I've been a professional bassist for more than half- Century. I'm 71 now. Not too many gigs anymore, but I still have a lot of gear. My Rumble 200 is in the trunk of my car. That said, ALL combo amps I've used, owned, and tried- and yes, there are a lot... have a serious issue, that always results in my selling them off. If you underestimate the gig situation, or your bandleader assures you there'll be PA support- you will be outgunned- buried in the mix, both onstage, and at the rehearsal studio. Take a guess how I know this, to be repeatedly true. When it happens, you're stuck with THAT amp, and THAT cabinet- in a single unit. Yes, there have been, traditionally, speaker outs for extension speaker cabinets. But, WHY buy a combo, if you're going to possibly bring TWO cabinets? Buy a powerful head with a two ohm capability, and bring one, or two cabinets of whatever type you might need. I think she did a good job in the demo here, but I can tell you right now, NONE of those single 12" combo amps will cut it on even 'sensible' volume gigs. I've used a Rumble 100, a Hartke Kickback, and that Markbass. The Markbass was a nice little amp- but for the same money, you can find a great 4-10 used, and a really powerful head, like a TC, Markbass, or other amp secondhand... that would outclass them all. These are essentially... low volume gig amps, or nice personal practice amps. Even my Rumble 200, looks tiny next to most drum kits. In addition, there is NO real way to know what any of these actually sound like, from these You Tube videos, until you play through one.
I used my Peavey Mark IV series coupled with my roll-away Yamaha bass cabinet (15" speaker, which was later upgraded to a 15" Black Widow speaker by Peavey) back in the day. Maybe other amp heads were better...but if Steve Harris used it for Iron Maiden concerts, then I knew it would deliver for all situations.
I have switched to 2 12” orange obc112 cabs and a 600 watt head( peavey mini max) it is modular enough that one cab works for small jazz gigs, 2 in a stack look nice on stage and is plenty for r😅ck gigs for small gigs its cab in one hand bass in the other and my back pack for scores/amp/pedals cables etc . I still di or mic if available but will never just run a DI …. Better to have suspenders and a belt so your ass doesn’t hang out
Yep. Used a Mesa head and Mesa 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. Used one or both cabs depending on gig. Never had a worry. Unfortunately I think Part of being a bass player is accepting you need heavy gear. I would use these combos for practice or very small room playing only. But that’s just me and I’m old and deaf. lol.
I noticed the 100 watt amps, the volume was at 3 O'clock, the Eden 225 watts was also at/about 3 O'clock. the Hartke 500 watts, was at about 1:30-ish and the MarkBass 300 watts was at about 11 O'clock. Another thing to think about is, decibels, the sound pressure in that room, and the same exact volume in different rooms would produce different decibel levels. also if you moved the location of the decibel meter. one bass amp might punch out farther than another amp, that would be something else to look into.
Yeah, I noticed there was no mention of if the volume or gain settings were set the same from bass to bass, so really it's not any sort of accurate comparison. If you have one amp maxed out and the other only pushing 40% on the volume knob, why call it a comparison?
The Hartke and the Rumble have got the most "coloured" sound, which will give the illusion to stand out more with a drummer. Nevertheless, in live conditions, one has to consider the acoustics of the venue and there, the Eden and MarkBass will possibly outperform the 2 first ones. The Ashdown is certainly a good amp too, but it did not convince me. If I may ask: which one has your preference Julia ?
I cant imagine why anyone would use that tiny little personal practice hartke amp with a full band. Its gonna struggle to cut through. Its just too small. You are not gonna feel the bass through any combo that small. It isnt meant for that.
Agree that Fender R 500 is loud enough. Itself it does not sound so good but with multieffect you can add some parametric eq. In comparison FR 100 is a toy to FR 500. In fact I think that from the combos FR 500 is the best. Still I don't like combos, much better is Mark Bass 102HF + Mark head from some cheaper gear. Second part with drums just proves that small combos sucks. With FR 500 or Mark 102HF I can be much better heard as bass player.
@@Marcink126 I'm usually running a D.I. directly off the bass, not the preamp of the Fender amp and the sound man is going to control what is heard out on the floor. The only thing I require is to be heard across the stage by the horn section. I still think it sounds pretty good for what it is.
@pawnmack excellent point, the horn players need to hear you. As a lead trumpet player I was trained to listen to the bass player and then the drummer. It's the bass players groove that sets the tone and attack for the lead trumpet, amd the lead trumpet controls the horn section (usually)
@@didamnesia3575 The night I went from using a single 15" speaker cabinet over to a 4x10" cabinet the horn section said they could finally hear the punch. The amp I spoke of here is all in one with two 10" speakers.
In this video, especially when the drummer comes in...Markbass all the way! It has volume and a nice, clean, articulate sound on all ends of the spectrum. Great video!
It seems like the Markbass and the Hartke are the best and pass all of the tests. I actually got the Markbass and am amazed at how load it is. I kept having to turn the bass down. I does have great tone. It is easy to carry. I heard a band where the bassist was using a Markbass and was amazed at how loud it is and how great of a tone it gets.
Not a test since there were no results. The sound via RUclips won't cut it, especially when demoing the combos with the drummer. If it hadn't been an advertisement for the Thomann store, she'd tell us how did playing with the drummer through all of them felt.
Had this stack in the 80s, too. Best sound for sure, but you hate it the more gigs you play ... unless you can afford a road crew. In that case, they hate it, while you love it :-) !!!
I play the Mark Bass. I have no problem with volume or tone. If you line out to a good PA, You can carry any show. I do not believe this video does any of the amps justice.
That's the point if you line out to a pa, then a small combo is ok. But if you are a small band with a small pa which is only good enough for vocals, then you need more power. A lively drummer will kick out at least 80 watts at least.
Carrying even 10kg by hand gets heavy after a few minutes regardless of strength. Meanwhile, a little collapsible trolley from a hardware stores let's you drag bigger loads like regular luggage. Before you say 'stairs?' remember: you're going out to play with other people, so part of the cooperation should be helping out with gear - if you're carrying your gear alone in a band, especially when struggling, you need a new band.
Can confirm - luggage trolley is hugely useful! You can always carry the kit up some stairs but being able to pull it on wheels makes life much easier.
What! I think my old ampeg head was about 80 pounds ~35kg I never had issue one running it into and out of clubs. You all need to lift weights that are greater than a 12oz beer can from time to time! In the states, according to OSHA regulations, 75lbs is considered light and legally portable by one person all day every day. Over 75 is considered heavy and requires 2 people. 10 kg is a breeze.
I've been hesitant about the Markbass CMD102 because though it gets great reviews I do see some negative ones that say the amp quit on them during a gig or rehearsal. Not just a few reviews, a lot. Some burned out, some over heated. One person said there is no fuse protection which I find crazy. But your amp has been great over the years?
Better take Fender R 500 or Hartke HD500 or something with similar power and two 10" speakers or one 15". With such small combos like in mentioned comparison you will not cut through the drums.
I used a Rumble 200 for over 2 years with and without PA support. It handled most situations… I’d even push it past where I felt comfortable and it never once failed me. I moved on to a Markbass head and a 210 cab… selling the Rumble. Looking back, wish I would’ve kept the Rumble.
@@victormendez2820 I sold it thinking I’d get more out of the Markbass. I might have slightly better tone with the Markbass but I just miss the Rumble with a 15.
Yeah that Markbass is really nice stuff, but I'd recommend a 1x15" over a 2x10" . I have an Ampeg BA600 2x10"...which is a great amp, lots of power, but its quite big, heavy, and I never want to push it because it's an expensive amp. I'm selling it now that I bought a cheaper 1x15"....and I like the 15" sound much better than the 2x10"..
Agreed. Rumble had the nicest pleasing baked in vintage character, Hartke was the deepest, roundest, smoothest and fullest. I'd maybe give a nod to the Mark Bass for musicality. My choice might depend on the type of music I played most. If it was hip-hop, urban, soul, music with electronics, reggae, dub - Hartke all the way. Vintage indie rock, country, then Fender. modern fusion / jazz, then Mark Bass, which would probably also work extremely well as a stage amp intended to be supported in the subs by the PA; a common use case. If the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-112 was in the mix, I think it beats out the Fender in warmth / vintage character too, as well as having more fullness than the Fender because of the bigger cabinet. Can be a bit more pricey than the Rumble though.
