Markbass Little Marcus 58R...Jack?

[theevilplankton]

Just got myself a brand new one of these, brand new speakon....and it doesn't fit!

No manual with the amp, but it looks to like a Jack output....all my previous MB stuff was Speakon to Speakon.

I'll be a dummy, but what's the Speakon-like output?

I've got to buy more leads then?

 

[abarson]

What the...?!
Website shows a normal Speakon.

Manual only says Speakon
https://www.strumentimusicali.net/manuali/2022/07/20/73/markbass-markbassmb58rminicmd121pure-en.pdf

Contact Markbass support immediately.

 

[PBFACTOR]

It has to be a 2 (nl2) pole speakon not a 4 (nl4) pole speakon. I ran into the same problem on my new Markbass cab. I've been running the same cable in my TC head into my TC cab for years. Turns out it was a 4 pole cable. Not a 2 pole. Wouldn't fit/lock in the Markbass cab.

 

[theevilplankton]

It has to be a 2 (nl2) pole speakon not a 4 (nl4) pole speakon. I ran into the same problem on my new Markbass cab. I've been running the same cable in my TC head into my TC cab for years. Turns out it was a 4 pole cable. Not a 2 pole. Wouldn't fit/lock in the Markbass cab.

Thank you so much!

Thought I was going mad. Used the same for years as well, even bought a new matching one for the purchase!

I guess the other option is just jack to speakon? Do you know if you can run one of each?

Quite weird this went under my radar. Had no idea they'd changed their designs.....

 

[agedhorse]

I think early production of these amps used NL-2 jacks... nobody uses NL-2 jacks for bass amps because they are not compatible with all the standard NL-4 cables, only NL-2 cables. They changed once they realized the flawed logic.

We had a Subway cabinet player get really frustrated because his NL-4 cable worked fine in his other amps but wouldn't work in a new Mark bass amp (like you discovered). At first he was told (mistakenly) by the dealer that his Subway cabinet was obviously the problem and he needed a cabinet with NL-2 jacks (which is absurd), the real problem was the amp's non-standard (for bass amps) NL-2 jacks and all he need to do was to change to an NL-2 cable. NL-2 plugs fit either NL-2 or NL-4 jacks, which is why virtually nobody uses NL-2 jacks anywhere.

 

[Aloe]

Website shows a normal Speakon.

I definitely see a 2-pole Speakon on the product's page: LITTLE MARK 58R – Markbass

I'm frankly surprised there was/is a 4-pole version, maybe it was a prototype (notice the missing label on your photo). up to this point anyone on TB acquiring the MB58R discovered, their NL4FX didn't fit (search will find other discussions on this).

this is not a problem for me, as I use the NL2FX ends. they fit both 2-pole and 4-pole, but not vice versa. in fact, there's no reason to use the 4-pole connector for mono bass amps, like those ones.

 

[agedhorse]

Actually, there IS a VERY good reason… for compatibility with the rest of the industry. Since the cables and jacks are used throughout the pro audio industry, and since NL-4 is standard in pro audio (especially before powered cabinets), It’s much more common. I can’t recall ever seeing an NL-2 jack in pro audio ever.

Since I have both biamped and full range cabinets in my pro audio inventory, I only stock NL-4 connectors. I have 2 and 4 wire cable, use 2 wire for full range and 4 wire for biamp but can use 4 wire if necessary for full range with no issues. I have almost 300 pounds of speaker cable, only one universal connector.

 

[Aloe]

since NL-4 is standard in pro audio (especially before powered cabinets), It’s much more common. I can’t recall ever seeing an NL-2 jack in pro audio ever.

but well, you can plug a NL2 plug to NL4 socket, so it isn't really relevant here. it's the way around that doesn't work.

Since I have both biamped and full range cabinets in my pro audio inventory, I only stock NL-4 connectors. I have 2 and 4 wire cable, use 2 wire for full range and 4 wire for biamp but can use 4 wire if necessary for full range with no issues. I have almost 300 pounds of speaker cable, only one universal connector.

so, you use the 4-contact jacks for 2-contact applications just for standardization with your 4-wire cables? I bet, you should be using TRS for everything (bridging the R and S on a 2-contact wire), as it's the same kind of 'standardization'.

seriously, why? 2-contact speakon plugs are cheaper, have a better strain relief (look at the angle of wires on the nl2fx compared to nl4fx) and fit both 2- and 4-contact sockets fine. personally I don't get the reasoning of using a 4-contact connector on a 2-contact cable.

that is: I agree that having a 4-contact socket for a 2-contact application might be a reasonable idea. but a 4-contact plug on a 2-wire cable doesn't give like any benefits, only drawbacks. as illustrated by this post

 

[agedhorse]

but well, you can plug a NL2 plug to NL4 socket, so it isn't really relevant here. it's the way around that doesn't work.



so, you use the 4-contact jacks for 2-contact applications just for standardization with your 4-wire cables? I bet, you should be using TRS for everything (bridging the R and S on a 2-contact wire), as it's the same kind of 'standardization'.

seriously, why? 2-contact speakon plugs are cheaper, have a better strain relief (look at the angle of wires on the nl2fx compared to nl4fx) and fit both 2- and 4-contact sockets fine. personally I don't get the reasoning of using a 4-contact connector on a 2-contact cable.

that is: I agree that having a 4-contact socket for a 2-contact application might be a reasonable idea. but a 4-contact plug on a 2-wire cable doesn't give like any benefits, only drawbacks. as illustrated by this post

For standardization purposes across many cables. There are a couple hundred cables in our inventory, managing 2 and 4 pole plugs would add another layer of inconvenience.

 

[HimiJ]

I have the MB Little Mark IV Ninja and the 104 Pure 8 Cab and i have 2 cables one for home use and one is always in the amp bag. It turns out that one of the cables has 4 poles (pro snake TPL 1,5 LL from Thomann) and the other was a 2 pole (Cordial CTL 3 LL - 2). I just ordered these 2 without thinking much abt it. I confirm both cables work in my setup I had no issues with the connector fittings. I cannot find anywhere if the Ninja and the 104 Pur cab are 2 pole or 4 pole. MB Manuals are not much detailed.