Markbass LMK Head

See previous reviews for feature listing. Very versatile indeed, the only thing I really miss is original footswitch I can't find anywhere. And maybe pre-post EQ button for DI. So one point down.

I wanted two-channel amp so as I don't have to switch basses between songs. I also wanted clean (by means of not muffled or bass-heavy) sounding amp, that lets shine through the character of each of my basses ("Homemade" jazz clone, Ibanez 78' Jazz Bass copy and custom semi-hollow 5 with piezo aka Rob Allen). Combined with EBS NEO112 and Epifani T110 this amps delivers all of it and adds reasonable ammount of power (honestly, we do not play super large gigs but even with aforementiond two tiny cabs it can go insanely loud). The basic "flat" sound is kinda midheavy, or better not the usual bassy or scooped sound of many heads. In comparison with AI Clarus 1R considered as a kinda standard for "flat sound" it sounds even flatter to my ears, cleaner, more live, dynamic and punchier, not harsh at all. I would say it is more suitable for bass then Clarus. EQ is also reasonbly efficient so you can make it sound bass-heavy or zingy or whatever if those are your things. In comparison with Phil Jones Bass Buddy the eq has some bump in higher mid. BB has also more airy sounding highs and fuller sound overall, I would say it breaths more, but that is only minor gripe. It is not Hi-Fi head, nor bottom killer, but for jazz, blues and rock oriented music I play, it is more than suitable.
I am really impressed, how such a tiny box can move such a air and sound. Great!

Have it for cca year and so far so good!

Well, I tried to get information about the footswitch and they did not responded.

Not expensive ight, portable, loud, great sounding head, due to the two channels and EQ section very versatile. I can recommend it to everyone on budget lookig for head fulfils above mentioned requirements. Yeah, I like it.

This Amp is very new from 2005, 2Channels changeable by Footswitch (not included), mixing these Channels is also possible. parallel Effect loop, Pre-DI-out with Ground lift, 500W @ 4Ohm, 300W @ 8Ohm, VPF and VLE Control, 4-Band Equalizer, Master, Line-Out-Control
Weight: 2,7kg
The only Thing I miss is a Post-Line-Out, so that changing the Channels has got an effect on the Signal to the Mixer

I use the Head with the Sandberg Basic5 (active)and a Steinberger XZ-2DB (passive) and I play mostly Rock and Metal. The Sound is very clear with much Power and Warmth. No Problems with the Low-B! Using the Filters, Your Sound may vary from Tube to extreme HiFi so that every Style is possible. It is amazing how much Power and Soundpressure that little Thing can Produce. My Marshall-Stack-fetish-Guitarplayer always sais that I may play quieter, but I am just at 8-9 o'clock with the Master.

I thing that I can truelly depend on this little LMK and will never need a Backup! I Carry it in a Case for Notebooks and I don't need more. It is very well built and there are no parts which I thing that I cannot trust. I use it for 5 Month in rehearsals, Studio and live and never had Problems and do not expect some either.

I mailed to the Company about changing the DI-Out to Post EQ and recieved a very friendly answer some days later. Pity, it does not work, but the Customer Support seems to be great.
2Years Warranty

I play for 10years now and I thing it is the best Amp I ever played with. As said before, I use Sandberg and Steinberger Basses and as aCabinet I still use Hartke 4/10 but I will Change to 2Custom 2/12" Cabs. What I really, really love is the little weight and the very easy using. I compared with Ampeg, Hartke, Trace Elliot, Gallien Krueger, Hughes&Kettner and it beats them all.
Maybe I will change to the Little Mark if it would be stolen because it is a bit cheaper but sounds the same.
One thing I really like is that it also works with my Ovation acoustic guitar. One Channel Bass, the other with the guitar, so that changing the Instruments in a gig is extremely easy and Quick.

