Hector Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Hi guys, So my Markbass Little Mark II has gotten to be quite temperamental. Essentially, the speaker cable jack has to have pressure on it in order to make a decent connection. I'm wondering if this is likely to be a fault of my amp or of the speaker cable? It doesn't seem to lock into the jack as it does with my cab. I'm quite confused as to this issue, so any thoughts would be a great help! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 sounds like the metal spring clips in the socket to me....easy fix really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='bob_pickard' post='1198627' date='Apr 13 2011, 08:06 PM']sounds like the metal spring clips in the socket to me....easy fix really[/quote] +1 Classic description of a jack socket failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Leave unplugged from mains. Unscrew lid & look at jack socket. Push springy bit with small flat screwdriver towards centre of jack's diamiter. Check solder & resolder if neccessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 after you've fixed it get a Speakon lead, much better option IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='1198654' date='Apr 13 2011, 08:31 PM']after you've fixed it get a Speakon lead, much better option IMO[/quote] It is a speakon! Does the above advice still apply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURPOLARIS Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='Hector' post='1198753' date='Apr 13 2011, 09:38 PM']It is a speakon! Does the above advice still apply?[/quote] Change it for a quarter inch jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 No! Use a hammer instead. Only messing. The advice still stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I has never seen a knackered speakon socket. I thought this was going to be a planet waves cable ruining the socket issue at first, Has anyone seen how bad they can ruin a good socket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='Hector' post='1198753' date='Apr 13 2011, 09:38 PM']It is a speakon! Does the above advice still apply?[/quote] Sorry, you said 'jack' earlier so I assumed you weren't using the speakon. Asuming you are using a speakon<>speakon lead, will both ends of the cable lock into the speaker cab properly? If they do, then the amp socket is probably defective. Chassis mounted speakons are generally moulded units, so repairing them is pretty much a non starter (and they're only a couple of quid to replace anyway). If the amp is still under warranty then get MarkBass to sort it out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1198762' date='Apr 13 2011, 09:43 PM']I has never seen a knackered speakon socket.[/quote] NL2FC plug in an NL4MP socket is ok, but use an NL4FC plug in an NL2MP socket and they don't like it too much. NL4FC's are the plugs of the devil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='icastle' post='1198807' date='Apr 13 2011, 10:21 PM']Sorry, you said 'jack' earlier so I assumed you weren't using the speakon. Asuming you are using a speakon<>speakon lead, will both ends of the cable lock into the speaker cab properly? If they do, then the amp socket is probably defective. Chassis mounted speakons are generally moulded units, so repairing them is pretty much a non starter (and they're only a couple of quid to replace anyway). If the amp is still under warranty then get MarkBass to sort it out for you.[/quote] Cable locks into the cab properly at both ends. The speakon jack on the amp is a moulded unit, so would be easy to replace but is not still under warranty. Don't trust myself to do it, so I suppose I'll have to take it to a local music shop or someting....sigh. One other thing is that the jack on the amp is definitely a NL2 - maybe I have the wrong sort of speakon cable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 [quote name='Hector' post='1198895' date='Apr 13 2011, 11:20 PM']Cable locks into the cab properly at both ends. The speakon jack on the amp is a moulded unit, so would be easy to replace but is not still under warranty. Don't trust myself to do it, so I suppose I'll have to take it to a local music shop or someting....sigh. One other thing is that the jack on the amp is definitely a NL2 - maybe I have the wrong sort of speakon cable?[/quote] Easiest way to tell them apart is:- NL4 plugs usually have a little metal catch that you have to slide towards yourself before you rotate the plug to remove it. NL2 plugs usually have a plastic collar that you have to pull towards yourself before you rotate the plug to remove it. If you have NL4 plugs then that is probably where the wear has come from, they'll work but eventually the locking mechanism on the socket gives out. If you're going to replace the socket then I'd probably be tempted to have them fit an NL4 socket (wired as an NL2 of course) then it doesn't matter what anyone shoves in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Check the cheap items first before assuming the expensive items are at fault. Get another speaker cable with the right connectors and try it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 [quote name='Muppet' post='1198931' date='Apr 13 2011, 11:59 PM']Check the cheap items first before assuming the expensive items are at fault. Get another speaker cable with the right connectors and try it out.[/quote] Roger. I'm nipping in to town to pick up some cable with NL2 connectors. I'm going to come clean and admit that I never knew there were different sorts of connectors on these cables! How thick am I?! Shows my roots as a double bass player - pretty clueless about amps from years of gigging acoustically.... Hopefully the cable will fit properly with the NL2s. Thanks for the help all! Will report back with tales of woe/joy. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Just a note, make sure to call speakons speakons and jacks jacks, it'd be confusing to someone if you're trying to get them to do a repair and telling them to repair the wrong thing. Also it shouldn't cost too much, it's a fairly simple and quick repair from what I understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 [quote name='Hector' post='1199099' date='Apr 14 2011, 10:05 AM']Roger. I'm nipping in to town to pick up some cable with NL2 connectors. I'm going to come clean and admit that I never knew there were different sorts of connectors on these cables! How thick am I?! Shows my roots as a double bass player - pretty clueless about amps from years of gigging acoustically.... Hopefully the cable will fit properly with the NL2s. Thanks for the help all! Will report back with tales of woe/joy.[/quote] No worries Hector, I'd be quite comfortable to bet that there are thousands of other people making exactly the same mistake as I type this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 FWIW - I remember reading something (don't ask me where) a while back about speakon connectors on Markbass heads being a little prone to bad connections. As the owner of an LMK and previously an F500 I totally agree. Seeing as the sockets can accept jack or speakon I just use jacks, but it's still frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 [quote name='icastle' post='1199407' date='Apr 14 2011, 01:56 PM']No worries Hector, I'd be quite comfortable to bet that there are thousands of other people making exactly the same mistake as I type this. [/quote] NL2s fixed it! Thanks for the help - you learn something new everyday.... H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 [quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1199426' date='Apr 14 2011, 02:16 PM']FWIW - I remember reading something (don't ask me where) a while back about speakon connectors on Markbass heads being a little prone to bad connections. As the owner of an LMK and previously an F500 I totally agree. Seeing as the sockets can accept jack or speakon I just use jacks, but it's still frustrating.[/quote] Check you're using NL2 plugs and not NL4's... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 [quote name='Hector' post='1199445' date='Apr 14 2011, 02:28 PM']NL2s fixed it! [/quote] Excellent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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