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In praise of practice amps

#21
All but one of my 5 amps have power tubes, but it's the Roland Micro Cube that gets played the most. If I have a few minutes I'll run through a song or two. I wouldn't want to turn the others on for 10 minutes, 8 times a day. Running the cube's recording out into my huge tube monster is fun, too. Like most modeling amps, the sims are not terribly convincing, but if you think of them as effects they can have their uses.

Also nice to have a portable amp for meeting Craigslist lunatics, so you don't have to bring them home or go to theirs to hear a bass.
 
#22
Agreed!! My Hartke Kickback is the perfect amp. Play with it at home when I practice, it is small and easily transportable, and the line out lets me use it when I do all my gigs because I cam always plugged into a system. Don't need anything else.
 
#24
Small amps have certainly come a long way in the last 30 years.
I still want to find a cheap 10" combo for church instead of using my SWR Bass 350 and a 2X10 cabinet.
I barely turn the thing on there.

Our guitar player has a Fender Rumble 100 2X10 combo that's actually quite giggable as long as stage volume is reasonable.
The thing weighs very little.
It's close to maxed out as far as output goes, but can keep up if need be.
We've used it many times very successfully.
 
#29
fourstringdrums said:
Is an Ampeg B50R considered a "practice" amp? I'm assuming given the wattage and headphone jack.

It's fantastic. I have no shame in playing it.
Click to expand...

Heck yes! I have had my B50R for about 13 years now and i love that thing. Granted I dont play it out anymore, I leave it at home for a practice amp, but when I first got it it was all I had to play through and took it to a full on rock/metal act that was loud as all get out. I thought I blew the woofer in it a long time ago and went in the closet for a long time. I recently took it out of the closet in a move and started playing it again. I thought the woofer was still blown in it so I took it out of the cab and checked it out. It looked fine, no rips, any disconnections. So I put it back in and the thing plays like a dream again :) I use it daily. It isnt loud enough for my main bands but it is awesome for home use. I could see maybe using it for an acoustic gig or even a lighter music night and have it mic'd. I love that little combo. It sounds and looks awesome. I hope to have it for many years to come. It was my first real bass amp. I just have to order a new ampeg emblem for the front of it still. The original one broke in two places.
 
#30
The lower-powered combo is the essence of "no muss, no fuss". Sometimes I'll just buy a couple off CL to try them out, knowing that I am unlikely to lose money on them. Some of them are quite clever little things: the various Fender Rumbles, Peavey Maxx amps, and the Ampeg BA110. They are better than they've EVER been, by miles. In the appropriate setting, all ya gotta do is plug 'em and play 'em, and they usually come through.
 
#31
My practice amp is my Valve Jr. guitar amp. Has plenty enough thump for around the house and gets some pretty cool overdrive tones as well. Even got pressed into service at one gig where a guitar went down. Plugged it into a Marshall 412 and worked great. (Makes you wonder what a guitarist needs a 100 watt amp for, especially when things are mi'd).

Also had Peaveys Minx 110 and Basic12. Both great amps that can double as keys amps for rehearsal. Also had a Hartke Kickback15. That one was super convenient for taking to rehearsal and had enough oomph for small gigs.

Recently, I pulled the amp out of my TKO combo and discovered it didn't weigh any more than a good plate of BBQ, so I built a little headcase for it and threw away the lead-infused pressboard box. Going to make a light little cabinet for it and make the head detachable.


No hate for practice amps here. In fact, a few years ago, I saw a band full of teenagers who had nothing but 10-20 watt bedroom amps. All mic'd up and run through a huge, megawatt PA system, they sounded just as huge as big stacks.
 
#33
kcole4001 said:
Our guitar player has a Fender Rumble 100 2X10 combo that's actually quite giggable as long as stage volume is reasonable.
The thing weighs very little.
Click to expand...
I think it weighed about 62 pounds. For a 2x10, that's not lightweight in my book. It also has the silly single top-mounted carrying strap, although IIRC at least they put casters on the bottom to prevent hernias. :)

Contrast to the new GK MB210-II combo, which has triple the power and weighs 35 lbs. Of course, it's about double the price too. :)
 
#35
my practice amps are also my gig amps here in nyc where venues can be small and you have to carry your gear on the subway (no roadies for jazz ;-))...
1.use for inside and outside gig work (battery) on low volume jazz trio
http://www.amazon.com/Roland-Micro-...636&sr=8-1&keywords=roland+micro+cube+bass+rx

2. my main lounge/smaller venue amp for jazz gigs and a pop group.. both upright and fender bass
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/markbass-minimark-150-250w-2x6-bass-combo-amp

two great amps that have seen tons of practice!
 
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#36
The "ultimate" practice combo. My Greenboy Audio Crazy8 and a Puma 900 amp (I like modular, even when small). With an Fdeck HPF-Pre, this combo easily gets as loud as a good 110. Beautiful clear, deep tone. Cab weighs 16 pounds (incl. a kickstand built into the bottom) and amp is 3.5 pounds. Very effective for practice, and gigs in small coffee shop type venues. A short boost with the plastic stool helps project into the audience. In my home studio, I also use this Crazy8 as a floor monitor for my PA.

Link Removed
 
#38
This is why I bought my ampeg ba112. Just loud enough to keep up with a drummer who isn't abusing his kit, and I can carry I with 1 hand. Makes a nice seat, too.

I also teach on the weekends so I want something ultra portable with 2 inputs, absolutely perfect
 
#39
will33 said:
No hate for practice amps here. In fact, a few years ago, I saw a band full of teenagers who had nothing but 10-20 watt bedroom amps. All mic'd up and run through a huge, megawatt PA system, they sounded just as huge as big stacks.
Click to expand...

That works. I saw a band where there were two pig nose practice amps, and literally a toy drum kit he played with hot rods. It was a very cool sound.
 
#40
Ukiah Bass said:
The "ultimate" practice combo. My Greenboy Audio Crazy8 and a Puma 900 amp (I like modular, even when small). With an Fdeck HPF-Pre, this combo easily gets as loud as a good 110. Beautiful clear, deep tone. Cab weighs 16 pounds (incl. a kickstand built into the bottom) and amp is 3.5 pounds. Very effective for practice, and gigs in small coffee shop type venues. A short boost with the plastic stool helps project into the audience. In my home studio, I also use this Crazy8 as a floor monitor for my PA.

Link Removed
Click to expand...

sweet rig, Cuz!:eek:
 

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