Polytone Mini-Brute IV for upright bass?

[ritzy123]

Has anybody used the Polytone Mini-Brute IV for upright bass? I assume because it has one 15" thats is for the bass, but the knobs are reflective of a guitar amp? Can someone help me out?

[Bob Branstetter]

The Polytone amps were an amp of choice for many doublebassists up until around the 1990's. They were among the first of the small box bass amps to hit the market and were marketed for doublebass with Ray Brown as their main endorsing artist. Unfortunately, IMO, time has passed them by because other amp makers have introduced small, better designed amps that are more Hi-Fi and with more usable power. I still own a mini-brute I (strictly for emergency backup) which I bought many years ago after becoming dissatisfied with the sound of a 15" speaker Mini-brute III. I believe the difference between the III and IV is that the IV has reverb and maybe some effects.

Short answer - It wouldn't be an amp that I would want to use today.

[fingers]

I believe that is the amp that Ben Allison uses.

[glivanos]

I still use my mini brute III that I bought in 1977.

All original just had to replace the speaker foam cover with a circular round metal grille.

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

The Polytone amps were an amp of choice for many doublebassists up until around the 1990's. They were among the first of the small box bass amps to hit the market and were marketed for doublebass with Ray Brown as their main endorsing artist. Unfortunately, IMO, time has passed them by because other amp makers have introduced small, better designed amps that are more Hi-Fi and with more usable power. I still own a mini-brute I (strictly for emergency backup) which I bought many years ago after becoming dissatisfied with the sound of a 15" speaker Mini-brute III. I believe the difference between the III and IV is that the IV has reverb and maybe some effects.

Short answer - It wouldn't be an amp that I would want to use today.

[robgrow]

I tend to agree with Bob that there are better amps available today. As far as the Mini-Brute IV specifically, the older Polytone Mini-Brute III and IV are basically identical, except the IV adds reverb and distortion / boost. The current Mini-Brute IV has reverb, etc., while the M-B III has been replaced by the Sonic Bass I in Polytone's lineup. Unless you really love the Mini-Brute IV, I'd look elsewhere.