Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $362
High-end/Boutique
$70
$201+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Markbass Mark Vintage Pre". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash the rich, warm tones of yesteryear with the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre, a powerhouse preamp designed for the discerning bassist who craves the classic sound of a tube-driven rig. This pedal is more than just an effect; it's a journey back to the golden age of bass, meticulously crafted with Markbass' renowned attention to detail and quality.
At the heart of the Mark Vintage Pre is a genuine 12AX7 (ECC 83) tube, delivering an authentic analog warmth that digital emulations can only aspire to. Whether you're playing rock, jazz, or funk, this preamp offers a versatile tonal palette thanks to its comprehensive 4-band EQ and a suite of intuitive controls including Gain, Master, Drive, Low, High, and Blend. The innovative Flat/Normal/Old switch allows you to effortlessly shift between sonic landscapes, making your bass sound as modern or as vintage as you like.
In addition to its tonal capabilities, the Mark Vintage Pre offers a robust selection of connectivity options. From the FX loop send/return jacks to the Line Out XLR and digital outputs, this pedal is prepared for any setup—studio or stage. With footswitches for Drive, On, and Boost, your performance dynamics are quite literally at your feet.
Key Features:
- Tube preamp with 12AX7 (ECC 83) tube
- 4-Band EQ: Gain, Master, Drive, Low, High, Blend
- Switches: Flat / Normal / Old
- Footswitches: Drive, On, Boost
- Input: 6.3 mm jack
- Output: 6.3 mm jack
- FX loop send/return: 2x 6.3 mm jack
- Line Out: XLR
- Digital Outputs: Toslink, RCA
- Includes power supply unit (12 V DC, 300 mA)
Product specs
| Available since | December 2020 |
| Effect Types | DI Box, Preamp |
| Design | Floor Effects Pedal |
| Tubes | 1 |
| Integrated Effects | 1 |
| Headphone Output | 1 |
| Direct Out | 1 |
| Aux Input | 1 |
FAQs
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What type of EQ does the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre offer?
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The Markbass Mark Vintage Pre features a 4-band EQ with a 3-way switch, allowing for precise tonal shaping and flexibility to suit various playing styles and genres.
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Does the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre include a DI box function?
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Yes, the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre functions as a real DI box, providing direct output for seamless integration into live and studio setups.
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Can the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre handle distortion effects?
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The Markbass Mark Vintage Pre offers two types of distortion with a blend control, allowing you to mix clean and distorted tones to achieve your desired sound.
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Is the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre equipped with a headphone output?
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Yes, the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre includes a headphone output, making it suitable for silent practice and direct monitoring.
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What connectivity options does the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre provide?
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The Markbass Mark Vintage Pre features an aux input, headphone output, FX loop, and digital outs, offering versatile connectivity for various performance and recording scenarios.
Videos
Thomann's Guitars & Basses
Best Bass Pedals 2021 | Julia Hofer | Thomann
Reviews
PROS
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Good clean tone suitable for various music styles
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Sturdy build quality ideal for road use
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Headphone out is great for silent practice
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Sensible tone controls with useful frequency points
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Dry/wet blend for the drive circuit adds versatility
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Thick and wet clean bass tone for indie, R&B, and 80s music
CONS
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Noticeable hum with ungrounded setups, varies by bass
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Clean tone not significantly better than quality DI-boxes
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Tube distortion sounds fizzy and thin
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Drive circuit lacks true tube circuitry feel
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Three-way "preset" tone switch settings are limited in usefulness
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Parallel effects loop lacks dry/wet blend control
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Tube almost impossible to replace without risk of damage
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Digital outputs considered unnecessary and potentially redundant
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EQ and gain staging issues lead to noise and loss of definition at high settings
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Markbass Mark Vintage Pre.
Comparisons
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Owners mention that the Sansamp VT offers more flexible tone options than the Markbass Vintage Pre, particularly in live situations.
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The LeBass preamp is highlighted as a superior choice by some users, suggesting a preference for its performance over both the Markbass Vintage Pre and Sansamp VT.
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The drive tones on the Markbass Vintage Pre are considered acceptable, but not exceptional, with some users preferring other pedals like the muff or Turbo RAT for overdrive.
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Use cases and applications
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The Markbass Vintage Pre is considered for use with acoustic guitar setups and a cajon, indicating its versatility in quieter, more acoustic-centric band environments.
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Owners liken the Markbass Vintage Pre to a blend of a Noble and Tone Hammer, indicating its tone versatility for different musical styles.
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A bassballs envelope pedal might be placed after the tuner but before the compressor; adjustments can be made based on the pedal's intensity.
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The pedal is favored for reggae bass, providing a creamy, warm tube sound with settings like "old" selected and a low mid boost for a "butter creme" tone.
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User experience
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The Markbass Vintage Pre is questioned for its popularity, implying potential concerns about its performance or market presence compared to other preamps like the Sansamp.
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Setup and maintenance
Features and functionality
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The send/return loop is suggested primarily for wet effects like delay and reverb, rather than for basic effects like tuners and compressors.
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The Markbass Vintage Pre requires a 300mA 12VDC power supply, necessitating careful selection of compatible power sources.
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The parametric EQ's "mid high" is centered at 2.7kHz and the "high" is a shelf at 10kHz, which some consider unusual for a bass preamp.
Source
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Noah Hill is confirmed to use the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre, as evidenced by a post from the Instagram account parcelsmusic, which features an image from their rehearsals.
In the attached YouTube video, Andrew is doing a promo video of his signature amp and the Markbass Mark Vintage Pre. He's used Markbass' products for a long time and even has a signature preamp and strings with the brand. I've yet to find more details on his use of this vintage pre, but will update as I find more.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Markbass Mark Vintage Pre, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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