Mark Bass Tube 800 Question - No Response from Mark Bass Customer Service

bobalu · #1 01-09-2011, 02:50 PM

It's been over a week now and no response from Mark Bass Customer Service on my e-mail question to them (not very confidence inspiring...). I e-mailed them again, but I'll ask here 'cause you guy's are both smart and reliable

[edit note: received a response on January 10th, they were apparently closed for a weeks holiday]
Does anyone know if the miniature 6205 tube in the Tube 800 amp is soldered/hard wired in or is it a socket mount tube. My only (limited) experience with miniature tubes is that they are soldered in, no socket. This is a deal breaker for me if its soldered in, I don't care how good it sounds. BTW, the dealer has no clue, and I even had to explain to him that it wasn't a conventional 12AX7 pre-amp tube.

Any help is greatly appreciated (Mark Bass cs is a bit useless).

KJung · #2 01-09-2011, 03:10 PM

It is permanent (lots of posts on this). Not sure why that would be a deal breaker, but if it is important to you, then this is not the hybrid amp for you.

If you ever want to get in touch with Markbass in the US, PM Peter Murray, who is the North American sales rep. He's very helpful.

BassmanPaul · #3 01-09-2011, 03:10 PM

IIRC those tubes are wired only - they don't have a base.

JimmyM · #4 01-09-2011, 03:25 PM

really? never knew that. so what happens when it burns out? i certainly hope it isn't some ridiculous price to replace it, especially when it's an $8 tube.

btw, markbass isn't exactly the most prompt at returning emails, but they do eventually.

Honk'n_down-low · #5 01-09-2011, 03:27 PM

Try the phone, amazing how that works most times.

JimmyM · #6 01-09-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

Try the phone, amazing how that works most times.

calling italy from the us isn't as bad as what it used to cost but it's not exactly cheap.

**DougD** · #7 01-09-2011, 03:35 PM

Are we talking the same type of tubes that are in the Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 heads? Because those are not hardwired in and are swappable.

mikepcann · #8 01-09-2011, 03:37 PM

They are probably very busy getting ready for Namm. Hope they get back to you soon, I've always had good luck with them.

Sparky Mark · #9 01-09-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougD

Are we talking the same type of tubes that are in the Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 heads? Because those are not hardwired in and are swappable.

No, I think the Shuttle 6 uses a 12AX7 type, not these mini tubes.

JimmyM · #10 01-09-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougD

Are we talking the same type of tubes that are in the Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 heads? Because those are not hardwired in and are swappable.

nope. genz benz uses standard 12ax7's in a tube socket.

bobalu · #11 01-09-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

It is permanent (lots of posts on this). Not sure why that would be a deal breaker, but if it is important to you, then this is not the hybrid amp for you.

If you ever want to get in touch with Markbass in the US, PM Peter Murray, who is the North American sales rep. He's very helpful.

It's a deal breaker because I can't service it myself (for something as simple as a tube for gosh sakes). I would hate to have to take it in to have a component as basic as the tube replaced. IMHO, that's a poor design from a servicability perspective

. Out of warranty, I wonder what a tech would charge to replace the tube? I'm thinkin' GB Shuttle if they use 12AX7's. Too bad, the MB sounds very nice.

bobalu · #12 01-09-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

Try the phone, amazing how that works most times.

You do know they're in Italy, right? There is no 1-800 # on their web site, just e-mail. Thanks for your awesome suggestion though.

JimmyM · #13 01-09-2011, 03:56 PM

the hardwired 6025 would be a deal breaker for me, too. you can count on replacing it to be neither fun, easy or cheap. 12ax7, pop lid off, pull old tube, put new tube in, replace lid. hardwired 6025 will either require me soldering (not my specialty), or an hour bench charge plus tube cost with tech markup plus however long it takes waiting for your tech to get to it.

ya, deal breaker. sorry, but it is. no reason they couldn't have used a 12ax7 in a chassis that size.

**nostatic** · #14 01-09-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalu

It's a deal breaker because I can't service it myself (for something as simple as a tube for gosh sakes). I would hate to have to take it in to have a component as basic as the tube replaced. IMHO, that's a poor design from a servicability perspective

. Out of warranty, I wonder what a tech would charge to replace the tube? I'm thinkin' GB Shuttle if they use 12AX7's. Too bad, the MB sounds very nice.

Umm, hate to tell you but that is probably the least of your worries wrt failure on the amp. Plenty of other things that can/will go wrong under the right circumstances. The rest of the amp isn't "user serviceable", so why should the mini tube make a difference? I'm also willing to bet that if it did go out the amp would still work fine as it also has a SS preamp.

Total non-issue imho but it's your money.

JimmyM · #15 01-09-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Umm, hate to tell you but that is probably the least of your worries wrt failure on the amp. Plenty of other things that can/will go wrong under the right circumstances. The rest of the amp isn't "user serviceable", so why should the mini tube make a difference? I'm also willing to bet that if it did go out the amp would still work fine as it also has a SS preamp.

because i've tried that amp and it sounds way better to me with the tube in the circuit. besides, preamp tubes are widely regarded as user serviceable items. all the other stuff isn't.

bobalu · #16 01-09-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Umm, hate to tell you but that is probably the least of your worries wrt failure on the amp. Plenty of other things that can/will go wrong under the right circumstances. The rest of the amp isn't "user serviceable", so why should the mini tube make a difference? I'm also willing to bet that if it did go out the amp would still work fine as it also has a SS preamp.

Total non-issue imho but it's your money.

Yes, it certainly is my money. And if you can't understand what the problem with a hard wired pre-amp tube is, then I guess it really would be a non issue to you. Thanks for your comment though.

cybersnyder · #17 01-09-2011, 04:21 PM

Aren't 6205 tubes designed to be hardwired?

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/...s=0,0&format=0

Sparky Mark · #18 01-09-2011, 04:27 PM

I raised this issue a few months back and got 'it's a non issue' responses, but I wonder what the MTBF is for these mini tubes? If it's no less than other components then that's okay, but if it is the most likely component to fail soonest then it'd be nice if it was simple swap out. I would be reluctant to let anyone (me included) other than an approved MB tech anywhere near mine with a soldering iron, as reworking SMT boards requires specialist skills and facilities.

I just tried to access the MoMark site to see if they made a tube pre amp module containing a 12AX7 but the site didn't seem to be working. But you could buy two mini tube preamp modules and keep one for spare, just in case one failed and needed to be sent away for repair.

JimmyM · #19 01-09-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Aren't 6205 tubes designed to be hardwired?

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/...s=0,0&format=0

usually, though you can use a submini base for them as well.

sparky, i did a search, and the guy from markbass said you can expect at least 5000 hours from a 6025. and not letting anyone else but a markbass tech work on it guarantees that the replacement price will be sky high.

**nostatic** · #20 01-09-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalu

Yes, it certainly is my money. And if you can't understand what the problem with a hard wired pre-amp tube is, then I guess it really would be a non issue to you. Thanks for your comment though.

Having owned and gigged tube amps since the 70's, I think I understand "the problem" with it. My comment is based on real-world experience with a Markbass LMTube (which has the same hardwired tube). It is in the shop right now and it has zero to do with the tube. There are plenty of other things that have a higher likelihood of failing. imho the odds of the mini tube failing are dwarfed by the other factors, but if you want to equate a typical 12ax7 application in a large amp with this design, be my guest. You were the one that asked the question though...