Little Mark II Head Repair

XtromatriX · #1 12-24-2010, 09:06 AM

I have a Little Mark ll that just died on me. Yesterday it was really windy outside and the wind caused the power lines to blow around making the lights flicker in many homes in the neighborhood. Well to make a long story short, this caused a spike in my house while I was playing my bass and the Little Mark head went out. I changed the fuse with the same type fuse but it just keeps blowing every new fuse as soon as I switch on the power. I also waited untill the power company fixed the proplem before I tried using the amp agin. I guess the question I'm asking is has anybody had a Little Mark ll repaired and if so was the price of the repair as much or almost as much as getting a new amp? I know there is no way to tell exactly what the cost of a repair will be because that would depend on what the problem is with the amp, but I'm just trying to find out what other Mark Bass owners experience when it comes to repair. This amp also is no longer under warranty. Thanks.

KJung · #2 12-24-2010, 09:09 AM

Ouch! Bummer.

MB has a relatively new US repair network set up for these situations. Assuming you are in the US, just PM Peter Murray (MB US sales rep) and he will take care of you. Not sure if he will be on-line today and tomorrow given the Holiday, but who knows! Good luck... great head, hope you get it fixed with little hassle.

Let us know the cost when all is done. The new repair network, while rarely needed (and hence very few 'service' posts on this stuff) supposedly is reasonably priced.... but there are only a few recent data points over the last year.

Red Planet · #3 12-24-2010, 10:06 AM

From what I have seen so far if your amp is not in warranty it will not be worth repairing.

If it is in warranty you will be OK.

Red Planet · #4 12-24-2010, 10:15 AM

Markbass Amp repair?

Jim C · #5 12-24-2010, 10:31 AM

Exactly
Not sure if it's fair to blame MB on the fact that many of these micro amps become disposable after waranty as I suspect all will have waranty repairs that excede the value of a used model.
Think about the massive recalls that Carvin & GK had this past year; both highly reguarded companies that produced some micro amps that died or had issues when new; later revisions got that sorted.
While I want a Streamliner, am thinking that I'll wait for you guys to buy a few hundred before I get on the train!

XtromatriX · #6 12-24-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Ouch! Bummer.

MB has a relatively new US repair network set up for these situations. Assuming you are in the US, just PM Peter Murray (MB US sales rep) and he will take care of you. Not sure if he will be on-line today and tomorrow given the Holiday, but who knows! Good luck... great head, hope you get it fixed with little hassle.

Let us know the cost when all is done. The new repair network, while rarely needed (and hence very few 'service' posts on this stuff) supposedly is reasonably priced.... but there are only a few recent data points over the last year.

Thanks Kjung, It is a REAL bummer! I will let you guys know the final cost. I am in ther US and there is a place here called (Just Audio Repair) who said that they repair Mark Bass stuff right here in Maryland. I was told buy the receptionist that there would be a non refundable 45.00 fee for taking it in but the 45.00 would go to the price of the repair. The only issue is that whole process might take some time and be quite expensive, I dowant to have it fixed though because it's a great amp. I need another amp now because not only was the Little Mark ll my main amp, I record with it as well.

XtromatriX · #7 12-24-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Planet

From what I have seen so far if your amp is not in warranty it will not be worth repairing.

If it is in warranty you will be OK.

Red Planet, That's what I heard, and that's what I'm afraid of... I really want o have it fixed but if it's going to be extremely costly that could be a problem.

spcmstrbtasp · #8 06-28-2011, 07:59 AM

My LMII also suddenly blew successive fuses and now won't power up. It is over 2 years out of warranty.

When I contacted Markbass via their website, I was directed to Virtual Sound Technology in Pasadena, CA.

Has anyone else used this repair provider?

They charge 35$ for the estimate which is applied to the repair cost and $75 per hour plus cost of parts to repair, and of course it must be shipped to them. I live in Athens, Ga.

I'm on the fence about repairing vs buying another used or permanently moving on to another brand of amplifier.

When it worked, it sounded great, and met my needs. It was even reliable for 4 plus years until it suddenly wasn't.

Any feedback and shared experience with this provider or others would be appreciated.

-Jeff

trevastation · #9 08-18-2011, 09:51 AM

I had the same problem, head went out during rehearsal and blew all new fuses. I've been dealing with this issue for two years now. Cost around $300 to get "fixed" initially (out of warranty, but no notice that it was, they just fixed it and charged me) and it never worked again, even after repeated returns to the authorized repair facility. The last time it was returned to me "fixed," it would not even turn on. Boy was I livid and bummed. I am in MD and the only place nearby at the time was in Mass. Two years down the road, I am out a killer head, and the $300 i paid to have it fixed out of warranty and the new management wont take it back to rectify the situation. It is extremely frustrating and saddening. My advice, if it is not under warranty, buy another one. they sound great, but it costs just as much to fix them.