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Battery Powered Bass Amps

DEACON

DEACON

Jan 3, 2008
5
2
Schoharie, NY
#1
I am looking for a good battery powered bass amp. (AC/DC)
I want to use it for playing with other acoustic instruments in outdoor/campfire settings.
Must have decent battery life per charging.
I realize you get what you pay for, but I don't want to break the bank either as these uses would be few occasions.
I am thinking that i could use it as a portable practice amp as well.
Suggestions welcome.
Deacon
 
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#4
I picked up a used Pig Nose Hog30 a few years ago to take down to the cabin with my mini acoustic bass for acoustic jams around the fire. It works well enough for what it is. I run it at about 40% and easily keep up with the acoustics, batteries last about 5 hours and that level. It uses affordable and plentiful sealed lead acid batteries used in emergency exit lights, though in the 5 years I have had it they still hold a charge, not sure how much older they are that, it charges in about 8 hours from a wall wart.

fpAtKwe.jpg
 
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#5
Killing Floor said:
PJB Double Four uses a 12V computer power supply and there is a thread on TB on how to use battery power for it.
Click to expand...
The correct voltaage is 19 or 20v and the typical battery used is a laptop charger style battery. There are some who've had success converting 18-20V tool batteies for this task. The new D4 coming out has a USB C powering port for better standardization.
 
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#6
FYI, there are lot's of relevant threads on this subject.

If you already have a small amp that would be suitable, consider a small pure sine power bank. Here's a thread: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/battery-powered-mayhem-jackery-300.1567820/#post-26573137

FYI, I recently experience a 2-day power outage and I used my Jackery to watch TV for about three hours, and then played video games for another hour. After that it was under 15% charge, which is the recommended minimum.

If I was going to buy a battery powered amp that I wanted to be mobile, the smallest I would consider is the Roland Cube Street EX. This amp runs on eight AA batteries, so get Eneloops and a charger.
 
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#7
Killing Floor said:
PJB Double Four uses a 12V computer power supply and there is a thread on TB on how to use battery power for it.
Click to expand...
With the note that the OP does not want to break the bank, the PJBD4 might be too costly, new about $480 US.
Wasnex said:
FYI, there are lot's of relevant threads on this subject.

If you already have a small amp that would be suitable, consider a small pure sine power bank. Here's a thread: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/battery-powered-mayhem-jackery-300.1567820/#post-26573137

FYI, I recently experience a 2-day power outage and I used my Jackery to watch TV for about three hours, and then played video games for another hour. After that it was under 15% charge, which is the recommended minimum.

If I was going to buy a battery powered amp that I wanted to be mobile, the smallest I would consider is the Roland Cube Street EX. This amp runs on eight AA batteries, so get Eneloops and a charger.
Click to expand...
I also suggest getting a power bank, which can be used with any plugin amp. I use a Powkey 200w with my Carvin MB15 200w, 15" combo amp that lasts hours. Before that I actually put together my own power bank with 200w pure sine wave inverter and 10Ah lithium motorcycle battery that lasts even longer. Either is under $150.

IMG_4699.JPG
 
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#10
Jackery battery back up is the way to go. I powered my 300watt AI combo for a gig at a country club where they stuck us in the middle of the room around the piano, with all the power on the walls. Couldn’t run an extension cord as they were afraid of someone tripping over it. It’s my “s**t where’s the power?” solution for any gig
 
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#13
DEACON said:
I am looking for a good battery powered bass amp. (AC/DC)
I want to use it for playing with other acoustic instruments in outdoor/campfire settings.
Must have decent battery life per charging.
I realize you get what you pay for, but I don't want to break the bank either as these uses would be few occasions.
I am thinking that i could use it as a portable practice amp as well.
Suggestions welcome.
Deacon
Click to expand...
Check otu the Roland Micro Cube RX Bass Amp. Ive owned one when I was in the Army. We'd go TDY for months at a time, living in Hotels, Motels, and Holiday Inns... literally. I had an acoustic/electric bass, and a Boss BR-900CD. If you can find one. And even after in the recording studio. That box is more than an amp, it's a nice workstation.
 
#14
A real bass combo that happens to work both plugged in and with battery.

Traynor

Traynor is a brand of bass amplifiers and guitar amplifiers, the first brand formed by Yorkville Sound. The Traynor brand, named for founder Peter Traynor, began in 1963 with the Dynabass bass amplifier, a rental product. Traynor first became popular in Canada by providing less expensive...
traynoramps.com traynoramps.com
 
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#15
GrapeBass said:
A real bass combo that happens to work both plugged in and with battery.

Traynor

Traynor is a brand of bass amplifiers and guitar amplifiers, the first brand formed by Yorkville Sound. The Traynor brand, named for founder Peter Traynor, began in 1963 with the Dynabass bass amplifier, a rental product. Traynor first became popular in Canada by providing less expensive...
traynoramps.com traynoramps.com
Click to expand...
That seems like a well thought out combo!
 
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#16
Smith357 said:
I picked up a used Pig Nose Hog30 a few years ago to take down to the cabin with my mini acoustic bass for acoustic jams around the fire. It works well enough for what it is. I run it at about 40% and easily keep up with the acoustics, batteries last about 5 hours and that level. It uses affordable and plentiful sealed lead acid batteries used in emergency exit lights, though in the 5 years I have had it they still hold a charge, not sure how much older they are that, it charges in about 8 hours from a wall wart.

fpAtKwe.jpg
Click to expand...
I used to busk with one of those back in the 90's in NYC.
 
#17
somatose said:
I’m in the same camp, did some asking around here on TB and was set on the Cube (hopefully trying it out this week).

How do you like the Behringer so far?
Click to expand...
The Behringer delivered a much fuller sound than the Cube … impressed with it. I actually bought the “Pro’ model … same as the one shown but with wheels and a retractable handle which is super convenient. Great bang for your buck IMO.
 
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#18
I'll second Wasnex's suggestion. Get a Jackery portable power pack(or equivalent pure sine wave power pack) and use your existing gear. I bought a 500. It powers my TH500 into a Fearless 15/6/1 easily for six hours with more than 40% reserve to spare. I use it with a K12 for lesser situations and need one decent vocal mic for myself. And it's been handy to have when the house power goes out. There was a gig before I had the Jackery and that I would have played keys on. The band was to be power by a generator supplied by the host. When I asked too many questions, I got booted off the gig. Only recently I heard the gig was a disaster because of the generator. I would have been fine with my gear attached to my power bank.
 
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#19
Since the Behringer isn’t in stock atm, I took some inspiration from the PJB Double Four battery thread and picked up a Milwaukee M18 Top-Off power supply. My practice amp works great, fits in a rolling cart, and there’s room for the power supply and a spare battery.

Is it better than a dedicated battery powered amp? Don’t know yet, but I agree it’s nice to use the gear you have!
 

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#20
DEACON said:
I am looking for a good battery powered bass amp. (AC/DC)
I want to use it for playing with other acoustic instruments in outdoor/campfire settings.
Must have decent battery life per charging.
I realize you get what you pay for, but I don't want to break the bank either as these uses would be few occasions.
I am thinking that i could use it as a portable practice amp as well.
Suggestions welcome.
Deacon
Click to expand...

There are a few Roland / Boss battery powered amps that may work for you.
The micro cube has a lot of features.
 
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