Double Bass PJB Flightcase & Wizzy 10 comments

Just got in the new PJB Flightcase as well as a Wizzy 10 cabinet. Seems like a likely comparison. So here goes...

I used a Pollmann DB with a Full Circle and an Alembic 5 string BG. I played solo in a large live sounding room. I also added in a Bergantino HT110 driven by a Markbass LMII as a reference. The LMII was the head I used for the Wizzy 10. The Berg was angled up using a Markstand. The Wizzy was angled up using its bottom handle.
Disclaimers - this is not a scientific comparison! My comments are preliminary. The Wizzy 10 was not 'broken in'. I didn't play at loud volumes, but was clearly playing at a level beyond where similarly sized 'practice amps' would start to give out.

I'm gonna jump to the conclusion first. Bottom line? I don't think we bassists ever had it so good! Thanks to Phil Jones, EA, Markbass and Bergantino - these guys are helping us sound better and tote less gear. My opinion is that these are all winners. I usually like to find the ONE clear winner, but I can't.

Sound differences
Each rig has its own signature sound. The PJB is 'smooth', the Berg is pleasingly 'punchy' and the EA is bright, but in a good way. You can get the Berg tone with the PJB by adjusting the EQ. That's kind of true for each rig - with EQ you can get the sound you want.
On DB, with all settings flat, the PJB had a very 'acoustic' sound. In comparison, the Wizzy 10 seemed to have an artificial zing to it. Very subtle though. This might go away once it breaks in and it could likely be EQ'd out.
There are two areas that seem to be differ more amongst the three - that is in bass response and projection. This applies more to BG, and particularly the 'B' string. The PJB gets the lowest notes with the most clarity. The Wizzy 10 seems to strain A BIT on the open 'B' when pushed (but not pushed very hard). Suprisingly, so does the HT110 in comparison to the PJB - pretty amazing when you consider the Flightcase is only rated at 150 watts while the other rigs were getting 2 and 3x that power. The HT110 also changes tonal flavor SLIGHTLY as you get to the lowest notes IMHO. I'm not sure if any of this would be apparent in a group setting.
Projection is also an area of difference. The PJB seems to 'beam' its sound while the EA and especially the Berg, with its horn, have very wide and tall dispersion. Not sure how this will play out in a band. I did try the PJB alone in a jazz trio and everyone reported that my audible tone and projection were excellent.
I owned a few PJB Briefcases and never found them to work for me. You needed to place them in a corner to get enough bass for even small group playing, but then the amp lost its clarity. Not the case with the Flightcase. Put it up to the wall and enjoy. The up firing drivers are fantastic for DB work as you hear just what you are amplifying and don't have to mess amp stands or finding the right chair.

Other impressions
The PJB, from the moment you take it out of the box, is a very impressive piece of gear. Phil really knows how to craft a high-end product. The chrome corners, oversized feet (held in by allen bolts!), the included vinyl cover and tools, the black and chrome knobs...I could go on and on...this feels like it was designed and built by Lexus or Audi. His execution is head and shoulders beyond what I've seen in a bass product. It's also silly light. I haven't weighed it, but I'm sure its closer to 20lbs, not the reported 24. It's really small as well. It tilts down when carrying as the handle can't be at the center of gravity due to the upfiring speakers. Overall, it is clearly in the Wizzy 10/iAMP300 class in terms of breaking new ground in lightweight bass amps. While it is a one-piece combo, it wouldn't fit in any backpack I know of, which is a big plus for the Wizzy10/iAMP300.

So there you have it. 2 micro amp winners for bassists, IMHO. YMMV.

OK - gig follow up. This band was a trio - acoustic guitar played with a pickup and a Fender Accusonic combo amp, me on a Steinberger Synapse 5 string fretted and a drummer. The guitarist sang through a JBL eon 1x15, single cabinet only. It was in a bar that's about 20' x 80'. We were in the middle. I placed the amp close to the bar wall - which is a half wall here. Input gain was set to proper 'flashing led' status. Output was about 2/3rds - the same settings that gave a great tone in my practice room.

Results? When the guitarist was playing at a lower volume, I was fine. All the gain I needed up and down the neck. When the band got a bit warmed up and started playing louder, the Flightcase ran out of steam on the low 'B' string then on other strings too. It actually went into a not-unpleasant distortion. The band members didn't hear it, but I did. Notes lost punch as they do when clipping.

But let me state a few disclaimers before you think the amp can't cut a gig. I had the bass tone controls up a little on the Flightcase and up a lot on the Steinberger. That's because I believe the battery on the Steinberger was dead and I was running off its piezo pickup only (it has a standard magnetic and a separate piezo at the bridge). But I have to check this. What I'm saying here is that if you ran a bass guitar with less low end boost, as I was forced to do, you should be able to cut a variety of low volume trio-with-drummer gigs with no PA support. Likely on 4 string and VERY LIKELY with DB. As it was, if the band stayed at a lower volume, the Flightcase was fine. Also, in my practice room where I was most impressed, the amp at the base of a 12' high wall. In this bar, the wall was 4' high. I think if I placed it in the corner where the drums were, and my bass was functioning properly, I may have stayed just below distortion most of the night. However, I did have the amp set up near its maximum, so don't expect much more than I got even if you set it better than I did.

