Phil Jones Big Head is great. But lately I've been using my Zoom B3. A little bigger but way more versatile.
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Another headphone amp seeker
- Thread starter monkeybanana
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- amp headphone headphone amp
easy on the pocket book.............get a good set of phones though. Like Grado SR60e. Cheap phones and ear buds won't do bass justice.
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Vox AP2BS Headphone Bass Guitar Amp amPlug2 Japan F/S | eBay
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For my uses, I tried most things out there thru the years, Yamaha Producer Series gear back in the day, the Raven Labs box, TASCAM Bass Trainer, lots of stuff. I found out two things: You need lots of headroom and sufficient power to drive REAL headphones (Sony MD, AKG's, or my A-T's), and forget anything that takes $20 crap-ola headphones. Plus I really need to be able to hear a faithful presentation of what I really sound like, and I need to be able to blend with CD's or downloads to practice up tunes. These requirements tended to weed out little battery powered plastic boxes . . . .
So, I use a Mackie 802VLZ mixer. The VLZ inputs plus the 802's ability to loudly (and cleanly) drive any headphone out there give me all I want. I can fade in other sources or prerecorded music, and I can even run the whole thing out to powered studio monitors and skip headphones or using an amp, and it sounds great to me. Obviously AC powered, so no concerns with batteries or the iffy headroom they offer as they begin to go south. Not portable in the least, but not a concern for me.
I'd like to try a Bass Buddy and Phil's bass headphones, but even here in Nashville, PJB distribution is still iffy, and I've yet to find a place to try them.
So, I use a Mackie 802VLZ mixer. The VLZ inputs plus the 802's ability to loudly (and cleanly) drive any headphone out there give me all I want. I can fade in other sources or prerecorded music, and I can even run the whole thing out to powered studio monitors and skip headphones or using an amp, and it sounds great to me. Obviously AC powered, so no concerns with batteries or the iffy headroom they offer as they begin to go south. Not portable in the least, but not a concern for me.
I'd like to try a Bass Buddy and Phil's bass headphones, but even here in Nashville, PJB distribution is still iffy, and I've yet to find a place to try them.
Thanks, I gave that a serious look but for my purposes don't need effects, drum tracks, etc. Simple play-along to learn parts and playing with backing tracks from my iphone is all that I need (working through The Latin Bass Book by Oscar Stagnaro).
I've had the Raven Labs and the Tascam
Decent but not great.
Phones out of a small bass amp or mixer was the best for me.
+1 on good headphones; highly recommend Sony VR series.
I have an ancient pair of V6's that sound great for about $75.
Used in many studios as well.
Decent but not great.
Phones out of a small bass amp or mixer was the best for me.
+1 on good headphones; highly recommend Sony VR series.
I have an ancient pair of V6's that sound great for about $75.
Used in many studios as well.
Rolls PM351 cant be beat for $80. Lately I’ve been using the Eventide Mixing Link which I picked up used for $200. It’s an Incredibly useful pedal.
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I've had a Korg Pandora and a Phil Jones Bass Buddy. I now have and have for some time a Phil Jones Big Head. I also bought the Phil Jones headphones and they work equally as well.
I use the Cafe Walter and 50 ohm Sennheiser cans. The 50 ohm phones are pretty important with the CW. Outstanding little rig. I’ve also used one of the little Mackie 402-VLZ3 mixers with great results when I want to hook up a microphone.
I recently hooked up with a Raven Labs PHA-1 for practicing quietly at home and I must say - it’s amazing. Going straight in with my passive bass sounds great but the real magic happens when I use the tube pre on my Hand Box R-400 hybrid amp. I use the effects send (post tube pre) and it is without question the best bass tone I’ve ever heard through headphones. I have never enjoyed playing with phones until now! I haven’t done any recording yet... but if I can manage to get my recordings to play back exactly what I am hearing - I will be in heaven!
Just sold my interface to my drummer!
An older Focusrite Scarlett 2i2o
Looking at the new Roland Rubix22. Or something similar. As soon as I get hooked up with something... I will be more than inclined!
An older Focusrite Scarlett 2i2oLooking at the new Roland Rubix22. Or something similar. As soon as I get hooked up with something... I will be more than inclined!