My takeaway from the room mic was: Get a bigger amp, these will not do. Yeah, it may be enough in a certain setting, but in other cases when the song requires the bassline to be heard over the drums it is good to be able to turn up. Some years ago, I was at Thomann and bought my GK MB 500 class D head (weighs nothing, fits in the front pouch of my bass gigbag) with a GK CX 115 Bass Cabinet that weighs 16kg. It has no trouble at all keeping up with loud drums (or making the drummer cry for help if you set it past noon). It was slightly under 1000€. So if money is an issue, I would go with the Rumble 100 and hope I always have a DI to plug into. Else, I would look for a light 1x15 or 2x10 cab and a class D top, or a similar combo (Rumble 500 etc.). EDIT: I think the room mic probably did not represent the situation very well, because I have read since that a lot of people actually use the Rumble 100 for gigging (before Corona, of course) And my own setup definitely has more headroom than I ever see myself using.
I have one of those Markbass combos and if I can't get loud enough with that (hasn't happened) I'm playing in a louder situation than I want to be in. If y'all are playing with a drummer who plays that loud, you should invest in a good hear aid company cause you're gonna need it.
Timothy Tibbits I actually wondered how quiet the Markbass was in the room mix because I got the impression that it should be loud enough from what I heard about it. Maybe it was not cranked all the way?
I love my little Mark Cube. Its an older one, acquired maybe ten years ago when I lived in the UK. Now that I live in the USA I wanted to know if it was possible to change the power supply inside the amp over to 110v so I don't need to use a step up inverter. So I emailed Mark Bass to ask for advice. Waited. Got no reply. Emailed again. Waited. Etc. Repeat. Conclusion: Mark Bass make better amplifiers than they do an effort at customer service. Go Mark if you don't mind them not giving a f*** after they've had you money. I doubt you would have that problem with Eden.
Eden has been sold is no longer anything like it used to be. But many newer amps are using switching power supplies and universal voltage. Look by the power input for 50-60hz 90-240VAC and that will tell you it'll work on any voltage.
If the mark is a class d amp then the power supply inside is a switching power supply. there might be an option to make it work on 120. Before checking it yourself, I would actually take it to a local tech to check and convert. Last thing you want to do is damage the amp or hurt/kill yourself with any voltages in there.
@@cubedomatic Yeah I had my local amp tech already take a look. Same guy who converted my Lazy J 20 guitar amp over to 110v (I couldn't get it to Jess Hoff in time before we left the UK otherwise he'd have done it for me in his garage whilst I waited). In the case of my Mark Cube and my AER acoustic amp nothing quite so helpful as an easy way of switching them over I'm afraid! Its not such a big deal to use a step up/down inverter as I mostly use them in my home studio anyway. But inverters do make a slight noise so it would be nice not to have to bother is all.
I used the old version of the Rumble 100 for years and it was a beast. Now I use a Peavey Max 208. It’s super portable and it can definitely keep up with a full band.
Unwelcome Drummer opinion! 🤣 I like it when bassists I play with use Mark Bass gear. Very punchy and solid low end. Also, when I run front of house sound I really enjoy how clean and clear the Mark Bass DI outs are.
I also have the cmd 121p plus the cabinet ny121h, I use them since 2010 . They are fantastic and 500 watts for me are enough. Best quality. Markbass was founded near the place I live, here in Italy in a town called San Giovanni Teatino :).
(I commented the same to another Markbass owner.) I've been hesitant about the Markbass CMD102 because though it gets great reviews I do see some negative ones that say the amp quit on them during a gig or rehearsal. Not just a few reviews, a lot. Some burned out, some over heated. One person said there is no fuse protection which I find crazy. But your amp has been great over the years?
The other thing with any of them is if you tweak the EQ settings a bit you can cut through better and make a significant difference in the room without changing volume.
If the problem is keeping up with the volume of the drummer, then maybe you need to think about getting a drummer that can play to the volume of the band and not the other way 'round! They can do it you know...
a bit like many guitarists some (too many?) drummers just can't play quietly. ALL decent session players can play quiet, loud, or anything in between depending on what the song/venue requires. "I always play like this" just shows they aren't using their ears and just playing for themselves and not the band or the audience
Hartke sounds nice (I have HD112 + TX300), but one 12" speaker is not enough for drums. Absolute minimum is 2x10 which you will hear but it will be working at its maximum power and will be lack of lows. Better to use 2x12 or 1x15. I made copy of Eich Amplification 115 XS, it is ultra light, just like combo and does not need to play on max power with drums which gives you some headrum for solo or to just not destroy your cabinet :)
Nobody would ever put a great compressor into an amp😅, if it's important to you, you'll have to keep that investment in mind... Plus class D amps compress a lot by themselves at high volumes.
@@matejgrim Then check out Trace Elliot's 1990s amps. These things have features that I have never even _seen_ on other equipment, and I used them regularly with my band. Including the compressor, which has 2 separate frequency bands. Most dedicated _pedals_ do not achieve this level. And the idea of usable compression is to be independent of total volume, which depends on the size of the venue you are playing and not the style you are trying to achieve. Which is exactly why more and more guitarists are moving away from huge Marshall stacks or at least equip them with load boxes and attentuators, so that they can dial in the sound they _want_ regardless of acoustic volume.
I have the Mark Bass 121P (1 x 12 @ 300 watts). It's very good, but I use the extension speaker with it (New York 121) and it becomes 2 x 12 @ 500 watts. It keeps up with my drummer quite nicely.
I played it at Thomann some years ago. The speakers are not big enough for playing with drums. Get at least the 115 or 210. They are really well priced, but I did not like the sound at all. I say, if you can, get something better, e.g. Fender Rumble 500 or the like.
doczooc i Agree with you Bit Thomann compared 100 Watt Amps. Not fender rummle 500. i Cannot Imagine to Jam with Drums with only 100 Watt. Rock and punk and pop. Even Hartke with its 500 Watt or Markbass with 250 Watt only have a single speaker. Most rehearsed rooms are small.
I've recently got the bg250-210 and I like the sound, It's no Fender rumble but it''s fine and it's also got 2 slot for toneprints effects. Also it's hella loud compared to these in the video I have no trouble keeping up with my drummer with volume at about noon and if I want I can push even more volume. And it was cheap AF for what it offered. Overall I'm very happy with it
I tried all the small combos and the MarkBass CMD121P is without comparison for sound, small size and weight and incredible output. Other bass players have come up after a gig and complimented me on my sound and were looking around for my "stack"! I can play ANY indoor gig and some out doors with this little amp. It is scary loud and with an extension speaker as loud as you could possibly want. Normally I have the volume set only about 11:00 for an indoor rock gig.
I rented a place to practice with a drummer. Then I found the Markbass amp there and it was without a doubt the exact tone I had been looking for. I play mostly TOOL and Alice in Chains now so I'm definitely buying the Markbass once I live in a place where I can use it lol
@@johantitulaer1052 guess I just don’t want to get drowned out, and not looking for extension cabs to make up for it. Currently using a heavier tc 212 and 800 watt amp.
I actually use a Hartke HD50. It's 50 watts and it's loud enough to play with a drummer when I turn it up. I have a pre-amp in my bass so that helps but being heard is more about having a tone that can cut through than power. This is why a lot of rock bass players play with a pick. Even finger players use tricks (Geddy Lee plays with his finger nails)
It would be very interesting to hear, how they sound, when you crank them up. For my taste they could be louder and some were already cranked (the fender for example) while the mark bass and hartke still had reserves.
I have a markbass CMD151 combo jb model ... it is potent to say the least. cuts through 2 guitar and a loud drum. might be nice to have an extension 15 though. would also like to try a 212
That's my knock around and I've never had to even push it to keep up with reasonable volume indoor jams. Yea guitars can possibly drown it out but it takes stupid volumes in a room to do it.
Good video. But I would love to know which amp do you prefer, Julia. Because you where there hearing them closely. And why did you use amps with different watts? I wonder why didn't you try the Fender Rumble 500 W with the Hartke 500 W. The thing was not clear enought for me.
