i have the Phil Jones briefcase but wondering how the newer one is for DB, its called the ultimate briefcase...also any users have a superflightcase vs, the flightcase in use for DB..dissatisfied with mark bass for DB
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Double Bass anybody using the phil jones super flightcase or flightcase for DB..or the Ultimate Briefcase
- Thread starter bert harris
- Start date
I don’t gig anymore. But I own a superflightcase and IMHO it is awesome - especially for its size - on both UB and EUB (CRM5). YMMV. Get the red one 
I use a Super Flightcase mostly for DB and I love it. I have a couple of minor gripes which I wrote up over in the reviews forum but the pros vastly outweigh the cons for me. Though I have not gigged the Flightcase I was able to A/B the two in the store where I purchased my SFC.
The tradeoff with the amazing fidelity and compactness of these amps is that they are not very loud. I use my SFC for even tiny <50 person gigs and it is always as quiet as I need it to be while projecting a very even sound. That said, the SFC has just enough kick to handle the more moderate loud URB gigs that I do, and based on my comparison of the two amps in store I don't think the Flightcase would have been loud enough for my needs.
Thankfully PJB makes 2x5 and 6x5 powered extension speakers that can be paired up with either of these amps, so if you fall in love with one and find yourself needing more juice you can go that route as well.
@Chris Fitzgerald do you own both of the PJB Flightcase models or am I just making that up?
The tradeoff with the amazing fidelity and compactness of these amps is that they are not very loud. I use my SFC for even tiny <50 person gigs and it is always as quiet as I need it to be while projecting a very even sound. That said, the SFC has just enough kick to handle the more moderate loud URB gigs that I do, and based on my comparison of the two amps in store I don't think the Flightcase would have been loud enough for my needs.
Thankfully PJB makes 2x5 and 6x5 powered extension speakers that can be paired up with either of these amps, so if you fall in love with one and find yourself needing more juice you can go that route as well.
@Chris Fitzgerald do you own both of the PJB Flightcase models or am I just making that up?
I own both the Super Flightcase and Flightcase combos. I love them and use the SFC on most gigs. I wrote a review on both amps for Bass Gear magazine years ago that can be found here. I stand by pretty much everything in it today. For me it's the perfect amp except for the absence of a high pass filter, which is easy enough to add cheaply. The up firing drivers on top of both combos are pure genius and I've been very happy ever since I started playing them.
I switched from markbass to Phil Jones about a yr and a half ago, also dissatisfied with the sound I was getting on DB. But I also switched because I doubled on electric bass and was looking for two channel options. While I loved the sound of the Flightcase and it’s upfiring speakers, I instead went with the suitcase compact and c4 extension. Have yet to be disappointed, works and sounds great in all situations I’ve had so far.
Don’t think you can go wrong with the flightcase.
I had a Flightcase but sold it. Wasn't loud enough for the big Band gigs I was doing then.
It was the Red tolex/beige cloth version, and looked awesome.
It was the Red tolex/beige cloth version, and looked awesome.
SFC is ported to the front, 4 drivers to the front, and 2 facing up. While those 2 upward firing drivers help mostly for monitoring, I think some of the audience gets some of that sound too? ( Bass bounces!). And FOH should handle the rest in most bigger venues.
Not quite the same oomph as my 2xNV115 stack, but not bad either!
And definitely get the Red Tolex version. The wife won’t even care if it’s in the front room
Not quite the same oomph as my 2xNV115 stack, but not bad either!
And definitely get the Red Tolex version. The wife won’t even care if it’s in the front room
I would love to hear a double 4 one of these days. Everybody seems to think they’re great.
I had the FC and powered extension. 450watts and 10 5" drivers. Great tone but was not loud enough. The caveat is I double, and I play in five very different bands. It was fine for jazz gigs, but not enough "grunt" for a lot of other stuff.
I have a double four and love it. Used it in a jazz quintet that included drums at my church. The little amp held its own with really good sound for double bass. Great for smaller gigs!
I also switched from markbass to the Phil Jones (super flight case) just under a year ago. Much more natural sound for double bass. I have taken the advice from Chris Fitzgerald and use a hpf in the effects loop to get the most out of this amp- as it can still get boomy without it. For louder doubling gigs I will bring out the markbass- the pjb lacks the umph for electric, but for upright it has been the most natural sounding amp I've played through.
I am looking for assistance in hearing myself AND quick setup for festival shows when the band is not using IEMs. I am hoping Chris Fitzgerald and others might respond. I mostly play bluegrass, western swing and country, but occasionally get off into blues, folk, singer-songwriter... (basically anything someone is willing to pay me to play).
I currently have an Acoustic Image Coda Series 4 Plus and I do not like the sound. It seems to color the bass sound in a way that does not suit my playing. I will likely be selling it soon. I also have an old Clarus 300 IA (the original) and an original Contra-EX (Wish I had bought an original Contra combo). I am currently using the old Clarus with an AI Upshot speaker and it sounds just fine. I am really just using it to hear myself. The rest of the band gets monitors and audience gets FOH. The problem is the time it takes me to setup the speaker, amp and cables. In a bluegrass festival situation, I am always rushed and ALWAYS the last to be setup and ready to go. I am not willing to let someone jam a SM-57, SM-58 or whatever mic into my bass. I want more control over my sound. I would like to have a combo amp that sounds great; that I can hear when standing almost over it, and that is quicker to setup.
I should mention that I am using a Grace Designs Felix preamp to mix a Fishman Full Circle PU and (sometimes) an Ear Trumpet Labs Nadine bass mic. I use the Felix for HPF and to send signal to FOH, among other things.
Would either the PJB Flightcase or Super Flightcase (or something else) be a better solution than what I have? I very much like the up-firing speaker idea.
I am going to return my (early) AI Upshot to get the amp mount bracket added to see if that provides an acceptable low cost fix. I figured that since I will likely sell the AI Coda, I might want to replace it with something that will better match what I need. I rarely rely solely on an amp for FOH any more, but I do occasionally need a smallish amp for that.
Thanks, Lenny
Love love love my Flightcase, love the top-firing woofers for combo work or as a monitor for me when DI-ed into the backline. Per Chris above a variable HP is all it needs... easily solved with an Fdeck,.for example
Every once in a while I wish it had a bit more horsepower, but putting it on a chair helps a lot as well.
Every once in a while I wish it had a bit more horsepower, but putting it on a chair helps a lot as well.
IMHO a Super FlightCase from PJB is an excellent choice ( I like mine, anyway, but I don't gig lately ).
Also IMHO, it will NOT color your sound. Probably the only 2 things I have heard negatively about them is they are TOO accurate ( heh! ) and not enough volume for large gigs. An extender cab from PBJ should solve the later. But man, it is pretty loud for small gigs for sure IMxxx - you get it
I play a CR5M EUB through mine, and I have zero complaints. And no audience, mind that...Good luck with your quest, and of course, try one out if you can before you buy.
@nbsipics I wouldn't say that the SFC is underpowered for "large gigs" - although I would say that the regular flight case can be - but i guess it depends on your definition of the term. I've played rooms like the Blue Note in NYC and the World Cafe in Philly using it, and it was more than adequate. Where I have needed more is on outdoor festival stages, but that's definitely the next level up IME. At that point, it's going to be all about FOH and getting the monitor mix right.
It seems logical that without an audience there will be no complaints.
Found one. A new return - someone mis-ordered the wrong thing. I got it with a nice discount. It sounds great in my practice room. Looking forward to trying it on a gig this weekend. Thanks, Chris!
They are hen's teeth in Canada unfortunately... took me 4 years of searching to find my used Flightcase. Worth the hunt, though.
