Markbass little mark 800 vs Markbass little mark tube 800

APGP

APGP

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Mar 8, 2018
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#1
Hello, this is my first post in this forum. I'm currently looking at new bass heads and I was wondering, since I can't try any of these in a local shop, if there is any significant difference between the two amps in the title, other than the tube pre amp of the tube 800. Is it just a matter of taste or are there other beneficts?

Thank you!
 
#2
Just buy a standard LM3. The tube doesn't give anything significant and 800w verses 500w is minimal difference too. Best of all is buy a secondhand pre 2012 LM3 so you get the class AB power amp which pumps out a genuine 500+ watts at 4 ohms.
 
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#3
Word is that the LM3 sounds a bit different than the 800s. My sense is that most prefer the LM3.
I own a LM3 and do love it.
 
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#4
IMG_2052.JPG
..and here it is!
 
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#5
I've owned a couple LMII's & LMIII's.
I have ran a LMT800 as my main head for a few years now.
I also had a LM800 for about 6 months as a back up.
When run totally to the solid state side, the LMT800 sounds pretty much identical to the LM800.

Given that, and although the difference is not huge, I run my LMT800 100% tube.
Also, the LMT800 has a couple more bells and whistles than the LM800.

My back up now is a Nano 300 which I absolutely love.
At 4 ohms it is a very big 300 watts.
 
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#6
Thank you for the replies! My main concern with this purchase is that i want a bass head that has sufficient headroom for rehearsals and reasonably sized concerts and can deliver the type of sound that I like. I usually like a tight and punchy sound with clear mid's, kind of like a Michael League's type of sound. I've read that there are some differences between MK heads, hence my doubt.
 
#7
APGP said:
Thank you for the replies! My main concern with this purchase is that i want a bass head that has sufficient headroom for rehearsals and reasonably sized concerts and can deliver the type of sound that I like. I usually like a tight and punchy sound with clear mid's, kind of like a Michael League's type of sound. I've read that there are some differences between MK heads, hence my doubt.
Click to expand...

I just saw a rig run down he was using a LMT and 810 with his p with dunlop flats
 
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#9
I would get the non-tube and I'll tell you why in a minute. I have the LMT-800 and it a fine sounding amp. I've even dropped it on concrete and dented the corner on which it landed. Mine is 5 years old so it was made in Italy and people say that the newer ones built in Asia are not as reliable or well-made or whatever. I'm skeptical.

Here's why non-tube. First, the tube sound isn't that big of a difference in that amp. Second... I forget the exact details as this was mentioned 3 years ago by my friend (he's the keyboardist in the band in which I sub. He has owned and run for decades a 2 location electronics repair business which is pretty much the go-to place in Chicago and suburbs): He said something along the lines of that amp is particularly expensive if the tube goes. I don't recall why or anything but all I need to hear is a trusted friend and very experienced repairman tell me "particularly expensive to repair." I immediately switched to using another amp as my primary amp because I don't want to deal w an expensive repair even though I'd likely get a deal. Note: He didn't say the LMT-800 is prone to failure only that it is more expensive than typical if it fails. No idea why this is but I'm sure it was tube-related failure he was talking about so I'd opt for the non-tube.
 
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#10
I have the LM head from my cmd121p combo,which i swapped out with a LM 800 tube head.
They are both great sounding heads,and have been very reliable for me over the last 5-7 years.
I personally like having the tube channel,i usually blend it about 50/50,and it does have a subtle effect on the tone. I also think the extra 300 watts does help when i have 2 cabs hooked up.
 
#11
SJan3 said:
View attachment 2943355 ..and here it is!
Click to expand...

Nice rig. Here's my LM800T:
LMT.jpg



I've owned an LMIII, it served me well!
Besides the additional headroom and output from the 800T, the pre-amp tube can provide some nice color and definition to the "trademark" MarkBass tone.

It won't make the head sound like an all-tube SVT of course, but there is some added tube-like presence you can dial in or out.

As far as repair costs or issues, I imagine if there were a problem with the tube (there really shouldn't be) there would be additional costs for the labor involved in replacing it; its soldered in as well I believe. I don't think that's a recognized issue with these amps, though.

Also-Its been discussed before; I don't see or hear any difference between the "older" MB products built in Italy, and the current Indonesian factory assembled units. Same design; same components, high QC and final inspection from MarkBass.

I don't think there's a world of difference between the 800 / 800T; I do like the added and subtle eq available by cutting/boosting the pre-amp tube.
 