That Markbass had lots of volume-knob to spare (probably isn't linear though)... so that's good! Has that Markbass sound, if you like that kind of thing. Fender and Ashdown struggling with the drums. I always advise people go 250-Watt or over when practicing with a drummer. For me, I'd probably go with a Quilter bassdock with the amp, or a decent class-D head and a Trace Elf 2x8. Money no option and don't care about aesthetics? Probably Barefaced+amp.
I have the Hartke KB12. Although it says 500watts, it is in fact 250watts RMS. Having said that it is a truly great and powerful little combo and fine for pub gigs. The direct out works really well too, so for bigger stages just plug into the PA and use it tilted up just as your stage monitor. I've been using it for two years and am very impressed with it.
I have the Hartke KB12 as well. I’ve owned it for a few years now and have used it for practice, rehearsal and small gigs. It can do it all in a nice small package. It sounds very good as well. As Andy said it’s not really 500 watts but it’s 250 rms watts which for a small combo is a lot.
@@dazxmedia Correct me if I am wrong, It only has one speaker out. It's own or an extra 4 ohm cab as you say. So only one or the other? If one plugged a powered 4 ohm cap from the XLR line out would that also get the full 500W ? and be able to use the combo as fold back and the cab as the projector?
Ashdown is my favorite, it's a pleasant surprise. It has clarity, but there's those growly lows even with the higher strings naturally, so i'm probably getting that one in the future. And it has the DI Out, so even if it's quiet in a band setting, you can still hook it up to a cab or VA.
Please dont!, played the studio 12 for hours. Totally lacks tonal variety. Im a bass player for about two decades but even the drummers and guitar player complain about the sound of the muffled liveless ashdown on every jam session. Notice that it is not my personal amp but the one thats available to jam in a venue. The reviews that i heard were about me and multiple other bassplayers with their own styles. Studio 12 + pbass with flats = muffled and lifeless. Studio 12 + jazz with roundwounds… hmm a start to an open sound with every knob cranked from the mids…
@@leonk7249 The ashdown might be right for me lol. I love muff, muddy, and punchy bass tones. I always have my mids max, bass high, and treble never past 12 o'clock.
I bought the Hartke HD25 last year, and I really like it ( although I've used it more for playing my 8 string than my bass 😂🤷♂️ ). I haven't even cracked quarter volume with it and it's plenty loud, and it also handles an E0 note ( on my bass ) well for a small speaker.
Nice work there... However, when the drummer was playing the room mic killed the bass sound completely... Having said that, you were smiling on the Hartke and Fender amps more. Was that your choice? It was mine. Fender rules!
The amps are not fully turned up, just look at the knobs. They chose these settings because the bass should not be too dominant over the drums. When you like it louder or imbalanced .. turn it up.
@@sebastianfranke8396 If they are not turned up, then the Demo is no good. Put the drums and bass on a stage, and we will get a better idea. After all, the tile wonders if small combo amps are loud enough. The amps sound great though!
Sebastian Franke The volume knobs don’t work in a linear way, meaning past a certain point the actual volume won’t increase a lot. It’s easy to think ‘oh I am only at half of the volume knob, so I still have loads of headroom’ until the point comes where you have to turn up farther and realize that nothing gives. A disaster when this happens live
@@nothingEvil101 Yes I known, but I don't think this is the case here. For example I am familiar with the Rumble 100 and its able to shake walls. No one would turn it that loud to maximum. The Markbass in the videos is even only turned to 50%, because it has 300Watts and lots of "room" for more.
I own the Hartke kb12 and it’s sounds great. But playing with the band at a full blown loud rehearsal it was struggling a bit. I also had the same problem with my Mark Bass 12 combo. So I switched the head from the combo for the 800 tube, getting 500 watts at 8ohms. I also added the MB12 extension cab! I now carry a full 800 watt beast that’s under 60lbs, and that’s less than 30lbs per hand.
I use a KB12 primarily for small band rehearsals and big band rehearsals/live gigs. It does a good job - with a crisp, solid sound - considering its basic tone controls and relatively modest price. For louder gigs I use a Mesa Subway D-800 with various Barefaced cabs.
@@hawedehre In need the more support, not only the loudness. Of course it depends on the situation, the style and the drummer - and sometimes the guitarist is an Idiot, also ;-)
@@wolfgangfolz8128 Its not about loudness or watts or how hard the drummer hits the drums. If you have good frequenzies and a tuned drum set that isnt as low as the bass and the guitar doesnt have to much low end and you have a good mix, the watts or volume dont matter anymore.
Love the MarkBass stuff. I gig with the 102 combo (private event band). I liked it so much I bought the 112 combo with the extra cab. Super light, easy to carry, and really loud with those two cabs.
Do you feel the 210 lacking in terms of bass, sounding too boxy? I need something portable to play in an orchestra and I wanted to pair with a markbass head. My current bass amp is too heavy (kustom de100 2x15). Thanks!
l Love that both but i know your choice hahaha. I'm happy with your Hartke and Markbass its to loud and clear for newbie like me, from Philippines. 1. Eden TN 2251 2. Fender 3. Hartke 4. Ashdown 5. Markbass
To bad I can't find any Hartke amps where I live the only guitar store near me is guitar center I might look on eBay for a Hartke because David Ellefson uses Hartke
I have that Hartke because I can't lug my 180 W Ashdown combo around any more. I play in a loud band with a loud drummer, and I really have to keep the Hartke down - it's too loud!
One thing that was not mentioned, is that the more powerful amps have the facility to attach another speaker cab, which will allow the amp to use it's full power into 4 ohms. I own a Fender Rumble 100, which is a great amp but doesn't have that facility. I also own the Markbass CMD 121P, which does allow you to attach another cab and can therefore play at significantly louder levels than the Fender.
I eventually went with the Markbass CMD 102P. Very light and an awesome sound that kicks butt. I pair it with a David Eden 2x10 XLT. I've had it for 10 years and never looked at anything else.
Marvelous video. My favorite was the Hartke because you can add cabinets, the tilt and for sound. Sound is complex issue, and really most modern amps sound great. Please consider the following when choosing amps: What are your goals to play (play big rooms, only at practice with friends, small cafes)? Cost, what can you afford? Weight. Do you want to add cabinets for bigger gigs (you cannot do this with the Fender with only 100W)? Is all wattage being used (no on the 500W Hartke, for sure, you'd need to add cabinets like another 2X10 or 1X12 to use all 500W)? Is tilt needed, as is a setting without good floor monitors, so you can hear yourself? Does it have a DI so you can go through the PA if needed? Do you understand or need all of the features--why pay extra if you won't use on-board effects, for example? If you want lots of volume for large live performance, you can still use a small amp (ie 100 W) with a DI straight to the PA--if the venue has one. If there is no good PA, you may need a larger rig, like a 800 Watt with 2X12. It all depends on what you need. I feel that 100W is the minimum to play with a drummer, and it's pushing it with a full band to be heard, unless mixed through a PA. But remember, if you have 500W, but only a 1X12, you will not be much louder than 100W, because likely all 500W are not being used! Again, this all depends on your goals. Tubes add weight and cost, not likely any sound improvement. I play an Acoustic B100C at $350 USD--100W 1X12, 17kg, great sound, low cost, tilt-back, durable, DI for larger gigs, EQ, tone shaping, overdrive with footswitch. Except for the Hartke, I'd put my amp against any of those for practice or small gigs (bigger if through the PA via the DI), except it cannot power additional cabs, as the Hartke can. The way I understand it, the Hartke's 500W is deceptive, because only a fraction is used, the rest is used only if you add cabinets--but that is nice if you want to play bigger places.
The 210 500 is still pretty light , i have played a few gigs with the rumble 500 a few open mics with a house R100 . Getting old sucks, still getting great sound from light weight is rad!
Depends what sort of music you play and what the band setup is. I’ve used 50watts in a church (with a drummer for years) - we go through the church PA and I use my amp as a monitor. No problems. Sometimes the sound guy has me turned right down because my amps too loud (I say that’s not possible for a bass to be too loud....). Other gigs are with a small swing band - keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, 2 sometimes 3 saxes and a clarinet. Again no problems, but again we put everything through our PA too.
