Markbass Combo 102

2008 CMD combo 102p
Solid, powerful, and light. I play gospel, blues, and southern rock and this amp can handle all with ease.

I play a fender jass bass and the Markbass gives you that great bottom plus solid sound all up and down the neck. I played through Edens, Peavey, Ampeg, Trace Elliots,Gks and some I never heard of until I played through the Markbass. I was sold. The sound that I almost gave up on finding. I could not be happier with it.

Still new, so far so good.

This combo is not cheap but neither is the sound. I have been playing for over 25 years, and finaly the sound that I always wanted, so with that in mind , This combo is a bargin. You owe it to yourself to try one.

My 102 combo was made in 2005. It worked for the styles of music I pplay, Rock and blues. Plenty of power, especially when coupled with the traveller 151p cabinet.

Sounds fine. I have several basses, and the sound is not colored at all. Pretty natural reproduction.

Amp worked fine untill 3 months after the "warranty" expired. It blew up on me in the middle of a set. Just quit. No warning at all.

The warrany doesn't matter, anyway. After Marco made his deal with Satan (Guitar Center), customer service or satisfaction was no longer an issue. As if it ever was. I sent numerous e-mails trying to get replacement parts for the broken trolley system (which was one of the major reasons I bought the Traveller 102 combo) which were never answered. After it blew up on me during a gig, I tried to no avail to contact the company, my dealer (which was one of their original 2 dealers in the U.S.), tried calling and sending e-mails, of which even they could not get answers. Never in my life have I had such POOR customer service for something I paid SO MUCH for. You are on your own with this trash.

I would NEVER buy this garbage. There is too much good stuff out there. The MarkBass "No Compromise" credo is bull%#*!."We will not compromise on quality, It will last you a lifetime" It lasts till you buy it, or it breaks. Customer service is NONEXISTANT!

My combo 102 was mf'd in 2007. My spec sheet says it pumps 300w into the 8ohm combo & will pump 500w into 4ohms!! That's some serious power when you consider this combo only weighs approx. 44lbs! I've been lugging around a rack with a 48lb. head in it along with 2 4x10 cabs that weigh approx. 100lbs. each! The EQ versatility of this amp is what really attracted me (along with its wonderful light weight). This is a transparent amp that really lets the tone of the bass shine. The VLE & VPF features are cool but I really don't have a use for them as I will discuss later. I appreciate the tilt-back feature. It allows ME to hear MY bass in spite of the stupidly placed side-fills & it helps on small TV sound sets when you have to deal with the set props. For those features I give it a 10. However, I wish it came with a quality onboard compressor. I don't need one very often, but I had to install one in my rack for the times when I do. Also, the velcro pop-out for connectivity is nice, but the tuner out & XLR line out are tight if the XLR has a push-in release. Thus, my rating for features:

I am currently with a band that serves up some original recipe classic/southern rock with some Texas-style blues on the side. This combo 102 is able to cover those styles AUTHENTICALLY. As I discussed earlier, this amp is so transparent it lets the the tone of my vintage P & my Les Paul bass sing with genuine platform shoe wearin', bandana sewed in the pants stylin', orange shag carpet stainin'(I'm keeping this rated G) classic splendor! That's why I don't need the VLE feature. If I had a newer axe, I would definitely dig the VLE knob. Pro quality isn't cheap but its vital if you're serious about your art! When I can, I'm definitely gonna score the Markbass 15" ext. spkr. The combo 102 doesn't quite have the balls for a low punch at high volumes. But for the majority of shows we do, this combo performs well. I never use picks & I refuse to play anything that necessitates poppin' or slappin' or any other kind of gimmick. I'll take a smooth flowin' groovin' bassline so deep in a pocket you'll slap John Paul over a staccato-ish, choppy, no soul inspiring parlour trick ANYDAY!! Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox. Incidentally, this Markbass combo works great for a keyboard amp too. It covers classic piano,M1,Rhodes & B3 patches quite nicely. At higher volumes, the highs don't sound brittle or processed. The piezo rounds out the 6-9Khz better than the Roland, Fender, Hartke & Peavey Kybd amps I've used. Granted, strings & special effect patches like higher frequencies, but at loud outdoor shows those patches are toned down at the desk anyway.

