Sparky Mark

I have an SR1200 and the Nordstrands and onboard EQ make it the pick of the range. So if you want a modern 5er my money would go on a secondhand one no question.

Greg has just sold me his 2012 USA Jazz. A great guy who kept me regularly updated throughout the shipping process and even popped a brand new set of SS Rotosounds in the case which was a lovely surprise. The bass was exactly as described, extremely well packed in a Gibson cardboard box (care of Nigel at PMT Birmingham - cheers mate) and I would recommend him as a trustworthy and generous Basschatter. Trade without any worries.

If you want new and don't need headphone out or aux in then the LM3 is a good choice. If you are happy to go used then I would choose LM3 or SA450 or LMT500. The new power amp used in new LM3 and Big Bang heads does sound warmer to my ears than the F500 class d.

I like all of the suggestions with the exception of the fling it out of the bedroom window one!! When I was a lad I worked in a green grocers and more than once exotic spiders would cadge a lift to the UK in banana boxes, so watch out Greg!

[quote name='hellride' timestamp='1420800538' post='2653490'] So a 4.5XL and a 410XL in stereo would work? Or perhaps tw0 4.5's and two 410's per side? [/quote] OMG!!!!!

From recent questioning of Markbass it appears that all 500 watt heads and combos now use the same class D power amp as the Big Bang head, which reportedly sounds different (warmer perhaps?) than the previous class D LM(T)800.

Thought I should bring this thread to the top. I have now gigged the HT 30 at full volume with no ill effects.

I didn't do any cutting. As this is a vented cab combo I wasn't concerned that the new tweeter didn't sit perfectly flush in the hole as the four fixing screws hold it in position with a slight gap. This allows me to refit the original later if I want to sell. For approx £13 from CPC.CO.UK I think it is well worth trying to see the difference.

Initially I just disconnected the tweeter and was relieved not to have the constant hiss but did miss the extra clarity of my horn loaded cabs. Fitted a stageline HT30 and I think it sounds much better than the piezo or disconnected options. YMMV of course.

[quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1418895198' post='2634472'] I guess I could take the LM2 and F1 along and try to ascertain, side by side, whether the CH2 is anything I don't already have in the other heads. Sounds like a plan... [/quote] Trouble is in the time it takes to swap leads over it's very difficult to do a true A to B to C comparison of similar sounding heads, which these are.

[quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1418894347' post='2634455'] Makes me wonder what I should do with my Big Bang powered Combo Head 2. It's currently a standalone head wearing the top-panel and feet from the LM800 that I put in the combo and I was torn between keeping it in the cupboard to swap back in the event that I wanted to sell the combo, and offering it up for sale on here to get some of my money back. Now I wonder if I should actually take it to a rehearsal and have a listen to it. [/quote] Definately give it a proper run out, it's a great sounding amp. You might even prefer it and the power difference is negligible.

Markbass literature used to describe the sonic differences between their analogue and class d power amplifiers, so I think it is fair to say that the new class d LM3 will sound different to the previous analogue version. This is also the opinion of Bass Gear Magazine's tombowlus who compared the Big Bang with the LM2. I think it's interesting that Markbass introduced this change to their flagship head seemingly without any publicity (perfectly within their rights of course ) as if they understood it might be perceived as making the LM3 a different amplifier. Looking at the two versions the analogue would almost certainly be more expensive to manufacture and now that the class d power section is used in almost all of Markbass 500 watt heads and combos the economies of scale are obvious.

Greg bought a Badass bridge from me. Nice smooth transaction with prompt payment and good communications throughout.

H sold me his Reggie Hamilton jazz bass. He was happy to meet half way and threw a set of strings in, in case I don't get on with the TI flats fitted. Great communications throughout and a really good guy to deal with.

You're welcome Pete. When I asked about the speakers I was wondering what size and how many? If the design of the speakers has also been 'refined ' then that might explain why you hear a difference.

Mine are in CMD121P and CMD121H combos. Both use the same 4 bolt fixing. Definitely not a job to do just before or at a gig though. I gig my 121P with a NY121 cab and they sound great. Have a good one tonight. P.S, If you play quite loud with both input and output at noon, the analogue head gets pretty warm whilst the class D stays much cooler.

There are plenty of clues within this thread including the photo at the top. If you like the way it sounds then it really doesn't matter one way or the other. If you are simply curious you can undo 4 bolts and slip the head out and compare with my photo. It's likely that both versions were made in 2013.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1418483097' post='2630578'] Really? Just tested mine (01-13) ... just under 2 seconds. [/quote] Are you sure that yours is class d?

What speakers did the combo you tried before have?

I have noticed that the new head takes 8 seconds for the output relay to 'click' after switching the amp on. This is much longer than the original design and may be an easier way of telling which version you have.