I’m glad you commented on that, because most of the comments seem to suggest there’s only loud and louder, and these combos wouldn’t cut it. I’ve attended many small gigs where amps smaller than these were used, like a vintage GK MB150 or something, and nobody gets lost. Mostly jazz, bluegrass, folk music gigs I guess, some using upright bass. Not everything is rock ‘n roll. 😊
200watt Fullstack. Nothing else. Wonderfull Video. nein, ich hätte als Übekombo für daheim im Miezhaus hemmungslos zu klein gekauft, ok, ich müsste mich auch nicht mit nem Drummer im Direktvergleich messen.
I have the Fender Rumble 100 for my Ibanez 5 string. I tried out the Rumble 40, but it didn't cut it with the low b string. The Rumble 100 does, and I've been very satisfied with it.
The Eden seemed to hold its own pretty effortlessly. It never sounded like it was trying to keep up, and had a nice balance of roundness and articulation. Also, you managed to keep from making a guitar face until the fourth amp.
I bought a Mark Bass combo amp first but wasn't really digging it, then I bought the Hartke 12 for practice and was blown away and even used it at some gigs and then I upgraded to the 15 a couple years ago and haven't looked back ever since. Love it and it has even handled big shows when stingy bass players don't want to lend out their rigs...haha...great video
One surprise I found - a good 12" or 15" powered speaker can double up as a combo bass amp. I used a Turbosound Milan powered speaker as a bass amp once. I changed my mind about buying a bass amp. Tone controls come up short but there's lots of outboard stuff you can get for that if you need it. You also get a PA speaker out of it.
Yeah, the controls are anemic and the watts that they refer to are usually Peak watts which is at least twice as high as the rms watts. RMS watts are the average amount of power it will put out. Still, those can work very well as long as you have right speakers in them. Don't go under 12" and 15" will even survive bass playing better than the 12". You can buy DI boxes with built in preamps to drive those powered speakers fairly inexpensively. I have a WTDI which is a DI box with an Eden WT preamp and an adjustable compressor built into it. I arrived at a gig one time where they had been providing a backline bass amp for about a year and a half only to find out that the amp was gone. Pulled out my WTDI, plugged it into our PA mixer and played all night with no problem. My WTDI was $149 and if Eden isn't your flavor there are a lot of other ones out there. So yeah, powered PA speakers will work. Just don't dime your bass EQ or you will blow them just as easily as a "real" bass amp.
I would have liked to see a Genzler combo in the mix. As far as what was presented, I liked the Fender and the Hartke. However, I owned the first generation of Hartke Kickback and although it sounded great, it suffered from poor construction. In the 14 yrs that I used it, it blew 3 outputs, and finally, the screw holes of the particle board the speaker were mounted onto stripped causing the speaker to rattle. No more Hartke for me. On the other hand, In '08 I replaced the Hartke with a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 with the extension speaker giving me a 175/300w option. It's the best amp I've ever had with never a problem (as of this writing 2022). If I ever have to replace it, it will be with a Genzler. (I do like the sound of the current Fenders though).
Really glad they played with a live drummer for this demo, it’s a super important consideration.
So, which app would you choose? I’m curious.
oh god not again. 🤦♂
I've been a professional bassist for more than half- Century. I'm 71 now. Not too many gigs anymore, but I still have a lot of gear. My Rumble 200 is in the trunk of my car. That said, ALL combo amps I've used, owned, and tried- and yes, there are a lot... have a serious issue, that always results in my selling them off. If you underestimate the gig situation, or your bandleader assures you there'll be PA support- you will be outgunned- buried in the mix, both onstage, and at the rehearsal studio. Take a guess how I know this, to be repeatedly true. When it happens, you're stuck with THAT amp, and THAT cabinet- in a single unit. Yes, there have been, traditionally, speaker outs for extension speaker cabinets. But, WHY buy a combo, if you're going to possibly bring TWO cabinets? Buy a powerful head with a two ohm capability, and bring one, or two cabinets of whatever type you might need. I think she did a good job in the demo here, but I can tell you right now, NONE of those single 12" combo amps will cut it on even 'sensible' volume gigs. I've used a Rumble 100, a Hartke Kickback, and that Markbass. The Markbass was a nice little amp- but for the same money, you can find a great 4-10 used, and a really powerful head, like a TC, Markbass, or other amp secondhand... that would outclass them all. These are essentially... low volume gig amps, or nice personal practice amps. Even my Rumble 200, looks tiny next to most drum kits. In addition, there is NO real way to know what any of these actually sound like, from these You Tube videos, until you play through one.
I used my Peavey Mark IV series coupled with my roll-away Yamaha bass cabinet (15" speaker, which was later upgraded to a 15" Black Widow speaker by Peavey) back in the day. Maybe other amp heads were better...but if Steve Harris used it for Iron Maiden concerts, then I knew it would deliver for all situations.
Totally agree with the 2 ohm capability thing
I have switched to 2 12” orange obc112 cabs and a 600 watt head( peavey mini max) it is modular enough that one cab works for small jazz gigs, 2 in a stack look nice on stage and is plenty for r😅ck gigs for small gigs its cab in one hand bass in the other and my back pack for scores/amp/pedals cables etc . I still di or mic if available but will never just run a DI …. Better to have suspenders and a belt so your ass doesn’t hang out
Yep. Used a Mesa head and Mesa 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. Used one or both cabs depending on gig. Never had a worry. Unfortunately I think Part of being a bass player is accepting you need heavy gear. I would use these combos for practice or very small room playing only. But that’s just me and I’m old and deaf. lol.
@@mikechafe419Yep, 100% agree with you!
I'm sad that I did not learn which was her favorite :(
she played the Eden at the end. would that be it? 😊
I noticed the 100 watt amps, the volume was at 3 O'clock, the Eden 225 watts was also at/about 3 O'clock. the Hartke 500 watts, was at about 1:30-ish and the MarkBass 300 watts was at about 11 O'clock.
Another thing to think about is, decibels, the sound pressure in that room, and the same exact volume in different rooms would produce different decibel levels. also if you moved the location of the decibel meter. one bass amp might punch out farther than another amp, that would be something else to look into.
Yeah, I noticed there was no mention of if the volume or gain settings were set the same from bass to bass, so really it's not any sort of accurate comparison. If you have one amp maxed out and the other only pushing 40% on the volume knob, why call it a comparison?
I rented that Markbass for a jam, those things sound good. And loud.
To me the Hartke was the hands down winner but you left out one of the most important stats the price!!!
I was quite surprised that I preferred the Hartke kickback over the others.
The prices are in the description under the link called Gear Used.
Hartke has the clarity and punch. Reliable too. Best.
The Hartke has no extension speaker jack. That's a deal breaker for me.
Hartke, Fender, and Markbass won hands down. The rest were drowned by the drums!
I was so surprised at the Eden. The only amp that you could clearly make out the notes when played with drums.
I’ve been using the Markbass 12 ever since they came out and it’s always done the job no problem for the typical bar band setting.
Eden Terra Nova TN 2251 - Killing all the others. Followed by the Hartke. Markbass was midrange-Mud.
I have an Eden wt405 bass head and through an eden xst210 or my 800 212, it's loud.
The Hartke and the Rumble have got the most "coloured" sound, which will give the illusion to stand out more with a drummer. Nevertheless, in live conditions, one has to consider the acoustics of the venue and there, the Eden and MarkBass will possibly outperform the 2 first ones. The Ashdown is certainly a good amp too, but it did not convince me. If I may ask: which one has your preference Julia ?
AND I take it, Julia never answered. Everyone is different and prefers their favorite. Rumble, Mark Bass, Hartke...🤔
I cant imagine why anyone would use that tiny little personal practice hartke amp with a full band. Its gonna struggle to cut through. Its just too small. You are not gonna feel the bass through any combo that small. It isnt meant for that.
@@trenkenunless you are playing in a band of chipmunks 😂
I already own a Fender Rumble 500. Light at 36 Lbs and more than enough power to keep up with a loud band. Sounds great as well.
