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BAttery Powered Amp

L

LZBass

Jul 24, 2009
28
0
Illinois
#1
Our band has been offered an acoustic slot during an event. This is more of a roving band arrangement. Anybody have any experience with a small battery powered bass amp?

I'm also debating whether I too would go with an acoustic/electric bass, but still interested in an small amp for that.

Thanks for any help.

LZBass
 
#2
Skip the acoustic electric and pick up a Roland Micro RX Bass Cube if you can find one. There are still some new ones available despite it having been recently discontinued. Great little amp that has a ton of features and runs on batteries. Its not all that loud but can get some great tones and would keep up with acoustic guitars. Even has a shoulder strap and built in drum beats.
 
#5
Codger said:
Carvin [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] does battery. Maybe too large @34 lb.
Click to expand...

Wow! Thats a nice piece! Good suggestion.

I typically run a 12V automobile battery pack and inverter with my SWR Baby Blue 110 combo. I've recently mounted my Markbass F500 in there and it's so much more efficient with the class D power and no tube. The battery pack will last an entire weekend of camp fire jamming at pretty loud levels. People actually dance!
 
#7
MuthaFunk said:
Wow! Thats a nice piece! Good suggestion.

I typically run a 12V automobile battery pack and inverter with my SWR Baby Blue 110 combo. I've recently mounted my Markbass F500 in there and it's so much more efficient with the class D power and no tube. The battery pack will last an entire weekend of camp fire jamming at pretty loud levels. People actually dance!
Click to expand...

Do you use a pure sine wave inverter or just a standard type?

X8
 
#9
In this case, diy can be a great solution
Full range class-d car amps are cheap and easy to find.
Once they get above so many watts they will have their own power inverters to boost the voltage up.
If you have an iPod or iPhone this can be used as a pre-amp and drive it to full power.
For small lightweight powerful and affordable you can't beat a greenboy design.
 
#12
+2 on the Roland Micro Cube jammed with bluegrassers a bunch in Central Park - no big thunder but worked real good for us.

-Edit- A big plus is you could use a guitar strap with it and get really portable.
 
#14
The Pignose Hog30 is about $100 cheaper than the Roland, and sounds better IMO. It's a bit bigger at 28lbs, but is built strong enough to sit on if you want. I use mine with a Tech21 VT Bass pedal with very good results. Try them both if you can.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#15
I will give you another vote for the roland, great tones, decently loud with built features that cannot be denied like a drum kit.

I love mine and I have seen piles of buskers use them, in fact pretty well every busker I saw the last saturday night I was in Vancouver was using one.

There was also a thread here on TB about a guy who engineered his own portable battery amp, I am sure somebody better with the search can find it for you.
 
#16
macmanlou said:
The Pignose Hog30 is about $100 cheaper than the Roland, and sounds better IMO. It's a bit bigger at 28lbs, but is built strong enough to sit on if you want. I use mine with a Tech21 VT Bass pedal with very good results. Try them both if you can.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

Not to be argumentative, but I had a pignose. Think it was actually the hog 40 though (don't remember). The Roland IMO is light years away soundwise, and is much more portable. Also, the battery on the pignose didn't last long at all, and died completely on me 2 times... where it had to be replaced. And pretty quickly. I think I may have actually gotten to use it about 3 or 4 times only, on battery. I believe you have to charge it for only as long as it takes to charge. Can't leave it plugged in, which was a pain in the butt for me, as I used it most of the time plugged in.

To the OP, you might want to check it out, but I think the Roland is a much better amp all round.
 
#18
Love my bass cube. Use the drum machine for practice. Handles rehearsals for piano, acoustic guitar, unmic'd vocals. Put it on the floor against a wall and it makes pretty decent low end. Don't recommend for 5 string.
 
#19
This thread inspired me to plug my Ampeg BA110 into my Northern Tool battery back-up with built-in 400W inverter. Works great...no hums,buzz or any other audio based artifact. Same tone as the 110ac. I'm almost positive the inverter is not sine wave at this price point. Just another choice:

battamp001_zps2926c8d7.jpg
 
#20
Just to clarify, when you say "roving", do you mean walking around while playing or playing a piece or two and then moving to a different location? That would make a big difference as far as suggestions. If it is the latter then I suggest the Carvin. It really sounds amazing and lasts a long time. I was practicing softball in a field next door to where a marching band was practicing not too long ago. They were using the Carvin with an extension cab. It sounded really REALLY good and covered the football and our field too. It really isn't a big box. If it were me, I would put it on one of those little fold up hand carts and roll it from one spot to another..... and then sit on it while playing. It also has inputs for a mic or guitar.
 

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