Advice on busking amps?

[tomnomnom91]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently toying with the idea of going out busking with my bass, and using backing tracks for support. I know next to nothing about busking amps, or if suitable ones even exist for bass. I know I need one with an input for my instrument, one for whatever I'm playing my backing tracks through (probably my phone or an iPod I imagine), and maybe a headphone socket.

I'm not really thinking about budget at this point, but something cheap and cheerful would do the trick. Also, any tips on how to power them reliably?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[spaz21387]

Id just busk with an acoustic bass and skip the backing tracks. If you need drums build a kit out of buckets and random other trash. glass bottles make good cymbols.

 

[Slevage]

Put 3 car batteries in series for the +
rails of any amp (+36v)

And 3 more for the (-) rails (-36V)

The OP would need a dolly with good, air filled tires to push the 6 batteries and amplifier to the performance spot.

Marine duty batteries would cost a lot more, but last longer.

 

[SirMjac28]

I've never heard of amp busking?

 

[jasper383]

Roland makes a very usable battery powered combo.

http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/940

 

[bkbirge]

I've never heard of amp busking?

That's when you try and sell a crate amp as if it was an svt. I believe alleyways and unmarked white panel vans are involved also.

 

[Bassgeer]

I've never heard of amp busking?

Thee is a guy in my city they call the Electric Busker. He's got an electric guitar, a beat up boss pedal and a really long extension cord. Plugs it in wherever he can find. Plays pretty good too!

 

[SirMjac28]

That's when you try and sell a crate amp as if it was an svt. I believe alleyways and unmarked white panel vans are involved also.

LoL! I tried looking it up is it something street performers rig up for sound?

 

[tomnomnom91]

Some of you have honestly never heard of busking with an amp? Using an amp is more common than not doing so around these parts.

 

[bkbirge]

Sure we've heard of busking *with* an amp. Busking an amp not so much, that sounds medically dangerous, lol.

Then again, busking at all around these parts is taking your life into your hands.

 

[Floyd Eye]

SVT/Fridge.




Hey, it has wheels.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently toying with the idea of going out busking with my bass, and using backing tracks for support. I know next to nothing about busking amps, or if suitable ones even exist for bass. I know I need one with an input for my instrument, one for whatever I'm playing my backing tracks through (probably my phone or an iPod I imagine), and maybe a headphone socket.

I'm not really thinking about budget at this point, but something cheap and cheerful would do the trick. Also, any tips on how to power them reliably?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

A tiny, ultra lightweight, 100W bass combo amp (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MB110) - and a "pure sine wave" inverter (http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-...&qid=1383621132&sr=8-1&keywords=Bright+APS600) - with two 12V, 20Ah sealed batteries (http://www.amazon.com/PowerStar®-20...1301&sr=8-11&keywords=12V+20Ah+Sealed+Battery) will give you approximately 4 hours of playing time according to this calculator (http://www.alternate-energy.net/batteryamphours03.html). And you can plug your phone/Ipod straight into the GK MB110 amp for your backing tracks too.

 

[Mystic Michael]

A couple days ago, I heard some cat playing a four-string electric through a Pignose amp, in one of the NYC subway stations. It wasn't loud, but it got a surprisingly decent tone for being so tiny, and the sound carried & penetrated better than I would have guessed.

There are no electrical outlets available there, of course, so the Pignose must have been battery powered.

MM

 

[Blueinred]

Pignose and Roland both make battery combos. The Pignose 30 watt seems to be the busking amp of choice for bass from reviews I read. $160 most places and will go 4+ hours on a charge. 25 lbs.

 

[willbassyeah]

Roland Micro Cube Bass RX, i just got this amp, surprising loud low end with no hiss or distortion... up to 12 hours (they claim) on 6 2AA battery. I have not try to play mine on the battery, another alternatives will be portable PAs, Korg MMA130, or the Roland BA55.

 

[grey area]

Roland Micro Cube Bass RX, i just got this amp, surprising loud low end with no hiss or distortion... up to 12 hours (they claim) on 6 2AA battery. I have not try to play mine on the battery, another alternatives will be portable PAs, Korg MMA130, or the Roland BA55.

+1 on the micro roland. its light, runs for ages on AA batteries, has a cheesy beat box, cheesy effects but the chorus aint bad, and a built in tuner. hours of fun. it also comes with a mains power option so if you have an extension cable you can plug in if theres a power supply near. its not very loud but should be enough for what you have in mind. read up on the pignose before buying as there can be some issues with them( as with any amp). alternatively get a long legged girlfriend to pedal a generator bike and then you can use any amp and it would draw a good crowd.
good luck.

 

[christw]

Ya'll are thinking a little too small if you need to compete with traffic noise. Consider a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Same TINY box as the MB10 with a 12V battery running a 5 channel 400w PA with effects.

Oh yeah, there's an extension cab too-the Carvin 810. Yep, you read it right! It's a 110 extension for the PA.

 

[4-stringB]

Do not use inverters outside. There are too many ways to electrocute yourself. There are many auto sound products that lend themselves to busking very nicely.

 

[Slevage]

Do not use inverters outside. There are too many ways to electrocute yourself. There are many auto sound products that lend themselves to busking very nicely.

So the inverter mounted next to my PV cells on my garage are dangerous? I guess the nema 4R rating on it is just for show. LOL

 

[Joe Louvar]

Do not use inverters outside. There are too many ways to electrocute yourself.

Well, like most battery powered instrument amps - you wouldn’t want to use it in the rain or go swimming with it - but using an inverter outdoors is no more dangerous than indoors as long as you use common sense.