Agree that Fender R 500 is loud enough. Itself it does not sound so good but with multieffect you can add some parametric eq. In comparison FR 100 is a toy to FR 500. In fact I think that from the combos FR 500 is the best. Still I don't like combos, much better is Mark Bass 102HF + Mark head from some cheaper gear. Second part with drums just proves that small combos sucks. With FR 500 or Mark 102HF I can be much better heard as bass player.
@@Marcink126 I'm usually running a D.I. directly off the bass, not the preamp of the Fender amp and the sound man is going to control what is heard out on the floor. The only thing I require is to be heard across the stage by the horn section. I still think it sounds pretty good for what it is.
@pawnmack excellent point, the horn players need to hear you. As a lead trumpet player I was trained to listen to the bass player and then the drummer. It's the bass players groove that sets the tone and attack for the lead trumpet, amd the lead trumpet controls the horn section (usually)
@@didamnesia3575 The night I went from using a single 15" speaker cabinet over to a 4x10" cabinet the horn section said they could finally hear the punch. The amp I spoke of here is all in one with two 10" speakers.
In this video, especially when the drummer comes in...Markbass all the way! It has volume and a nice, clean, articulate sound on all ends of the spectrum. Great video!
It seems like the Markbass and the Hartke are the best and pass all of the tests. I actually got the Markbass and am amazed at how load it is. I kept having to turn the bass down. I does have great tone. It is easy to carry. I heard a band where the bassist was using a Markbass and was amazed at how loud it is and how great of a tone it gets.
Finally an amp test done properly. Giving weights and playing the same bass through the different amps. Julia Hoffer you are wonderful
Not a test since there were no results. The sound via RUclips won't cut it, especially when demoing the combos with the drummer. If it hadn't been an advertisement for the Thomann store, she'd tell us how did playing with the drummer through all of them felt.
AMPEG SVT + 8x10 fridge... wait a minute... it's not on the list.
...though it is the only possible option! Everything else is toys.
Also a combined weight of 21kg
Had this stack in the 80s, too. Best sound for sure, but you hate it the more gigs you play ... unless you can afford a road crew. In that case, they hate it, while you love it :-) !!!
Ha ha. True but even in my younger strong back days I didn't buy one because they are an amp you own if you have roadies.
the fender rumble, clean clear punchy and price
I love when smaller people play bass because it looks massive next to them
The same effect is produced in other circumstances 😏
What does that have to do with this video? Give me a break, dude.
@@ZetroDrummer I know, put them infront of an 8x10 and those things will look more massive than already are
@@nicolasurteagabriceno3388 there is a rather small person playing a bass in this video
The opposite of this phenomenon is Greg Koch playing a tele, it looks like a ukelele on him!
Julia, could you please tell us which one you recommend and why.
I play the Mark Bass. I have no problem with volume or tone. If you line out to a good PA, You can carry any show. I do not believe this video does any of the amps justice.
That's the point if you line out to a pa, then a small combo is ok. But if you are a small band with a small pa which is only good enough for vocals, then you need more power. A lively drummer will kick out at least 80 watts at least.
Carrying even 10kg by hand gets heavy after a few minutes regardless of strength. Meanwhile, a little collapsible trolley from a hardware stores let's you drag bigger loads like regular luggage. Before you say 'stairs?' remember: you're going out to play with other people, so part of the cooperation should be helping out with gear - if you're carrying your gear alone in a band, especially when struggling, you need a new band.
Can confirm - luggage trolley is hugely useful! You can always carry the kit up some stairs but being able to pull it on wheels makes life much easier.
I will need to push a wheelchair and take my bass gear, once covid19 lets me gig again.
Get a kick trolley and you can (somewhat) tackle even stairs
What! I think my old ampeg head was about 80 pounds ~35kg I never had issue one running it into and out of clubs. You all need to lift weights that are greater than a 12oz beer can from time to time! In the states, according to OSHA regulations, 75lbs is considered light and legally portable by one person all day every day. Over 75 is considered heavy and requires 2 people. 10 kg is a breeze.
@@jomamma1750 You might want to check with www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2013-06-04-0
Been playing with a Markbass CMD102 for 3 years now. It's a perfect combination: lightweight (
I have markbass mini CMD 121 p , it's great
I've been hesitant about the Markbass CMD102 because though it gets great reviews I do see some negative ones that say the amp quit on them during a gig or rehearsal. Not just a few reviews, a lot. Some burned out, some over heated. One person said there is no fuse protection which I find crazy. But your amp has been great over the years?
I think I'd go for the Eden combo. Dispite the weight it cuts nicely through in the mix and has nice a nice tone / tone options.
Better take Fender R 500 or Hartke HD500 or something with similar power and two 10" speakers or one 15". With such small combos like in mentioned comparison you will not cut through the drums.
I preferred the Hartke. The usual situation applied where the drums drown out the Bass!
This is a great demo,the only problem is that price was not taken into consideration,if that was the case I think the Fender rumble wins out on value
I used a Rumble 200 for over 2 years with and without PA support. It handled most situations… I’d even push it past where I felt comfortable and it never once failed me. I moved on to a Markbass head and a 210 cab… selling the Rumble. Looking back, wish I would’ve kept the Rumble.
Why? I am thinking on buying one of those.
@@victormendez2820 I sold it thinking I’d get more out of the Markbass. I might have slightly better tone with the Markbass but I just miss the Rumble with a 15.
Yeah that Markbass is really nice stuff, but I'd recommend a 1x15" over a 2x10" . I have an Ampeg BA600 2x10"...which is a great amp, lots of power, but its quite big, heavy, and I never want to push it because it's an expensive amp. I'm selling it now that I bought a cheaper 1x15"....and I like the 15" sound much better than the 2x10"..
The Rumble and Hartke sounded the best to my taste. Thank you for the great review and comparison.
Agreed. Rumble had the nicest pleasing baked in vintage character, Hartke was the deepest, roundest, smoothest and fullest. I'd maybe give a nod to the Mark Bass for musicality. My choice might depend on the type of music I played most. If it was hip-hop, urban, soul, music with electronics, reggae, dub - Hartke all the way. Vintage indie rock, country, then Fender. modern fusion / jazz, then Mark Bass, which would probably also work extremely well as a stage amp intended to be supported in the subs by the PA; a common use case. If the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-112 was in the mix, I think it beats out the Fender in warmth / vintage character too, as well as having more fullness than the Fender because of the bigger cabinet. Can be a bit more pricey than the Rumble though.
Please i wanna know what bass combo does Julia prefer
Why??? So if Julia likes the Eden you like it too?
@@BIGeSTRING because her opinion will be helpful. The only way to make my opinion is to try all this bass combos
I'm stuck between fender and ashdown, fender has a nice solid foundation and ashdown sounds like it does overdrive better
My takeaway from the room mic was: Get a bigger amp, these will not do. Yeah, it may be enough in a certain setting, but in other cases when the song requires the bassline to be heard over the drums it is good to be able to turn up.
Some years ago, I was at Thomann and bought my GK MB 500 class D head (weighs nothing, fits in the front pouch of my bass gigbag) with a GK CX 115 Bass Cabinet that weighs 16kg. It has no trouble at all keeping up with loud drums (or making the drummer cry for help if you set it past noon). It was slightly under 1000€.
So if money is an issue, I would go with the Rumble 100 and hope I always have a DI to plug into. Else, I would look for a light 1x15 or 2x10 cab and a class D top, or a similar combo (Rumble 500 etc.).
EDIT: I think the room mic probably did not represent the situation very well, because I have read since that a lot of people actually use the Rumble 100 for gigging (before Corona, of course) And my own setup definitely has more headroom than I ever see myself using.
I have one of those Markbass combos and if I can't get loud enough with that (hasn't happened) I'm playing in a louder situation than I want to be in. If y'all are playing with a drummer who plays that loud, you should invest in a good hear aid company cause you're gonna need it.
Timothy Tibbits I actually wondered how quiet the Markbass was in the room mix because I got the impression that it should be loud enough from what I heard about it. Maybe it was not cranked all the way?
If you are looking to have problems with your amp,, get the Mark Bass. No doubt it will crap out on you.
