Polytone Minibrute II

Nofreshfruit · #1 05-24-2008, 05:02 AM

Is this a good amp for an upright bass? I've heard that the other Minibrutes are good for upright but I can't find any opinions on these other than guitar players. They look inexpensive and very nice.

-Thanks

(I've never amped it up really.)

Mark Perna · #2 05-24-2008, 06:38 AM

I have one. It works for upright but is a little bit lightweight. The Mini Brute IV works a bit better for upright imho.

mark

kwd · #3 05-24-2008, 02:50 PM

I have one. I've played the GK MB150s. I think they(GK) sound a little better for bass than the Polytone, but not enough for me to justify trading in the Polytone. I'd spring for the extra $150 and get the MB150, if I were you.

Nofreshfruit · #4 05-24-2008, 11:04 PM

Well, I've seen some Polytones for alot less than the Gallien Kruegers. (We're talking the used market though.) As far as power goes, I'm not really concerned because I have a Peavey Musician 400 and a GK 115, I just don't want to lug that big of an amp around plus an upright bass. (Plus other stuff that I'll end up playing.)

Thanks for the advice.

robgrow · #5 05-24-2008, 11:42 PM

If you are talking about an older Polytone amp, they sound OK at low volume but don't have much headroom. (Real power is only about 50 watts, far below what Polytone claimed.) If you try to crank it up, the amp will quickly run out of steam and won't sound very good at all. Also these amps were not all that well made and used fairly inexpensive components, and there can be lots of service and reliability issues. I know this having owned and repaired several Minibrutes over the years. Actually I have a few laying around right now that need repair.

If you like the sound and aren't ever going to play beyond a fairly low volume level, it might be a good amp for you. Some prefer the Minibrute III for bass, which has a 15-inch speaker.

Personally I think there are better amps available.

Nofreshfruit · #6 05-26-2008, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgrow

If you are talking about an older Polytone amp, they sound OK at low volume but don't have much headroom. (Real power is only about 50 watts, far below what Polytone claimed.) If you try to crank it up, the amp will quickly run out of steam and won't sound very good at all. Also these amps were not all that well made and used fairly inexpensive components, and there can be lots of service and reliability issues. I know this having owned and repaired several Minibrutes over the years. Actually I have a few laying around right now that need repair.

If you like the sound and aren't ever going to play beyond a fairly low volume level, it might be a good amp for you. Some prefer the Minibrute III for bass, which has a 15-inch speaker.

Personally I think there are better amps available.

Yeah like I said volume won't really be an issue since I'll only basically be using it as a monitor for home practice, band rehearsal, and small gigs. I've got plenty of volume if I need it. Mostly I'm looking for extreme portability and lightweight design. (I pinched a nerve in my back which acts up once in awhile, so carrying an upright bass + a big amp + keys + accordion + other various instruments, becomes a very fearsome prospect indeed, not to mention I'd need a cargo van.)

Tell me though, does one need a preamp because of the high dB of piezo transducers?

Reuben · #7 05-26-2008, 08:14 AM

The GK combo is very light and worth the extra bread for a slew of reasons. There are some players that simply love the character of the Polytone sound, and if that's you then great, but the GK is generally the cleaner and more versatile choice, and is super easy to get around with.

jacochops · #8 05-26-2008, 09:17 AM

The school of music where I got my Master's degree has an old Poly with the 15" speaker. Still going strong! I've had several polytones, and for a quiet jazz gig, they work great! To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the GK box. I played through an SWR baby baby blue rig, and I liked the tone more.
FWIW, I just bought a used Polytone Mini-Brute II on the 'Bay, and it should be here Wednesday. After my gigs this weekend, I'll pop by to let you know how it worked.

