For portability: Rumble 40 vs. Micromark 801?

[odrive]

@jallenbass Thanks, I saw that video too. The PJB sounds best to me in that demo, but I had a Briefcase and found the super hi-fi tone almost too pristine. Also not wild about the D4’s external power supply.

@buldog5151bass The hand truck idea hit me in the middle of the night last night! Still thinking about it.

@srayb Thanks for the further info! What about sheer volume through that little speaker? Enough for a coffee shop? For overall form factor, I really like the SB106. Now if I could just find one in the U.S. Also, looks like the original $400 street price jumped by $90 or so.

 

[srayb]

@srayb Thanks for the further info! What about sheer volume through that little speaker? Enough for a coffee shop? For overall form factor, I really like the SB106. Now if I could just find one in the U.S. Also, looks like the original $400 street price jumped by $90 or so.

I’d like other SB106 owners to chime in on volume abilities as I never cranked it much. However it is rated about the same output as the Micromark so I would expect coffee shop gigs would be achievable with it.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I used the double four a lot on acoustic jazz and background music gigs mostly on upright bass. It's not going to fill a room with low end but will easily put out enough sound to balance with other acoustic instruments. It's got a warm sound that didn't sound thin in most rooms.

Do you think the D4 would be enough for a bass guitar with an acoustic piano?

 

[basss]

I think it would be loud enough as long as you're not trying to fill a big room. I enjoyed it more with upright bass than electric.

 

[mark107]

I've not tried a Micromark, or even the 2-8 version of the Minimark, but my older 2-6 Minimark has always sounded great with a variety of basses in many different gig situations. Everyone who has heard it was quite surprised by the tone and available volume, when needed, from it.

It is right at 20 lb. and it very compact.

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I have been using this amp for about 15 years. I also own the Micromark 801, as well as some much larger, higher powered stuff. The 801 is very good for what it is, and I have flown to Europe several times with it in my suitcase along with two weeks of clothes, and still been under the 50 lb limit. It has an XLR out, which gets me into the house PA and monitors as needed. It also has an extension speaker jack (few small combos do), so whenever I found a cabinet in the backline, I employed it. I have even plugged into a 4x10 with it. All in all, a really handy amp.

The 2x6 Markbass is in another league. Way more volume, way more low end. And a way better option than the 801, if you are looking for small and (actually) useful. I was just at a music conference, and there was a Phil Jones rep there, with the whole line of their small amps. None of them could touch the Markbass 2x6 for low end, not even close. I did not have the 1x8 with me, and I am sure that that would have been a close contest with some of the offerings, and the MB 2x6 easier beat all the PJ amps for what is a very basic requirement; low end.

So my advice is look for a used MB 2x6 (the "Minimark"). In the 15 years I have been using it, I have never come across another small combo (in it's general size and weight) that could hang with it. And I have beat the crap out of it over the years and it has always just worked. Great stuff.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I think it would be loud enough as long as you're not trying to fill a big room. I enjoyed it more with upright bass than electric.

I can imagine it would be perfect for double bass in these circumstances.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The 2x6 Markbass is in another league. Way more volume, way more low end. And a way better option than the 801, if you are looking for small and (actually) useful. I was just at a music conference, and there was a Phil Jones rep there, with the whole line of their small amps. None of them could touch the Markbass 2x6 for low end, not even close. I did not have the 1x8 with me, and I am sure that that would have been a close contest with some of the offerings, and the MB 2x6 easier beat all the PJ amps for what is a very basic requirement; low end.

I have compared my Minimark to a couple of PJB amps, and I completely agree with you on this. Regarding another hallowed amp, when I got the Minimark I had a SWR Baby Blue II combo amp that saw gig action until I did a side-by-side with the Minimark. The SWR is still a great amp, but I sold it soon after acquiring the Minimark.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Wow, that Phil Jones is tiny! I had the original Briefcase many years ago and felt the sound was way too pristine. It was clinically clean and kind of spiky on the highs despite no horn. Does the Double Four have any warmth? And can it really fill a room with people chatting? It looks unbeatable for size and weight, so I'm adding to my list of contenders.

IMHO, no, the D4 has little to no warmth at all. I owned one for about a year, and while its form and volume are really decent, it's so antiseptic you'll think you're rolling your sleeve up for a shot! What I currently own is the Markbass CMD 101 and it has oodles more personality than the Double-Four ever did. It gets as loud and I feel the 1o" speaker has a more pleasing bottom end than the PJB does. Try them both out and judge for yourself.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I have just compared a phil Jones D4 to a micromark 801 and although the D4 was impressive with its hifi sound and weight,
the 801 had far more bottom end, and for Piano / bass guitar gigs a fair bit more capable. The D4 would be great to add a bit of volume to a Double Bass, though. Seriously impressed with the 801, am buying a trace 10" cab as an extension for it.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I have just compared a phil Jones D4 to a micromark 801 and although the D4 was impressive with its hifi sound and weight,
the 801 had far more bottom end, and for Piano / bass guitar gigs a fair bit more capable. The D4 would be great to add a bit of volume to a Double Bass, though. Seriously impressed with the 801, am buying a trace 10" cab as an extension for it.

Just wanted to add that I’ve used the 801 on a few duo gigs and it doesn’t disappoint. You don’t need a hifi sounding amp especially if you’re somewhere that’s a bit noisy, you just need a strong sound, which the 801 is more capable of, within reason.