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Phil Jones Combo Amps: Worth it?

#41
I recently bought a Phil Jones Suitcase combo. IMO - amazing. I've owned Genz and Markbass stuff and while the power and lightness is great and convenient (both sound good, too) I don't think either can touch the PJB sound. PJB is transparent and way warm. I play a Stingray5 and I can run everything flat and get just an amazing tone. The combo is great for my DB, too. With two channels both are ready to go. I don't play with a big stick rock drummer and I'm not sure if the Suitcase alone could hang with a Marshall stack but it sure can hang with what I do. The bottom line: check'm all out and do what you need. For me PJB=happy mofo.
 
#42
I've played quite a few PJB's. These are wonderful cabinets with a neutral tone. I also like lightweight and easy to move gear. If you are at the point of the Super Flightcase's size and weight, you should consider the Neo 6B. It's a pleasure to move around. The luggage handles and wheels make it a breeze to roll, and it's very stable, so it makes for a good 'cart' for your amp head, gig bag, whatever. Then your basses can go on your back. This situation works better for me than carrying a combo by handle. And when you have to lift the 6B, it's a light 46lbs due to the handle placement and balance.
Also, the Neo 6B has quite a bit more low-end while still keeping the 'neutral' tone. Again, eventhough the 6B has the same amount of drivers, it has more low-end. And it doesn't have to be placed against a wall like the combos do. There are a bunch of lightweight digital heads out there, so plenty of pickings await.
 
#43
macmrkt said:
I've played quite a few PJB's. These are wonderful cabinets with a neutral tone. I also like lightweight and easy to move gear. If you are at the point of the Super Flightcase's size and weight, you should consider the Neo 6B. It's a pleasure to move around. The luggage handles and wheels make it a breeze to roll, and it's very stable, so it makes for a good 'cart' for your amp head, gig bag, whatever. Then your basses can go on your back. This situation works better for me than carrying a combo by handle. And when you have to lift the 6B, it's a light 46lbs due to the handle placement and balance.
Also, the Neo 6B has quite a bit more low-end while still keeping the 'neutral' tone. Again, eventhough the 6B has the same amount of drivers, it has more low-end. And it doesn't have to be placed against a wall like the combos do. There are a bunch of lightweight digital heads out there, so plenty of pickings await.
Click to expand...

That 6 speaker neo cab looks, to me, like the 'sweet spot' of the smaller PJ cabs. I'd like to hear one of those, and I assume it would put out almost the volume of a 210, but with that more 'flat' PJ tone profile.
 
#44
swmmojo said:
I recently bought a Phil Jones Suitcase combo. IMO - amazing. I've owned Genz and Markbass stuff and while the power and lightness is great and convenient (both sound good, too) I don't think either can touch the PJB sound. PJB is transparent and way warm. I play a Stingray5 and I can run everything flat and get just an amazing tone. The combo is great for my DB, too. With two channels both are ready to go. I don't play with a big stick rock drummer and I'm not sure if the Suitcase alone could hang with a Marshall stack but it sure can hang with what I do. The bottom line: check'm all out and do what you need. For me PJB=happy mofo.
Click to expand...
SWMMOJO: Thanks for the feedback. Have you tried the auxillary cabinet that goes with the Suitcase? I like the idea of having another small, light unit to add on if the venue demands it, and the wattage increase is kool. I also like the 2 channel option the Suitcase has over the Flightcase (unless I am missing something in reading the specs) for much the same reason as you - electric in one, acoustic electric in the other, or fretted in one, fretless in the other.
 
#45
49sfine: No. I haven't tried the PJ ext cab. I actually bought my Suitcase off evilbay based on reviews without ever hearing it. I live in East TN so there aren't many opportunities to hear stuff that is not mainstream. The guy I bought it from told me he was selling the ext cab and how awesome it sounded as well. However, I have plugged my 1x12 Avatar cab into the Suitcase combo and cranked it up. Sounds fantastic. I'm sure the PJ ext cab would be better because the sound out of the Suitcase is really amazing. I have an outdoor gig this weekend so I'll post my review since I haven't played live with it yet. Also, the design of the Suitcase is based on using walls and the floor to move frequencies. Not sure what the result will be outdoors. Still, I bought it for the two channels and for the portability (not having to bring another cab) so I really don't want to add a cab. I lug around an electric, doublebass and a rig - that's enough. I play in an acoustic combo but we do rock out. Still, I get PA support every gig so I'm using the Suitcase as monitor and DI. I'll let you know how the Suitcase holds up on July 4th. I am thinking improved clarity=need for less volume.
 
