Bought a used Little Mark II

[Brad Johnson]

If you're getting mushy and distorted sound it's probably the cab. The LMII puts out a pretty big signal and not all cabs handle that well IME.

Did you try it with both of the voicing filters completely off?

 

[MtManiac]

If you're getting mushy and distorted sound it's probably the cab. The LMII puts out a pretty big signal and not all cabs handle that well IME.

Did you try it with both of the voicing filters completely off?

Yes, I tried that too. Maybe you're right about the cab, but I'm not switching cabs too.

 

[MtManiac]

I have the highs completely attenuated from my cab, i.e. the tweeter dial is turned off. Would that make a difference?

 

[Brad Johnson]

I have the highs completely attenuated from my cab, i.e. the tweeter dial is turned off. Would that make a difference?

Yes, it can. If you have the tweeter turned off, you could end up with no upper end definition. If you want to roll back the highs, just use the VLE. Make small adjustments so you can hear what you're affecting.

I always start with everything flat or neutral ("0") on most tweeters, the VLE and VPF fully off and go from there. That includes not using any effects at first. That'll help narrow down what you don't like.

 

[Jim Carr]

+1 Exactamente. You can look at the soundman innocently and say "NO, the signal only goes post". I want the tone I hear in my monitor to be the tone the audience hears.

I hear you. However, it may not work that way. I have found sending Pre-EQ gives the sound guy the option of doing a good job. Sending post it may still may be possible, but a lot harder. They may need those some of those highs. IMHO.

 

[J-wall]

Bill,
As far as the tweet goes in that cab, many people do not like it, however I seem to recall numerous threads about the ill effects of turning it completely off, such as the eventual release of the "magic smoke." Also, if I remember things correctly, that cab sends 3.5K or so only to the tweeter and nothing above that to the woofers.

I do not own a LMII, but I do own the same cab w/delta LF non-neo (3 avatars actually, 112, 212, 410) and I leave the little dot on the tweet knob usually at 9:00 and that helps it sound more balanced with my Carvin B800 and my Eden WT-800 that I used to own.

Good luck, and nice combo. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[MtManiac]

Bill,
As far as the tweet goes in that cab, many people do not like it, however I seem to recall numerous threads about the ill effects of turning it completely off, such as the eventual release of the "magic smoke." Also, if I remember things correctly, that cab sends 3.5K or so only to the tweeter and nothing above that to the woofers.

I do not own a LMII, but I do own the same cab w/delta LF non-neo (3 avatars actually, 112, 212, 410) and I leave the little dot on the tweet knob usually at 9:00 and that helps it sound more balanced with my Carvin B800 and my Eden WT-800 that I used to own.

Good luck, and nice combo. Hope you get it sorted.

Good to know, I'd never heard that about this cab. I'll play around with it tonight, and start by turning the cab's tweeter to 9:00, and everything flat on the head, and see what that gives me. I'll report back. Thanks all!

 

[BurningSkies]

Funny. I've never heard my LMII sound mushy or distorted. Nothing close to distortion, overdrive, buzz, etc. There's something else amiss.

 

[MtManiac]

I just gave it another run through, everything flat, tweeter on the cab turned up to about 12:00, and A-B'd it against my G-K, no effects. It's very clean, very punchy, and I can see many digging that, and I guess the honkiness must be my P bass's midrange hump coming through.

Still, it's not doing it for me, I still much prefer my G-K's growl. Coming soon to a Classifieds forum near you.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

For what it is worth I have the LMII through a Goliath II and an Ampeg BSE15T. Sounds amazing and my old Amp is a GK800RB (which also sounds great). I am going to A/B them soon as I get the A/B setup and report what find.

My LMII is new - picked it up a week ago from GC. Is is a super clean, fat, warm sounding - very musical Amp.

I am interested to hear what happens when you get the Cab Adjusted - and if there is not luck there - take the cab to somewhere you can connect to another LM II and see if you get the same results - or if someone can loan you another cab for a night and see if it is just the cab and head match up.

Good Luck!

 

[MtManiac]

Funny. I've never heard my LMII sound mushy or distorted. Nothing close to distortion, overdrive, buzz, etc. There's something else amiss.

