Markbass

Tube and transistor 300W / 8 Ohms 500W / 4 Ohms UTILIZATION Do not need the manual, the ear is sufficient, simple settings ... SOUNDS I tired it with: Fender '69 Precision: pushing the preamp tube: big roots sound Godin A4 fretless: some trial and error, and then: acoustics fully respected Godin SD5 with an Audere Audio preamp (read my opinion on this subject): bump here! Big versatility, it adapts despite what some might say, to any kind of low. You just have to have a little patience and knowledge base to get to the bottom ... OVERALL OPINION I just bought it to replace a Little Mark I: lighter, wider range of sounds thanks to the tube, and always delivers the goods! bought in France, delivered free within 24 hours, and cheaper than Thomann! I'm not willing to change brands ....

Amplification technology (tube, solid state, ...)? Solid-state. Output power? 250 into 4Ohms and 150 into 8Ohms. But be careful, we're talking real watts, even when using 8 Ohms it delivers like a 300-watt Ashdown. Connections? Jack and Speakon for the speakers, on the rear, XLR output for PA, with ground lift to avoid ground loops (although you probably couldn't care less, you just play, the guys in charge of connecting it to the PA will really appreciate it). Only one single jack input (so no active/passive nor -10db switch) and another XLR to connect an acoustic-electric or an electric doublebass, I think, or a mic. Controls, effects, etc.? ... Basic controls, Gain Master, BASS HI-MID LOW-MID HI, and VLE and VPF, which affect the highs and mids, providing them some sort of color and smothering the frequencies. It's very peculiar, you need to hear it to understand it, but it's very, very good. UTILIZATION What about the settings? Super simple, I only regret that there's no -10dB switch for active basses, so you need to set the bass before setting the amp, but you get used to it quickly. Is it easy to get the right sound? Yes, all flat, you plug in, test the gain so that it doesn't clip (or not too much :-D) and you get an awesome sound right away. And then there's the EQ. It's amazing to see how you can correct any sound defects (in relation to the venue, other instruments, etc.) and without altering the sound: I'm always under the impression of having the same sound but it comes through better. It's truly impressive. Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive? ... I didn't have it, so I downloaded it as PDF. It's a sufficiently clear manual that covers different amps because they work more or less in the same way. It explains several tricks that you might not get right away (that's how I understood how the ground lift switch works), but you could surely do without it. SOUNDS Does it fit your music style? Yes, the amp does not completely alter my sound, it does its work very good, with a very powerful and dynamic sound. At home, I connect to it a Bass POD XT to have some effects when necessary (or for recordings) and it's great, for rehearsals I only take the amp, which is largely enough to get by, given that it sounds really good. Which guitar, bass or effects do you use? Cort Curbow 5-string fretless. Ibanez BTB675, but be careful, the MK2 of this bass make the amp clip really fast, so set the bass/mid/hi of the bass preamp to half, tops. I set them to 1/4 on my basses, because I have a huge sound already. What kind of sounds do you get and which settings do you use ("crystal-clear", "fat", ...)? I get the sound of my instruments, which is good, because it makes me aware of their defects and the EQ controls are tremendously effective. Which sounds do you prefer / hate? The VLE and VPF filters are pretty amazing. With the fretless they are jaw-dropping and with the fretted ones they provide a super warm sound, which is really very nice, depending on the style you play. OVERALL OPINION How long have you been using it? Less than a month, I'm still under its charm, but I don't think my review will change radically in a couple of weeks. I'm thinking of buying a Traveler speaker. Quality gear that doesn't weigh a ton, it's crazy. Which feature do you like the most / the least? The weight (5.5lbs, which I can carry in a backpack, well-protected, and my back really appreciates it), the sound, the EQ, the connections ─ everything. Impressive. What I like the least... Hm... A -10db switch would really make my life simpler with active basses. But I'm being picky. Did you try any other models before buying this one? Not many, I have played a 250-watt BassKick several years, but it's not the same 250 watts as on the MarkBass, which dwarfs it when I crank up the volume a bit playing with 150 Watts into 8 Ohms. I tried a 500-watt Ashdown, but its sound was very stereotypical, and I didn't like it, it lacked punch, it was loud but the dynamics were disappointing. I tested some Hartke gear but, to be honest, they aren't great. Peavey didn't convince me. I could hear some things better, but it was much more expensive and, especially, much heavier. How would you rate its value for money? You could say it's a bit expensive, but if you consider it well, there's nothing similar, and for the same price you can get some really lousy crap, so I'd say it's a good value for money. Based on your experience, would you buy this product again? ... I like to get gear that is somewhat special and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. I will stay faithful to this brand, their speakers are also mind-blowing!