I love my little Mark Cube. Its an older one, acquired maybe ten years ago when I lived in the UK. Now that I live in the USA I wanted to know if it was possible to change the power supply inside the amp over to 110v so I don't need to use a step up inverter. So I emailed Mark Bass to ask for advice. Waited. Got no reply. Emailed again. Waited. Etc. Repeat. Conclusion: Mark Bass make better amplifiers than they do an effort at customer service. Go Mark if you don't mind them not giving a f*** after they've had you money. I doubt you would have that problem with Eden.
Eden has been sold is no longer anything like it used to be. But many newer amps are using switching power supplies and universal voltage. Look by the power input for 50-60hz 90-240VAC and that will tell you it'll work on any voltage.
If the mark is a class d amp then the power supply inside is a switching power supply. there might be an option to make it work on 120. Before checking it yourself, I would actually take it to a local tech to check and convert. Last thing you want to do is damage the amp or hurt/kill yourself with any voltages in there.
@@cubedomatic Yeah I had my local amp tech already take a look. Same guy who converted my Lazy J 20 guitar amp over to 110v (I couldn't get it to Jess Hoff in time before we left the UK otherwise he'd have done it for me in his garage whilst I waited). In the case of my Mark Cube and my AER acoustic amp nothing quite so helpful as an easy way of switching them over I'm afraid! Its not such a big deal to use a step up/down inverter as I mostly use them in my home studio anyway. But inverters do make a slight noise so it would be nice not to have to bother is all.
I used the old version of the Rumble 100 for years and it was a beast. Now I use a Peavey Max 208. It’s super portable and it can definitely keep up with a full band.
Do you get a buzz sound when you turn it on?
We need a tube bass combo like the Harley Benton Tube 15 for guitars.
Unwelcome Drummer opinion! 🤣 I like it when bassists I play with use Mark Bass gear. Very punchy and solid low end. Also, when I run front of house sound I really enjoy how clean and clear the Mark Bass DI outs are.
I liked the Ampeg SVT with the 810 fridge. But that wasn't one of the choices.
There 610s sound better than the 810s imo, at least for the modern Ampeg stuff.
I wound up blowing the speakers on every Fender amp I've ever had
They all sound good, I can’t decide , but I just picked a Fender Rumble 40 , it’s pretty darn good 😉
Hartke was hands down the winner. Not even close. The Hy-Drive speaker produces a sweet mid that can't be beat.
Damn! I forgot to look at the db meter I was so transfixed with watching how much you enjoy playing your bass :D But Ashdown for me all the way!
Yep, Markbass was way more polyvalent with that VPF knob!
Ashdown and Eden sounded best to me. They’re sooooo similar, it’s come down to a matter of labels and grill style.
I thought the same
I have the markbass cmd121p which @ 300w is loud enough for any band i have played with, add the ny121h cab and you have 500w and a massive sound
Same here. 1/2 way up is more than enough for a loud metal band.
I also have the cmd 121p plus the cabinet ny121h, I use them since 2010 . They are fantastic and 500 watts for me are enough. Best quality. Markbass was founded near the place I live, here in Italy in a town called San Giovanni Teatino :).
(I commented the same to another Markbass owner.)
I've been hesitant about the Markbass CMD102 because though it gets great reviews I do see some negative ones that say the amp quit on them during a gig or rehearsal. Not just a few reviews, a lot. Some burned out, some over heated. One person said there is no fuse protection which I find crazy. But your amp has been great over the years?
The Markbass is the best, no doubt about it.
I'm using a Fender Rumble 100 to great results live (for a portable rig). Any greater volume needed can be achieved via XLR output to F.O.H.
I bought one too, and I absolutely love it. No more Breaking my back to perform live !!!
Honestly the basic Rumble sounded the best out of all of them. Considering everything i decided to go with that one personally.
The other thing with any of them is if you tweak the EQ settings a bit you can cut through better and make a significant difference in the room without changing volume.
If the problem is keeping up with the volume of the drummer, then maybe you need to think about getting a drummer that can play to the volume of the band and not the other way 'round! They can do it you know...
some won't...
a bit like many guitarists some (too many?) drummers just can't play quietly. ALL decent session players can play quiet, loud, or anything in between depending on what the song/venue requires. "I always play like this" just shows they aren't using their ears and just playing for themselves and not the band or the audience
I've been very fortunate to play with drummers who care. Otherwise you can't always play the space you're in.
The Hartke sounded most like the sound that I enjoy and look for, and the design is favorable for what I would use it for.
Hartke sounds nice (I have HD112 + TX300), but one 12" speaker is not enough for drums. Absolute minimum is 2x10 which you will hear but it will be working at its maximum power and will be lack of lows. Better to use 2x12 or 1x15. I made copy of Eich Amplification 115 XS, it is ultra light, just like combo and does not need to play on max power with drums which gives you some headrum for solo or to just not destroy your cabinet :)
@@Marcink126 I ordered the Hartke KB15 for that very reason just this week.
@@riffdigger2133 how do you like the kb15?
Mark bass for me , love Mark bass gear , good job Julia
Pity that none of these have compression. I consider a compressor far more essential for good _live_ bass sound than overdrive.
Indeed.! !
The Eden has compression.
Nobody would ever put a great compressor into an amp😅, if it's important to you, you'll have to keep that investment in mind... Plus class D amps compress a lot by themselves at high volumes.
@@matejgrim Then check out Trace Elliot's 1990s amps. These things have features that I have never even _seen_ on other equipment, and I used them regularly with my band. Including the compressor, which has 2 separate frequency bands. Most dedicated _pedals_ do not achieve this level.
And the idea of usable compression is to be independent of total volume, which depends on the size of the venue you are playing and not the style you are trying to achieve. Which is exactly why more and more guitarists are moving away from huge Marshall stacks or at least equip them with load boxes and attentuators, so that they can dial in the sound they _want_ regardless of acoustic volume.
@@Noone-of-your-Business Nice! Shame that they don't make anything like this anymore...
The Fender Rumble 100 is my Favorit 💖💖💖💖 I Love him , I have him 🤣
I have the Mark Bass 121P (1 x 12 @ 300 watts). It's very good, but I use the extension speaker with it (New York 121) and it becomes 2 x 12 @ 500 watts. It keeps up with my drummer quite nicely.
It seems incomplete. I missed a price comparison. And I missed tc electronic BG 250-208.
I played it at Thomann some years ago. The speakers are not big enough for playing with drums. Get at least the 115 or 210. They are really well priced, but I did not like the sound at all. I say, if you can, get something better, e.g. Fender Rumble 500 or the like.
Oh,, and they will not give prices in the video as they are a shop and do not want to get crap if they have to increase prices down the road.
doczooc i Agree with you Bit Thomann compared 100 Watt Amps. Not fender rummle 500. i Cannot Imagine to Jam with Drums with only 100 Watt. Rock and punk and pop. Even Hartke with its 500 Watt or Markbass with 250 Watt only have a single speaker. Most rehearsed rooms are small.
doczooc they could have done a relativ price rating. The average price of theses 5 amps and then for example. Markbass is 30% above the average price.
I've recently got the bg250-210 and I like the sound, It's no Fender rumble but it''s fine and it's also got 2 slot for toneprints effects. Also it's hella loud compared to these in the video I have no trouble keeping up with my drummer with volume at about noon and if I want I can push even more volume. And it was cheap AF for what it offered. Overall I'm very happy with it
I tried all the small combos and the MarkBass CMD121P is without comparison for sound, small size and weight and incredible output. Other bass players have come up after a gig and complimented me on my sound and were looking around for my "stack"! I can play ANY indoor gig and some out doors with this little amp. It is scary loud and with an extension speaker as loud as you could possibly want. Normally I have the volume set only about 11:00 for an indoor rock gig.
Above I wrote the same as you did. I played a out door gig with the tiny Microbass without an extension speaker. Enjoy them.
I rented a place to practice with a drummer. Then I found the Markbass amp there and it was without a doubt the exact tone I had been looking for. I play mostly TOOL and Alice in Chains now so I'm definitely buying the Markbass once I live in a place where I can use it lol
Torn between this markbass or a fender rumble 500. What do you think
@@basscubs I'd take Markbass over the Fender any day. But it depends on the kind of music you like.