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#12
I use an older italian Little Mark Tube 500 and a newer indonesian Little Mark 800. Soundwise the Tube is a little bit darker and goes deeper. It seems the highpass filter is set lower. The most time I turn down the bass to 11 and boost the low mids to 1 the rest is set to 12. Filters off. The LM 800 sounds crispier, tighter and a little bit more low mid heavy and is more powerful. Some times I cut the low mids, but most of the time I can keep the EQ flat. Even if you boost the lows a little bit, the sound remains tight. Playing through my Markbass 104HF 8 Ohm I like the LM 800 better. The crispier sound is a better match for this cabinet.
 
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#14
Ant Illington said:
I would get the non-tube and I'll tell you why in a minute. I have the LMT-800 and it a fine sounding amp. I've even dropped it on concrete and dented the corner on which it landed. Mine is 5 years old so it was made in Italy and people say that the newer ones built in Asia are not as reliable or well-made or whatever. I'm skeptical.

Here's why non-tube. First, the tube sound isn't that big of a difference in that amp. Second... I forget the exact details as this was mentioned 3 years ago by my friend (he's the keyboardist in the band in which I sub. He has owned and run for decades a 2 location electronics repair business which is pretty much the go-to place in Chicago and suburbs): He said something along the lines of that amp is particularly expensive if the tube goes. I don't recall why or anything but all I need to hear is a trusted friend and very experienced repairman tell me "particularly expensive to repair." I immediately switched to using another amp as my primary amp because I don't want to deal w an expensive repair even though I'd likely get a deal. Note: He didn't say the LMT-800 is prone to failure only that it is more expensive than typical if it fails. No idea why this is but I'm sure it was tube-related failure he was talking about so I'd opt for the non-tube.
Click to expand...
I feel this should be clarified a little.
Nothing he said was basically untrue, but.....
There are a TON of LMT800's out there. I have only ever heard of 1 having the tube go bad.
And when it did, he simply turned the pre to 100% solid state. SHAZAM! Instant LM800.
And you will still have the couple of extra features the LMT800 has that the LM800 does not.
 
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#15
Thank you again for the feedback everybody, I ended up ordering the LMT 800. Regarding the cabinet, I'm considering an 8 ohm speaker, to which the corresponding amp power, at 8 ohm, is 500 W. I'm thinking on the fender rumble 410, seems like a good speaker with adequate power. Will 500 W continuous and 1000 W program be a good match for this head?
 
#16
APGP said:
Thank you again for the feedback everybody, I ended up ordering the LMT 800. Regarding the cabinet, I'm considering an 8 ohm speaker, to which the corresponding amp power, at 8 ohm, is 500 W. I'm thinking on the fender rumble 410, seems like a good speaker with adequate power. Will 500 W continuous and 1000 W program be a good match for this head?
Click to expand...
You'll be fine.
 
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#17
Hi! been a long time since my last post in TB, but I just bought a LMT800. Haven't had the chance to use it, but I was wondering, does it selects the impedance automatically? I've had some amps and most of the time there's a switch or a somthing to select the impedance of the amp, but here there just isn't. It's a second hand amp so no manual with it and that's what I'm asking. Didn't thought I needed another thread specifically for this question, I'm sorry I'm hijacking this thread :p
 
#19
Here's my take on the Markbass mini tube vs solid state preamp question. I've recently obtained an 800 watt class D Momark power frame with both solid state and mini tube preamp modules. Gigged it thru Bergantino HT112ER and EX112ER cabs at highish volume last weekend with the tube preamp. Sounded okay but swapped it for my class AB LM3 for the third and final set. The LM3 seemed to be much clearer and louder (although position of volume controls is not a good measure). So when I had some time I compared the LM3 on top of a single Bergantino HD210 with the Momark on another Bergantino HD210. The solid state Momark pre was louder and clearer than the tube, so that's what I will take to the next gig.
 
#20
Sparky Mark said:
Here's my take on the Markbass mini tube vs solid state preamp question. I've recently obtained an 800 watt class D Momark power frame with both solid state and mini tube preamp modules. Gigged it thru Bergantino HT112ER and EX112ER cabs at highish volume last weekend with the tube preamp. Sounded okay but swapped it for my class AB LM3 for the third and final set. The LM3 seemed to be much clearer and louder (although position of volume controls is not a good measure). So when I had some time I compared the LM3 on top of a single Bergantino HD210 with the Momark on another Bergantino HD210. The solid state Momark pre was louder and clearer than the tube, so that's what I will take to the next gig.
Click to expand...
FWIW,
When I turn the preamp to 100% solid state on my LMT800, the sound is definitely more mid forward, which could certainly be classified as louder and or clearer than the tube tone.

I run my LMT800 (usually) 100% tube, only because I prefer the roundness/smoothness of the tone.
But certainly need a little more relative volume to hear the same note definition as the solid state.
 
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