This combo has seen lots of miles during the several months I've had it. I played a show in the HOT Texas sun & this amp never cratered in power or performance. The controls on the front & back are well recessed into the body of the cab. which is an excellent design to keep well meaning "helpers" from breaking them off during handling. Don't laugh, its happened to me BEFORE a show! I appreciate the well-thought out design of this combo. Alas, I admit I haven't owned it a year yet but I'll report back if a fault or flaw rears its' ugly head.

Haven't needed them yet.

I have been performing music in some capacity or another for over 28 years. I play five different instruments & I've played them all professionally from Tchaikovsky to Zepplin to Hank Williams Jr/Sr. I've owned several different pro rigs: SWR, Hartke, Fender & Peavey. This Markbass is superior to all I've owned & to all the backlines supplied to me (Ampeg, G-K, to name a few) in transparency of sound & size:weight:power ratios. My days of playing through stacks for the looks & ego are long gone (unless the contractor provides them).
I herniated a disc in my back & was looking to downsize my rig. I tried the small combos in the 200-250w range from EVERY pro quality brand I could find: Ampeg BA series, G-K Backlines, Eden WT's, Phil Jones, Fender Bassman's, Hertke's & Warwicks. This Markbass was a Godsend. I have the superior tone I demand & the size:power:weight ratio I need. If my combo 102 were stolen or lost, I would sell whatever I needed to get another one. I believe anyone who would be honest without respect to their endorsers would do the same. These things aren't cheap but what price do you put on your passion? 'Nuff said! Viva Italy!!

markbass 102 combo bought 2006
i use it pro for styles including beatles/kaiser cheifs (the jam )
a big mixture in our set
as for feature they have all been printed already
i really like the vli or is it vlf vintage speaker adjustment control
i wont swear but it f.........g amazing
haveing used a full swr rig 18''big ben and cab//calsbro head with trace elliot 4x10//trace elliot 7 band 15'' conmbo/ashdown mag 200/15''/ashdown mag 300/15''combo's with fender usa p bass/jazz/77 musicmaster and squire bronco ///this smokes them all believe me.
buy one of these /its worth selling some gear to get one because they are expensive to buy but wow nice one mark bass.

i am using beleive it o not a short scale bronco bass as its fantastic for the money /it even sounds better than my 77 musicmaster
no kidding this 2x10 halfway up on volume and master drowns out my rythem guitarists ibanez gem 555 through a engl screemer valve 50 and our lead guitarists strat deluxe through a crate usa valver /our drummers pissed about my volume levels but hey who cares we play a lot of the early jam stuff and its needs plenty of the bruce foxton all out bass sounds i give it an easy 10 ///i am a serial gear buyer and dave at my local shop electro music said if you cant get on with this amp then we are sorry we cant help anymore as its the best gear out there//////cheers dave you were right //also its mega light it wat only as much as a ev sx200 speaker cab

i have been using this for regular gigs but too new to report problems even though my local shop say they have never had a single problem with markbass so upto now its a 10

never had to deal with markbass for problems but they will email you quickly for any qeuries i have had regarding spec etc//also my local shop are very pleased with their aftersales reporting no problems so i am confident if i had a fault it would be sorted pronto mundo

i have been playing around 14 years now and giging 10 yrs /as i am originally a 6 string player my other gear consists of a 71 vox ac30 top boost//engl screamer 50 my guitarist uses/usa strat/jap jaguar/jv strat/sunburst 64 reiissue telecaster /musicmaster /usa p bass/fender dg3/tokia big headstock 4 bolt hendrix type strat/i am a greedy little bleeder with gear but i like the best i can get and once again this lightweight markbass combo will be for keeps as its tops.

Amp made in 2005, an Italian Markbass 2 x 10" combo.
I play a number of styles: jazz,Irish traditional, pop, classic R'n'R,country. This amp does it all.No switching or gizmos- just basic,tone-sensitive and effective controls. I use it for all kinds of gigs. It has loads of power, but as I don't play at high volume, it will easily handle my Lakland 55-94 5.

