Markbass Tube 800 Problems...twice

[Skinny Pete]

Long time lurker, first time poster...

I just completed a badly needed upgrade. Grabbed 2 Markbass 102HF cabs and a Little Mark Tube 800 amp. The amp crackled when touching any knob, like I needed some pot cleaning or something - but only when there is sound going through it. I emailed Markbass. They weren't a whole lot of help. Said it might be a bad knob, but they can't all be bad. I was bummed because I liked the tone a lot. I returned it and just got a replacement. Unfortunately, the replacement does the same thing. I tried it with 4 different cabs, 3 different instrument cables, and 3 different speaker cables. It looks like, legit, both amps are defective. I tried the old gag of turning all the knobs a bunch of times thinking maybe I'd clear some crud. Nothing worked. Just curious if this is something anyone else has dealt with when using Markbass amps. I'm just not sure what to do because I like the amp a lot. Maybe try it from a different dealer (although only GC owned companies carry it) or start demoing other amps.

 

[krfoss]

This was experience Everytime I touched an 800. It was too obnoxious that I never gave the amp more than 20 seconds of my time. You could try spraying some legit pot cleaner to see if that fixes the problem.

 

[electracoyote]

What are the odds that such an unusual flaw would affect two identical amps?

FWIW, this has never happened with my LMT800 or LMIII heads.

 

[Skinny Pete]

What are the odds that such an unusual flaw would affect two identical amps?

Yeah that was my thought too, which is why I tried different basses, cables, and cabs to make sure it wasn't something else going on. Guess back to the drawing board.

 

[electracoyote]

Yeah that was my thought too, which is why I tried different basses, cables, and cabs to make sure it wasn't something else going on. Guess back to the drawing board.

After you're done "touching the knobs" and get your settings where you want them, does the crackling end?

 

[Skinny Pete]

After you're done "touching the knobs" and get your settings where you want them, does the crackling end?

For the most part, yes, but not completely. I've had it for a couple weeks waiting for the replacement and a couple times it sounded randomly crackly while playing. I had to fiddle with knobs to get it to stop.

 

[DrayMiles]

My Spider sense goes off whenever I think of Markbass gear. I've heard it at one gig and it did ok, but it just comes across as flimsy in my world. Hopefully I'll be able to read more positive reviews. Please let us know if someone diagnoses the actual problem. I did the Isle of Wight festival in 2004 and it was the back line. It sounded good to me then too!

 

[ansonsti]

I have the same thing on my CMD102P combo amp. Or at least similar. My Ninja is dead silent though. I gig with the Ninja mostly so I can get away with leaving the CMD102P at home. I did get her as an open box on Musicians Friend for the discount. I wonder if that might have been why.

 

[petrus61]

If Markbass isn't being much help and the second amp is just as bad, perhaps it's time to look at another brand. I can't understand being that emamored with the idea of a product so much that I'd actually stick with it after the experiences you describe. I'd be heading for the exits after bad amp #2, but that's just me.

 

[Skinny Pete]

If Markbass isn't being much help and the second amp is just as bad, perhaps it's time to look at another brand. I can't understand being that emamored with the idea of a product so much that I'd actually stick with it after the experiences you describe. I'd be heading for the exits after bad amp #2, but that's just me.

Hard to argue. I just really liked the tone I was getting from it. My "Back to the drawing board" comment meant time to look for another brand. I'm just bummed that it didn't work out is all. Not as bummed now that I read others had the same issue.

 

[Steven Ayres]

Does the tube go microphonic? That might account for the knob crackling, and the non-knob noise could be from the cab it might be sitting on.

In my experience Markbass gear is solid and dependable, but I haven't tried the tube versions.

 

[Skinny Pete]

Does the tube go microphonic? That might account for the knob crackling, and the non-knob noise could be from the cab it might be sitting on.

In my experience Markbass gear is solid and dependable, but I haven't tried the tube versions.

Nah, I don't think it's a microphonic tube. The crackle happens when 100% dialed in to solid state as well. No difference. And, I've tried 4 different cabs with same results. Three different Markbass cabs and a Hartke. I'm just going to return it and try out some different heads. Clearly, after reading others with the same problem, even if it is a rare case, it sounds like a thing with some Markbass heads. For the price, I don't want to mess with it.

