Markbass CMD JB Players School 250-Watt 1x15" Bass Combo 2013 - Present - Black

Markbass CMD JB Players School 115 Bass Combo – Brand New – 250W – 1x15 – Lightweight

A brand-new Markbass CMD JB Players School bass combo, developed in association with renowned bass player and educator Jeff Berlin and his Players School of Music.

This is a very practical and intelligently designed bass amplifier, combining Markbass's professional approach to bass tone with a compact, lightweight and highly portable cabinet. Don't let its modest dimensions fool you; this little combo delivers a surprisingly substantial sound and is equally appealing to students, working musicians and professional bass players looking for a convenient gigging or practice amplifier.

The specification centres around a single 15-inch Markbass speaker, with no tweeter, giving the amplifier a direct, natural and beautifully rounded bass response. The solid-state preamp and Markbass digital power supply deliver up to 250 watts at 4 ohms, or 150 watts through the internal 8-ohm speaker.

Tonally, the 15-inch driver provides exactly the sort of character many bass players enjoy: a warm, substantial low end, a full and authoritative midrange and a smooth, controlled top end. There is plenty of fundamental weight without the sound becoming overly boomy, while the midrange remains articulate enough to let individual notes and playing dynamics come through clearly.

It is particularly good for fingerstyle playing, offering a rounded, even response, but has plenty of punch and definition for pick playing and more aggressive bass styles. The absence of a tweeter gives it a slightly more traditional, rounded character, which works particularly well with electric bass.

The onboard controls are comprehensive without being unnecessarily complicated. There is a four-band EQ, with Low, Low Mid, High Mid and High controls, allowing you to shape the sound to suit your instrument and playing style.

Markbass has also included its useful VPF (Variable Pre-shape Filter) and VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator) filters. These provide additional tonal shaping, allowing you to move from a more modern, scooped and punchy sound towards a warmer, softer and more vintage-inspired character.

The rear panel provides a balanced XLR line output with adjustable level, a pre/post EQ switch and ground lift, making it straightforward to connect directly to a mixing desk or PA system. There is also an effects send and return, tuner output and external speaker connection.

Factory specification:

• Model: Markbass CMD JB Players School
• Power output: 250W RMS at 4 ohms / 150W RMS at 8 ohms
• Speaker: 1 x 15-inch Markbass driver
• Tweeter: None
• Speaker impedance: 8 ohms
• Speaker power handling: 300W RMS (AES)
• Frequency response: 40Hz–5kHz
• Sensitivity: 100dB SPL
• Preamp: Solid State
• Equalisation: Four-band EQ
• Filters: VPF and VLE
• Outputs: Balanced XLR line out with pre/post EQ selection and ground lift
• Additional connections: Effects send/return, tuner output and external speaker connection
• Dimensions: 47.5cm wide x 46.4cm high x 48cm deep
• Weight: Approximately 16.2kg

One of the real attractions is the weight. At just 16.2kg, this is an exceptionally manageable combo for a 15-inch bass cabinet. It is easy to transport, convenient for home use and perfectly practical for rehearsals, teaching environments and smaller gigs.

The CMD JB Players School was designed around the idea that students and professionals alike deserve a genuinely good bass sound without spending a fortune or having to carry around an enormous amplifier. Jeff Berlin's involvement gives the model an interesting pedigree, and the result is a straightforward, great-sounding working amplifier.

A lovely compact Markbass combo with a surprisingly big voice, useful tonal flexibility and genuine gigging potential. Brand new and ready to plug in and play.