Markbass Traveler 102P

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

I was looking for something light to carry because I was tired of playing with amps stud, often breathless with lots of buttons everywhere ... Markbass is simple, light and sounds

SOUNDS

No staining is the claim of the brand, and I agree that it succeeded. It does not drool, faithful to the sound of the guitar and equalization is effective. Dynamic side is also very good and the bass is amazing even with just the 2x10 system (brand specific acoustic compression). Still, this is the transistor, it is not for nothing that the tube amp 2 1/2 tons and have not disappeared.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it 5 years and it is far better than anything we can find in transistor in my opinion: simpler, more precise, more dynamic. It lacks what we find on the tube amps, and even the brand model that embeds two lamps is not in the category of monsters (Ampeg, Fender and Mesa). But for 1000 euros, provided mobility, there is not better in my opinion.

Bought for its weight / power more than the sound itself ... the sound is very good but it is not one I préfèré different speakers that I could test report. After it's just a matter of taste because it works very well.

I had two traveler 102p coupled to a head-Gallien Krueger 400RB Series 3 ... enough to deal with almost any situation ... if there is need for more is that we're on a big stage and the sound system broke down lol.

Easy to carry, I liked having this column HP 10 'behind me ... very convenient to not have her in the knees and it not take place, easy to squeeze between charley drummer and keyboard that Need to 2 meters wide to install ...

SOUNDS

It is dynamic and accurate but in the end I found the final sound pretty "low medium", not enough sub, it lacked a real big baffle 4 * 10 or 15. I always speak with respect to sound j love it ... Overall I prefer the traditional HP compared to HP "neo" but it's true that when the gear is often lug around, it is a pleasure to not too much shit coming back together to 5am ​​and still must unload the car ...

OVERALL OPINION

Used a short year, I went on the TC electronic with 2 * 12 (for how long I do not know ...).

The feature I liked is the minimum footprint compared to its developed. A 2 * 10 than adequate for repeated. This is good stuff, reliable.

I do not have that choice despite these qualities, I preferred 15p traveler version of the same brand: a little bigger but not heavier, and a little more "fat" like her (it's still Neodyn ... ). For the "stand alone" the 15p is more suitable I think.