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Markbass Schematics

#21
You know it is funny, I have seen and asked for bunches and bunches of schematic threads and it seems a little funny that there is some adversity to my request on this one? I wonder why? It is a basic request. I pretty much have schematics for all my equipment, broken or not. Something handy to have. I have a full service manual for my car and my harley, why would I not keep service manuals for my equipment and basses. If you are a person who is not technically inclined or someone who can afford to ship your equipment off to somewhere for however long, my hat is off to you. I am a working musician who does my own work. I set up my own basses mostly because I cannot afford to have someone else do it. Plus I know my way around and can do it myself. I don't buy pre-made speaker cables, because I can make them for a 1/4 the price and I trust my own work. Simple econimics can be a bear to those who have the money to overcome the struggle.
 
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#22
iriegnome said:
Firstly, My brother and brother-in-law are my techs. Both have years and years experience. I trust family. Always have. I do not trust people to fix my equipment that I cannot talk to and do not know. My amp is NOT under warranty. I do not send my equipment anywhere. Period. It is funny that my tech found parts that have not been made in over 2 years!
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More power to you if MB trusts your brother and brother-in-law as much as you do to send them the schematic.

I bet Markbass as guidance on substitute parts they could share if they wanted.
 
#23
If I may comment. Firstly obsolete and house brand parts are very common in electronic repair. A good tech has to look at the part and try to find one that is equivalent or better for the job in hand. As has been said, many manufacturers offer replacement boards when things go wrong and expect the failed board back. My last experience of this was, of all things, the control board of my dishwasher! Very little component level repair is done in todays electronics. It tends to be cheaper in time and thus cost for the consumer just to change a board.

As for the schematics, I like to have the diagrams for all my equipment. However manufacturers invest goodly sums in R&D. In this competitive world there have been many instances of products being reverse engineered. I won't bother mentioning what company is a prime example as we all know who I'm talking about. Incidentally try getting a schematic out of THEM! They simply will not part with them!

Paul
 
#25
Suddenly have a lower opinion of Mark Bass.
The circuit is protected under patents and some of the companies that were robbed previously, HAD proprietray chips with their own algorhythms that were painstakingly reversed engineered and stolen, so I'm not giving any credibility to the argument of protection.

I too like documentation whether I choose to do the repair or not.
Also, don't like being held hostage for unreasonable costs for replacement PC boards as a profit center for the manufacturer; have seen this before in industrial & manufacturing equipment where they make a huge profit repairing an out or waranty item that was actually a very poor design in the first place; funny how like amp makers, some are happy to support their customers and others worry more about guarding their turf.

Of all the bass amps I've owned (Acoustic, Ampeg (5), GK, Fender, SWR, Trace Elliot, and Peavey, I've had a schematic for ALL of them.

Shame on Mark Bass; not a professional way to do business IMO.
 
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#26
iriegnome said:
I agree. However, most of the time it is not cost effective for me (the end user) to just go an buy a new board in this case and since they don't/won't sell just the board anyway, it still comes down to repair it myself.
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Then, unfortunately, a successful fix is going to depend on your families technical skills. I sincerely hope you manage the repair.

Paul
 
#27
I really like my LMII...but if Mark Bass is this obstinate about providing schematics on request to an owner...I will not purchase any of their products in the future, simply as a matter of principle. I have yet to be turned down by a manufacturer in requesting a schematic, so I do find it odd that this is Mark Bass' policy. Charge the owner for the schematic, if need be, but make it available.

Kim
 
#28
I want to make myself clear on everything here, since I always get in trouble for this kind of thing. I am only looking for a schematic. I am in no way asking people not to buy Mark Bass or to shy away from any company that will not give schematics out. I have family that can and do repair audio equipment. Repairs, while they can be done without schematics, are best done with a schematic.
 
#29
iriegnome said:
I want to make myself clear on everything here, since I always get in trouble for this kind of thing. I am only looking for a schematic. I am in no way asking people not to buy Mark Bass or to shy away from any company that will not give schematics out. I have family that can and do repair audio equipment. Repairs, while they can be done without schematics, are best done with a schematic.
Click to expand...


I think I may have gotten off the wrong foot with you.

If I could help you out, then i certainly would.

But I dont think that Markbass is going to give you a Schematic. IF they do, then GREAT! :bassist:

Part of me wants to say that some of the Micro amps now days, like Genz Benz, share the same output amp of Markbass?
Maybe, maybe not. I've never actually looked at either Schematics.

Another idea, perhaps get an already broken Markbass amp that is the same model of yours and hack parts? That is something that might work.

Back to ME. Personally, I only buy amps that i know I could repair, (such as ancient transistor amps, and Tubers :) ) And also have Full Schematics for everything. I agree 100% with you there. Schematics often travel to gigs with a multi peice screw driver. Reminds me of a certain youth groups motto: BE PREPARED. ;)

So I'm sorry that I cant be of much more use to you here.

Everythings easier with a Schematic.... I built myself a 100w Superbass on my bedroom table, and even with a Schematic AND Layout, it was a Bear! But i'll be damned if it didnt work perfectly the first time. Do it right the first time, even if it takes 40 hours of sitting at a card table at 3 am Listening to Bostons first album.

