Markbass 121H Combo Woes

[Russell L]

Eh...it's the speaker. The Little Mark II amp is fine, but that 12" B&C driver just can't take it. I've posted about this before, but now I think this thing might be broke.

The speaker clanks when even a little bottom is added. But, it shows up only when I let my plucking hand plop back down on the strings after plucking a note. I'm not talking about really hitting the strings. I'm talking about a light touch, but it is a "plop." Kinda like easy slapping. I don't think you could ever play slap on this rig.

Now, with the gain at 1:30, all eq flat at noon, master at, say11:00, no filters (VLE or VPF), it plays fine. I can plop a little, but not too much. If I get near the fingerboard it will clank. If I turn up the VPF to, say, 10:00 it gets so touchy that I MUST play near the bridge or make dang sure I don't plop my hand around any.

I have been told that it is the voice coil hitting the frame, and that it won't hurt anything unless it keeps happening. Then I was told the speaker could lose its springiness. Does this sound right?

Sigh, I'm thinking about selling the combo, but I don't really know if the speaker is bad or if I'm doing something wrong. NONE of my other 112 combos do it, and the 151P cab I have doesn't do it. I don't think I'm overplaying. That ain't it.

What do ya'll think? (For the second time, thanks).

[RickenBoogie]

Sounds like you want more than a single 12 will give. Even Mesa's Walkabout Scout 12 will reach it's limit before the amp is fully cranked. What you want is an ext cab. 2 12's is the answer.

[bradjonesbass]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Sounds like you want more than a single 12 will give. Even Mesa's Walkabout Scout 12 will reach it's limit before the amp is fully cranked. What you want is an ext cab. 2 12's is the answer.

This is the correct answer. The other possibility is that your neck pickup is too close to your strings and what you're actually hearing is the strings clipping the pickup.

[Russell L]

Well, thanks guys, but I've been through both of those ideas. First off, it's not the strings hitting the pickup. I checked that carefully. Also, I have a 151P cab (single 15), and it doesn't do it if I plug it in by itself. My old bassman 150 with its single 12 doesn't do it either, nor does my SWR Workingman's 12. Bear in mind that I'm talking about this markbass speaker clanking very easily at moderate volume. However, I only notice it if I slap a string. Actually, I'm not playing slap bass, but just letting my fingers come back down onto the string after plucking a note. Not too hard, but it always makes the speaker clank if I have the volume at gig level and the VPF filter turned up to 9:00 or more, or if I boost the lows any at all. Like I said, there is no way that anyone could possibly play slap bass on this rig with the speaker so sensitive to whatever kind of spike is created by slapping the string. I am not pushing the amp too much, just playing like I normally do on any other amp. It is a big relief to play the 151P cab since I don't have to worry about the clanking. I hope to get a separate head and another 151P soon. If I am careful, though, not to ever let my fingers flop back down on the strings the 12" will perform fine, so I am constantly trying to hold back, and/or play back toward the bridge.

Maybe a better question is, where to order a replacement B&C driver? Or, how much is my 121H combo worth on the used market (if the speaker is ok)?