Battery Powered Amp Suggestions

Saen Naen · #1 07-07-2010, 03:35 PM

I've been thinking lately that I'd like to either purchase or build a battery powered portable combo amp. Tube would be awesome, but I don't know how readily available those are (or how a battery could handle that).

Can anyone suggest some good ones to look into?

poorbassist15 · #2 07-07-2010, 03:45 PM

Roland Micro Cube bass is the first one that comes to mind, I think Phil Jones makes one too.

One Google later, apparently they do.
http://www.philjonespuresound.com/products/?id=8

rok51 · #3 07-07-2010, 04:38 PM

I use a Crate Taxi TX30. It's adequate...nothing more...but it is well suited to jammin' with a couple of acoustic guitars on the beach or under a tree somewhere...far better than an acoustic bass guitar would be...without an amp...

Kim

RickenBoogie · #4 07-07-2010, 05:14 PM

You're not going to find a battery powered tube amp. The voltages need are way beyond what a battery can produce. +1 for the Roland Bass cube.

seamonkey · #5 07-07-2010, 05:43 PM

You can get battery powered tube guitar amps, SMPS supplies the voltage for the tubes.
http://www.grid1.com/products/index.html
Somehow I don't believe them when they say 4 hours on batteries.

You can get cheap 12v inverters to hook to run small regular amp from.

Or you can buy a full-range car amplifier, look for class-d or pioneer's class-fd (with Ice Modules) - they too have an SMPS to raise the voltage. This would topple down any existing battery powered amp.

Saen Naen · #6 07-08-2010, 08:51 AM

@ seamonkey - That Grid1 looks amazing. Too bad it is $3,995, way out of my budgetary threshold.

I looked into both the Roland Micro Cube and the Pignose Hog 30.

I am not sure about the Micro Cube, I'd have to play out of it myself. Something about amps like those turns me off, I suppose since I previously played SVT and Mesa 400s (which I do not own anymore). I look at things that Roland makes, and such amps like Line6 and automatically feel that "EWW" coming out of my mouth. Again, I'd have to plug in and try it out.

The Hog 30 seems appealing, but I read a lot of mixed reviews on Harmony Central. I might try to hunt around for a vintage Pignose, as I sense they are constructed better. From what I've seen, EVERYTHING seems to be constructed better before 1990.

lug · #7 07-08-2010, 08:57 AM

Pignose make one called the Hog 30 that is reasonably priced.

LiamPodmore · #8 07-08-2010, 09:09 AM

Ibanez make a 3w Tabletop Amp (:

dDaddybass · #9 07-08-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

You can get battery powered tube guitar amps, SMPS supplies the voltage for the tubes.
http://www.grid1.com/products/index.html
Somehow I don't believe them when they say 4 hours on batteries.

You can get cheap 12v inverters to hook to run small regular amp from.

Or you can buy a full-range car amplifier, look for class-d or pioneer's class-fd (with Ice Modules) - they too have an SMPS to raise the voltage. This would topple down any existing battery powered amp.

I didn't see what pre-amp tubes were in this thing. Anybody know?