Good luck Kind Sir! :bassist:

Ben
 
#30
No problems with me at all. Thank you for saying so.. Everything is much easier if you can have the knowledge of what you need. We read the manual before we drive, we get a schematic before we repair. It is a simple concept. Every thing, to me, is repairable until it is not.
I know I have gotten myself in trouble for venting my frustration on a certain thing and it comes out way wrong. I am not angry about this, but bewildered. Certainly none of the parts in this amp are unique nor are they propriatary. Mark Bass did not invent the digital amp. I understand voiding warrantee's and such. BUT, I do not have a warantee and I am not a person who can afford to send stuff away. I both do not have the time or money to do that. I find ways to make things affordable.
So, no harm no foul.. BUT I STILL NEED A SCHEMATIC!!!
 
#31
iriegnome said:
No problems with me at all. Thank you for saying so.. Everything is much easier if you can have the knowledge of what you need. We read the manual before we drive, we get a schematic before we repair. It is a simple concept. Every thing, to me, is repairable until it is not.
I know I have gotten myself in trouble for venting my frustration on a certain thing and it comes out way wrong. I am not angry about this, but bewildered. Certainly none of the parts in this amp are unique nor are they propriatary. Mark Bass did not invent the digital amp. I understand voiding warrantee's and such. BUT, I do not have a warantee and I am not a person who can afford to send stuff away. I both do not have the time or money to do that. I find ways to make things affordable.
So, no harm no foul.. BUT I STILL NEED A SCHEMATIC!!!
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to agree with you totally.

I recently bought a $35 KUSTOM Amp off of Ebay. I KNOW that Resistor #R36 has BLOWN. It violently exploded on the inside of the amp. And I even shelled out the $7 for a schematic. But Nope... still havent found the problem yet. :scowl: But I love Amps for a Reason. :smug:

And if you ask me, i'll take "mid level" gear that i CAN repair over "OMG STOOPIT HIY ENDDD" gear that was made in a hands free factory in the Peoples Republic any day. :)
 
#32
Wonder why Peter Murray has not at least explained the company position on this issue?
Funny how the factory reps can be so vocal when things are good and disappear when there is an issue; seems like Ampeg wrote the book and some continue to follow.

For the record, I bought an Marn Bass amp yesterday as I wanted to see what all the fuss is about; they certainly have many supporters here.

How about it Peter, I invested in your company; how about an answer regarding the copmpany's position on schematics?

I've got family in Rome and Ascernia so you can't hide! :ninja:
 
#33
Jim C said:
Wonder why Peter Murray has not at least explained the company position on this issue?
Funny how the factory reps can be so vocal when things are good and disappear when there is an issue; seems like Ampeg wrote the book and some continue to follow.

For the record, I bought an Marn Bass amp yesterday as I wanted to see what all the fuss is about; they certainly have many supporters here.

How about it Peter, I invested in your company; how about an answer regarding the copmpany's position on schematics?

I've got family in Rome and Ascernia so you can't hide! :ninja:
Click to expand...
My family is in Cosenza down south. Both sides actually!!
 
#34
It's the Italian way; must fix broken items.
When I was a kid, my grandmothers ancient Sears dryer broke.
My uncle (machinist) and dad (EE) diagnosed the problem as a bad timer switch and were horified to hear that the part was discontinued.
No worries, we had the equipment and made new contacts and switch shaft to fit in the old housing.

Rat Basta***
Maybe a better thread:
WHAT AMP COMPANIES WON'T SEND A SCHEMATIC?
 
#35
My dad grew up in the depression (way off subject). People did not have money for food let alone someone to come in and fix things. My grandfather died when my dad was 9. Dad had to learn to fix everything. Most of that was imparted to myself and my 2 brothers. We don't call a plumber, we fix it ourselves. I don't have the money to call someone. If I don't know how to fix something, I learn or call family. The option to pay someone is 300th on the list.
 
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#36
I don't know how bad off your amp is, but chances are it could be fixed without a schematic.

Most amps are the same. Check the mechanical problems first, like loose connections, broken jacks, broken pots, etc...

If the fuse is blown or something smoked, check the power supply/power amp for burned/shorted/open parts.

If the amp seems to work somewhat and nothing is physically broken, check the power supply voltages and then start probing the op amps to trace where the signal gets lost.

Schematics are convenient, but a bass head has to be pretty bad off to require a schematic for repair if you have an experienced tech looking at it.

Why not describe the problem? There are a lot of technical people on TB. Does the amp power up? Does it just sound wierd? Was there an explosion, etc...?
 
#38
No really. My good frient Tony Pasko was a guitar guy at Peavey. My first amp was Peavey. They have always been really good at helping with problems. I have even talked with some technical engineers down there when my SP4 cabinets were having trouble with the crossovers and I needed a diagram to rewire them so they would work for me. They had no problem helping me to not only work on my own equipment, but modify it too!! Gotta love the people of Meridian, MS and good old Peavey.
 
#39
Just to update, my brother found that some power board was grounded to the chasis when they screwed it down and it could have never worked from the factory. Also, the parts that are blown are parts that are generally not made anylonger. I spoke to the manufacturer of the parts. The parts in my amp are a Lead based part and they have not been made for a long while. The "Lead Free" version (which started in Europe) is just about the only type of this part that is manufacturered and stocked.
Makes you wonder... Can you say Guitar Center
 
#40
Well, yet again, Markbass came through with a great line.

"Dear Paul;
I’m Feliciano from Markbass Service.
Our schematics are provided only to authorized service center and our distributors. Are not for use by customers.
You can contact the authorized service center [email protected] , or contact Stefan Medeiros [email protected] that will give you the contact of a location near you. When the service center will contact us all our overwhelming support for the repair."

I am sorry. They can keep their amps and thier company.
 

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