 

[electracoyote]

I just saw an interesting video about static electricity and music gear. Static guard solved some of those issues.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Does this thread belong on the bass guitar side on TB? You may get more replies there, although some upright players (including me) use Markbass gear.

- Steve

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Waiting for an answer before moving.

 

[Skinny Pete]

Does this thread belong on the bass guitar side on TB? You may get more replies there, although some upright players (including me) use Markbass gear.

- Steve

Oh wow. Yes. Thank you. Didn't even notice I was in the wrong forum. Don't know how I did that. Apologies.

I did find out from the retailer that there were others with my same issue. Returned both. Replaced with a Gallien-Krueger. Very happy with it. So problem "solved".

 

[HollywoodTucson]

Long time lurker, first time poster...

I just completed a badly needed upgrade. Grabbed 2 Markbass 102HF cabs and a Little Mark Tube 800 amp. The amp crackled when touching any knob, like I needed some pot cleaning or something - but only when there is sound going through it. I emailed Markbass. They weren't a whole lot of help. Said it might be a bad knob, but they can't all be bad. I was bummed because I liked the tone a lot. I returned it and just got a replacement. Unfortunately, the replacement does the same thing. I tried it with 4 different cabs, 3 different instrument cables, and 3 different speaker cables. It looks like, legit, both amps are defective. I tried the old gag of turning all the knobs a bunch of times thinking maybe I'd clear some crud. Nothing worked. Just curious if this is something anyone else has dealt with when using Markbass amps. I'm just not sure what to do because I like the amp a lot. Maybe try it from a different dealer (although only GC owned companies carry it) or start demoing other amps.

I have used Markbass equipment for at least 10-12 years and love it. I have had the same issue after my heads set not used for at least a year. I pulled the knobs and sprayed tuner cleaner and solved the problem with the 4 amp heads . Pretty easy solution and really happy with all of them.

 

[GUY DES ROSIERS]

Long time lurker, first time poster...

I just completed a badly needed upgrade. Grabbed 2 Markbass 102HF cabs and a Little Mark Tube 800 amp. The amp crackled when touching any knob, like I needed some pot cleaning or something - but only when there is sound going through it. I emailed Markbass. They weren't a whole lot of help. Said it might be a bad knob, but they can't all be bad. I was bummed because I liked the tone a lot. I returned it and just got a replacement. Unfortunately, the replacement does the same thing. I tried it with 4 different cabs, 3 different instrument cables, and 3 different speaker cables. It looks like, legit, both amps are defective. I tried the old gag of turning all the knobs a bunch of times thinking maybe I'd clear some crud. Nothing worked. Just curious if this is something anyone else has dealt with when using Markbass amps. I'm just not sure what to do because I like the amp a lot. Maybe try it from a different dealer (although only GC owned companies carry it) or start demoing other amps.

I bought a month ago a used LMT800, the Gain 1 was very scratchy and also the Master Vollume. Since I know that they are sealed pots I removed the knobs and saw that there was a very small hole at the base of the shafts. So, this morning I sprayed DeoxIt D5 in these small holes and turn the shaft of the pots for about a minute or so and voilà no scratchy noise anymore. Hoping this will help those having this problem.
My first idea was to get the cleaner in the pots by spraying the shaft hoping the cleaner will get in the pots that way. I did that also so not sure if the cleaner got in that way only or both ways (Shaft + the small hole at the base of the shaft). The important thing is it worked.

 

[GUY DES ROSIERS]

I bought a month ago a used LMT800, the Gain 1 was very scratchy and also the Master Vollume. Since I know that they are sealed pots I removed the knobs and saw that there was a very small hole at the base of the shafts. So, this morning I sprayed DeoxIt D5 in these small holes and turn the shaft of the pots for about a minute or so and voilà no scratchy noise anymore. Hoping this will help those having this problem.
My first idea was to get the cleaner in the pots by spraying the shaft hoping the cleaner will get in the pots that way. I did that also so not sure if the cleaner got in that way only or both ways (Shaft + the small hole at the base of the shaft). The important thing is it worked.

What ever said agedhorse my positive experience with DeoxIt D5 with my LMT800 is now and for two weeks today positive my pots are scracth free and works just fine.

 

[baldbassclef]

Waiting for an answer before moving.

If you are still in window to return do! I wish I had. Gonna send mine back for repair. I bought extra coverage.
Genzler is what I should have bought. The owner and engineer will help you one on one right here! Still servicing my Genz Benz that’s no longer in production!