Everything has been said in the previous reviews, it's 300W or 500W solid-state amp with an additional cab. I added to it a 2x10 cab to rival my guitarist's tube amp + 4x12 cab. This also spares me having to crank the volume to max, since I always like to have some extra power reserve. USE It's very easy to use, If you are looking for an all-purpose combo with tuner, USB port, parametric EQ, 2 channels, built-in overdrive, etc., you'll need to look elsewhere. But it was exactly this simplicity I was looking for. If I ever need different sounds then I turn to my pedalbard. SOUND What I love about it is that it doesn't alter the sound of my instrument. The combo has a good dynamic response, it doesn't sound muddy. I also bought the MarkStand, at first just to see how it works, but it has proven very good for small venues to increase the diffusion of low frequencies and reduce the reflections from the ground, the sound is more precise. The EQ's frequencies (360Hz and 800Hz) are ideal for my music style. I use the MarkBass filters with caution: - VLE allows me to remove the tweeter's noise - VPF allows me to cut more or less through the mix depending on the moment and place OVERALL OPINION I bought it one year ago. It convinced me after trying it out with my own gear at the store. I also tested the TC BG250-210, SVT BA-115 and Warwick BC-300 combos, besides having played half a dozen of two-part combinations that were either not good enough or out of my budget. I also tried out at the store three ABS active PA speakers (between 900€ and 1200€ per unit) to compare electrical and acoustical power. To me, this combo delivers the 800-1000W of the ABS speakers and even more, the latter produce muddy lows and have poor dynamics. It's a bit like the real temperature and the temperature with wind-chill factor. It's hard to cut though the mix with the ABS speakers, whereas the sound of the MarkBass literally pops and has a great diffusion for it size and weight...28.6lbs (13kg). The only snag is the access to the inputs-outputs (return, send, tuner, cab), which are hidden on the rear and aimed towards the ground. So you either turn the combo upside down or you lie down to reach them, but once plugged you'd better not need to ouch them again. Although, I don't think the engineers had many options trying to design such a compact unit, due to the fan, the vibrations, etc. So, that's not a major issue to me, since I bought it in part due to its compactness.

The MarkBass CMB 121H is a bass guitar combo amp that is suitable for use in the studio or for live shows in smaller venues. It's got a 12" speaker in it as well as a tweeter and both XLR and 1/4" inputs on the front panel. In the back it's got a speaker and line output, as well as send and return 1/4" connections. This is the perfect bass amplifier for those looking for an amp to bring on the go... UTILIZATION Using the MarkBass CMB 121H isn't difficult at all, but it does have some extra parameters that you won't find on most bass amps. It's got a four band equalizer, as well as parameters for VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator) and VPF (Variable Pre-Shape Filter), which are certainly unique to MarkBass amplifiers. These parameters will take a little bit of fiddling with before you're comfortable, but they add another dimension to this bass amp that most bass amps don't have. The manual is put together well and is very thorough... SOUNDS For a combination amp on the smaller the size, the MarkBass CMB 121H sure packs a lot of punch. I'm primarily not a bass player, but played a live show with a bass player who had one of these and we were all really impressed by the fullness of the sound and by how well the amp worked in a live setting. The venue was definitely on the smaller side, but if you're in a large venue chances are that you'll be miking up anyway. I later used the amp in the studio with the same bass player and the sound definitely translated well. In fact, it probably sounded best in the studio since you could really zero in on your tone. I didn't get the chance to mess around too much with the VLE and the VPF features, but it seems like these extra parameters really help to set the bass amp apart from others. OVERALL OPINION While not extremely well known outside of the bass community, MarkBass has become known for offering up an impressive line of bass guitar amps in all shapes and sizes. The CMB 121H is overall a perfect example of what they are capable of doing. While you're going to pay a bit more than you would for this amp than others, in my opinion it would be worth it since you're getting a huge professional sound in a portable amp. If you're in the market for a bass guitar combo amp, definitely hip yourself to the MarkBass CMB 121H if you don't already know about this company...

