Anyone familiar w/ the Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 shutting itself off?

ccsfuse77 · #1 08-23-2010, 06:53 PM

Anyone familiar w/ the Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 shutting itself off? I ordered this head as a backup for my Eden WT800-C and received it today. I hooked it up to my Eden 410XLT, (700W/8ohm cab). I slap a lot and have a pretty heavy right hand attack so I do run into issues w/ stuff... When I really started digging in @ gig volume, it just goes mute. The light remains on etc, but I think its going into some kind of protect mode? I've tried w/ the gain around 9 o'clock and still it shuts down..which sucks, because I love how small this thing is, but if this is the deal, I have to send it back. Any advice or info anyone has would be much appreciated.

cybersnyder · #2 08-23-2010, 07:10 PM

Picked up a Tube 800 about a week ago and no issues yet. Ugh... Shouldn't have read this....

lbwdog · #3 08-23-2010, 07:50 PM

I've played three or four club gigs with mine and no problem so far. I'm not beatin' real hard on it though.

First time that happens....out it goes! I'm used to G-K reliability and would be playing through a G-K MBFusion had they been released earlier. (I will eventually anyway, I'm sure).

Meanwhile, I'm like cybersnyder, wish I hadn't read this!

Brad Johnson · #4 08-23-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccsfuse77

Anyone familiar w/ the Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 shutting itself off? I ordered this head as a backup for my Eden WT800-C and received it today. I hooked it up to my Eden 410XLT, (700W/8ohm cab). I slap a lot and have a pretty heavy right hand attack so I do run into issues w/ stuff... When I really started digging in @ gig volume, it just goes mute. The light remains on etc, but I think its going into some kind of protect mode? I've tried w/ the gain around 9 o'clock and still it shuts down..which sucks, because I love how small this thing is, but if this is the deal, I have to send it back. Any advice or info anyone has would be much appreciated.

A few things come to mind...

What are the gain settings you're using? EQ settings? Is the clip light coming on?

Typically you'd bring the pre gain up to match your attack then bring the Master up to attain whatever stage volume you're after.

FrankGravis · #5 08-23-2010, 08:36 PM

ccsfuse77, contact Peter Murray on this board; he'll be happy to help. That sounds like an anomaly. Seems that with one 8-ohm cabinet, it shouldn't go into thermal shutdown even if you were roaring. I have been using Markbass amplifiers for many years, and except for when I unknowingly plugged an amp into a circuit that had a dimmer on it, which the amp definitely didn't like, I have had completely trouble-free great service and sound from any and all Markbass products. Send Peter a message.

ccsfuse77 · #6 08-23-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

A few things come to mind...

What are the gain settings you're using? EQ settings? Is the clip light coming on?

Typically you'd bring the pre gain up to match your attack then bring the Master up to attain whatever stage volume you're after.

Ive had it itself shut off with the gain as low as 1/4 up or 9 oclock. All the eq i left at 12 o clock. I've done exactly that as far as matching the gain to volume. Everything is fine, but if I start slapping out it goes. Seems to happen from high end if I pop the G really hard etc. This is just me testing at home. Pretty sure the amp is supposed to do this, as it turns right back on every time, but not so sure I want to mess with this issue on a gig.

hyp.spec · #7 08-23-2010, 08:39 PM

I've had my LMIII do this to me a couple times at practice... I'm still not sure if it was cables not inserted all the way or if it was just being worked too hard...

ccsfuse77 · #8 08-23-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankGravis

ccsfuse77, contact Peter Murray on this board; he'll be happy to help. That sounds like an anomaly. Seems that with one 8-ohm cabinet, it shouldn't go into thermal shutdown even if you were roaring. I have been using Markbass amplifiers for many years, and except for when I unknowingly plugged an amp into a circuit that had a dimmer on it, which the amp definitely didn't like, I have had completely trouble-free great service and sound from any and all Markbass products. Send Peter a message.

Thanks Frank,
I will for sure. I really want to like this thing. The size and weight is amazing and I was ready to order the backpack too! I do play pretty hard, but have never had an amp do this.

Brad Johnson · #9 08-24-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccsfuse77

Ive had it itself shut off with the gain as low as 1/4 up or 9 oclock. All the eq i left at 12 o clock. I've done exactly that as far as matching the gain to volume. Everything is fine, but if I start slapping out it goes. Seems to happen from high end if I pop the G really hard etc. This is just me testing at home. Pretty sure the amp is supposed to do this, as it turns right back on every time, but not so sure I want to mess with this issue on a gig.

There's a gain for the input and then there's the Master volume. Which one are you setting at 9 o'clock? How are you setting the two filters? When you start slapping are you getting a clip liight?

Have you tried another speaker cable or cab? For that matter have you ruled out cables overall? If you're having it go into protect mode at low volumes that's where I'd concentrate.

ccsfuse77 · #10 08-24-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

There's a gain for the input and then there's the Master volume. Which one are you setting at 9 o'clock? How are you setting the two filters? When you start slapping are you getting a clip liight?

Have you tried another speaker cable or cab? For that matter have you ruled out cables overall? If you're having it go into protect mode at low volumes that's where I'd concentrate.