@@johantitulaer1052 guess I just don’t want to get drowned out, and not looking for extension cabs to make up for it. Currently using a heavier tc 212 and 800 watt amp.
Great idea for a review. Liked the Markbass tone the best.
I actually use a Hartke HD50. It's 50 watts and it's loud enough to play with a drummer when I turn it up. I have a pre-amp in my bass so that helps but being heard is more about having a tone that can cut through than power. This is why a lot of rock bass players play with a pick. Even finger players use tricks (Geddy Lee plays with his finger nails)
i too have a hartke hd50. it's really not bad.
It would be very interesting to hear, how they sound, when you crank them up. For my taste they could be louder and some were already cranked (the fender for example) while the mark bass and hartke still had reserves.
I found that interesting as well.
I have a markbass CMD151 combo jb model ... it is potent to say the least. cuts through 2 guitar and a loud drum. might be nice to have an extension 15 though. would also like to try a 212
I want your opinion!!!
Which would you recommend?
Which would you stay away from?
😖
Bought a Fender Rumble 40. One of the best amps I've got in my life.
I got one to in small room sounds great
Thinking that’s my next purchase as well.
That's my knock around and I've never had to even push it to keep up with reasonable volume indoor jams. Yea guitars can possibly drown it out but it takes stupid volumes in a room to do it.
Just got one too , great amp 👍
Good video. But I would love to know which amp do you prefer, Julia. Because you where there hearing them closely. And why did you use amps with different watts? I wonder why didn't you try the Fender Rumble 500 W with the Hartke 500 W. The thing was not clear enought for me.
The Mark Bass as I like to play Funk and the tone suits ...💙👊😎
Markbass CMD 12, with extension cab it´s a beast ;)
Pricey little sucker, though! But, I did try one at a GC...that little thing kicked my ass! Impressed.
That Markbass had lots of volume-knob to spare (probably isn't linear though)... so that's good! Has that Markbass sound, if you like that kind of thing. Fender and Ashdown struggling with the drums. I always advise people go 250-Watt or over when practicing with a drummer.
For me, I'd probably go with a Quilter bassdock with the amp, or a decent class-D head and a Trace Elf 2x8. Money no option and don't care about aesthetics? Probably Barefaced+amp.
I could barely hear any of these amps once the drummer was playing. Add in one or two guitars and it would be even harder to cut through.
I have the Hartke KB12. Although it says 500watts, it is in fact 250watts RMS. Having said that it is a truly great and powerful little combo and fine for pub gigs. The direct out works really well too, so for bigger stages just plug into the PA and use it tilted up just as your stage monitor. I've been using it for two years and am very impressed with it.
I totally agree with you. As for me, this is the best bass combo in its class(size, weight and wattage)
I have the Hartke KB12 as well. I’ve owned it for a few years now and have used it for practice, rehearsal and small gigs. It can do it all in a nice small package. It sounds very good as well. As Andy said it’s not really 500 watts but it’s 250 rms watts which for a small combo is a lot.
it's 500 watts @ 4ohms the internal speaker is 8ohms, so f you plug a 4 ohm cab in you will get a true 500 watts
@@dazxmedia Correct me if I am wrong, It only has one speaker out. It's own or an extra 4 ohm cab as you say. So only one or the other? If one plugged a powered 4 ohm cap from the XLR line out would that also get the full 500W ? and be able to use the combo as fold back and the cab as the projector?
Julia, which one did you pick we must know haha. Great video as always!!
They all struggle with the drums at 115db. I have a Mark Bass, 2x12, 500w floor wedge. It's AMAZING.
Ashdown is my favorite, it's a pleasant surprise.
It has clarity, but there's those growly lows even with the higher strings naturally, so i'm probably getting that one in the future. And it has the DI Out, so even if it's quiet in a band setting, you can still hook it up to a cab or VA.
Please dont!, played the studio 12 for hours. Totally lacks tonal variety. Im a bass player for about two decades but even the drummers and guitar player complain about the sound of the muffled liveless ashdown on every jam session. Notice that it is not my personal amp but the one thats available to jam in a venue. The reviews that i heard were about me and multiple other bassplayers with their own styles. Studio 12 + pbass with flats = muffled and lifeless.
Studio 12 + jazz with roundwounds… hmm a start to an open sound with every knob cranked from the mids…
@@leonk7249 The ashdown might be right for me lol. I love muff, muddy, and punchy bass tones. I always have my mids max, bass high, and treble never past 12 o'clock.
you should do another comparison, but with (2x)10" speakers
Yes or 1x15.
Yes agreed, Harke is my prefrence. Ampeg to but are sooo heavy to lug.
The fender rumble series are awesome. I have the fender rumble 500 and its a beast to play on. It can be quiet but also shake pictures off my wall lol
Me too! It’s a great amp!!
I can agree if you looking for nice ton and power with more reserves
I bought the Hartke HD25 last year, and I really like it ( although I've used it more for playing my 8 string than my bass 😂🤷♂️ ). I haven't even cracked quarter volume with it and it's plenty loud, and it also handles an E0 note ( on my bass ) well for a small speaker.
Nice work there...
However, when the drummer was playing the room mic killed the bass sound completely...
Having said that, you were smiling on the Hartke and Fender amps more.
Was that your choice?
It was mine. Fender rules!
They all seamed to struggle with the drums. Just catching up, but live you would need more power.
Or In-Ear monitoring. Sound tech loves your little amp.
The amps are not fully turned up, just look at the knobs. They chose these settings because the bass should not be too dominant over the drums. When you like it louder or imbalanced .. turn it up.
@@sebastianfranke8396 If they are not turned up, then the Demo is no good. Put the drums and bass on a stage, and we will get a better idea. After all, the tile wonders if small combo amps are loud enough. The amps sound great though!
Sebastian Franke The volume knobs don’t work in a linear way, meaning past a certain point the actual volume won’t increase a lot. It’s easy to think ‘oh I am only at half of the volume knob, so I still have loads of headroom’ until the point comes where you have to turn up farther and realize that nothing gives. A disaster when this happens live
@@nothingEvil101 Yes I known, but I don't think this is the case here. For example I am familiar with the Rumble 100 and its able to shake walls. No one would turn it that loud to maximum. The Markbass in the videos is even only turned to 50%, because it has 300Watts and lots of "room" for more.
I swear the second riff is straight out of Mario Brothers! I want to marry this girl!
For me, the Hartke was the clear winner, however I think it still struggled. With a full band it would get lost.
I own the Hartke kb12 and it’s sounds great. But playing with the band at a full blown loud rehearsal it was struggling a bit. I also had the same problem with my Mark Bass 12 combo. So I switched the head from the combo for the 800 tube, getting 500 watts at 8ohms. I also added the MB12 extension cab! I now carry a full 800 watt beast that’s under 60lbs, and that’s less than 30lbs per hand.
@@josephlafreniere3833 Awesome! Great solution! :)
I use a KB12 primarily for small band rehearsals and big band rehearsals/live gigs. It does a good job - with a crisp, solid sound - considering its basic tone controls and relatively modest price.
For louder gigs I use a Mesa Subway D-800 with various Barefaced cabs.
I say they are all not loud enough for playing with a drummer.
None of the amps were on 100% master. Markbass looks like it's not even halfway...
No. Depends on the band and the drummer. If drummer means an idiot beating the sh.. out of the set then the drummer is the problem.
@@hawedehre In need the more support, not only the loudness. Of course it depends on the situation, the style and the drummer - and sometimes the guitarist is an Idiot, also ;-)
@@wolfgangfolz8128 Its not about loudness or watts or how hard the drummer hits the drums.
If you have good frequenzies and a tuned drum set that isnt as low as the bass and the guitar doesnt have to much low end and you have a good mix, the watts or volume dont matter anymore.
I’ve played with a lot of guys with the MarkBass112 and never have turned it up much past half on the master. I’m usually the one being told turn down
Having the DI out will save these, standing alone in a gig without it... even with a great mic placement... risky.
