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Mark 3 Combo

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by BassMisfit, Oct 4, 2001.

  1. Oct 4, 2001 #1
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    Yes I just recently purchused this amp for $250 and I was wondering if anone knew anything about them. I can't download the manual and I'm not gonna pay for one through the mail, so I was hoping you guys could give me some help. It has 1 12" and is 400 watts. It seems pretty old and I know nothing about it. Also what exactly is bandwith? That's one of the controls and I don't get what it does, also the same with compression. Thank's in advance
     
  2. Oct 5, 2001 #2
    martininpv

    martininpv Guest

    Oct 1, 2001
    Pflugerville, TX
    Who is the manufacturer? Have you found the manual online but are having trouble downloading it, or is it not online? If it is online, where is it? I'll give it shot.

    I doubt a 1X12 combo is rated at 400 watts. That sounds like the AC current draw rather than the amp output.
     
  3. Oct 5, 2001 #3
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    Well, in response to Martin the speaker is actually 15 now that i've actually measured it, and I have webtv which doesn't have downloading capabilities so I can't download a manual. I'm pretty sure it's 400, it also has two inpus for external speakers at 4 ohms. I have another peavey TKO 80 ( a combo) whch I believe is 150 watts, Could I hook the TKO 80 up to the Mark 3 combo without any problems? I don't know what the ohm rating on the TKO speaker or the Mark 3, so could you give me the different ratings you can combine? Can you even hook up 2 combos together? The 2 external jacks on the Mark are for 130watts but my TKO is 150, does this mean that I can only turn it up 3/4 of the way, or what? Thank you very much for responding to my requests.
     
  4. Oct 5, 2001 #4
    martininpv

    martininpv Guest

    Oct 1, 2001
    Pflugerville, TX
    OK - I'm assuming it's a Peavey.

    There were several Mark III's out there on the Peavey site. None are combos. They are all amp heads. So I'll assume you have an amp head and seperate speaker. The only one that had a bandpass control was the Centurian. It is rated ar 130 watts at 4 ohms (probably about 80 watts at 8 ohms).

    The bandwidth control determines the "Q" of the parametric equalizer. It determines whether the filter is sharp (like a notch filter) or broad.

    The compressor switch turns on compression. This compressor is designed to keep the amp from clipping. The manual says that it is normal for the LED to light almost constantly during performanace.

    The TKO 80 is a combo rated at 75 watts (even though it says 80 on the back of the amp) and has an 8 ohm speaker.

    There are several things you can do to hook these together in order of preference (my preference at least).

    1) This will hook the two together using both power amps driven by one preamp. Run a shielded cable from the Mark III pre-amp out to the TKO 80 power amp in.
    Hook up your guitar to the Mark III. Turn the volume controls down on the TKO. The Mark III will now drive both amps and speakers. An alternate for this one would be to use the line out instead of the pre-amp out on the Mark III. Everything else the same. The tone should be different.

    2) Just the reverse. Run a shielded cable from the TKO pre-amp out to the Mark III power amp in. Hook up your Guitar to the TKO 80. Turn the volume controls down on the Mark III. The TKO 80 will now drive both amps and speakers.

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    An issue with method 1 and 2 is that you do not have seperate volume controls for the two amps. When you turn one up, the other is also turned up. You also do not have control of the relative volumes of the two amps. The two amps also do not have the same level signal from the pre-amp out jacks. So the volumes from the two may be noticeably different. However, to keep pre-amp distortion down, this is the best way to connect these together and it should work pretty well.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    3) If 1 or 2 not acceptable, do the same thing a method 1 or 2 except, instead of going to power amp in, go to the low gain input of the other amp. Start with your gain and/or volume controls very low on the receiving amp. You will probably only be running at about 1 or so. This way the receiving amps tone controls will be active (unlike method 1 and 2) and will be additive to the sending amp. In other words, adjusting the sending amps tone and volume will change the tone and volume of both amps but adjusting the receiving amps tone and volume will adjust only the receiving amp.

    4) Quick and easy. Plug your guitar into the high gain input of one amp. Plug a guitar cable from the low gain input of this amp to the high gain input of the other amp. This basically splits your guitar signal and run both amps. You will have to adjust each amp seperately with this method.
     
  5. Oct 5, 2001 #5
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    Thank you very much this information has helped me greatly! I'm gonna hook these two up to see if I can get the sound i'm looking for. I really do appreciate your help.
     
  6. Oct 5, 2001 #6
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    I'm sorry but I got two more questions, which I can't seem to find an answer to. By combining these two will I have anymore increase in volume? Also why does it say (on the back of the Mark 3) 400 watts, when it is actually not?
     
  7. Oct 6, 2001 #7
    martininpv

    martininpv Guest

    Oct 1, 2001
    Pflugerville, TX
    Yes, both power amps will be working, so it will be louder.

    The 400 watts on the back of the amp is probably near where the power cord connects. It indicates the maximum AC power load the the amp will draw. It takes about 400 watts of AC (from the wall outlet) to drive a 130 watt amp.

    Somewhere near the speaker output jacks is probably the wattage output from the amp.

    I was able to download both manuals. If you have any questions, just ask. Let me know how hooking them together worked out.
     
  8. Oct 6, 2001 #8
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    I'll definately let you know, thanks alot
     
  9. Oct 11, 2001 #9
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    Well, I connected them and after a bit of tweaking, I got the sound I was looking for. I appreciate the help, my bands first big show was wednesday and it worked out great, thanks alot!
     
  10. Oct 11, 2001 #10
    martininpv

    martininpv Guest

    Oct 1, 2001
    Pflugerville, TX
    Glad to hear it worked.

    Which way did you decide to connect them?
    Did you try several ways?

    How did each do and what determined the one you selected?
     
  11. Oct 11, 2001 #11
    BassMisfit

    BassMisfit Guest

    Dec 31, 2000
    Irwin, PA
    Well here's what I did, bt it's kinda cheating:D . I have a SansAmp D.I. and I hooked both amps up to the D.I.'s 2 outputs. Then I turned the blend down and tweaked the controls on both amps to my liking. Although, I did save and copy down the info you gave me on hooking the two up, so when I have both amps at my house I will try the different ways you told me. I have another question, if you don't mind. You say tat the Mark 3 combo at 4 oms is 130watts, but at 8 ohms is 80watts. How do I know weather it's at 8 or 4 ohms? And is there a way to switch it from 80 to 130? I appreaciate the help.
     
  12. Oct 12, 2001 #12
    martininpv

    martininpv Guest

    Oct 1, 2001
    Pflugerville, TX
    The ohms is the rating of the speaker. Perhaps it says the rating on back of the speaker cab. The only way to change that is to change the speaker or add another cab.