I'll be playing at a party at the beach during the summer with some acoustic guitars and drums. I need a battery powered amp. Any suggestions? I've never seen one before..
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Need a battery powered amp
- Thread starter Steve S
- Start date
Steve, build one from 12v auto components. If your technical skills aren't up to it, find a techie to help you. It's simple, and relatively inexpensive. Keep it small, because you're only going up against accoustics, and you have to carry it across the sand. Things like a Power Wheel battery, a pre-amp stomp box, a small mono/bridged car amp, and a lightweight cab, with a 10", or 8" will be plenty. Bolt all this onto a wheeled dolly, and you're in business. DO NOT use an inverter. Plus, if you run low on juice, plug it into your cig lighter, make a beer run, and you're back in business....PS, I just saw the drums part. You'll need to make it a little larger. Good luck, and remember, whatever you build, will be far better that anything you can buy.
Steve, might want to search 'battery powered' or 'busking' on this forum .. should get probably 25-30 pages of reading 
Hi Steve, checkout some of the other battery powered amps and busking threads - IE: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/por...tery-amps-for-busking-playing-outside.855513/
Here are some of the more popular battery powered amps off the top of my head, some of these are still made, some are discontinued and must be found used:
Pignose Hog 30
Crate Taxi
Crate Limo
Carvin S400 or S400D
Also if you already have a small practice amp, you may be interested in simply getting a portable powerpack like the one Duracell makes, it should have enough power to run many small amps for several hours:
http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DRPP600-Powerpack-Starter-Emergency/dp/B009YR00MI
Pignose Hog 30
Crate Taxi
Crate Limo
Carvin S400 or S400D
Also if you already have a small practice amp, you may be interested in simply getting a portable powerpack like the one Duracell makes, it should have enough power to run many small amps for several hours:
http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DRPP600-Powerpack-Starter-Emergency/dp/B009YR00MI
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
- Apr 15, 2009
- 539
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- Disclosures
- Sales and electronic tech/piano tech: England Music Center - Clinton IA - now closed
I like my Roland Bass Micro Cube. Very good tone for such a little guy. You can plug it in at home, and use battery power at the beach or wherever needed.
I would highly recommend a Crate TX15 portable amp. It has a built-in rechargable battery that will last 4-6 hr. It is small and highly portable and puts out 105db at half volume. It served me well when I used to busk in Santa Monica several years ago. You can get it at the guitar center.
I sold my Crate TX15, but I still have my Crate TX30 that I use in parks, at the beach, camping, busking etc.
And another, although I might want something with more power if the drummer can't play reasonably low.
Just picked up a Pignose 30 for playing outside. It's fine with a couple of acoustic guitars and non amplified vocals. If the drummer isn't too aggressive, it might work there to. And holds a charge for hours. It's like the Energizer bunny.....
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