Twin channel foot switchable amp 500 Watts into 4 ohms. New on the market summer 2005. Each channel has its own input gain control. clip light covers both channels. each channel features rotary control pots giving + - 16 dB at 40Hz(Low) 360 Hz(Low Mid) 800Hz (High Mid)and 5KHz (High.)in addition channel A features a VPF Pot (Variable Pre-shape Filter)This turned fully, cuts to -20dB at 380Hz but also boosts highs up to +10dB shelving to 11K Hz, and also extends the lows to 20 Hz as well as boost them 5 dB. Also on channel A is a VLE( Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator)This cuts highs, Max setting will effect from about 250Hz at unity dropping off to
- 20dB at 1 KHz then flat lining across the rest of the upper frequencies. Half way is plenty.
The front pannel also caries the master gain control and a Line out level.Rear pannel provides Balanced Line out with ground lift. Footswitch socket. Tuner out socket.Effects send/Return. Speaker outs are by universal Speakon/Jack socket as well as seperate Jack.Fused IEC mains socket.Fan.

I saw Jeff Berlin playing Markbass amps at the London show and was draw by the tone he was producing. On his break I tried The LMK. The tone is incredible. To me it sounds compressed and slightly chorused. The sound is warm and Fat it covers so much space Its like stereo compared to other amps. My main Bass now is a five string Schack bolt on, it was passive with single soap bar in the Precision position I put a John East preAmp in, stacked Bass/Treble to give me more variation.This amp has now given me back my true bass tone I don't need to boost the bass and trable as previously. I love the felexibility of the two channels. I can be playing on channel A with high cut on the VLE to give me a Motown Precision on Flats sound.The next number in the set could be an 'in ya face 70's funk, and by jumping on the pedal my preset VPF setting really jumps out. This control has the best sound i have ever come across for Peachy RnB finger style and good ole thumb/slap.The cut is just perfect but the amount of Bass and treble boost that coincides with it, is spot on.
I also play electric bass in a twenty piece swing band, and have to please the upright purists with my elactric tone. This amp is great for that. I am using it into my old cabs at present(Peavey 1x15 and Carvin 2x10)I have series'd these 4ohm cabs to 8 ohms and despite this costing me 200 watts of headroom off my 500 watt into 4 ohm amp rating. I still have loads of head room. The amp is totaly quite and never runs warm.

I am only Four weeks and Four gigs into this amp but the build quaility is such that i do have total confidance. It has an A/B pre amp and digital power section the fan runs slow with no electric noise or hum of any sort. after a three hour gig the amp is not even warm. Do not take back up to gigs.
The Pots have a real quality feel to them, better than amps twice this price. The amp measures 11" x 9" by 2U wieghs only 6 lb. I have bought a padded computer bag to carry it in.
Foot switch case is plastic, does not look very strong, but the chrome buttons are good and solid and quite. the fixed cable could be longer. Do have concern that the front panel transfer may come off after time ( fingernails during knob turning)No reason to think this but something to watch out for.

Proel are the main importers / distributors here in the UK.
Paulo, who was on the trade stand when i first showed an interest, has phoned me throughout my 6 week wait for this new amp to hit the UK.
They are totaly customer focused and know they will do every thing to maintain this good relationship.
Comes with 2 year waranty

I am a purist, prefer no effect or amp simulators just plug and play, real rock n roll.I have been playing a Carvin Pro bass 500 for 12 years It has never let me down, the Pots have now got scratchy and the biamp knob got broke in a fall. I have been looking for a twin channel amp to replace it for a year now. As I play in a busy functions band playing the last 50 years of Pop covers I need to select sound changes quickly. Have tested Ampeg pro3, SWR , Carvin, GK1000RBII nearly went for the GK but the tone and channel options of the MarkBass won through. What i love about this amp is the head room and harmonic presents, it has that HiFi studio polished sound like your favorite artist's best track. that you can't believe you could ever get live. Plumby rich lows that purr and plenty of harmonically rich top end. The VPF is awesome, one knob great funk on the nose when you want it.I have been a techno head for too long worrying what frequencies i need to get the right sound. This amp takes all that worry away and makes you use your ears, and its all in there and only a slight tweek away from centre flat positions. You get Randy Hope-Taylor, Randy Jackson and James Jamerson in one 6 lb box. I have even found a Rickenbacker in there.