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running a MarkBass LMII through 2 separate cabs

Asher S

Asher S

Jan 31, 2008
558
33
MA
www.bluedogjazz.com
#1
Howdy,

Forgive my ignorance, I've always used combo amps up 'til now.

I have a MarkBass Little Mark II head, a 102P 2x10 cabinet, and a Mini CMD 121P 1x12 Bass Combo Amp. The head through the 2x10 cab works fine, and the combo amp works fine as well.

There will be times that I will want to run the head through the 2x10 cabinet, and simultaneously through just the 12-inch speaker of the combo amp (bypassing the combo amp's built-in head). I tried running a second line out to the speaker port in the back of the combo amp, but I could not determine the correct port to run out of the head, nor do I have the correct type of cable to fit the "line out" port on the back of the head.

I suspect this is possible, but I'm clueless. Thanks in advance for your help.

Asher
 
#2
Unless the combo amp's speaker is plugged in via a 1/4" plug, modification may be needed. The LMII head should have a pair of "speaker outs", meant for 2 8 ohm spkr cabs. I would assume the 2x10 cab is 8 ohms, but not sure about the combo's 12" spkr. It *may* be 4 ohms, meaning it would be impossible to use them all together. IF it is indeed 8 ohms, like the 2x10, you'd need a speaker cable, NOT an instrument cable, to run from the head to the 2x10, and another speaker cable from the 210 to the 12. But, like I said, that would mean modifying the combo amp with a 1/4" speaker jack.
 
#4
5StringBlues said:
Since the combo is the same head as the LMII,why not just run the combo as your amp,with a line out to the 210 cab? It'd be the same thing without having to bring out the LMII head.
Click to expand...
+1 This is what I would do. Otherwise, running two cabs with a LMII necessitates having at least one if not both cabs use 1/4" inputs, or having a 1/4" to speakon cable with the correct gauge.
 
#5
Asher S said:
There will be times that I will want to run the head through the 2x10 cabinet, and simultaneously through just the 12-inch speaker of the combo amp (bypassing the combo amp's built-in head).
Click to expand...

I think a better solution might be to run a cable from "send effect" on your LMII to "return effect" on the combo. Then you would have two identical amps, each running one of the cabinets. You will have all controls on the combo available to you except your gain level, plus the ability to adjust the volume of each cabinets individually through the master volume controls. I've done this with an LMII and a F1 each running a 4 ohm cabinet, and it works great.
 
#8
It has nothing to do with semantics as there is a line out on the LM II. Unfortunately, given the varying level of expertise on the board it is important to try and use correct terminology to prevent any disasters. :eek:
:cool:
 
#10
Yep, simply use a GOOD Quality Spkr lead & - preferably a JACK connector NOT speakon- I've had trouble w/ amp cutting out when using Speakon's outta the back of my LMII- & as the COMBO amp is same as a LMII, just plug the jack end of the spkr lead into the back of the amp- or 'daisy-chain' the spkrs- a spkr lead from the spkr's back panel to the next/ext spkr. I've found the LMII like it better to be daisy-chained, but -THATS MY experience YMMV.
But as above 've said- the combo's amp IS a LMII head, so I'd just run the 2 cabs OFF that- they're MADE to be used in this way & will put out FULL power when used in this way too
 
#12
Running both cabs off the combo is definitely the simplest solution, but since both cabs will be getting sent exactly the same wattage, any sensitivity (SPL) differences between the cabs can effect the relative volume output of each--particularly since they are not a matched pair. If you are happy with how it sounds, great--that's the best way. However, the effects loop option I outlined above can address that issue if you are not happy about how the 2 cabs sound together connected in parallel.
 

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