Tested out MarkBass as modeler amp at local jam

[ksandvik]

I was positively surprised. MarkBass CMD121P is a 350 (500W with external cabinet) combo bass amp, 12" cone, light (27 pounds), has all kinds of EQs and sculpting parameters, signal/gain adjustments and even a balanced input. It's been my secret weapon as there are so many gigs where I just don't need a full bass rig.

Anyway, wanted to see how it sounded in a jam environment, used my old Zoom G2 as the front. Played on behind a loud drummer and a full-rig bass player + another guitar player with a bigger Fender setup. The environment is brutal, soft stage and glass everywhere, very narrow and long room.

Hey, sounded just fine. I had headroom, played on volume level 2. I might get an RP500 as the main modeler pedal in front of this setup later this spring (testing Zoom G2.1NU but have not been overly impressed so far.)

Only cons I could think of:
- No dual channels, nor a boost so have to do this using a volume or boost pedal for solos.
- The logo says MarkBass (so some might think this is a bass setup.)

But hey, if it sounds good it is good. They are somewhat pricy, $900 or so. There are 2x10 combos as well, or also standalone boxes and cabs where the weight is very minimal for the whole setup. Some even have tube pre-amps in case someone wants to add warmth to their sound.

But don't get scared if this is a bass amp, the linear response, at least in my ears, was good. Might be even better than a typical guitar amp as the mid-range is critical in bass playing, same with getting the low string in five-string setups sounding good so that plays a nice part in beefing up the virtual amp modeling sound as well.

I've also used this as an amp with keyboards. So it's a highly recommended amp setup in case you are a multi-instrumentalist and use different instruments and just want to invest in one single amplification system. With extension cab (I got an Avatar 2x10, good and affordable, neo speakers so it's light) you could pump out 500W and that's plenty for most environments. The amp also has DI so you could pipe this into the PA if you need trillions of wattage.

[Count_Chocolat]

You sir, may be on to something!!!

My bud uses MarkBass and I am quite impressed, sounds great.

David Gilmour uses (or used to use) 2 Hiwatt bass amps for his guitar rig, cause he likes to have a very clean signal as a foundation for his sound. All coloring is added using stomp boxes. Tell me the solo for songs like comfortably numb is not about about tone!!!

Good post.

[burningyen]

Gilmour used Alembic F-2B bass preamps in the '70s to feed into his rotating speakers and then for a while in the mid-'80s as a substitute for the preamps in his Hiwatt guitar amps. He's never used a bass power amp, as far as I know. But I'm sure it can work given the right preamp.

[Count_Chocolat]

Originally Posted by burningyen

Gilmour used Alembic F-2B bass preamps in the '70s to feed into his rotating speakers and then for a while in the mid-'80s as a substitute for the preamps in his Hiwatt guitar amps. He's never used a bass power amp, as far as I know. But I'm sure it can work given the right preamp.

Yes this is what I meant to write.

[Gasp100]

My friends bassist (plays 5 string, sometimes even more) says his bassists rig which is a small Markbass amp sounds absolutely incredible and completely fills the room with good tones (and my friend was an engineer/producer for many years) so I trust his ears. You might be on to something>

[Lammy]

Genz Benz shuttle is also an option. I use it for a lightweight pedal steel setup.

[ksandvik]

I can't scientifically prove this but based on multiple postings it seems that the self-powered amp specifications concerning wattage are more exaggerated concerning what you really hear compared with bass amplification systems. When I used a JBL Eon 510 in the exact same spot the night before it sounded puny (280W), while the MarkBass on setting 2 (350W) sounded massive. Note both even have tweeters so there's a crossover but with self-powered speakers you have two amp sections, MarkBass has one.

[Count_Chocolat]

Originally Posted by ksandvik

I can't scientifically prove this but based on multiple postings it seems that the self-powered amp specifications concerning wattage are more exaggerated concerning what you really hear compared with bass amplification systems. When I used a JBL Eon 510 in the exact same spot the night before it sounded puny (280W), while the MarkBass on setting 2 (350W) sounded massive. Note both even have tweeters so there's a crossover but with self-powered speakers you have two amp sections, MarkBass has one.

Sorry to be brutally honest but Eon's are crap...i would not use those as a benchmark for power.