The Markbass Mark Vintage Pre is a bass preamp pedal built around an integrated 12AX7 tube. Guitar World's 2026 guide to bass preamp pedals named it the best tube option in its field, calling it "The best preamp for authentic valve tone"1. It sits among preamp pedals as a tone-shaping and recording front end for a bass rig, and its drive section reaches into overdrive territory.
Features and controls
The pedal carries a 4-band EQ for tone shaping, along with a Flat/Normal/Old switch that changes the overall voicing. An effects loop sits between its input and output sections, and a ground lift is included for isolating the balanced output in live or studio setups1.
For recording, the Mark Vintage Pre goes beyond the usual XLR: it offers a digital record out at 44.1/48/96kHz, with Toslink and RCA connections alongside the balanced XLR and ¼" jack outputs. A 3.2mm Aux in and a 3.2mm headphone out round out the connections1.
The drive switch has a hidden second function. Pressing and holding it for a couple of seconds unlocks a secondary drive type, described as either a more modern bitey sound or a "classic" organic overdrive1.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's guide counted genuine valve warmth and the additional digital outputs for recording as the pedal's pluses, and noted the absence of a built-in compressor as a drawback. Players who want compression in the same box would need a separate compressor pedal1.
Videos
MarkbassAmps
Bass Bonedo
Australian Musician
Sources (1)
- Best bass preamp pedals: consistently great tone, anywhere, Guitar World, 2023-05-23