So...in my mind - killer practice & small gig amp. Should cover a lot of gigs for DB. If doubling, watch out for over boost on your bass guitar. Also, try to setup at the base of a wall or in a corner.

I think my repaired iAMP300 arrives tomorrow. I have a Wizzy 10 ready to go and we are, for the time being, the Saturday night act at the same bar. Will give it a go with the EA micro rig this weekend. Sorry - probably will still be without DB.

I wonder how PJB got the weight on this down so far. If you look at the weights for the new Neo cabinets, especially the 6x5, it's double the weight of the Flightcase. But its only got 2 more drivers and no head. Yes, the box is bigger. But it begs the question - will Phil make a Neo version of the Suitcase - essentially a higher power version of the Flightcase? The D400 head coming is 6 lbs and it probably won't add too much weight to the Flightcase, but it delivers twice the power. I believe the volume shortcoming on the Flightcase in my single experience, was from lack of power, not the drivers giving out. (And once again, if setup the right way - in a corner, and light on the bass boost, it will cover a small gig without a PA.) I guess I'm being hard on it as it sells for $900 - and at that price, there's higher power offerings from EA and Markbass in the same weight class (see review above). A 150 watt Flightcase and a 300 watt Flightcase Super would be just the trick! You could really find a reason for owning both of them.

I remember that last hint you posted. Um....I am already in line for the new Neo 6B. I hear it is a month away and the D400 is a ways away. Any inkling on those? And...might these new developments show up in 2007? By the way, I used to write PJB directly and he'd tip his hat with a little prodding!

I understand. With the Markbass Mini CMD121P you will always have the power you need. It sounds very good for DB if placed on a chair or for BG when placed on the floor. For nightclubs, the Flightcase may not have enough power, or you will have to set up in a corner and only use a 4 string BG. The Flightcase may work for you if you follow these recommendations. When my Flightcase ran out of power, it made a nice warm distortion.

Also...I often had to carry the Mini CMD121P across many streets to get to gigs. After 2 streets, it felt heavy. The Flightcase is 3kg lighter and would be easier to carry.

Of course, there is the EA iAMP300/Wizzy10 backpack to consider. I will be trying it on the same gig this weekend.

I get a natural sound with the Full Circle.

I ran the same gig last Saturday night, but this time with the Micro300 and Wizzy 10. I also changed the batteries in my bass! But here's the curve ball...the club hosted a private party and there were 150+ people in there. It was packed. So, a much bigger challenge for the EA.

The EA did a bang up job. I didn't hear distortion at all and the sound was full, punchy and with a ver enjoyable studio-like bass tone. The Steinberger/EA was bright together, so I had the trebles turned to minimum. But the Steiny is a bright bass normally - and these micro rigs do naturally balance towards higher frequencies. The PJB might be a better tonal match in this regard. Notes on the low 'B' string were at lower output than the other strings, but they were still fairly clear and had the push the PJB couldn't muster. I actually got to light up the yellow LED indicating I was running near max volume on the head...but it worked like a champ given a situation than really called for a 1x12 at least. Of course, with a second Wizzy10, I might have been more within the limits of the head.

All in all, this is a micro rig of great capability and a step up (as the power would indicate) from the PJB Flightcase.

A few thoughts on size...the PJB, is about the same weight as a loaded EA backpack but it might be even easier to lug - I find the backpack to be a little clumsy to handle and not very well balanced on your back. The PJB certainly sets up easier as its slip cover is a cinch while the EA rig requires effort to get it out of the tight fitting fabric-lined bag (nylon or smooth poly would have made a better inside liner).

Conclusion: Flightcase for smaller settings; EA Micro Backpack for a bit larger ones. It's all good.

Hey Adrian...wazzzzzup. It's about a toss up. The backpack, cables, and the EA head all told have to be about 21-22. That's the weight of the Flightcase. Overall dimensions of the backpack loaded up are about the same as the Flightcase.

Speaking extremely lazy (as I tend to be) the Flightcase does set up and take down faster. That's because it's only got a slip cover. With the EA backpack, you struggle to get it in and out of its bag - just like I used to with the AI Coda and its bag. And...the backpack is not as convenient as it sounds. It's bulky in depth and stretches the limits of what you'd want to put on your back - not for weight, but for size. You almost feel like you'd rather use the handle. If you are on mass transit, the backpack rig might be easier for 1-haul carrying. For cars, I dunno which I'd prefer.

Of course, my brief testing shows these as different beasts - and if one had the luxury of having both, they'd probably play to different situations. The EA plays louder for doublers. The PJB is lower power, but might sound more true to a DB.

...I think Club Bass has the Flightcase to try, no?