Review: Markbass CMB151 Black Line

A modern behemoth in the world of bass amplification, Italian stalwarts Markbass have firmly established themselves with innovative products, a stellar line, and an endorsement list featuring numerous heavyweight players from all over the world. 

And with no signs of slowing down, Markbass have yet again struck out to bestow upon us an amplifier worthy of joining this now prestigious lineup. 

The Markbass CMB151 Black Line is a 150-watt bass combo targeted at the budding bassist who may be venturing out of the bedroom and onto the stage to play their first gigs.

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With so many options targeted at this demographic, it can be hard for new players to decipher what exactly they need in their first ‘or maybe second’ amplifier. 

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that this purchase choice is profoundly important, as inferior build quality or lack of tone have been the breaking point of many a beginning musician. After all, what motivation is there to progress when bad equipment is sucking all of the fun out of playing?

Fortunately, Markbass have it all covered. The CMB 151 boasts a 15” driver which is perfectly voiced for small gigs and rehearsals. 

This speaker provides plenty of rich, full low-end without skimping on any sub-bass content. 

Bass amplifier

The speaker can be used in unison with the included Balanced XLR out, offering a direct solution for when a player wishes to run their signal directly into the PA.

Personally, I found the XLR out to be transparent and of good quality. On some budget amps these outputs can have a tendency to colour or detract from the source signal, resulting in a sound quality that is less than desirable. 

However, in true Markbass fashion, the product developers have gone above and beyond to ensure that even their entry-level products inherit only the best in components and craftsmanship.

Speaking of which, the CMB 151 weighs in at a reasonable 19kg. A substantial weight that suggests a high level of durability when it comes to the amplifier, without rendering it difficult to cart across town to the next gig or lesson.

Markbass have also taken the time to include an FX loop, giving players the opportunity to patch in various modulation, time, and other types of effects pedals after the CMB 151’s preamp section. 

Once again, I am pleased to report that I am unable to detect any unpleasant “tone suck” or loss of bottom end as a result of using the CMB 151’s effects loop. Much like this unit’s XLR Out the FX Loop is both transparent and noise-free, serving as an ideal candidate for any pedal setup.

Given that a considerable amount of this amplifier’s user base will likely be students, Markbass have also opted to incorporate a balanced line in port so you are easily able to plug in a phone, laptop or mp3 player as well as a headphone output. 

This makes the CMB 151 an ideal companion for practice, only further increasing its practicality outside of the rehearsal room or stage. Backing tracks can be played through the CMB 151’s 15” driver and easily balanced with the bass signal ensuring all details are easily heard. 

In terms of the CMB 151’s tone stack, we have an easy-to-use 4-band EQ “with two mid pots”. Each of these parameters has a nice sweep across the entire frequency spectrum. 

Markbass have also done a fantastic job of ensuring that these controls sound musical regardless of how they are set. From brutal metal clank through to dark jazz tones, the CMB 151 will succeed in meeting the needs of any bassist regardless of what their stylistic penchant may be. 

In addition to the aforementioned 4-band EQ, Markbass have also opted to include two other switches on the control plate of the CMB 151. The first of which is the handy Scoop button, which works to add some high-end detail to the signal while subsequently scooping the mids. 

This control offers a pleasing tone for popped sounds, ensuring that your bass will cut through even the densest of mixes live or in the rehearsal room.

Markbass have also incorporated a Boost button into the circuit which upon engagement imparts a certain level of saturation to the source signal. 

This specific saturation is neither too gritty nor too smooth, striking the best balance for players who may be experimenting with driving their bass signal for the first time. 

Perhaps Markbass opted to paint with a broad brush when it came to the development of this aspect of the tone stack. Saturation that is too aggressive may have rendered the boost unusable for bassists looking for more subtlety, whereas no means of easily driving the preamp may have given the CMB 151 less appeal to players of more aggressive genres.

Regardless, I feel that Markbass have struck a good balance and delivered a drive that is both musical and applicable to a range of styles. Not the easiest feat when there is relatively little means of dialling in this part of the tone stack!

All in all, Markbass have yet again succeeded in providing an inexpensive bass amp that doesn’t feel cheap and sounds phenomenal. The Italian legends have made it clear that they are set on providing quality products to all players so you can rest assured that there is a Markbass amp for you no matter where you are on your bass journey.

For local enquiries, visit CMC Music.