rodney72a Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Has anyone had a chance to try these out yet? Produced in collaboration with Markbass. There's a combo and also a separate head and cab version: http://stringsandthings.co.uk/musicman_amps.html http://www.thomann.de/gb/music_man_bh_500_head.htm http://www.thomann.de/gb/music_man_810_bs.htm They look tempting! Quote
Ghost_Bass Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 The amp is very similar to a Yamaha B100II both in preamp design and in size/weight. If the new MM/MB amp sounds any closer to this then it should be an excelent amp! Quote
DiscoTetak Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Which in turn is similar to original Musicman HD-130 amp Quote
Ghost_Bass Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Similar to the HD-130 in looks but the 130 doesn't have the 5-band EQ Edited January 12, 2015 by Ghost_Bass Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 If it's a Markbass solid-state power amp, I wonder if the bottom half of the box is empty? Quote
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1421070711' post='2656762'] If it's a Markbass solid-state power amp, I wonder if the bottom half of the box is empty? [/quote] The guitarist in my old band used to put a plate of wedding buffet food in his fender twin to eat while he was packing up. Quote
Ghost_Bass Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1421074575' post='2656831'] The guitarist in my old band used to put a plate of wedding buffet food in his fender twin to eat while he was packing up. [/quote] Nothing better than a hot meal after a gig Quote
Prime_BASS Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1421070711' post='2656762'] If it's a Markbass solid-state power amp, I wonder if the bottom half of the box is empty? [/quote] It is. How pointless. When these first showed on the markbass FB page last year I thought they were just going to be rebadged classic 300 amps. Now they are pretty much a LM3, with a worse preamp and a giant heavy case. 5kilo head inside a 10 kilo case. Quote
Bassnut62 Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Well, the original MM amps from 70s/80s are killer Fender amps under name of Leo's next company after Fender. They do the best clean sound in the business and can get pretty gnarly too if you like it that way. I still use an old MM combo on geetar and it's hard to beat. Quote
Ghost_Bass Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1421079952' post='2656909'] It is. How pointless. When these first showed on the markbass FB page last year I thought they were just going to be rebadged classic 300 amps. Now they are pretty much a LM3, with a worse preamp and a giant heavy case. 5kilo head inside a 10 kilo case. [/quote] What? No toroidal inside? Why? Why??? Quote
Subthumper Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 The 8x10 looks familiar. Shame to put neo drivers in a heavy box, it's still 90lbs!!! Quote
discreet Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Er... so this has the disadvantages of both heavy valve gear and soulless solid state amps..? Quote
JapanAxe Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1421096601' post='2657159'] Er... so this has the disadvantages of both heavy valve gear and soulless solid state amps..? [/quote] What's not to like! Edit: Markbass also made the Audiophile range for Music Man in the 90s. I believe krispn of this parish has or had one. Edited January 12, 2015 by JapanAxe Quote
discreet Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421102214' post='2657282'] What's not to like! [/quote] Your argument is convincing, but I'm going to stick with my Streamliner... Quote
JapanAxe Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1421102329' post='2657284'] Your argument is convincing, but I'm going to stick with my Streamliner... [/quote] Me too! Quote
krispn Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 I did indeed have that Audiophile head and it is a belter - it's since gone back to my native N.Ireland (to a new owner) and for the money you'd be hard pushed to find a more solid reliable amp - I believe the model went on to become the Ta501 in the MB line up Quote
JapanAxe Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 [quote name='disssa' timestamp='1425024873' post='2702957'] My new test-object: [/quote] Ooh! That would look a bobbydazzler on top of one of my vintage-silver-grille-cloth BF cabs! Looks like the controls are [i]not[/i] the same as a LM3. disssa, I think I'm right in saying you have a nice collection of valve heads - how does this hold up against them? Any chance of a sound clip or two? Quote
molan Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 I asked someone about these who's tested them recently and his principal comment was that it would survive being dropped down a set of stairs Didn't mention how they sounded though Quote
disssa Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1425027051' post='2702993'] Ooh! That would look a bobbydazzler on top of one of my vintage-silver-grille-cloth BF cabs! Looks like the controls are [i]not[/i] the same as a LM3. disssa, I think I'm right in saying you have a nice collection of valve heads - how does this hold up against them? Any chance of a sound clip or two? [/quote] I got the amp yesterday an played a 4 hours practice session. First impressions: a really powerful and versatile Amp, good working EQ. Edited February 27, 2015 by disssa Quote
JapanAxe Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1425030874' post='2703074'] I asked someone about these who's tested them recently and his principal comment was that it would survive being dropped down a set of stairs Didn't mention how they sounded though [/quote] Good job there's no stairs at Bassgear then Barrie! [quote name='disssa' timestamp='1425032271' post='2703104'] I got the amp yesterday an played a 4 hours practice session. First impressions: a really powerful and versatile Amp, good working EQ. [/quote] disssa, did you once own an HD130? Comparison? Quote
JapanAxe Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 [quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1421079952' post='2656909'] It is. How pointless. When these first showed on the markbass FB page last year I thought they were just going to be rebadged classic 300 amps. Now they are pretty much a LM3, with a worse preamp and a giant heavy case. 5kilo head inside a 10 kilo case. [/quote] 6.2kg actually. Thomann seem to have stopped stocking them, but you can buy from Markbass direct, and there is a German eBay seller with one listed on BIN (€949 = £689) or best offer. No UK dealers then? Quote
disssa Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1425045300' post='2703353'] disssa, did you once own an HD130? Comparison? [/quote] I own a HD150 and a HD65. The sound of the BH500 is always clear, even on high volume. The HD150 and HD65 are "loud" and clear amps too, but they start to cracking at higher volumes. I think, that these amps are not comparable. Edited March 1, 2015 by disssa Quote
JapanAxe Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 [quote name='disssa' timestamp='1425193887' post='2704812'] I own a HD150 and a HD65. The sound of the BH500 is always clear, even on high volume. The HD150 and HD65 are "loud" and clear amps too, but they start to cracking at higher volumes. I think, that these amps are not comparable. [/quote] Thanks for the gut shot disssa. I'm a bit surprised that the fan is just extracting air from the chassis interior, rather than perhaps forced-air cooling the heatsink, but if it operates reliably then I guess there's no problem. Is there any drive or breakup available from the Gain control? Quote
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