Headphone/Practice Amp Suggestions Wanted

[DiabolicLow B]

I use an Ampeg BA 108, for around $100 it's hard to beat.

 

[MrLenny1]

Tascam Bass Trainer MP3 version. Holds 250 tunes, metronome, tuner
looper/repeat lick function. Sound effects & fits in you r pocket.

 

[thedovewarlord]

Talkbassers, you guys are the best. Thanks for all the suggestions. Going to try and test as many of these options this weekend, though Im not sure if I'll get luck enough to demo the Line 6, that apears discontinued, but that looks really cool... going to visit GC because they may have the MB200, and Ampeg BA108, and a few of the other toys to try... might even check the TC BH250 that just caught my eye.

 

[jdwinva]

If you have a GK amp, download the iPhone app from GK. It rocks. I use mine with an Apogee Jam (http://www.amazon.com/JAM-Studio-Quality-Guitar-iPhone/dp/B004Z8VQ2O). Works great!!!

 

[Eatapeach1965]

I use an Ampeg BA 108, for around $100 it's hard to beat.

I just picked one up for the living room.
I love it. So cool having an input vol control too.
Nice little amp.

 

[Testing123]

Ha, this is interesting, the following ad just showed up in the left column:



I know some like and use the Rolls.

I use a Zoom B3 hooked up to my PC via a USB cable. With headphones plugged into the B3, I can hear the bass as well as anything playing on the PC (mp3, YouTube, etc.).

HTH..
Allen

 

[Linnin]

Don't overlook Fender's fabulous Bronco 40. It's perfect for your desired application.

 

[Rotation]

I'll second the Pandora recommend, you could put it and the iphone on your strap and with headphones be totally mobile. Been using my PX5D with rechargable AAs for a couple of years w/o trouble (touching wood).

 

[Blankandson]

Several thoughts here. One, when you begin using a really good pair of headphones to practice you will hear yourself (your playing, your style, strings, etc) in a new way. After a while you may like it a lot. When you plug your bass into an amp the next time, the amp may sound bad or just not quite what you like. That's just from really hearing yourself in the purest form. Second thought, a lot of us TBers need to run some malware programs and get rid of those pesky little buggers. Those are what's making ads show up on your screen just as you are reading or typing about what's being sold. Twice in the past two days someone has said "Hey, look what just popped up as I was reading about this" and guess what had just popped up. Clean up those computers dudes!

 

[mam1862]

I use a TC BH250 or just my iPad for practice. The TC has an aux jack for a iPod or iPad as well as the headphone jack. On the iPad I use the GK amp application which works real good too.

 

[Kmonk]

I use a Tascam GT-R1. You can put up to 1,000 songs on an SD card and play through headphones anywhere. It has a built in tuner, amp modeling, ability to build a set list, you can change pitch without changing speed and change speed without changing pitch. You can also loop parts of songs and it has a built microphone and recorder.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

I really like my Ampeg BA108....but you DO need a good set of headphones though.

 

[DonaldR]

As others mention, get some nice headphones first. As I'm feeling too much sound pressure with over-the-ears headphones when playing bass guitar, I'm now using in-ear and I'm having as much fun with those than playing my main rig. I have Shure E-2, which are far from the best, but since they are a bit "bass heavy" they work very well for our application (tons of bass!!!!). Just remember with in-ear the tighter the seal the better the bass response and the sound overall.

If you will use a passive bass you may have to go first into a preamp pedal or a DI when using a small mixer. Might not be a problem with an active bass, but even than you better test first.

I've used iRig with Amplitube and PocketGK, sounds ok but far from good.

I'm currently using Line6 Toneport GX which comes with Pod Farm (5 bass amp models). Sounds really, really good (I can send you some presets of Ampeg SVT, GK800RB and Eden Traveler amps if you want).

Honestly I think the MB200 (or TC BH250) is the best option. You can use it for silent practice, you can use it for recording with the DI, you can pair it with a 1x10 or a 1x12 for home practice or for acoustic gigs, you can use it as a preamp/DI for direct FOH or rehearsal and you can even add a second 1x12 (or your current cab) for small/medium gigs. Way more options that iPhone/small mixer IMO.

 

[thedovewarlord]

Yeah I totally agree about the headphones. I just purchased a nice over the ear set of Monster NCredible or N-Pulse or something like that, honestly tried to avoid getting over hyped by all the variety and just looked to find something that's fun sounding for just listening & relaxing as well as pair-up with my practice "rig" which I started this thread about.

For once just didnt get too caught up in comparring this spec to that spec. Ok, I did read reviews and rating but just to get familiar with what options there were and prices. I tried as many as I could, tried these next to a few major known brands and these sounded just right, so I found brand new on ebay. Waiting for USPS to arrive.

Perhaps it's just GAS at play but whenever I sit back and browse options I keep picturing the micro amp. Though I'm not making up my mind until I try anything it may be down to the MB200 vs BH250. I absolutely do plan to check out as many of the creative suggestions everyone responded with (I actually wrote a note on my phone listing everyone's suggestion here!).

Thank you - y'all are awesome.

 

[thedovewarlord]

PS -- everyone here on Talk Bass is not only awesome.. you all are extremely generous in many ways, your time, sharing your expertise, relaying your experience and even offers for presets is greatly appreciated. thx!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

For silent practice I use the Rolls PM351 with my 1964 Ears IEMs and mix in songs from my iPad via the PA.

Also have a nice headphone amp that's super portable and built like a tank from [sfx] Sound in the UK. Max is only building the H1 these days:
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This is the Micro-H version he made for me a year or so ago. Produces AMAZING tone. Also includes an aux micro jack for iPad etc. Very nice for travel. But I rarely travel, so it doesn't get used too much.

 

[Jim2100]

Hi,
I have tried to find the unit you mentioned and cannot. Can you provide model number. It looks like they have very high quality equipment. I saw the following.
TASCAM GB-10 GUITAR + BASS TRAINER
TASCAM CD-BT2 CD Bass Trainer

I went to their web site and it says that it is TEAC Professional.
When I was in Vietnam, I got involved with running some high end recording equipment. And it was TEAC. I think my father in-law had TEAC tape decks in the FM radio station in Chicago.
Thanks for the lead.

Jim

 

[Jim2100]

Hi,

Well I think I found an amp to go along with my new bass guitar that arrives Wednesday, Jan. 29. It is a Peavey Max 110 Bass Amp.
I would like to get some opinions about this amp. Invalid Link Removedis the link.
Peavey seems like a quality amp, from what I have read here.
So help me decide if it is a good practice amp. It has a 10" speaker which interests me.
Does it have enough controls / functions? Jacks for input and headphones, earbuds and so on?

Will order in next few days if I get enough favorable reviews.
I am going to use it in an old mobile home with two inch walls, built in 1963 before thee were any standards enforced. So I do not want to bother my neighbors twenty feet to either side of me. I mostly will play quietly or listen with headphones. (Can anyone recommend a suitable set of headphones for this task?) Can I also use Ipod earbuds?
And it does look like I can input my ipod to play along with if I ever get that good.

Thanks
Jim

P.S.
It is $159.00 delivered new. I thought that it looks like it beats a $99.00 amp with a six inch speaker. This has a ten inch and supposedly one hundred watts.

 

[LeonD]

Also have a nice headphone amp that's super portable and built like a tank from [sfx] Sound in the UK. Max is only building the H1 these days:
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Will the H1 run on batteries or just AC?

 

[jastacey]

I use a Pocket Rocket S1B with a Sennheiser HD360 Pro headphones, along with my laptop or a MP3 player