This is a solid state bass amp the delivers 600 watts of power and only weighs about 4 pounds! There is one input for the bass, an output for a tuner, two speaker outputs, and parametric EQ with low and high mids, plus a tube amp simulator knob and mid sweep. There is also a low impedence direct output on the back, so there is no need for a DI. UTILIZATION There is a very simple configuration on this amp, which is just what I needed. It's easy to get a variety of sounds from the amp - it's very versatile. I did not receive a manual with the amp when I purchased from Guitar Center, but there is information available on the web site. SOUNDS I have used this amplifier on a variety of jobs, including rock, jazz, blues, and funk. It always comes through for me, with appropriate tones. I used a Schecter Diamond series for the most part, and I get a great slap and pop tone, but can also dial in a warmer tone for blues and jazz gigs. I keep the mid sweep and tube amp simulator knobs turned all the way down for the slap sound, with the bass turned up a little more than a quarter of the way. The one gripe that I have is that the direct output seems to color the sound a bit when sent to a PA board - it appears to add Mids to the sound. OVERALL OPINION I really like this amplifier, and I have noticed that there are more bass players in my area (Pittsburgh) who are using it. It did take some time for me to find the tone that I was looking for, but that is probably because there are so many tone options that are available through such a simple design. At about four pounds in weight, it is a dream for working bass player, especially those of us who used only heavy tube amps in the past! I still love the sound of tubes, but this amp can be as warm as you want it to be! I definitely recommend it – I have been using it for almost two years now, and never had any problems, which wasn’t always the case with my old tube amps! At around $600 from Guitar Center, I think it’s a great buy.

I paly small venues, but occasionally outdoors, and this amp is my most powerful. I play in a duo, and in a string band. No drummer either way. Usually play fretless. Under $600, used at the local GC. Summer is here, and wanted a bit of extra watts for outdoor stuff. I like my LittleMark II, and this is a similar amp, especially the front end, where most of the 'voice' lives. I like MarkBass amps, especially the two filters . This only weighs about a pount more than my LM II, but has some extra power, and I REALLY like that it has parametric control of both the upper and lower mids. With FL, controlling the mids is 'The Big Deal'. It also has 2 speaker output jacks. The LM II has just one ... and I figger an extra speaker is also handy for outdoor gigs. It only weighs about a pound more than the LM II but is a much larger box. Also, it's a class-D power stage. Those always make me nervous . It has a fan that runs all the time . Hard to judge electronics by looking at the outside ... except that I see it has those black plastic 1/4' jacks ... which I've never really fully trusted. I actually hafta mod some plugs to use them in those those jacks. But again, such jacks have become as common as the cooling fans that also bug me :-( It sounds great, didn't cost me too much, is now my highest wattage box, and has lotsa useful controls ... speaking of which, the FX loop is both a like and a dislike, so I didn't mention it in either section above. I like that it's parallel rather than series, but I wish it had a blend or a level control. Also the loop is POST EQ, which is sometime right and sometimes wrong ... so it should have a switch or a second jack ... but it does NOT. It's a really nice unit but I have enuf negative reactions to rate it less than '5'. The basics really rate a '5', but some of the features drag it down, so it averages out to a '4'. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

OK. It's black, about the size of a portable sewing machine, carpet fuzz finish, and has no strings. I have no history as a musician. History is written by the winners ... and I am merely a pawn. I play bass, for as long as I can, or as long as someone, anyone, will have me. I play in a duo and in a string band. No drumbers, no geetard gawds, IOW I am spoilt rottin. I want music where stuff happens, musically speaking ... IOW I don't dig folkies, hippity hopsters, or other boringly monotonously unchanging material. I buy stuff used or on clearance, and then do my best to forget what I really paid. Sometimes I trade stuff in. I have two of these, so I assume I musta gotta really great deal, at least once, maybe twice. I think they were about $500 each. I prefer to buy stuff that is either $500 or $1000. Stuff thazin between, or higher, or lower, is usually not so appealing. It sounds cool, is very light and small, and very simple to operate. The simple controls are verrrrry effective. It is competitively priced vs other smallish premium grade combos like the GK MB or Phil Woods lines. This is a real gig amp the size of a practice amp. It can play pubs, taverns, etc with crowd noise, or restaurants, even large ones cuz they tend to be less noisy crowd-wise than pubs. There are limits to what you can get from such a small package, and whilst I don't love living within those limits, they are no so terribly limiting that I will carry a heavier rig unless I absolutely positively hafta do it. This rig will 'fart out' if pushed really hard, but carrying an extension cab is not too great a burden, and that will cure the farting . It's very small and seems well built. It has a fan that runs all the time but is not noisy . Controls are limited to volume, contour, and low-pass ... all adjustable. There's a recess in the cab that kinda protects the knobs during transport. The grill is thick plastic. It runs 150W into a pair of amazing 6' drivers , and has a jack to add an 8ohm extension. With an extension you get 250W into 4ohms. You can also switch off the onboard speakers and play a 4ohm external cab at 250W. Obviously, you wanna make extremely verrry sure to switch off the onboard drivers when using a 4ohm external cab You could almost say it's in a class of its own. There's the GK MicroBass series and the Phil Woods Briefcase combo, and maybe some booteakie things I'm unaware of ... but this one is also extra simplified, no EQ, no FX loop, etc. It's more a matter of personal taste whether you need lotsa controls or not. THe few on this one are really very effective. I use it for EUB and fingerstyle bass guitar, usually FL. Maybe it wouldn't do well for a spanky frettted style, but that style usually also means a loud band, and this is a small amp, so who cares ? I don't see it as directly competing with those other lines, which have more elaborate features. That puts it in class of its own, where it does a great job, and so it rates a '5'. Plus, it has actually put my own GK MB combo in the closet ! Who needs all those twiddley knobs on the GK, when you can just switch this on and it always sounds great. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

