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Requesting Help from all fellow MarkBass 102P Owners!

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by FreeBass1, Jun 20, 2008.

  1. Jun 20, 2008 #1
    FreeBass1

    FreeBass1

    Jun 20, 2008
    Hello Everyone!

    I need some help from all you markbass people out there, I have a MarkBass CMD102P combo, in short the tweeter is doing my head in as it produces too much hiss (even with nothing plugged into the amp). I have disconnected it for now but I would like to add a potentiometer to it to adjust the volume of the tweeter. I believe the 102P cabs have this but the combo doesn't come with this capability.

    I have contacted Markbass about this but they have not replied. I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to either open their cab up and find out what pot or coil is in use so I can install one into my combo. If not can anyone point me in the right direction on how to go about calculating what value pot to use?

    There are two wired (one black, one blue) at the back of the tweeter I am planning on just putting a pot in between the live wire - will this work? My knowledge of electronics is not great.

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Jun 20, 2008 #2
    Jaco who?

    Jaco who?

    May 20, 2008
  3. Jun 20, 2008 #3
    FreeBass1

    FreeBass1

    Jun 20, 2008
    thanks very much! Thats brilliant. I can't remember if The combo is 8 Ohms or 4 though. I'll get one of these and see how it goes!
     
  4. Jun 20, 2008 #4
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    While I am one who thinks the MB combo's would be greatly improved by adding an attenuator, the VLE is designed to perform this function from the front of the amp. Just a touch of that will take the edge of the very top of the top end and should help if you have a noisy, hissy bass or signal chain.

    Also, the treble control shelving is set very high also, so just a slight reduction in the active treble control should also tame a noisy bass or hissy effects in your signal chain without really changing the overall tone much at all.
     
  5. Jun 20, 2008 #5
    FreeBass1

    FreeBass1

    Jun 20, 2008
    Just realised, there is NO documentation from markbass that says what wattage is put to the tweeter, I presume its 50W as most amps are bi-amped like this. Is ti goign to matter if its 50W and I fit a 100W L-Pad or vise-versa?
     
  6. Jun 20, 2008 #6
    Jaco who?

    Jaco who?

    May 20, 2008
    The 100 watts is just the amount of power it can handle - I'm sure the crossover sends no more than 30 watts or so to the tweeter - but Kjung's advice is probably wise, he knows a lot more about all the Mark Bass stuff than I do.
     
  7. Jun 20, 2008 #7
    FreeBass1

    FreeBass1

    Jun 20, 2008
    Fair Enough, I will have a play with the VLE later on tonight. I did try this however but I remember not liking the VLE much at all as it seemed to make everythign sound Dull and removes too much of the twangy/high type sounds, I usually play with the VLF on full.

    However I'll have a good go at EQ'ing it out first. Allthough as I said the hiss comes out of the amp with nothing plugged into it.
     
  8. Jun 20, 2008 #8
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    VPF on FULL:eek::eek::eek: My god, that is HUGE boost at the very top and low end. No wonder you are getting hiss.

    Turn that thing down. I can't imagine using that control past about 10 o'clock. Then, use the very nice four band EQ to sculpt your tone, and possible a very slight touch of VLE to remove just a little bit of upper end.

    Turning the VPF on full is like turning the bass control all the way up, the low mid control all the way off, and the treble control all the way up... NOT good.

    It's no surprise you are getting a ton of hiss out of the amp... you probably have about 12db of boost above 6K!!!!!!

    Try starting out with the amp flat (tone controls at noon, filters off). Then, dial in as close to the tone you want PRIOR to messing with the filters at all... maybe dialing down the hi mid just a touch, for example, and possibly boosting the low end a touch with that particular cab... I'm talking about boosts and cuts no more than at the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock level. Then, and only then, try very low levels of the VPF and VLE to either soften the overall mid response and widen the tone (VPF... keep it under the 10 o'clock position), and the VLE between off and maybe 9 o'clock if you want to softer the top end just a bit). You should be able to get a great tone with very little noise, and your amp will sound a LOT louder also without sucking all the mids out and overextending the deep low end.

    If these settings do not give you a tone you like, you probably then need to look into a different rig. Extreme EQ is never the 'answer' IMO and IME.