Hello, everyone! I need some advice on a portable bass amplifier to play alongside two unamplified acoustic guitars. Please leave your suggestions. Thank you.
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PORTABLE BASS AMPLIFIER
- Thread starter damaset
- Start date
D
Warwick Gnome into Barefaced 110T. Can also be powered by a battery if you don't have access to power.
Barefaced One10 + Quilter Interbass
Or Phil Jones Double Four +
Or Phil Jones Double Four +
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Kind of a wide open question isn't it?
What's available in your region?
What's available in your region?
Probably want 1 for each guitar.
I use any bass amp and an Acme Low B 2. A little cabinet with a 10" woofer, 3" mid driver, and dome tweeter. I love it.
For cheap any small combo amp with an 8" speaker, Fender Rumble, Hartke, etc.
For cheap any small combo amp with an 8" speaker, Fender Rumble, Hartke, etc.
"Portable" is pretty open to in interpretation. An Ampeg fridge is portable if you have a couple good roadies. Presumably that's not your situation, but if you want actually helpful answers, more detail would be helpful. Some people would classify a Mesa 115 as portable but others wouldn't. Is a PJB CAB67 portable? It has wheels, right?
And since you didn't list budget constraints, I assume money is no object? Because you can actually get a pretty good-sized rig that's light if you have the means—GRBass makes well-regarded carbon fiber cabs that don't weigh much, but they aren't cheap. Like, their AV210 combo weighs in at around 11kg. A 210 should be more than enough with two unamped guitars.
And since you didn't list budget constraints, I assume money is no object? Because you can actually get a pretty good-sized rig that's light if you have the means—GRBass makes well-regarded carbon fiber cabs that don't weigh much, but they aren't cheap. Like, their AV210 combo weighs in at around 11kg. A 210 should be more than enough with two unamped guitars.
Budget?
I like the PJB Double Four + (~$600 new), but if that's out of your budget, there's other options. Some of the others have many more bells/whistles, but the PJB is a very solid and true sounding amp. I would say that for your proposed usage (with two acoustic guitars), I would say that the PJB Nanobass will be a little too "nano" (it will easily get lost in the guitars). I was feeling the need for more headroom with my Nanobass and one acoustic guitar and two voices. The only thing amplified was my bass, and I wanted a bit more.
I like the PJB Double Four + (~$600 new), but if that's out of your budget, there's other options. Some of the others have many more bells/whistles, but the PJB is a very solid and true sounding amp. I would say that for your proposed usage (with two acoustic guitars), I would say that the PJB Nanobass will be a little too "nano" (it will easily get lost in the guitars). I was feeling the need for more headroom with my Nanobass and one acoustic guitar and two voices. The only thing amplified was my bass, and I wanted a bit more.
What's your price range, how loud are the guitarists, and where are you playing (inside/outside/hard surfaces?)
I have a Phil Jones Nanobass for that kind of situation. It has a single 4 inch speaker but much more push and low end that you'd expect. My first amp in 1985 was a Peavey Basic 40, which was a single 12" 40 watt combo. This Phil Jones amp sounds considerably better and louder than I remember that one being, and weighs maybe a third as much.
The Double Four someone recommended above is the next step up. Not sure the single 4" Nano would not be enough for you though.
The Double Four someone recommended above is the next step up. Not sure the single 4" Nano would not be enough for you though.
We were posting the same idea at the same time. For sure either the Nano or the Double Four is the answer.
I'd probably use my Fender Rumble 100 combo (1x12). That one kept up with a drum kit and electric at a casual garage jam, so the Rumble 40 (1x10) I use at home might be enough for two unamplified acoustics.
Inside? Outside?
Fender rumble 20 watt should do it. Is like 75 bucks
Fender rumble 20 watt should do it. Is like 75 bucks
QSC K2.8, K2.10 or equivalent available in your region. Some versions even have an onboard battery.
