I tried the 12" version at GC. It was really dark, no highs at all. It made the fender rumble 100 sitting next to it sound hi fi, even when cranking the highs on an active bass. Maybe that one was a lemon? It was loud and fat sounding but also much heavier than the rumble.
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Mark Bass CMB 101 Black Line
- Thread starter DoctorZeus
- Start date
I have the Blackline CMB 40 watt. I love it at home and the 4 band EQ allows me enough variation in tone to work well. I actually use it at gigs with a full band (electric guitar, keyboards, drums and 2 vocals) running g the 1/4" line out to a DI box and on to the PA. This past weekend at a gig our PA shorted out 
and we had to run our vocal mics and keyboards direct to our powered monitors so I was left using just the amp. Suprisingly it did great. Yes I had the gain way up about 3 o'clock and the same for the master, turned the lows down to 10 O'clock and the low mids and high mids up to 2 0'clock but it sounded great in the mix and cut thru enough to get me thru the gig. It's a great little amp!
and we had to run our vocal mics and keyboards direct to our powered monitors so I was left using just the amp. Suprisingly it did great. Yes I had the gain way up about 3 o'clock and the same for the master, turned the lows down to 10 O'clock and the low mids and high mids up to 2 0'clock but it sounded great in the mix and cut thru enough to get me thru the gig. It's a great little amp!
After a week of buying and returning products to my local GC, I finally settled
on this combo amp. Very nice for the price. I like the tone much better than the Rumble 40.
on this combo amp. Very nice for the price. I like the tone much better than the Rumble 40.
I just got the 101 combo today at Guitar Center. $169.00 plus tax.
I like it better than the 801 combo that I’m currently using.
It has more EQ controls, a larger speaker of course.
It does not have a DI output. Only a 1/4” pre out. I don’t DI very often.
I don’t use either amp in a conventional way. I play stereo basses. It’s for my bridge pu. The 102 cabinet is powered by GK MB-200 not seen in this picture.
I gig with this setup very often. My mini stereo rig.
I’m thinking I will like the black line 101 a lot. Gig tomorrow night.
I like it better than the 801 combo that I’m currently using.
It has more EQ controls, a larger speaker of course.
It does not have a DI output. Only a 1/4” pre out. I don’t DI very often.
I don’t use either amp in a conventional way. I play stereo basses. It’s for my bridge pu. The 102 cabinet is powered by GK MB-200 not seen in this picture.
I gig with this setup very often. My mini stereo rig.
I’m thinking I will like the black line 101 a lot. Gig tomorrow night.
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I like the comb 101 black line a lot.
IMO, the speaker is the weakest link. After using it once I am replacing the speaker with:
EMINENCE DELTALITEII2510 10-Inch Neodymium Series Speakers - Series II
I’m not one who cares about internal dimensions and the sort.The controls on the amp are very sensitive to adjustments.
I am moving the rubber feet about 1” closer the the middle. The cab it sits on needs a little adjustment to sit properly easily.
A cover is needed soon.
Curious if you replaced the speaker yet, and if so, what your current thoughts are about this amp.
I did replace it. I’ve been meaning to, get back here.
The speaker is definitely better. But not sure if it was necessary.
The amp definitely isn’t gigable unless it’s a “coffee house” gig.
But for my intended use it is. As stated, I’m using it as a bridge pickup amplifier in a small stereo bass rig.
I’m still getting used to the controls. It definitely has high end. The last gig I had the treble turned off.
For home use it would be fine. You can’t beat the deal I got on this.
I did replace it. I’ve been meaning to, get back here.
The speaker is definitely better. But not sure if it was necessary.
The amp definitely isn’t gigable unless it’s a “coffee house” gig.
But for my intended use it is. As stated, I’m using it as a bridge pickup amplifier in a small stereo bass rig.
I’m still getting used to the controls. It definitely has high end. The last gig I had the treble turned off.
For home use it would be fine. You can’t beat the deal I got on this.
What did you find lacking with the factory speaker, and what was improved with the Eminence speaker? As you say you’re using this for your bridge pickup in a stereo rig, can I assume that you’re not using this cab to produce the fundamental low frequencies, but rather it is focused on the mids and upper frequencies in your use? Curious if you tried running it full range at all, if so, any opinions of that?I did replace it. I’ve been meaning to, get back here.
The speaker is definitely better. But not sure if it was necessary.
The amp definitely isn’t gigable unless it’s a “coffee house” gig.
But for my intended use it is. As stated, I’m using it as a bridge pickup amplifier in a small stereo bass rig.
I’m still getting used to the controls. It definitely has high end. The last gig I had the treble turned off.
For home use it would be fine. You can’t beat the deal I got on this.
I demoed one of these combos about a year ago. I mostly liked it. Very deep tone for its size. I wound up returning it because it rattled at moderate to higher volumes, and I found the bass response to be a little bit spiky if you will. I’m starting to wonder if that’s not at least in part an effect of my rehearsal space or if it’s largely due to the speaker/cab tuning. I was so impressed with its small size and low-end heft at low volume that I’m considering giving it another try. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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I did try it full range and was surprised that the amp had a nice full sound.. I guess I just didn’t like the original speaker in it?!?
I read somewhere a very long time ago that the speaker(s) are the weakest link in any sound system. I’ve been a speaker nut my whole life for some unknown reason. Not an expert though.
The new speaker almost cost as much as the amp!
It took the place of a MarkBass 801 combo. It has only two controls on it?! It was getting kind of shrill and harsh to my ears lately. I used it a couple of times on ten! Nice speaker though!
I could use the Blackface 101 and MarkBass 801 as a super compact stereo rig!
Stereo bass…it’s what I do…
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Forgot to add, I believe I read in the manual that the amp isn’t made for gigingI did try it full range and was surprised that the amp had a nice full sound.. I guess I just didn’t like the original speaker in it?!?
I read somewhere a very long time ago that the speaker(s) are the weakest link in any sound system. I’ve been a speaker nut my whole life for some unknown reason. Not an expert though.
The new speaker almost cost as much as the amp!
It took the place of a MarkBass 801 combo. It has only two controls on it?! It was getting kind of shrill and harsh to my ears lately. I used it a couple of times on ten! Nice speaker though!
I could use the Blackface 101 and MarkBass 801 as a super compact stereo rig!
Stereo bass…it’s what I do…
