Mark Bass MoMark
In it’s relatively short history Markbass has
established itself as a major innovator in bass amp
technology and with the release of the MoMark
modular system looks set to raise the bar once more.
With strong showings
at both the Winter
NAMM show and
the Musikmesse
in Frankfurt, Markbass is steadily
gaining a loyal following and
boasts some pretty high profile
endorsees in the likes of Alain
Caron, Hadrien Feraud and Michael
Manring. The current Markbass
product catalogue ranges from the
diminutive LittleMark 250 to the
popular F1 and SD1200. Further
product launches are scheduled
for release throughout 2009 and
include updates to the LittleMark
and SD lines, along with the launch
of a new range of effects pedals
and software plugins. The latest
addition to the Markbass stable
is the MoMark modular system,
which looks set to become a major
innovation in the concept of buying
a bass amp. The MoMark gives
the consumer complete control
over what their amp should be,
as company founder, Marco De
Virgiliis explains, ‘Different players
have different priorities and
preferences about what features
they want their ideal amp to have,
so I came up with the idea for the
MoMark’.
Features
The MoMark starts with a MoMark
Amp Frame, which is a compact
black ABS plastic chassis. There are
4 different frames to choose from
with either a digital or analog power
amp and 250 to 800 watts of power.
The Amp Frame houses removable
preamp, EQ and output modules
that behave like hard drives in a
computer. There are 6 preamp 6 EQ
and 4 master modules to choose
from, each offering a progressive list
of features. You can mix and match
these modules in any way that you
choose giving you the freedom to
create your own sound and change
it whenever you want. The retail
price of each module is also dictated
by its feature set, allowing you to
tailor your amp to suit your budget.
You could opt for a solid-state or a
tube preamp module with single
or dual channels paired with a 4 or
7-band graphic or parametric EQ
module, or a module that bypasses
the EQ entirely. The master modules
range from the MO module, which
offers a basic master level control
and limiter, to the M2VLFM, which
comes complete with the trademark
Markbass Vintage Loudspeaker
Emulator (VLE) filter, line out
control, foot switching capabilities
and a new high-tech bi-band limiter.
Our review model comprises a
500-watt analog Amp Frame fitted
with a T1M Preamp module, an
EQ0 EQ module and a MVVL
master module. The MoMark needs
to have one of each kind of module
installed in order to function: one
Preamp module, one EQ Module,
and one Master Module.
Despite its modular design the
Momark feels reassuringly solid
leaving us with little doubts over its
durability. The individual modules
mount securely into the chassis and
can be easily slid in and out. The
modules are ‘hot swappable’, which
means you don’t need to switch the
The MVVL Master Module features VLE and VPF filters, a bi-band limiter and both master and line out level controls
64 BGM June 2009
Gear Markbass MoMark
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Markbass MoMark
Built in: Italy
Amp frame: 500 watt, analog
Price: £650
Features: 2 x Neutrik speakon
combo speaker outs, balanced XLR
line out, pre/post EQ switch, ground
lift, tuner out, FX loop send & return
(wired in parallel)
Power output: 500 watts RMS @ 4
ohms/300 watts RMS @ 3 ohms
Preamp module: Pre T1M
Price: £112
Features: Tube preamp, level
control, clip led, mute switch
EQ module: EQ0
Price: £48.99
Master module: MVVL
Price: £74
Features: Master level control,
balanced XLR line out, Vintage
loudspeaker Emulator (VLE) &
Variable Pre-Shape Filter (VPF),
bi-band limiter
Dimensions: 330(w) x 82(h) x 270(d)
Weight: 3.5 kg (7.7lbs)
What We Think
Plus: Highly portable, well
constructed, innovative design &
quality bass sounds.
Minus: Having to pay close to £50
for a blank EQ Module
Overall: The MoMark is everything
we have come to expect from
Markbass and its modular design
sets a new standard in what to
expect from a bass amp.
Contact Details
Proel International Ltd
Tel: 0208 761 9911
Email: info@proelint.co.uk
Web: www.proeint.co.uk
www.markbass.it
more weight and presence in the
mid range and is ideal for a dialing
in a more traditional tone with less
emphasis in the top end, without
losing clarity or focus. Th e VPF acts
as a basic contour control, scooping
out the mid range and boosting
the low and high frequencies to
achieve a ‘smiley face’ EQ curve.