I've had this happen w/ these settings and no clip light:
Gain for input = 9 o'clock
Master Volume = 12 o'clock
VLE - Fully Minimized
VLP - 9 o'clock
Solid State/Tube - 9 o'clock
EQ's all 12 o'clock

I have used 2 different speakon monster cables. And also tried through my Eden WT800C which is taking whatever I throw at it and the cab is fine w/ the Eden WT800C also. The Markbass is working ok until I pop the G really hard etc..then its just gone..still on, but signal is cut. Frustrating, as I really like the everything else about it.

hyp.spec · #11 08-28-2010, 08:53 AM

Try changing the power cords

I was messing around with my LM3 the other day and it shut off... and I got a little inspiration from the computer I just built (that couldn't handle the video card... ate up too much power, but the computer would still power on, it just wouldnt post). I then went and swapped out power cords to my LM3 and have yet to be able to get it to shut off... odd...

churchpark · #12 08-28-2010, 06:04 PM

Couldn't help to see and hear everyone talking the same problem. Has anyone found the real issue for this "thermal shutdown" or is this normal? I need to know because I may have to send it back. "Lord I hate to!"

ccsfuse77 · #13 08-30-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyp.spec

Try changing the power cords

I was messing around with my LM3 the other day and it shut off... and I got a little inspiration from the computer I just built (that couldn't handle the video card... ate up too much power, but the computer would still power on, it just wouldnt post). I then went and swapped out power cords to my LM3 and have yet to be able to get it to shut off... odd...

I did swap out power cords and it still did the same thing. It would still be on, but no signal....I sent back for and exchange. Hopefully the new one does not do this.

churchpark · #14 08-30-2010, 03:54 PM

I would appreciate your findings once it arrives. I need to know in order to swap the one I have now.

Please keep in contact. Thanks!

ccsfuse77 · #15 09-02-2010, 11:49 AM

Well, got the replacement in the mail yesterday and it does the same thing. I pop the G and out it goes! It must be just too much input for this thing to handle (gain around 10 o'clock, master around 12 o'clock)....I can only assume Im forcing it into some kind of protect mode...what the hell?! which I cant believe, because I've played entire gigs on other people's Markbass heads before....and why can my Eden WT800 handle the exact same thing and more? Made a video of this on my phone to prove and send to Markbass, but can't get windows media player to play it...double frustrating....I can't depend on this thing if shutdown is even a remote possibility. Back it goes and back to the drawing board.....

craig.p · #16 09-02-2010, 12:39 PM

If I had to SWAG this from afar, I'd say that the MB is seeing some sort of impedance anomaly when you generate all those high frequencies. Maybe it doesn't like what the crossover is doing, or maybe there's some sort of tweeter protection that creates a short-term low or highly-reactive impedance that the MB simply doesn't like, and which the Eden head can tolerate.

A good test would be to dig into the Eden cab and wire it for cones only, i.e. remove the crossover and tweeter electrically from the cab. You won't get much in the way of highs during this test but at least you'd be able to narrow things down a bit, or eliminate one or two possibilities. Depends on how much effort you want to expend.

If the amp hangs tough during that test, then you have your answer.

ccsfuse77 · #17 09-03-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

If I had to SWAG this from afar, I'd say that the MB is seeing some sort of impedance anomaly when you generate all those high frequencies. Maybe it doesn't like what the crossover is doing, or maybe there's some sort of tweeter protection that creates a short-term low or highly-reactive impedance that the MB simply doesn't like, and which the Eden head can tolerate.

A good test would be to dig into the Eden cab and wire it for cones only, i.e. remove the crossover and tweeter electrically from the cab. You won't get much in the way of highs during this test but at least you'd be able to narrow things down a bit, or eliminate one or two possibilities. Depends on how much effort you want to expend.

If the amp hangs tough during that test, then you have your answer.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm just gonna file this amp under "too good to be true", which sucks, because I am all about decreasing the weight of my gear....already sent back.

MattMan30 · #18 01-31-2011, 09:51 PM

Dude I just discovered this same issue with my SD1200. Pop on the G string...out it goes.....***. I contacted Peter about this...this amp wasn't cheap damn it. Otherwise it sounds great when it works! Ton of headroom.....at least I thought! This hasn't happened at all with my Markbass 210 and 115 (4 ohm load). Only with my Avatar 212. Horn transient maybe? I don't know...

KJung · #19 02-01-2011, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattMan30

Dude I just discovered this same issue with my SD1200. Pop on the G string...out it goes.....***. I contacted Peter about this...this amp wasn't cheap damn it. Otherwise it sounds great when it works! Ton of headroom.....at least I thought! This hasn't happened at all with my Markbass 210 and 115 (4 ohm load). Only with my Avatar 212. Horn transient maybe? I don't know...

This can happen in rare cases when the actual nominal impedance of a cab is a bit lower than the spec. Luckily, it is a VERY rare occurance. My guess is, that particular Avatar, due to the interaction with the particular crossover, drivers and box tuning they are using, is a bit under 4ohms, which can kick in the Markbass amps' safety circuitry.

My guess is you could pair it randomly with 100 other cabs, and would have zero issues. These heads work flawlessly with every Bergantino, Epifani, Tecamp, TC, LDS, etc. cab I've ever paired them with. There have been reports of this issue with a few Avatar cabs and also the EA NL210's.

churchpark · #20 02-01-2011, 09:32 AM

Well on my behalf, I decided to keep the Ampeg.

Thanks!