It's difficult to mistake the blazing yellow Markbass logo anymore, especially after all the buzz about the amazing Little Mark series heads. The 102P is a 2x10' 400 watt cabinet with a piezo tweeter. It's a beast of a cabinet at just over 20 lbs, and the dimension are between 1 and 2 feet on any side, so it can fit in the front of your car with your bass. As a matter of fact, I've been able to take my bass, amp head, and this cabinet on the bus with little to no troubles due to its small size and play rock shows downtown and not worry about being heard. The cabinet is available in 4 ohm or 8 ohm versions, and all come with neodymium speakers. I got the item on a trade in. It had a $600 price tag on it. I bought it because the only portable amplifier I had was a Bassman 100 combo amplifier, and 100 watts through a single 10' speaker with a tweeter wasn't quite cutting it anymore even for club gigs, especially with an upright bass. The Bassman was and still is a great amp, but I needed something bigger and something really portable that would allow me to bring an amp head with more power. Now I use the Markbass cab and my Fender Bassman 50 (the vintage all-tube version...not the MOST portable in the world, but it works) together on almost all of the gigs I get. If they're too big, I add an SWR Goliath 4x10' run in parallel with the Markbass. The clean and forward sound of Markbass can't be denied. Marco Vergiliis has been producing top-notch products through and through from day one with pristine punch and clarity but also with a warm bottom end that fills the room. I like that it's 23 pounds and the size of a very small suitcase, because that's what I bought it for: portability with a great sound. One of my favorite features of the cabinet is the tweeter knob on the SIDE of the cabinet rather than behind it. It's strategically placed so that whether the cabinet is standing up or lying down on top of another cabinet, you don't have to stick your butt out to the audience to reach around and adjust the tweeter to the room. Now it's on the same level as your amp head and all the other knobs and dials you normally adjust. Marco de Vergiliis thinks of everything. A true consumer's business-man. The handles are recessed and feel about as solid as tank armor without any of the weight. The handle location is perfect to make carrying it a breeze. I have no complaints about the unit. It does everything it could be expected to do and more. A perfect 5 stars here. I've never heard of a Markbass amp head or cabinet breaking. Treat them well and they will serve you for a very long time. I've never had so much as a crackle or an ounce of feedback, let alone problems with construction. Another set of 5 stars here. Crystalline tone. Ergonomic construction. Massive power at just over 20lbs. Ability to fill clubs with the full, warm, crisp bass tone that Markbass is known for. I can't find a single fault with it. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This little pedal does increase your tone and sound quite a bit. It is great for week sounding pickups or not so powerful bass amps. It about as simple as pie to figure out. There are two footswitches and three knobs to control your over all volume and sound. This pedal is really just a boost pedal and it doesn't distort your tone very much or at all depending on how you run it. If you run it into a bass amp that has some overdrive in the preamp then this pedal will give you a slight kick in overdrive but hardly anything. This pedal works for long cables, weak guitars, and weak sounding amps. There is also a market for this pedal with people who what more drive to their tone. UTILIZATION Markbass SUPER BOOSTER Bass Pedal Features: * Level Boost (level knob and on/off switch) * VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator) * VPF (Variable Pre-shape Filter) * Filters on/off switch * Input jack * Output jack * XLR active DI output jack * Ground Lift * Power jack (DC 12V) * Voltage is factory preset for the U.S. SOUND QUALITY The first footswitch control the pedal on and off. This is really for me the only purpose for this pedal. The other footswitch controls some EQing and filters which don't change the sound too much unless it is all the way up or all the way down. The sound quality is pretty nice for that extra kick. It doesn't really change your tone but just gives you more of what you really need. The second switch which mixes it up a bit does have some variants. The first control knobs color your tone from sort of a vintage to modern loud speaker. The second control knob just control your EQing filters OVERALL OPINION At new these pedals come in at around $130 which isn't bad for what this little thing can do. This is a great buy for those needing a solid boost pedal that it make quite well. I would recommend this pedal to anyone getting signal loss from running long cables or someone who needs a touch of drive to your tone. You may never switch if off once you get it