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Portable and clean

loxjet

loxjet

Guest
Feb 25, 2013
10
0
60
Billings MT
#1
I'm sure this question has been beat to death, and I apologize upfront for the redundancy. I'm not sure how to search through old posts, and I have an old man's aversion to learning how.

I was hoping someone could recommend an amp that is light (sub 50lbs) but is articulate and capable of handling a low B. Loudness/volume is not a priority; quality of sound, reliability and portability is. Is there an amp that would fit this bill for around $500?

Thanks for your input.
 
#4
My tiny practice amp sounds ok on a low B.

It's highly portable.

I have used it in rehearsals with my 5 string and acoustic guitar and djembe. I did a coffee shop gig with it. Never in a million years would I use it with a full band!

So give some real world requirements please.
 
#5
You're looking for an all in one combo?

Mesa Walkabout.
It is a little volume limited, but, it sounds glorious at the levels it's designed for.
 
#6
Downunderwonder said:
So give some real world requirements please.
Click to expand...

Almost all the gigs I play these days send the bass through the front of house. And the band I play in has a horn player (alto, flute, clarinet) a 12-string guitar player, a conga player and me, so the music is subtle and not bombastic. It's on the jazz side but with a lot of three-part harmony vocals. The guitar seems to take up a lot of low end (and not in a tidy way...) and the vocals claim their share, so I'm looking for an amp that would be really articulate but with some hair on it.

I currently play through a GK RB800 I've had since the late eighties and an Ampeg 4x10 which is almost as old. It's heavy, more than I need, and too mushy-- it battles for frequency space with the guitar.
 
#10
loxjet said:
Almost all the gigs I play these days send the bass through the front of house. And the band I play in has a horn player (alto, flute, clarinet) a 12-string guitar player, a conga player and me, so the music is subtle and not bombastic. It's on the jazz side but with a lot of three-part harmony vocals. The guitar seems to take up a lot of low end (and not in a tidy way...) and the vocals claim their share, so I'm looking for an amp that would be really articulate but with some hair on it.

I currently play through a GK RB800 I've had since the late eighties and an Ampeg 4x10 which is almost as old. It's heavy, more than I need, and too mushy-- it battles for frequency space with the guitar.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a cool band to be in. Is that a four piece? No reason for the band sound to be anything but great if you can get the guitar player to get out of your bass space.

Any little combo amp with a good DI sound should be totally fine.
 
#12
AngusHasMoxie said:
Does Phil Jones make anything sub $500?

If so, that.
Click to expand...

I think the Bass Cub is just over the $500 mark, but you could easily find a used Briefcase or Cub for under. Don't know how small the amp can be for the OP's needs, but the Double Four is shipping really soon (as in, hopefully a week or so) and that will be under the $500 mark. All three amps listed are also under the 50lb limit as well.
 

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