Mark Bass Little Mark III - line out problem

rico

Our bassist picked up one of these little monsters but the line out isn't working. The line out specifies balanced XLR cable but would using un-balanced cables be the the cause of the issue?

The sound guy at the last gig venue couldn't get it to work and I have tried into a mixer with no joy.

Cheers!

ICBM

rico said:

Our bassist picked up one of these little monsters but the line out isn't working. The line out specifies balanced XLR cable but would using un-balanced cables be the the cause of the issue?

Yes, probably. Depending on how the unbalanced cable is wired, it will mute the output.

rico

ICBM said:

rico said:

Our bassist picked up one of these little monsters but the line out isn't working. The line out specifies balanced XLR cable but would using un-balanced cables be the the cause of the issue?

Yes, probably. Depending on how the unbalanced cable is wired, it will mute the output.

Thanks as always - is there a way to tell if an XLR is unbalanced?

ICBM

rico said:

Thanks as always - is there a way to tell if an XLR is unbalanced?

By plugging in the wrong cable .

A lot of bass amps seem to have this problem, there was a thread here recently about another one, I think a Warwick.

It's just poor design - the output should be properly balanced, in which case connecting either side of the output to ground simply creates an unbalanced signal... instead of silence.

rico

ICBM said:

rico said:

Thanks as always - is there a way to tell if an XLR is unbalanced?

By plugging in the wrong cable .

A lot of bass amps seem to have this problem, there was a thread here recently about another one, I think a Warwick.

It's just poor design - the output should be properly balanced, in which case connecting either side of the output to ground simply creates an unbalanced signal... instead of silence.

If I check the continuity of each pin would this indicate that it is a balanced cable?

ICBM

rico said:

If I check the continuity of each pin would this indicate that it is a balanced cable?

Check the continuity between same-numbered pins, and for shorts between any two pins.

To be honest, XLR outputs on amps are a pain in the backside. Half the time they aren't implemented correctly, and even if they are, most of the time the soundman doesn't want to know - probably due to experience with the first lot - and insists on using his own DI box. So you're actually better off with an unbalanced output - and your own DI box, if you're the soundman...