#46
I play with an alt country band an acoustic, fiddle and drummer and the Briefcase is fine for keeping up with them. I also sit in often with a guitar duo and it fits there perfectly. So depending on the type and volume of the music, the Briefcase is a giggable amp and sounds great to boot.

That being said, for bigger gigs i've just purchased a mini rig that will do 500 watts and the amp and cab weigh in at under 28 lbs.
 
#47
Ken, I hear what you are saying, but...

listen to the P-bass part of the North East Mini Bass Bash - there is also a thread on TB somewhere.

If I recall properly first PJB Suitcase with 4B extension, then Mesa M-Pluse with Some Schroeder, then Mesa Walkabout Combo, then Thunderfunk with Aggie DB112's.

To be honest, the PJB stack conveys IMO the essence of P-Bass tone.

How gig-worthy the volume is, I cannot say, but man, I like the sound :bassist:
 
#49
Another vote for the Markbass Mini CMD 121P 1x12 Bass Combo Amp (Mini Mark II 500W head built in, 12-inch neodynium speaker). It's VERY light and quite powerful. I used it at an outdoor gig (with drums, keys, guitars, vocals etc). I carried all my gear from my car (about a quarter mile away) in 1 trip- no problem.

The sound guy was amazed by this little amp, especially in combo with an EBMM SR5 (think "turbo-Jazz on steroids"). I did not need to be amplified via the PA, and that was with the amp just sitting behind me at the back, on the cement ground. If I elevated it on a chair or other stand, they would have been telling me I was too loud at mid-volume.

It's MUCH lighter and smaller than my practice amp (Peavey Basic 112), which I now leave "permanently" at my drummer's house.

The Mini Mark also has quite decent tone for a single 12-inch. I play my fretless piezo through it and the mids come through quite nicely without noisy highs and just the right amount of substance in the lows.
 
#50
Played my first gig with the PJB Suitcase. It was an outside gig with PA support. I am VERY happy. I play in a two acoustic guitar, mandolin, and drummer combo switching from a DB to a Stingray5 between songs. No loud amps on stage to compete with and the drummer is dynamic. Overall, great sound and everyone was happy with the rig. Our soundman said he was happy with the DI but he did mention he missed the bass presence from stage of my previous rig (GB6.0 with 1x12 cab). Still, the PJB Suitcase is designed to work with floors and walls and outside the walls are missing. A+

I dig what Asher S is saying about the Markbass stuff. I had a Mini MarkII for a while and it is a great sound. However, having two channels for two very different basses really makes the PJB great for me. IMO - I do think the tone of the PJB stuff is better, too.
 
#51
OldogNewTrick said:
Ken, I hear what you are saying, but...

listen to the P-bass part of the North East Mini Bass Bash - there is also a thread on TB somewhere.

If I recall properly first PJB Suitcase with 4B extension, then Mesa M-Pluse with Some Schroeder, then Mesa Walkabout Combo, then Thunderfunk with Aggie DB112's.

To be honest, the PJB stack conveys IMO the essence of P-Bass tone.

How gig-worthy the volume is, I cannot say, but man, I like the sound :bassist:
Click to expand...

Again, most of our comments are about cost/size/volume. The tone of these combo's is OK for the most part (except for that very small two speaker briefcase, that's awful sounding IMO and IME), and probably as good as anything else, but it is the 'gig worthy' part that results in the many negative posts you see in virtually every PJ thread IMO.

Since the tone of those clips are so, so different from my experience with those other rigs, I can't really comment on the comparison. Lot's of clank in all those clips, probably due to the mic in the camera.
 
#52
TBr's: Thanks for all the feedback. I'm still taking it all in! It's good to hear from you MarkBass folks too, since that is another brand that has got my attention. You can't beat real-life experiences! Still processing ............... :)
 
#53
I use a PJB M300 head and have two of his cabs...an 8B and a 6B. For most gigs I use the 8B and the volume is more then enough as I've been asked to turn down my volume on many occasions (I'm in a 5 piece variety band). When I need more volume I bring along the 6B and use both so the M300 is pushing 14 five inch speakers. The tone and quality of sound is amazing as is the ease of portability of the cabinets.
 

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