wasn't as in love with the brand as I was when I first got it. And I'm actually much more suited to my Peavey rig even if it does weigh 4x as much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 I think that this forensic examination of the Markbass business is unwarranted. I'd suggest that its a sensible business decision to build in the Pacific Rim; so for me there is no Issue, Mr Markbass has a business to run, employees, suppliers and presumably business loans to pay - if he out-sources his manufacturing then this is his issue. It takes a lot of bottle to put together a business and build it, he has demonstrated on here that he is well aware of threats to his business if build quality of his product range suffers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) Of course it is his decision, he isn't the first, will not be the last... but that decision does impact on the users/buyers and they may.. as I do.. feel that there is a price to pay. Their/our money will be paid and their/our choices will be made. He can't, and I am sure he isn't, be unaware of that. I have never been in love with Markbass myself, soundwise... but respected that they had a quality and a local build ethic. In general, I am against outsourcing ...so I don't like to see leading names go east and I will buy all my kit from the west.. as far as I can. All my basses and amps and cabs are made either in the U.K or America. I'll pay a premium for that IF they deliver, which I think they do, or otherwise I wouldn't have them, of course. I am not trying to make the point that the far east can't make great products but the west could outsource everything and then where does that leave you? I am sorry Markbass is in the firing line, others have had the same for the same reason, but these business decisions tend not to be for the end user, they tend to be for the 'shareholders', IMO. Edited May 15, 2014 by JTUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1400171840' post='2451455'] Given that it may already have contributed to a drop in reliability of the speakers [/quote] Do you have evidence of this (figures as a percentage), beyond a 'spot of bad luck'..? [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1400169039' post='2451413'] ...business decisions tend not to be for the end user, they tend to be for the 'shareholders', IMO. [/quote] Yes, business decisions are made for the shareholders - having been a Director and shareholder of a business (150+ employees) I can confirm this This is a business that has had to review its strategy, perhaps the made in Italy thing looks a bit silly now, but reviews happen all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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