Is it the amp or something else?

[uk_lefty]

I have an irrational desire for a Markbass amp. I've got a Fender Bassman, Ash down ABM 600 rig and two separate multi effects pedals with good quality amp Sims. Yet when I hear someone playing through a Markbass rig there's a quality to the sound I am struggling to replicate: the punch. Is this baked in to Markbass amps? Or, is this something I can recreate with EQ and compression or something else?  Unfortunately my multis (Headrush MX5 and Boss ME-90B) do not have a Markbass SIM.

 

If I bought a third amp, would I even use it? I've gone in-ears now and my amps are becoming less and less used for gigs.

[chris_b]

IMO Markbass amps do sound good.

 

IMO if you are hesitating and haven't a clear answer in your head, then you don't need it.

[Lozz196]

Markbass are good sounding amps, in a mix they fit very nicely. 

[fretmeister]

They are definitely my favourite bass amp.

 

I moved away from them a few years ago and went through loads of different heads and cabs from a variety of makes at modest and stupid price points but then came back and it felt like home. I've used them in big band jazz and in power trios.

 

99% of the time I just want a touch of compression, an MB head and cab and I'm happy. I find they take pedals well when I need a bit of grit.

MB heads work well with a variety of cabs but I'm not as convinced about MB cabs with other heads. That way round seems to miss something to my ears.

 

All the heads have the MB sound, some with some valve flavouring, and others with a different EQ set up with different number of bands and centre points of the bands.

Most of the time I leave them all at noon or reduce the bass a little to stop any booming if the room is a bit crap.

 

I am not that precious about "tone" - as long as I've got a good compressor then I'll plug into pretty much everything, but MB kit makes me smile.

[Reggaebass]

I like  markbass and used them for years before I switched to Ampeg, I do think they have a certain sound and the VLE and VPF controls I really liked,  if you don’t want to buy another amp I believe they do a few preamp/ pedals, but I’ve never tried them 

[Mottlefeeder]

The apparent downside to Markbass amps is the agency they use for servicing. I read enough bad feeling on here that I crossed them off my list of possible upgrades.

David

[Chienmortbb]

2 hours ago, Mottlefeeder said:

The apparent downside to Markbass amps is the agency they use for servicing. I read enough bad feeling on here that I crossed them off my list of possible upgrades.

David

The cabs have a marmite tone that you will either love or hate. At the South West Bash they were voted top in a cab shootout one year and bottom the following year, 
 

[Sparky Mark]

On 05/12/2025 at 09:58, uk_lefty said:

I have an irrational desire for a Markbass amp. I've got a Fender Bassman, Ash down ABM 600 rig and two separate multi effects pedals with good quality amp Sims. Yet when I hear someone playing through a Markbass rig there's a quality to the sound I am struggling to replicate: the punch. Is this baked in to Markbass amps? Or, is this something I can recreate with EQ and compression or something else?  Unfortunately my multis (Headrush MX5 and Boss ME-90B) do not have a Markbass SIM.

 

If I bought a third amp, would I even use it? I've gone in-ears now and my amps are becoming less and less used for gigs.

I'm definitely a fan and have bought way too many cheapish secondhand so I'll never need to use a Markbass authorised repair service. I gigged an SA450 and TRV102P last night in a large pub to decent effect. I was on the limit however, so really should've taken my pair of NY121P cabs, but just about got way with it. I also use a Markbass Compressore and Rafferty HPF to reduce wasted low end amp power. The Compressore also adds a nice 12ax7 warmth.

[BassAdder60]

I’m now a MB user having played Ashdown, Ampeg, TE, GK, Orange ( you get the picture ) !!

 

Firstly it’s the cabs I like as I use two MB58R 102. Cabs stacked in my band ( rock / pop ) 

The amp is the MB LM IV which I chose over the MB58R head as it has a metal case like the previous models.

 

For me the instant difference is the EQ frequency choice as it’s not focused at the very low 40hz like some but more 60hz upwards. It never sounds wooly or lost in a mix and clarity and clean is its forte, 

It hasn’t got grind or grit but I prefer a good clean sounding tone even for rock as I hear it better in the mix and it has that formidable MB punch !

Low weight and sensible pricing also makes them a great package 

They stack equally well vertical up format ( amazing to hear as top speakers are closer to ears ) or in the traditional 410 style as below if more stability is required etc

 

[Ed_S]

How about a Nano 2? Convenient size and weight, solid build, decent amount of power, reasonable price-tag for a third amp, and I would have thought easy enough to justify carrying as insurance even when you're predominantly on IEMs.

 

The earlier Nano 300 and the Nano 2 have been my main gigging amps since 2018ish, and as a past user of LM2, F1, LM800, LM3 and various combos, I'd say they have 'the sound'. They don't have the VLE/VPF filters, but MB are willing to ship a gigging amp without them and I always turn them to 'off' anyway, so neither of us appear to believe they're integral to the aforementioned signature sound.

[SamPlaysBass]

I hated Markbass amps when I was a younger, more naive man. Everyone seemed to have one, and I was once loading out my Ashdown CTM 100 all valve head into the back of my Corsa when a chirpy ‘older’ bass player on before me pointed to his 1x12 Markbass combo said ‘you want to get rid of that, get one of these! Does everything that one does but lighter!’ - despised them from that moment on. Why would I not use a big, gritty valve amp instead of some horrible little yellow thing? 

 

Anyway, here’s my AG1000 head and Ninja Cab. It sounds so good in a mix with minimal tweaking, it’s got handles in the right places on the cab, carry bag is hideously convenient for the head. Preferred this set up to nearly everything else I own apart from my SVT and Bassman 8x10, but it annihilates everything in terms of portability, quality of sound and ease of use, second maybe only to the stupidly lightweight GR Bass stuff. 

[Sparky Mark]

Having tried LM2 and SA450 heads in dealerships in 2008 a couple times I just didn't hear what all the fuss was about. However, the first time I played through an LM2 was at an open jam night at The Square, Harlow. It was driving an old Laney (or Peavey, the memory fades) 410 and sounded amazing in the mix, with the trademark MB punch. From that point onwards I've gigged MB ten times more often than my other amps.