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Portable bass combo for street performance/outdoor environment

B

biscuitz

Dec 26, 2013
16
4
#1
Greetings to TBers.

I am looking for a convenient solution for playing bass outdoor. I search a few posts and found many suggestions of incredible portable amps. However, I wonder if there is any bass combo that runs on built in power/battery(2A, 9V, etc) so that i don't have to worry about power source? Some of you suggest use a portable amp with a portable power source? I'm not so sure which solution is better.
 
#3
I am thinking of something like the PJB Briefcase...which can operate on a rechargeable battery...it's so convenient! however, i've heard that it's design is better for indoor use? Any other bass amp with such feature? light-weight and operates on battery, yet still with nice sound
 
#4
biscuitz said:
I am thinking of something like the PJB Briefcase...which can operate on a rechargeable battery...it's so convenient! however, i've heard that it's design is better for indoor use? Any other bass amp with such feature? light-weight and operates on battery, yet still with nice sound
Click to expand...

By outdoors do you mean at a venue or on the street?
 
#5
Oops missed the title The Phil Jones is perfect it's portable and loud I don't know who told you it wouldn't work? playing on the street puts you very close to your audience so this amp is perfect I've seen it in use and it sounded great.
 
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#7
Thank you SirMjac28 & RoadRanger!

@SirMjac28 I read a few reviews before about the Phil Jones amp very long time ago. Some said that to get the best sound of the PJB, you need to have its back facing something to reflect the back speaker's sound. With those 'echo', the sound of the PJB briefcase will not give its best sound. I'm not so sure about it.

@RoadRanger Thanks for your recommendation! How is this TX50DB? I've never heard of this brand and that model.
 
#9
biscuitz said:
Thank you SirMjac28 & RoadRanger!

@SirMjac28 I read a few reviews before about the Phil Jones amp very long time ago. Some said that to get the best sound of the PJB, you need to have its back facing something to reflect the back speaker's sound. With those 'echo', the sound of the PJB briefcase will not give its best sound. I'm not so sure about it.

@RoadRanger Thanks for your recommendation! How is this TX50DB? I've never heard of this brand and that model.
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The guy I saw use one just had it out in the open and it was loud. If you're doing primarily street performing the most you're going to have hanging around is ten to fifteen people in close proximity to your music so the Phil Jones or any of the other amps that were mentioned would be fine and I would buy used because you would be surprized how fast stuff disappears in a crowd.
 
#10
Thanks @JACink for recommendation. Can this amp be powered by battery? and talking about roland, i found roland's MICRO CUBE BASS RX can operate on battery as well! Anyone knows its performance? Does it sound good?
 
#11
biscuitz said:
Thanks @JACink for recommendation. Can this amp be powered by battery? and talking about roland, i found roland's MICRO CUBE BASS RX can operate on battery as well! Anyone knows its performance? Does it sound good?
Click to expand...

I tried the micro cube, and it works, but it was nothing special. If it was cheaper, then I would probably have bought it, in fact, if I came across one second hand, I probably still would.

The reason I mentioned the new Cube XL is because it is supposed to be an improved version, however, I haven't had the chance to try one.

All of the cubes work are battery powered, I don't know how long the battery will last on the XL, but I played through the micro cube for about 2 hours, and there was no sign of the battery failing (I don't know if it was recently charged, or if it had been in use before me).

Sorry I can't be of more use, but if you search for "Roland micro cube" you should find lots of info.
 
#13
biscuitz said:
Greetings to TBers.

I am looking for a convenient solution for playing bass outdoor. I search a few posts and found many suggestions of incredible portable amps. However, I wonder if there is any bass combo that runs on built in power/battery(2A, 9V, etc) so that i don't have to worry about power source? Some of you suggest use a portable amp with a portable power source? I'm not so sure which solution is better.
Click to expand...


Crazy idea: 9v battery preamp -> auto 12V battery -> auto hi-fi power amp -> light bass cab. Pull it on a wagon.
 
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#17
[USER=163829 said:
@RoadRanger[/USER] Thanks for your recommendation! How is this TX50DB? I've never heard of this brand and that model.
Click to expand...

I've heard this used by others outdoors, and it has decent bass sound at reasonable volume. I have no idea what the battery life is like. I thought it sounded better than the Roland Cube.
 

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