Phil Jones Bass BG-300 Super Flightcase

I took my brand new amp on a jazz gig here in Detroit at Bakers Keyboard Lounge and the amp worked for 1 song.
After that the sound cut in and out and the power light flickered on and off.
I called a representative and they explained that the power regulation may have triggered the internal protection circuitry on the amp.
I then placed a call to service and did not get a return call.
I have played this club for over 20 years and have never had an amp fail due to "bad power" and btw the entire club was operational with the exception of my amp.
Now to stay within my return policy period I have to ship the amp back at my cost........

I bought the BG-300 primarily for URB use, so will mostly be commenting on it from that angle.

Sound: The Super Flightcase really shines in its transparency, its flexible 5 band EQ and its unique speaker design.

Phil Jones amps use special 5" drivers which do a great job of transmitting a full spectrum of sound, especially when coupled with the cabinet they are housed in. One thing I particularly like about this design is the consistency in tone across differing volume levels, particularly when running at low volumes.

If anything, I have only had issues with boominess - nothing, however, that couldn't be fixed with an HPF and/or raising the amp off the floor, even with my bottom-heavy Shen Rogeri running through it.
The EQ also is effective at compensating for room issues and getting the most out of different pickups. Cutting mids and boosting treble with my Realist-equipped bass definitely helped me get the most out of that pickup.

One of the coolest features of this amp, IME, is the speaker configuration - of the six 5" drivers, four face forward and two face straight up - very useful on tight stages on in pits when one must stand right next to the amp.

Build Quality:
The unit seems pretty solid. All of the preamp controls are recessed, which protects the knobs - I am a big fan of this. The amp also has two rails on the back for laying down during transport, which is a nice feature.

Features:
This is one area where, though it has some well thought out features, I could see room for improvement.

On the plus side, the input gain stage is unlike anything I have ever seen - at 12 o'clock it is set at neutral, and then one can add or reduce gain as needed. The EQ is versatile and well thought out, as is the simple, straightforward one knob compressor/limiter.

An amp this transparent and hi-fi, however, is sure to be a hit with URB players, yet the preamp section lacks many of the features found on other top-end URB amps. Features like a phase switch, variable HPF, microphone connectivity/phantom power, etc. would really take this amp over the top.

To get the most out of this amp for URB, then, I find myself needing to bring a preamp, like an AI Flex or F-Deck, to be able to compensate for phase/boominess issues in different playing environments, or if I want to use a microphone. Thankfully, with the input gain on the amp set the way it is, I can leave everything set flat on the Flightcase and control all of my EQ from the external pre, using the amp essentially as a powered cab.

For BG, I personally find this amp a little too hi-fi/sterile sounding for my tastes, though I do enjoy the sound of my flat-wound strung P through it. For most BG work I would run a pre, like Sansamp through it to color up the sound a little bit.

Value:
At $1239 MSRP, this is a pricey amp, especially considering my own personal need to run an additional pre into it to get it to do what I need it to do. The sound and build quality, however, are top notch, and the upward firing drivers make the Super Flightcase unlike anything else on the market. As a powered cab alone, then, it is worth the money for me, with a usable preamp, versatile EQ section and limiter there when I need it.