Sorry - looking back, the distortion was with the VT Bass pedal. I wasn't pleased with the way it came through with this head versus the G-K, either plugged into the effects return (bypassing the pre amp in both heads) or through the input.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

EQ set flat, filters off the LMII is a fairly neutral amp without much colour. I find the results you're getting strange. Do you have another cab to test it with? IME the LMII is practically incapable of distortion so its likely your cab. Another thing you might do (filters off, eq flat) is cut the bass eq. Its set at 40hz so sort of works as a low-pass filter.

From what you're saying either you have your gear set up incorrectly or the amp or the cab isn't working properly.

I could be wrong. Just my .02.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

If its sounding honky, that *could be* your strings. For awhile I was using Labella Jamerson flats and there was a weird honk coming from my rig. Then I switched to Labella 760FLs and the honk disappeared.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

If its sounding honky, that *could be* your strings. For awhile I was using Labella Jamerson flats and there was a weird honk coming from my rig. Then I switched to Labella 760FLs and the honk disappeared.

Not to Hijack - but aside from the Honk did you like the 760's better overall?

 

[TSanders]

Bill, thanks for your thoughts.

Im with you though, I prefer my 700RB-II over the 2 Little Mark IIs and the MB TA501 that I owned.

In fact, of the 2 dozen or so amps Ive used, the GK is my tried and true favorite. You have to be careful here on TB, because the amp of the month doesnt always work for everyone. Im proof of that.

 

[MtManiac]

Bill, thanks for your thoughts.

Im with you though, I prefer my 700RB-II over the 2 Little Mark IIs and the MB TA501 that I owned.

In fact, of the 2 dozen or so amps Ive used, the GK is my tried and true favorite. You have to be careful here on TB, because the amp of the month doesnt always work for everyone. Im proof of that.

Yeah, I mean I can tell it's a good amp, light years beyond my previous Yorkville or Peavy, I just happen to like my G-K better. I don't have to frig with my cab or my strings to get what I want out of it, with or without the VT Bass (which I happen to love) so maybe what I want is just not what the LMII gives.

To ::::BASSIST:::: - as I mentioned in a latter post in this thread, in hindsight the distortion was due to the VT Bass pedal, not the LMII. It *is* a very clean amp... aside from the honkiness.

I've heard honkiness out of the G-K before too - when hooked up to Yorkville cabs, either 410s or 210s, so maybe it is the combination of the Avatar 112 and the LMII, but I don't plan on also replacing my cab just to suite the LMII, not at this point anyway. Too much work involved in that, and the local cab market is pretty short on options - and buying used cabs off TB is expensive for Canadians due to shipping and customs.

I'll scratch this up to a personal lesson about TB-induced GAS.

 

[jmain]

Like you're saying, it could just be the voicing of the two is too much around the mids somewhere and giving you the "honk" you're not feeling.

 

[Loel]

Similar results i've had two MB amps
now GK i'm a convert,both these brands
are tremendous amps..

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Not to Hijack - but aside from the Honk did you like the 760's better overall?

Yes, I like the 760s better than the Jamersons. They have clearer sound and seem smoother to the touch. I was using the Jamersons to get low action since they are super heavy, but I find the tension/action on the 760s pretty dang good... can't get *quite* as low, but close enough.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Yeah, I mean I can tell it's a good amp, light years beyond my previous Yorkville or Peavy, I just happen to like my G-K better. I don't have to frig with my cab or my strings to get what I want out of it, with or without the VT Bass (which I happen to love) so maybe what I want is just not what the LMII gives.

To ::::BASSIST:::: - as I mentioned in a latter post in this thread, in hindsight the distortion was due to the VT Bass pedal, not the LMII. It *is* a very clean amp... aside from the honkiness.

I've heard honkiness out of the G-K before too - when hooked up to Yorkville cabs, either 410s or 210s, so maybe it is the combination of the Avatar 112 and the LMII, but I don't plan on also replacing my cab just to suite the LMII, not at this point anyway. Too much work involved in that, and the local cab market is pretty short on options - and buying used cabs off TB is expensive for Canadians due to shipping and customs.

I'll scratch this up to a personal lesson about TB-induced GAS.

I hear you, bro. However, just to note that with my LMII + Epi UL115, p bass, string and pickup choice, I can say for certain, that I get no honk. Honk sucks!

Its nice to find something that is working for you, isnt it.

If you are anywhere near a Long & McQuade they carry the full range of MB and Epifani stuff. You might want to check it out, if you are so inclined.