Traveling a lot and need a good way to practice

[nickbass79]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place.

I'm looking for a way to practice, but not lug around an amp. My job has me traveling all over the states, so I'm constantly staying in hotels. I'm able to bring my bass and I have a small practice amp, but I'm not able to have the volume I would like because of the other hotel patrons.

So my question is what kind of devices allow you to plug the bass in, have an EQ, use headphones and possibly hook up my Ipod?

Back in the day there used to be something called the Bass Ace and the Guitar Ace. Anything like that now, that may have better quality sound and EQ? I need it to be very portable and not take up too much luggage space.

Thanks

[Rockmusician]

Tascam BT1

Product: MP-BT1 | TASCAM

I have the older cd version and it works great.

[nickbass79]

Thanks!

Any other thoughts

[MrLenny1]

Tascam BT1 MP3 version. End of story, you won't regret it.
No CD's to carry, download MP3. Fits in my shirt pocket.
Tuner,metronome, varaible speed playback, phrase selectable repeat etc.
Best piece of gear I have bought in 20 yeras.

[MalcolmAmos]

Or this Vox APBA Amp Plug Bass Portable Guitar Amplifier

[germ_77]

The bass pod by line 6 would work well too, it's basically an amp simulator, there is a rack version and a handheld version and I see them used quite a bit for like a hundred bucks

[velalv]

Hi,

I travel a ton for work too, and my bass goes everywhere on my domestic travel. I take my gig bag with me, and I put into it headphone amp and a foldable music stand (though the stand goes into my luggage most times. Adirondack guitars has a bass headphone amp (I have Dean Stack in a Box). It really is meant for guitars, not bass, but it does the trick. Here is the link, I have no affiliation with the seller.

Nobels Mycro Bass Heaphone Amplifier

Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions.

[wideyes]

Lots of TBers recommend this for a higher end option (I haven't used it myself):
Cafe Walter HA-1A

[nickbass79]

Originally Posted by wideyes

Lots of TBers recommend this for a higher end option (I haven't used it myself):
Cafe Walter HA-1A

How high end are we talking? I have a few boutique basses I bring with me, so I do want them to sound good.

If there any other options TBer's, Let me know?

[wideyes]

Originally Posted by nickbass79

How high end are we talking? I have a few boutique basses I bring with me, so I do want them to sound good.

If there any other options TBer's, Let me know?

It's not high-end as in "complicated". Rather, I think it is the epitome of simplicity (jack and volume knob for bass, jack and volume knob for audio source, jack for headphones. Done.) and handmade with real electric guts. So we're talking back-to-the-basics, boutique headphone amp.

[JustDavid]

Would an iRig work for this?

[eekmeg]

If you can find one, the Raven Labs PHA-1 is simple, small, it sounds phenomenal, and is a great no frills preamp. I bought one and use it every day. I have yet to be disappointed.

[nickbass79]

Originally Posted by JustDavid

Would an iRig work for this?

This would be perfect if I had an iPhone!

[germ_77]

Wow that irig looks awesome, I have been looking for a good way to use a metronome when away from home and have been using an iphone metronome with headphones but then you cant hear the bass at all (not amped).

I am totally getting one of those, my solution was going to be getting the rackmount behringer tuner with built in metronome to drag around with me so I could hear the bass and metronome.

[Kenner]

I use an Alesis Multimix 8. Everything required to make it work (headphones, cables, Ipod, and mixer) fit in my backpack. Great way to travel...

[MNAirHead]

amplug.. pandora... small mixer... line6...

Tons of options...

The Amplug AC-60 (guitar version) works and commonly comes up on ebay for $20 or so...

I used to keep an ashbory and amplug ... even when travelling with bigger gear it was nice to grab and go.