Phil Jones Bass... really that good?

[jj.833]

I think PJB combos are primary intended for double bass. With double bass, you can be only as much loud, because of the feedback. Feedback comes from moving air created by a speaker, which moves the top or bottom desk of the body, then feeds back to the pickup or mic. The smaller area of moving air, the smaller impact of the speaker on the body, which means you can turn your amp more up, resulting in bigger volume to your ears. But, you need to aim the speaker at your ear, not at the bass body. Also, many of us double bass players prefer clear mids and highs above boomy lows, because you need to hear pitches very well to play in tune (and more).

Bass guitar players often like big boomy low end. I think PJB stack can do it too, but it is definitely not the best rig for metal. IMHO it is meant more for everynight pub gigging jazz trio bassist, you would be very happy with how easy it is to travel.

 

[brianrost]

My only PJB experience is with the smallest one...Briefcase, with two drivers, battery pack, 100 watts. I was flabbergasted how little volume it could put out before farting out although the tone was excellent. It wasn't suitable for me as anything more than a practice amp. Current list price is $1200??? I passed.

I have yet to see another PJB amp of any kind in the flesh, which is too bad because I'd like to try one of the big cabs.

Disclaimer (for reference): currently using a Walter Woods head and two Bergantino HT112 cabs, also an Acoustic Image Coda combo for DB gigs

 

[ga_edwards]

Regarding production of fundemantal frequencies, not many bass cabs produce them for the very lowest of notes, particualarly if you play a 5 string. Even the mighty Ampeg 8x10 rolls off around 50hz. The low E-string is 41hz. Not to mention, more and more bassists are using hpf's to remove even more low frequencies.

It's more efficient to produce the 2nd and 3rd order etc harmonics. Your brain fills in the rest.

I'm no expert in these matters, I'm sure someone else can explain the science much better than me. This is just my understanding. I would assume this is the science that PJB cabs exploit.

 

[jnewmark]

Never tried any of their cabs or combos, but I do own a PJ Bass Buddy, headphone amp. For what it is, it has everything a regular bass head would have, compressor/limiter, 5 band EQ, DI, Active/Passive switch, Speaker out ( built in 10 watt amp ), Aux In with Volume control, and weighs about as much as a loaf of bread. Excellent for what it does, namely headphone playing with an AUX Input, ( my PC ). Shame it was discontinued.

 

[Frank77]

If I may add to what I stated before regarding price point/value: They had me facepalming pretty bad when the D-400 came out and they were bragging about its "aircraft-grade, machined aluminium knobs". Unless you plan on flying your amp to the gig, that's a pure waste and only jacks up the price - if looks is one of your primary concerns when amp-shopping and budget is not on your radar, they sure look nice though.

Also facepalm-worthy was the Earbox, which is basically a mitigation measure for the fact that you constantly get drowned on stage (very small speaker that you daisy chain to your cabs and raise to ear level on a mic stand). I was on their mailing list and could've grabbed one for the special introductory price of somewhere around 200 USD + shipping if I remember right - either way totally obscene for what it was.

I don't know if it's been changed since then (I bought my amp in 2013 or 2014), but the documentation that came with my amp had several grammar errors in it, and the specs written on the amp's backplate, the documentation and the website were all slightly different. It just gave an aura of sketchyness to the whole thing.

Finally (and I know it's an entire can of worms in and of itself), if that matters to you, consider that despite the very boutique prices PJB gear is built in China, whereas other brands such as Mesa and Quilter are built in the US and offer an equivalent level of quality for less.

Bottom line: It was an interesting experiment for me, but I'm in team "never again".

 

[jdwinva]

If we are talking speakers buy a Greenboy Fearless and be done with comparing cabs. There is no comparison IMO.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I tried one of the smaller amps at low volume and it sounded ok, but there was nothing jaw dropping about the tone. The tiny drivers seem more of a novelty rather than anything of practical advantage. Seems like an upright cab that tried to become an electric cab with mixed results. I see no reason to abandon the really, really good 10", 12" and 15" drivers available today so that I can have a ton of 5" drivers lining a cab. Maybe for a home theater or an under seat sub in a car?

 

[b_carville]

I really like Phil Jones gear.
I own two C4 cabinets,a Cabinet 27 & a C2. I also own a Session 27 combo & a Micro 7.
I generally use a Quilter Bass Block 800 with the two C4's. That's been my main rig for a while now and I'm very happy. Most gigs I do the bass is not being sent into the PA. My bass is plenty loud enough. I play with people who play a lot of classic/oldies rock. The guitarists usually use 40 to 50 watt tube amps so they can get a bit loud. Tonight I'll be playing outside. I have been asked to turn down sometimes.I've actually got compliments from some people about how good and solid the bass sounds. I'm not playing any boutique instruments. My basses are a Peavey Fury with rounds,a Japan Squire P with flats,a. Wolf Jazz type bass with flats & a Fender Jazz with Duncan quarter pounders.
Recently I used the C2 by itself. Last minute gig & I didn't have time to run back and get more cabs. This was a rock band with two guitars using 20/30 watt tube amps. Used the C2 with the Quilter. It cut it decently. Granted the room had a lot if wood & I was in the corner.Did make sure the quilter wasn't set to more then 200 watts. The other band members were amazed!

 

[fretlessguy]

I own The C4 cabinet. It has a full range sound, and you could call it hi tech in tone. It really has a compact footprint as well. I play it in smaller places with lower volumes. I also use it with one of my bass heads at church as a bass monitor. They are very rugged and well made.
The Caveats: weight. This is very heavy for it its size, which I find weird, especially with all the things that reduce weight in bass cabinets these days. They have a light weight version now, but I will live with what I have. Also, as stated by other posts, you really need two of these to have volume needed for a mid-sized room.

