Micro: can I beef it up?

twinjet

twinjet

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Sep 23, 2008
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#1
Hi,

I have a Markbass Micromark 801, a great practice amp. Just curious if I can make a worthwhile stack out of this for small venues.

The amp stats (markbass.it).

SPEAKER: 1x8"
TWEETER:
optional Satellite Tweeter (not included)
BASS PORT: rear
IMPEDANCE: 8 ohms
CONTROLS: Level /VPF
SPEAKER POWER HANDLING:
200W RMS (AES Standard)
AMP OUTPUT POWER:
60W RMS @ 4 ohms / 45W RMS @ 8 ohms
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 60 Hz to 8 kHz

Here's some more info on the back of my amp.

2016-02-02 23.44.57.jpg


Thanks for your time, TB.
 
#3
/\/\3phist0 said:
60 watts will be enough for coffee house gigs with a uke band and a Cajon :)
Click to expand...
I'm playing with a duo in which the guitar player is on an acoustic-electric, with PA support. Last time we gigged, I hauled my 4x10, but I'd like to be able to hook this up either to a second speaker or some kind of amp.
 
#4
twinjet said:
I'm playing with a duo in which the guitar player is on an acoustic-electric, with PA support. Last time we gigged, I hauled my 4x10, but I'd like to be able to hook this up either to a second speaker or some kind of amp.
Click to expand...
Yes you probably can, in that situation. Why not run into the PA also to bolster your volume?
I would suggest as a added cab, get one with the most sensitivity possible , and 8ohms, a fender Rumble 2x8 comes to mind, as it is compact, light and pretty loud!
You could also get a powered PA speaker , and run the line out to it.
Alto, harbinger, peavey, jbl etc
I have played around with one of our monitors (jbl eon)
With the DI from my Mesa D800 ---- worked kick a$$
Oh and I was teasing (exagerating) in previous post
Hth
 
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#5
/\/\3phist0 said:
Yes you probably can, in that situation. Why not run into the PA also to bolster your volume?
I would suggest as a added cab, get one with the most sensitivity possible , and 8ohms, a fender Rumble 2x8 comes to mind, as it is compact, light and pretty loud!
You could also get a powered PA speaker , and run the line out to it.
Alto, harbinger, peavey, jbl etc
I have played around with one of our monitors (jbl eon)
With the DI from my Mesa D800 ---- worked kick a$$
Oh and I was teasing (exagerating) in previous post
Hth
Click to expand...
I don't entirely trust the PA. It was crackling a bit last gig. Eventually sounded fine, but I'd like to have PA be an option as opposed to a requirement.

Fender 2x8, huh? How large a room might that pairing fill?
 
#6
twinjet said:
I don't entirely trust the PA. It was crackling a bit last gig. Eventually sounded fine, but I'd like to have PA be an option as opposed to a requirement.

Fender 2x8, huh? How large a room might that pairing fill?
Click to expand...
Well, I was thinking that since, to my knowledge, the internal speaker in your combo cannot be defeated, that the 2x8 would compliment the combo.
It would also enable a 3x8 column which would optimize dispersion, making a more room filling possibility.
I was also keeping budget, transport, and footprint in mind.
If you want to get WAY louder $2-300 gets you a 500-1000 watt PA cab
The cracking from the PA she was using is probably bad cables.
 
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#7
/\/\3phist0 said:
Well, I was thinking that since to my knowledge the internal speaker in your combo cannot be defeated, that the 2x8 would compliment the combo.
It would also enable a 3x8 column which would optomise dispersion, making a more room filling possibility.
I was also keeping budget, transport, and footprint in mind.
If you want to get WAY louder $2-300 gets you a 500-1000 watt PA cab
The cracking from the PA she was using is probably bad cables.
Click to expand...
Liking that column idea. Might the 500-1000 watt PA cab need an external amplifier, though? And might i risk blowing my amp?
 
#10
/\/\3phist0 said:
What I mean is a use your combo as a preamp to an "active" PA speaker (one that has a power amp built in) you have a DI on that combo (the xlr)
One examplehttp://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EON610
Click to expand...
So I'd treat the MB as an audible preamp, then have most of my power come out of the speaker? Cool.

Might this be able to replace my 115 lb 4x10 cab and 200w head stack?
 
#11
You can feed that combo into any cab. I run an Ashdown LB30 (30 watt) amp all the time. I have run it into to a pair of 1-15 cabs and it got stupid loud.

So borrow another cab from a friend and see what kind of results you get before spending cash. You might not like what you hear so it would be a waste. I may be great so you are on your way. Of course you could take the combo to a friend's house and try it through other bass cabs or PA cabs too.

But fear not about watts. As long as it's another 8 ohm cab you'll be fine.
 
#13
Since the internal speaker can be defeated, and the power available is low, a powered bass or PA cabinet is what you need. Using the line out, your 801 will be the preamp. There are a number of possibilities, ranging from expensive to cheap. Generally, you will get the performance you pay for. The question is matching what you need to what you are paying.

My advice is to shop for a used powered 2-way PA cabinet. Try before you buy.
 
#15
samson3382 said:
How about one of the powered GK bass cabs?
Could you run one off the Markbass somehow?
Click to expand...
I've wondered, too. GK calls it "chain in" and "chain out" —which are probably line-in and line-out—but can't find confirmation on the web or in the GK MBP user manual.
 
#18
Jim Carr said:
I've wondered, too. GK calls it "chain in" and "chain out" —which are probably line-in and line-out—but can't find confirmation on the web or in the GK MBP user manual.
Click to expand...
image.jpg

I'm not at all familiar with GK combos. My guess from looking at this is that it wouldn't work.
The GK combos have the "chain output" and a separate direct out.

So running of the markbass's direct out you'd have no volume control correct?
I don't think the powered cabs have a gain.
If the combo has an effects loop or preamp out could that work? Or would it defeat the internal speaker?
(Might not matter if the powered cab is big enough, but in that case just get a new GK combo)
 
#19
samson3382 said:
How about one of the powered GK bass cabs?
Could you run one off the Markbass somehow?
Click to expand...

Bob Gallien has indicated a thumbs down on blessing that. The powered cabs require a fairly high input signal level and IIRC the limiter is in the other box.
 
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