While some contour type controls
can make the sound boomy and
less focussed, we were pleased to
fi nd that the VPF lends a natural
sounding defi nition to the top end
that’s ideal for slap styles and driving
rock quavers played with a pick.
Conclusion
Th e current trend towards compact
yet powerful bass amps has
made reaping professional tones
from a lightweight amp far more
achievable, but it’s the modular
design that scores the MoMark
maximum points. Being able to
custom order diff erent preamp,
EQ and output sections not only
allows you to customize your rig
for a particular bass, gig, or even
a particular song, but as each
amp frame and module varies in
price according to its features the
MoMark eff ectively allows you to
tailor your setup to suit your budget.
Markbass will be distributing
MoMark Testing Towers to selected
Markbass Dealers, which will allow
you to compare all the available
power and module combinations
and hear the diff erence between
the diff erent sections. Given the
current fi nancial climate value for
money is of increasing importance,
but that doesn’t necessarily mean
looking for the cheapest products.
Th e MoMark off ers high build
quality and excellent bass sounds
in a practical and portable package
and its modular design puts you in
the driving seat when it comes to
determining both its feature set and
its price.
Each Amp Frame house removable preamp, EQ and Master modules
The back panel has an equally intuitive layout including Neutrik speaker outputs, an eff ects loop and ground lift switch
BUILD QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BGM RATING OUT OF FIVE
MoMark on and off each time you
change a module. Th e Pre T1M
preamp module is inspired by the
preamp section that’s found in the
Markbass TA 503 head and features
a tube gain section that’s designed
to off er a warm and clear tube tone
without colouring the sound of your
bass. Th e jack input socket is also
located here alongside a clip led
and mute switch. Th e EQ0 Module
acts like a true-bypass module and
contains a simple circuit board,
which is designed to off er the fl at
sound of the MoMark, as Riccardo
Damiani of Markbass explains,
‘Markbass amplifi ers are regularly
praised for their true-to-the-source
sound, and we are always hearing
people say that they never use
the EQ knobs on their Markbass
amps. In the same way that some
people would rather have only a
volume knob on their guitar, some
people are happy to have no EQ on
their amp. It’s also a much cheaper
option!’ Th e MVVL Master module
features Markbass’s VLE fi lter and
Variable Preshape Filter (VPF)
fi lter, along with a bi-band limiter,
level and line out controls. Th e
VLE is a shelf EQ that allows you
to attenuate the high frequencies
in the same way you can adjust a
horn attenuator on the back of a
speaker cab. Th e VPF acts like an
‘enhance’ or ‘contour’ control and
boosts the low and high frequency’s
while cutting the mids. Some may
fi nd the control legending a little
diffi cult to see on a dark stage as
the type face is quite small, but this
shouldn’t cause too many problems
given the intuitive layout. Th e rear
panel features 2 Neutrik speakon
outputs that accept both Speakon
connectors and 1/4 inch speaker
cable, a balanced XLR line out,
pre/post EQ switch, ground lift,
tuner out, and an eff ects loop.
Sounds
If we had any reservations about
how the MoMark might sound
based on its compact size and
modular design, they were
quashed soon after plugging in.
Th e MoMark retains all of the
tonal transparency and fast note
response that has made existing
Markbass lines so popular. Th e
tonal character of your instrument
comes through in abundance and
remains well balanced making the
MoMark instantly gig ready. Th e
T1M preamp module grants access
to a little mid range warmth that
compliments the focused defi nition
that’s already present in both the
low and high-end frequencies. It’s
not designed for distortion and
increasinging the level too far will
activate the clip led. Adjusting the
VLE and VPF fi lters allows you
to adapt your bass sound to suit a
range of diff erent styles and turning
either control fully anti-clockwise
will switch the fi lter off allowing
you to gradually introduce them
independently or combine the
two for some interesting eff ects.
Th e VLE gives the MoMark a little
June 2009 BGM 65
Gear Markbass MoMark
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