Comparison: Trace Elliot ELF vs Markbass Nano Mark

VoodooChild

VoodooChild

Nov 9, 2008
89
20
4,551
#1
I'm gonna buy one of these ultra small amps as a backup. They both fit in my gigbag and are super light.

Does anybody have experiences with the sound and volume these little things can produce? How much difference is there? Any input would be much appreciated. I can not try them and online reviews are mostly useless, i care more about bass players opinions from here.

Here are links to the specs:

TE ELF: Trace Elliot ELF Basshead

MB NM: Markbass Nano Mark 300 Head
 
#2
Ugh - the Markbass is twice the weight!! (3.2 vs 1.6 lbs - LOL.)
The ELF seems to be in a class by itself for sheer size. The Markbass is over double the physical volume - that would almost certainly disqualify it for traveling in my gig bag cable pouch. (The measurements might technically fit the pouch, but not with my cable, tuners, strings, etc...)
Haven't tried either yet but my gut tells me the Markbass would be a little better to actually use. I am very familiar and content with the Markbass sound and the extra wattage would be nice.
But just for emergency backup, any amp is about a million times better than no amp IME and I am very intrigued by the idea of something as small and handy as that ELF. (I'll be watching user reviews rather closely, keeping a particular eye on reliability. First and foremost, I need the backup amp to be trustworthy.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: VoodooChild
#3
Hi there. Very good question. Please note whenever you mention Markbass, people are going to come along and bash it even if they don't own the product. Ever since MB went to China.

I own a GK MB500 as my main amp and an MB200 for backup. The MB200 is twice the size as the Markbass and the Trace Elliot ELF. I don't have experience with either of these, so the best bet would be to get somewhere you can test them both out and see which one you like. I'm interested in the Trace Elliot because of the size and novelty. Although I've never owned a Markbass amp, I've always liked the sound of their combos. To me they're loud and punchy.

The original British made Trace Elliots have a great legacy and respect here on TB. But Peavey bought TE and the new ELF is made in China and I'm wondering if it will be true to the original Trace Elliot tone and reliability that they were known for.

Good luck, tough choices nowadays! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mechanical and VoodooChild
#5
Actually, Markbass went to Indonesia, but the quality remains the same from what I hear. Marco explained their reasons very well, I think. Don't listen to the bashers.

The Elf looks interesting. Would love to try one. But so does the MB Nano. I play a LMIII myself, so I can't really give a comparison. Too bad the Elf isn't more watts, but it fills a niche, I suppose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TrevorG, Dan Robbins, SJan3 and 1 other person
#11
I had a revelation regarding Class D watts. In the past I could use a Peavey TNT or Combo bass combo with 100 or 300 watts respectively. These older amps could keep up with nearly any band. Nowadays I have an MB200 and MB500. Well I've been playing with a band recently. Our sessions went fine until we added a drummer. I found I was pushing the MB200 up to 1:00 to get the thump I needed with a drummer. I could feel the compression killing my notes.

Next rehearsal I brought in my MB500. It had the oomph needed to push against the drummer. I was amazed how much more fullness those extra watts bought me. Now I'm not straining the amp and it has plenty of bottom end. Also bear in mind I'm using an Eden EX110 which is a pretty incredible speaker and is rated at handling 300 watts. So at 8 ohms the cab is handling 350 watts. But I am not even near the halfway point on master volume.

If you're going to buy one of these nano amps make sure you have at least a 12" or 210" cab to push it. For less power use a larger cab to get more volume. At 200 watts you'll need to push the amp near 75-80% to keep up with a drummer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Michael135, iagtrplyr and Jefenator
#12
I use a Markbass LMIII as my main amp and I have a Nano Mark 300 living in my gigbag as back up.
In my band, the Nano Mark 300 can keep up with the LMIII volume wise. (I never have to play any of them at full power). Soundwise, the Nano Mark sounds a bit more compressed and when I aggressively play a low B (just for testing) I hear that the NanoMark struggles a bit (the audience wouldn't know the difference).
I have never played the Trace Elliot Elf.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zbysek, alaskaleftybass and wintremute
#13
Britsie said:
I use a Markbass LMIII as my main amp and I have a Nano Mark 300 living in my gigbag as back up.
In my band, the Nano Mark 300 can keep up with the LMIII volume wise. (I never have to play any of them at full power). Soundwise, the Nano Mark sounds a bit more compressed and when I aggressively play a low B (just for testing) I hear that the NanoMark struggles a bit (the audience wouldn't know the difference).
I have never played the Trace Elliot Elf.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I felt that same squished note affect when I was using the MB200. But I was using an Eden EX110, so I might not have been getting the best efficiency out of the amp. Maybe 212's or 210's might have had more oomph. But using the MB500 I had no problem pushing as much air as I needed, and never needed to go past 9:30 on the pre and master.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VoodooChild
#14
VoodooChild said:
I'm gonna buy one of these ultra small amps as a backup. They both fit in my gigbag and are super light.

Does anybody have experiences with the sound and volume these little things can produce? How much difference is there? Any input would be much appreciated. I can not try them and online reviews are mostly useless, i care more about bass players opinions from here.

Here are links to the specs:

TE ELF: Trace Elliot ELF Basshead

MB NM: Markbass Nano Mark 300 Head
Click to expand...
One more suggestion. If you're buying from an online company like Sweetwater, Music123, Sam Ash, or Musicians Friend, they have a 30 day return policy if you don't like the amp. I've taken advantage of that more than once. MF will even pay return shipping. I also do a lot of musical gear shipping at Amazon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VoodooChild
#15
I've owned the TE ELF for around 3 weeks now and it is incredible! I've used it at 8ohms with a 410, and used it at 4ohms with a 210+115 stack. Its absolutely mind blowing how far technology has come along. I've even uses with with my upright bass ( for psychobilly ), and it roars. I can't say anything about the Markbass, as I don't own one, but I can testify to the ELF as being not only being a good choice for a backup, but even as the primary as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ExGinger, Phalanx13, Zbysek and 4 others
#16
IMG_20170901_122507_700.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iristone, ExGinger, elgecko and 5 others
#19
GMC said:
I wonder if Trace are planning a 400w version for 2018? Sure, it'll be a bit bigger...but that Elf is just SO small and light!

I'm thinking that a Barefaced One 10 or a 2x10 would be pretty small, light and erm loud!
Click to expand...
I expect the next addition will be a 500w power module for the Transit-B. They should make it waterproof, all set to clip underneath the preamp pedal, and rackmount.
 
#20
Downunderwonder said:
I expect the next addition will be a 500w power module for the Transit-B. They should make it waterproof, all set to clip underneath the preamp pedal, and rackmount.
Click to expand...
I kind of wished they'd have put the 12 band graphic on the Transit-B...there's certainly board space for it. It would be more trad Trace than the erm 5 band EQ that's more than a little Ashdown.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back