 

[mborn]

I have a pair of BG400s and a pair of C4s and play in a country band with two guitar, banjo and drums. Playing mostly square dances with country thrown in. The PJB allows me to take 4, 8 12 or 16 speakers at 300, 500, 650 or 1 KW depending on the gig.

The big upright into all four cabinets fills a room 80 X 80 easily with no feedback. The dancers like that thump on the first beat. My other gig is a horn band playing standards, 50 and 60 tunes. (Upright, piano, trumpet, sax and clarinet,) one BG400 is perfect for that gig. I have the little one driver monitor speaker that mounts on a mic stand so I can hear what I need but can place the amps further away to help with any feedback problems.

The second advantage is the PJBs make a nice pedal steel rig (with a Benado effects on the side) especially on the C6 neck, deep rich C6 tone.

I sold my GK 410 system and don’t miss it, especially the weight.

 

[armybass]

I’ve tried several of their products and gigged two C4’s and the BP800(?) for some time after two back surgeries. The weight was a great benefit but in the end I felt it lacked power and sparkle. I moved on to a full Bergantino rig and am beyond satisfied.

My favorite PJB gear I owned was the Super Flightcase BG 300. That thing was such a cool little amp but it was stolen. Otherwise I’d still have it. Great little rehearsal amp.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I bought a PBJ Cub amp about 6 years ago. I used it for small gigs at nursing homes and rehearsals. It even kept up with a Dixieland group with a drummer in a good sized hall. It does a fine job in the right circumstances.
Mine is 100 watts with two 5" speakers.

I've got a lot of different amps, but the PBJ helped me get in & out of small gigs quickly with very little setup time.
Good Luck in your search.

 

[redstrand]

My Double Four is the best practice amp I’ve ever had. Full rich bass at low volume, even turned up it isn’t harsh. Like others here I have a Quilter...the 802 going through the Quilter 12. Apples to oranges they both sound great but are two very very different animals. The double four also recorded really really well, I test pedals through it...also basses...I’ve bought two because I had this with me.

 

[marchone]

 

[LL-Toolbox]

I'm selling my Trickfish rig which I really like and going all PJB. It is that good.
I think the thing for me is that you have to buy enough cabs to get the volume you're after.
If you're wondering about the speaker size being so small, just think about studio monitors.
The smaller speakers are much quicker and responsive. The cabs aren't the lightest cabs made, but I'm honestly really surprised by how much people talk about the weight of cabs. It's probably just my age. All of this modern gear is so much lighter than anything that I lugged around for years. I just want the sound that I've been chasing for many years, and PJB is the best I've every heard for my taste. I just tried the strings for the first time last night and they too, are awesome. I'm all-in on the PJB product. I've ordered (2) C8 cabs to go with my BP-800.

 

[KohanMike]

I use a Double Four with all my bass ukes/mini bass guitars for rehearsals with my 50 person uke group in a large multipurpose rec room and our smaller gigs, there are times when they ask me to turn it down.

 

[bebass]

...
I think the thing for me is that you have to buy enough cabs to get the volume you're after....

Yes, this is the key. Stack those cabs and give em enough power.

 

[Bill Murray]

I’ve owned an insane variety or amps and cabinets. I switched from what tone junkies would consider the holy grail of all bass rigs, a fearless 2x10 powered by a Jules Monique. That rig was a total beast and could crank enough volume with unreal clarity to play medium to large sized venues with no PA support.

why did I switch?

1) that set up was still heavy
2) I live on the top floor of a massive mill building and park my car at a municipal lot that’s like a 10mn walk from my apartment.
3) I play without a PA like once every two years and the rig was too nice to tour with and complete overkill for most gigs.
4) the fearless and Monique provided crystal clear clarity, but turns out I prefer a little bit of color in my tone.

I currently own the PJB BG-400 and matching C4 cab. For me, they’re perfect. I can put my gig bag on my back, carry one cab in each hand, and make an easy one trip load in/out. It takes up so little room I can get all the bands gear in my Rav-4 now. The stage footprint is ideal as well, but the sound is very directional (meaning you want to be close to the amp). Phil Jones have been way ahead of the game, the future is small cabs and I’m sure eventually it will just be amp simulators.

I’ve used it without PA support for small gigs in duo and trios (30-100 people venues indoor and outdoor) but with PA support this thing is plenty (assuming your band/sound guy at the venue knows how to dial in a nice even sound). The biggest show I used it on had a crowd of 900 and I was playing with a pretty loud punk band.

I usually play a p-bass and the PJB set-up really accents that tone nicely, but I also play a sting ray 5, fretless Ibanez, upright, and my 8 string guitar (through an HX Stomp) with this amp.

Ive used it primarily in reggae and folk settings but its held its own in punk, rock, funk, jazz, and deathcore settings.

If I’m being honest the cab does lack some low end, but if you know how to use your fingers and EQ and the band or venue has a sub, that doesn’t matter even a little.

best bet is to obviously try one out in a band setting but I haven’t once looked back. Absolutely love the rig.

I did this whole album with my P-bass through the PJB rig and used the HX Stomp for the effects.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nwAi50LZOoDKePQjEZuWe8_BGMPc6izaU

 

[DJ Bebop]

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I didn't see that cart at Sweetwater :Ol

 

[Bill Murray]

I didn't see that cart at Sweetwater :Ol

That cart has easily added another 5-10 years of spine usage to my life haha