Love the MarkBass stuff. I gig with the 102 combo (private event band). I liked it so much I bought the 112 combo with the extra cab. Super light, easy to carry, and really loud with those two cabs.
Do you feel the 210 lacking in terms of bass, sounding too boxy? I need something portable to play in an orchestra and I wanted to pair with a markbass head. My current bass amp is too heavy (kustom de100 2x15). Thanks!
The Fender is unbeatable sound/price/weight IMO.
Really? What were youlistening on? iPhone?
The rumble line offers unbeatable value at their respective price points.
For me the Eden amp sounds the best, but I guess it depends on the style of music as well. Which one did you go for then?
The Fender Rumble sounds good and is lightweight, good choice.
That weight was a biggy for me. I replaced a 7O pounder with it. And it sounds good for my needs.
l Love that both but i know your choice hahaha. I'm happy with your Hartke and Markbass its to loud and clear for newbie like me, from Philippines.
1. Eden TN 2251
2. Fender
3. Hartke
4. Ashdown
5. Markbass
Hartke have the best sound, precise and clean.
Nice on the mids, would sound good with round wounds on an active bass.
To bad I can't find any Hartke amps where I live the only guitar store near me is guitar center I might look on eBay for a Hartke because David Ellefson uses Hartke
@@Highrollinhunter Victor Wooten too, and Frank Bello of anthrax, at least he did
@@FlannelGorilla yep a lot of bass legends play Hartke if Cliff Burton was still alive he would probably use Hartke
I have that Hartke because I can't lug my 180 W Ashdown combo around any more. I play in a loud band with a loud drummer, and I really have to keep the Hartke down - it's too loud!
IMO Eden for tone (I love the enhance control) but the Hartke for volume and the 'kickback' feature.
Fender Rumble 100
One thing that was not mentioned, is that the more powerful amps have the facility to attach another speaker cab, which will allow the amp to use it's full power into 4 ohms. I own a Fender Rumble 100, which is a great amp but doesn't have that facility. I also own the Markbass CMD 121P, which does allow you to attach another cab and can therefore play at significantly louder levels than the Fender.
I eventually went with the Markbass CMD 102P. Very light and an awesome sound that kicks butt. I pair it with a David Eden 2x10 XLT. I've had it for 10 years and never looked at anything else.
Marvelous video. My favorite was the Hartke because you can add cabinets, the tilt and for sound. Sound is complex issue, and really most modern amps sound great. Please consider the following when choosing amps: What are your goals to play (play big rooms, only at practice with friends, small cafes)? Cost, what can you afford? Weight. Do you want to add cabinets for bigger gigs (you cannot do this with the Fender with only 100W)? Is all wattage being used (no on the 500W Hartke, for sure, you'd need to add cabinets like another 2X10 or 1X12 to use all 500W)? Is tilt needed, as is a setting without good floor monitors, so you can hear yourself? Does it have a DI so you can go through the PA if needed? Do you understand or need all of the features--why pay extra if you won't use on-board effects, for example? If you want lots of volume for large live performance, you can still use a small amp (ie 100 W) with a DI straight to the PA--if the venue has one. If there is no good PA, you may need a larger rig, like a 800 Watt with 2X12. It all depends on what you need.
I feel that 100W is the minimum to play with a drummer, and it's pushing it with a full band to be heard, unless mixed through a PA. But remember, if you have 500W, but only a 1X12, you will not be much louder than 100W, because likely all 500W are not being used! Again, this all depends on your goals.
Tubes add weight and cost, not likely any sound improvement.
I play an Acoustic B100C at $350 USD--100W 1X12, 17kg, great sound, low cost, tilt-back, durable, DI for larger gigs, EQ, tone shaping, overdrive with footswitch. Except for the Hartke, I'd put my amp against any of those for practice or small gigs (bigger if through the PA via the DI), except it cannot power additional cabs, as the Hartke can. The way I understand it, the Hartke's 500W is deceptive, because only a fraction is used, the rest is used only if you add cabinets--but that is nice if you want to play bigger places.
I like the look of the fender the best. And it sounded good! Thanks for doing the comparison Julia
The 210 500 is still pretty light , i have played a few gigs with the rumble 500 a few open mics with a house R100 . Getting old sucks, still getting great sound from light weight is rad!
Depends what sort of music you play and what the band setup is. I’ve used 50watts in a church (with a drummer for years) - we go through the church PA and I use my amp as a monitor. No problems. Sometimes the sound guy has me turned right down because my amps too loud (I say that’s not possible for a bass to be too loud....). Other gigs are with a small swing band - keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, 2 sometimes 3 saxes and a clarinet. Again no problems, but again we put everything through our PA too.
I’m glad you commented on that, because most of the comments seem to suggest there’s only loud and louder, and these combos wouldn’t cut it. I’ve attended many small gigs where amps smaller than these were used, like a vintage GK MB150 or something, and nobody gets lost. Mostly jazz, bluegrass, folk music gigs I guess, some using upright bass. Not everything is rock ‘n roll. 😊
200watt Fullstack. Nothing else. Wonderfull Video.
nein, ich hätte als Übekombo für daheim im Miezhaus hemmungslos zu klein gekauft, ok, ich müsste mich auch nicht mit nem Drummer im Direktvergleich messen.
I have the Fender Rumble 100 for my Ibanez 5 string. I tried out the Rumble 40, but it didn't cut it with the low b string. The Rumble 100 does, and I've been very satisfied with it.
The Eden seemed to hold its own pretty effortlessly. It never sounded like it was trying to keep up, and had a nice balance of roundness and articulation. Also, you managed to keep from making a guitar face until the fourth amp.
The Eden was my favourite too.
I bought a Mark Bass combo amp first but wasn't really digging it, then I bought the Hartke 12 for practice and was blown away and even used it at some gigs and then I upgraded to the 15 a couple years ago and haven't looked back ever since. Love it and it has even handled big shows when stingy bass players don't want to lend out their rigs...haha...great video
The rumble sounds good to me
So, what amp are yo going for Julia, and why? :-)
+1 or 18 likes wondering which one you're going for....TELL US PLEASE....you were there....
If you notice on the video 'screen shot' preview she is holding a Markbass above her head
It has to be the Mark Bass...she had that sweet smile the whole time while playing through that amp.
Maybe, but she played out with the Eden.
I love my Markbass cmd102 and G&L SB-1 together
Mark Bass of course!
its a winner?
I liked the Fender and the Hartke, maybe give the Hartke a hairs edge 🤪
One surprise I found - a good 12" or 15" powered speaker can double up as a combo bass amp. I used a Turbosound Milan powered speaker as a bass amp once. I changed my mind about buying a bass amp. Tone controls come up short but there's lots of outboard stuff you can get for that if you need it. You also get a PA speaker out of it.
Yeah, the controls are anemic and the watts that they refer to are usually Peak watts which is at least twice as high as the rms watts. RMS watts are the average amount of power it will put out. Still, those can work very well as long as you have right speakers in them. Don't go under 12" and 15" will even survive bass playing better than the 12".
You can buy DI boxes with built in preamps to drive those powered speakers fairly inexpensively. I have a WTDI which is a DI box with an Eden WT preamp and an adjustable compressor built into it. I arrived at a gig one time where they had been providing a backline bass amp for about a year and a half only to find out that the amp was gone. Pulled out my WTDI, plugged it into our PA mixer and played all night with no problem. My WTDI was $149 and if Eden isn't your flavor there are a lot of other ones out there. So yeah, powered PA speakers will work. Just don't dime your bass EQ or you will blow them just as easily as a "real" bass amp.
I would have liked to see a Genzler combo in the mix. As far as what was presented, I liked the Fender and the Hartke. However, I owned the first generation of Hartke Kickback and although it sounded great, it suffered from poor construction. In the 14 yrs that I used it, it blew 3 outputs, and finally, the screw holes of the particle board the speaker were mounted onto stripped causing the speaker to rattle. No more Hartke for me. On the other hand, In '08 I replaced the Hartke with a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 with the extension speaker giving me a 175/300w option. It's the best amp I've ever had with never a problem (as of this writing 2022). If I ever have to replace it, it will be with a Genzler. (I do like the sound of the current Fenders though).