Markbass and non-clicky speakon connectors

[chazmolloy]

Has anyone else found trouble with connecting speakon cables to their Markbass amps?

I've had an SA 450 since earlier this year, and noticed quite early on that the speakon connector had to be tweaked just so to make sure the signal was getting through. Unlike the cab I have, there's no firm 'click' to tell you that the connection is made.

The amp was set up in the rehearsal studio for most of the time, so it hasn't been an issue, but now I'm taking it out for more gigs it's become a right pain to make sure it's properly connected - and last week it let me down disastrously (fine in soundcheck, not fine for the gig).

I've taken the cable back to the shop and swapped it for a 1/4 inch jack plug, which seems like a step backwards, but hey ho it works. The guys at Bass Gallery were completely cool about it, but said that they'd never had anyone with the same problem.

Did I just have a crap speakon cable? Or two iffy connectors on the back of the amp?

[Raggy]

I use obbm speakons and have not had any problems.

[Beedster]

It was never a problem per se but I certainly found it a lot harder to engage Speakons in my Markbass head than I'd ever done with other heads, and once engaged I found them a whole lot harder to get out again!

[crez5150]

Are the Speakons on your cable genuine Neutrik ones? There are a lot of fake ones around so be careful.... I know several people who have stripped the pins out of their amps with dodgy connectors

[Noisyjon]

My OBBM cables twist & click home with no problem into my SA450...

[dave_bass5]

No problems here with either of my MB heads although i do find getting the lead in to my 1210R cab to be a bit of a pain.

[ezbass]

No problems with the lead I made up with Neutriks either in my MB head or my Schro cab.

[chazmolloy]

Thanks folks, thinking back (since I swapped the original cable) I don't think they were genuine Neutrik connectors. Will follow the advice...