Ric Vice · #9 05-26-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacochops

The school of music where I got my Master's degree has an old Poly with the 15" speaker. Still going strong! I've had several polytones, and for a quiet jazz gig, they work great! To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the GK box. I played through an SWR baby baby blue rig, and I liked the tone more.
FWIW, I just bought a used Polytone Mini-Brute II on the 'Bay, and it should be here Wednesday. After my gigs this weekend, I'll pop by to let you know how it worked.

I had one of the original 2x8 Baby Blues. The SWR Head just wasn't a good match for the Underwood Pickup even with a Fishman Pre-Amp.
I took out the head and used my Walter Woods MI-100-8 and it sounded much better. I was also less than enamored with the EQ section of the Baby Blue. Just goes to show how different pickups, different players and different instruments sound with the same rig.
I loved to older GK's 200MB series I and II, but I had the same problems with MBE, both the SWR and MBE have a midrange EQ that just doesn't sound good with my particular rig.

Ric

bassfor ever · #10 05-14-2009, 06:52 AM

Ric i have to tell you I've seen a couple of your post's
and i can help coming to the conclusion that you may be having problems with eq now especially the mb150e it has the most useful and musical eq for any porta bass amp EVER
not to be able to get a good working sound for any playing situation is impossible
Most of the time is not what frq to add but witch to cut
I say all this because it is a same to be wasting perfectly good equipment.
God Bless

Paul Warburton · #11 05-14-2009, 08:34 AM

I went directly from no amp to a Mini-Brute 12'" in about 1973.
I used it all over the world from huge concert venues to tight recording rooms. No EQ no pre amp. Underwood PU on a fiver DB. No sevice, ever. Duo to huge big band.
I have gone back to no amp now. Except for special loud volume gigs.
As great as any amp can work for you, nothing can send out YOUR sound better than you on your bass with a good mic.
I even have an old Mini 10 incher that I may dig out once in a while if the 12 seems to be too much.
Less really is more. IMO.

Roger Davis · #12 05-14-2009, 09:08 AM

And then there is the 12" Henriksen JazzAmp. A viable up-to-date alternative. Very good eq section and bags of headroom.

fdeck · #13 05-14-2009, 07:14 PM

If it's an older Polytone, it's worth noting that some of them suffer from reliability issues and can't be repaired any more because of the obsolescence of specialized parts.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #14 05-14-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfor ever

Ric i have to tell you I've seen a couple of your post's
and i can help coming to the conclusion that you may be having problems with eq now especially the mb150e it has the most useful and musical eq for any porta bass amp EVER
not to be able to get a good working sound for any playing situation is impossible

My experience is quite different. Please fill out your profile, so that those reading your posts may better understand from whence they came.

Ric Vice · #15 05-16-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfor ever

Ric i have to tell you I've seen a couple of your post's
and i can help coming to the conclusion that you may be having problems with eq now especially the mb150e it has the most useful and musical eq for any porta bass amp EVER
not to be able to get a good working sound for any playing situation is impossible
Most of the time is not what frq to add but witch to cut
I say all this because it is a same to be wasting perfectly good equipment.
God Bless

Well, I respectively disagree. The Walter Woods midrange voicing on the MI-100-8, MI-400-8, and Electro Acoustic amps work perfectly with my bass. Nice and warm very musical. I also like the GK MBS and the new MB2 500. In my experience and the experience of others on Talkbass the MBE doesn't have that same midrange presence and warmth the MBS does. I also liked and owned the 200MB series I and series II and loved them. The problem with the MBE, my bass, and the Underwood or the Realist was no matter where I put the midrange settings it had a nasal quality that I just don't care for. I gigged with it for 2+ years before I sold it. Just goes to show that different amps work differently with different basses. It's all good, what works for me isn't necessarily going to work for you. Peace

Ric

Ric Vice · #16 05-16-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I went directly from no amp to a Mini-Brute 12'" in about 1973.........

I have gone back to no amp now. Except for special loud volume gigs.
As great as any amp can work for you, nothing can send out YOUR sound better than you on your bass with a good mic. Less really is more. IMO.

+ you couldn't have put it more eloquently.