The defining characteristic of this amp is 'warm'-which I happen to like a lot. Notes 'bloom'-especially valuable when playing slow jazz.
Definition is really very good indeed,with the right amount of grain.It is not noisy, as the pickups on my 55-94 are quiet.
As I don't play slap bass i couldn't really comment on its suitability for those sounds.It has great punch,definition and power, but with a clearly non-metallic warm sound.
Remember, this amp is just one half of a combination, the other being the bass. It will do a very good stab at a Fender P, J or MM sound.
I have no idea of how it distorts, though I suspect speakers would flub or worse if everything went to 10.( I'm not going to try, as I don't need very high volume levels)

As I haven't owned it very long I don't know-however, musicians I know who've been gigging them regularly for a year or more swear by them. Mine doesn't seem to heat up during protracted use- a good sign.
I'd feel quite confident of its ability to withstand a lot of regular work. Other reviews and my experience tend towards an honours grade for reliability.These amps and the separately available but similar head have been around long enough to reassure the potential buyer that there are no issues here.....

I have no idea what customer support would be like- I've never had to return amp or contact company.

I've been playing a very long time, and have amassed a collection of basses and amps.What I particularly like about this amp is its combination of compactness, light weight (20Kg (44lbs) for a 400W amp),very striking look with amber-coloured neodynium speakers and panel headlining, carpet covering and 'tilt'feature-it makes for an excellent stage monitor as well. An extension speaker cabinet can be hooked up to this amp.If I have one beef it would be the lack of a heavy duty vinyl cover.Marketing spin apart, I like this Italian company- Markbass will become a major player in the bass amp world, be in no doubt about this. As a European, I like to see an Italian company (think style and performance)come up with a high-end, super - sounding and very user-friendly product. As far as I'm concerned, my Markbass 2 x 10 combo does it. It really is a top-notch amp . Mated with my Lakland, it gives me all the sounds I want, and I'm very happy with it. Hence this review.
Overall, superb.

Already well described by the other reviewers...

Simple. Neat. No gizmos or fancy lights. But enough control to mold your own sound. It's also kickback capable like a stage monitor.

I'm giving it an 8 because I would've liked to have a separate volume for the Line Mix, and a selectable switch for pre or post EQ balanced in. A mid knob in between the low mid and the hi mid would've been a plus. But being one of the 1st generation of MarkBass combos, I guess they corrected the latter with the VPF (variable pre-shape filter) knob they added.

A carrying handle on top would've been great too. But I'm just gonna put one myself.

I use mainly active basses (either active pickups, or preamps, or both). The amp is so clean that I was able to dial in the patches I use on my Boss GT-6B for studio work. For dirtier sounds, I rely on a SansAmp RBI/Bass Driver DI more than the "Distorto" settings described in the user manual. The 2 10" speakers tend to bottom a bit if you push the low frequencies too much but overall, it's the best sound I had beside being plugged directly in a mixing console.

My fretless cuts through the mix like a razor blade, and my fretted are as clear as if I was playing by myself. Even with the pickup balance fully in the neck position which, usually, makes you loose definition and clarity a bit. But it kept the agressive, growling rounded sound without being too muddy.

The line mix (DI out) is very quiet and clean. I recorded a track with it while rehearsing and it's crisp and very defined with lots of articulation.

This little thing is loud. Very loud for its size. Let me tell you that it sounds like 2 big wrestlers clotheslining you at full blast! I wanted to buy an Eden combo with its clarity and versatility. But the lesser weight, size and bigger power made me buy this one instead. I wanted something that can rip the head off my buddy musicians without breaking my back when it's time to carry it. I have a Yorkville 115B 15" speaker cabinet I kept to pair with the combo for bigger venues and it's heavier than the combo itself! I'm really thinking about getting a MarkBass standard 151HR or maybe just use the combo.

Did I mention it's a kickback too? No stack beside the drummer leaking in the mikes and fighting with the house PA. In small to medium size gigs, you're always stuck sharing a monitor mix with a bandmate, leading to lower volumes. Beside the monitor on stage, I have MY sound for me, myself and I!!!

