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CALLING ALL MARKBASS FANATICS... help please?

Greg.Bassman

Greg.Bassman

Guest
Aug 13, 2015
14
6
#1
Hi. Hoped you could help me please?

Ok so, a couple of weeks back, I purchased the Markbass 104HF Standard Bass Cabinet (4Ohm) to use with my Little Mark III Bass Head. First impressions have been great!

My only issue is with the 104HF tweeter; it sounds considerably noisier (white noise/hissy) than any other brand of cab that I have owned before. Even without a bass guitar plugged in, it can be heard. It's not overbearingly loud, but definitely very noticeable when I have it idle in my living room for example.

A friend of mine (and markbass user) has since assured me that this is normal of the cab; explaining that the latest 104HF's, in particular, come with piezo tweeters (notorious for being a little of the noisy side). I wondered if there are any markbass fanatics out there that can back his point up?

This is my first time using markbass products, so I have found myself just a little concerned that's all as to whether this is simply the nature of the cab, or perhaps a technical fault. Wondered if any of you could console me a little on this one...

All feedback greatly appreciated! Greg.
 
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#6
I've had 5 different Markbass amps,none of them have been noisy. However,that piezo tweeter is pretty cheesy,and i disconnected the one in my combo cab a long time ago. My 2nd cab is a Traveller 1-12,which has a very nice titanium horn in it,most of the time i turn it off,but if i am using a clean sound,i will crank it,and there are no noise issues with it.
Do you have the treble setting cranked on your amp?
 
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#8
woodyng said:
I've had 5 different Markbass amps,none of them have been noisy. However,that piezo tweeter is pretty cheesy,and i disconnected the one in my combo cab a long time ago. My 2nd cab is a Traveller 1-12,which has a very nice titanium horn in it,most of the time i turn it off,but if i am using a clean sound,i will crank it,and there are no noise issues with it.
Do you have the treble setting cranked on your amp?
Click to expand...

Not really, generally I keep all my EQ at 12 o'clock.
 
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#10
Greg.Bassman said:
Not really, generally I keep all my EQ at 12 o'clock.
Click to expand...
Ok now on to eq chain questions.
Active bass? Single coils or hb?
Efx pedals that boost gain and or tone settings?

I use passive basses myself,but i also do use a Tech 21 VT pedal that offers a ton of gain and tonal boost.
Again,without any incident of noise.
(With the exception of my old Rick 4000 with the single higain SC pickup-that thing picks up hum and extraneous noise like crazy. Fortunately i use it for full time loud rock and roll,so you don't hear that once you start playing.
 
#14
Tweeters don't make noise, they turn the electrical noise coming out of the amp, preamp or instrument into sound.

Turn tweeter down or off or ignor the noise once the music starts.
 
#16
woodyng said:
Ok now on to eq chain questions.
Active bass? Single coils or hb?
Efx pedals that boost gain and or tone settings?

I use passive basses myself,but i also do use a Tech 21 VT pedal that offers a ton of gain and tonal boost.
Again,without any incident of noise.
(With the exception of my old Rick 4000 with the single higain SC pickup-that thing picks up hum and extraneous noise like crazy. Fortunately i use it for full time loud rock and roll,so you don't hear that once you start playing.
Click to expand...

Hi woodyng. I'm using my passive Fender Jazz MIM (all stock hardware and pickups etc) with NO pedals. I play with both pickups on. I have used the bass for years without any problems, so...
 
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#17
Since you have separate cab you can dial back the tweeter on the cab. Combo users only option is to use the VLE or dial down the highs. I run my VLE at 10-12 o'clock in my combos. The Alain Caron combo has a horn tweeter that is better than the piezo in the other cabs. After hearing the AC combo I replaced the piezo in my MB112 combo. I forget the brand, but there is a mini horn out there that with a bit of dremeling will fit an MB cab. Do a search if you are interested - there are a couple of threads that mention it.
 
#19
anavar said:
...mine is an older italian model. maybe they're different these days?
Click to expand...

Hi anavar. I get the impression that they must be. It transpires that a lot of the guys that I have spoken to all have the older models, whereas mine (I think) is one of the newer ones made in Indonesia. I'm told that the older ones made in Italy had half decent horns in that were quiet as a mouse, whereas the newer ones (made in Indonesia) contain piezo tweeters (noisy little buggers lol)- subsequently, none of them can relate to what I'm talking about regarding the hissy tweeter.

Any body else out there that has brought a 104HF recently that can confirm that they are having similar troubles?
 
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#20
Sorry, no noise in my 104HR but it is not the same cab. I bought I several years ago, 4 or 5 I don't remember. I think the noise may be air from the twitter, it can be attenuated by putting a very small tissue on the top on the fence. Try if the noise goes away when putting your hand on the fence in front of the tweeter.
 

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