I bought it from a studio that rents fully equipped rehearsal local. I thought the thing would've endured very heavy usage, and it probably did. But it's as clean as a brand new one I could've bought at the store. So I guess the reliability test has already been passed on this one.

Before buying the amp, I sent e-mails to ask this and that about the combos, the amps and the speakers. Since it's a fairly young company, I wanted to make sure all my questions were answered before I spend my precious (and rare) money on a thing like this. They always answered within 24 hours and even on weekends! When I bought the combo, on a friday night, I just asked if they could send a copy of the manual and I had it the morning after. Too bad I cannot select higher than a 10 for this category...

Yes it's a bargain for the price I paid, in the condition the combo is. But still, at $1800 they sell it new here in Canada, I could not get a better sounding amp/speaker/combo/whateveryoumaythinkof combination in such a small package. A loud, pro sounding amp that fits in the trunk of a small sized car? I will never go back to my old rig...

made in italy in 2004 , 280w/8 ohm 450/4 ohm.6,8kg level +-16db for low level+-16db for hi level one chanel bass amp.perfect for 5 string small club level on its own solid state very quite, tuner in ,effects loop used with extension speaker and it can be used on bigger stages in a more rockier setting has a balanced in for those with alembics. and a ground lift which is very usefull. the vle control, i thought this was just a way of turning the horn off but is actually a very usefull thing, unlike the enhance knobs on eden and swr, this will get you diferant tones and presets are provided in the manual.

enough lows to facilitate a modulas fretless, the high mids helping out a lot for it to cut through. used with a swr goliath 4x10 it makes not only an impresive stack but a loud stack too 450w could be a little under powered for big stages though, the slap sound from a 79 musicman is amazing, and on more modern hi fi basses like an alembic and a fender stu hamm the sizzle and quiteness is fantastic, the tone of the gain is nice a distorto setting is sugested but its not as agressive as a billy shehan sound. the 2 lightweight neo speakers are fantastic, wish there was a control for the horn?

have this about a year with no problems, gig duration about 2 hours and done about 120 with it so far, it doesnt get hot even when its been driven hard

should be able to register online for the warrenty, so far the only qualm

been playing for 20 years profesionally and now semi pro, and have owned everything from mesa boogie to marshall , eden, swr, gk, and every preamp - power amp combination you can think of, yes a total gear head? and in my opinion this little combo will give a non colouring tone that will suit players who need to play differant styles on differant interments, at a sufficent volume at a great price

Bought in 2003
Impedance: 8 ohms Cabinet power handling: 400W RMS (AES Standard)
Amp power handling: 450W/4 Ohm; 280W/ 8Ohm
Frequency Response: 40 Hz and 16 kHz
Weight: 24 Kg
Speaker size:
2x10 inches

The definitive bass combo
sound good, looks good, light weight, tilt back
Power enough to eveything !!
easy to deal with, control are precise and versatile
get a huge array of sounds out of it

Used to play with classic Head + 4X10 rig
never go back again
I have the same power, but the tilt back form makes it easy to hear your bass on stage, like a first class bass
monitor with YOUR sound gettin out of it, in small or medium venues works great, I hear myself an the rest of
the band hear me ...guess this is the Goal
In studio or rehearsal it's just heaven on earth
D.I. is very quiet end the sound man love it
Drummer is very happy, I pass an audition also because of that
Whant to be professional....buy the right gear it will helps you a lot
....80% is still in your fingers but the other 20% can make the difference
I play also casual and wedding
Sound check at 6 PM...end of the gig 5 AM
It makes 11 hours on and 6 hours of playing
temperature of the amp was the same when I turned it on, just amazing
never saw something like that....not even warm !!

Fantastic
everything is under warranty
Didn't have any problem
the guys at Mark Bass are very nice
...maybe i'll get a semi endorsement
but anyway I'm talking to my record company to buy the big rig for the upcomin' tour

I've playng for 20 years right now
I tried everything out there
I'm not a "my country is better than the others" kind of guy
..but this time I have to say iy
about bass amplification
" ITALIANS DO IT BETTER "
Go and buy MARK BASS