Portable, reliable rig that doesn't run on house electricity.

[Katoosie]

Hi.

Just had a talk and a troubleshooting session with my landlord.

My new house is connected to the same line that an old house is on and the line is bad, makes amplifiers useless.

I need a new rig that is portable and one that does not run on house socket electricity while playing.

I'm looking for reliability, good tone, portability. Price doesn't matter.

Hit me with everything you got, TalkBass.
Please. I need all the help I can get on this!

 

[Jonathan C]

If what you're saying is accurate, it sounds like you're living in a rental property with an illegal and possibly dangerous electrical source. This is much more concerning than trying to find a battery powered bass amp. If you're concerned about plugging in an amp, what gives you confidence of plugging in typical household appliances safely?

 

[Katoosie]

If what you're saying is accurate, it sounds like you're living in a rental property with an illegal and possibly dangerous electrical source. This is much more concerning than trying to find a battery powered bass amp. If you're concerned about plugging in an amp, what gives you confidence of plugging in typical household appliances safely?

What are you talking about?
One of the houses on the line is old and so is the electricity system. It's not my house and I can't do anything about it, my house is new.

I need a new rig.

 

[Jonathan C]

What happens when you plug your amp in that tells you something is wrong with the electricity? If you have voltage spikes, you might solve your issues by buying a power conditioner. Cheaper than an amp.

 

[Katoosie]

I already have a conditioner. There are no spikes, just constant buzzing from any rig and any bass while plugged into either my house or the other house.

Battery amps work fine so I need a battery rig of some kind.

 

[Jonathan C]

I'm going to defer to others to chime in, there are many engineers here on TB. Electricity on it's own doesn't create him, other factors do.

 

[Katoosie]

I just wanted tips on a rig, not my electricity. Gosh.

Thanks though.

 

[Jonathan C]

Another question, does your TV or other sound devices hum?

 

[Katoosie]

Another question, does your TV or other sound devices hum?

No

 

[Katoosie]

I think I found what I Was looking for
https://www.thomann.de/se/phil_jone...95&smr=1d50332d-1cdb-43d2-a395-170f4c0c4e04_5

 

[Jonathan C]

Hope that headphone amp works out for you. You didn't say you were looking for a headphone amp, you said portable rig. I was trying to help you possibly get to the root cause of your hum issue.

 

[quickervicar]

I've got a PJB Briefcase with a battery. It is tiny but the sound isn't. And the battery lasts several hours between charges. In fact, I've never actually run out.

If you're playing with a quiet band you might keep up (amp position in the room is a huge factor). Anything more and you'll be adding a second cab.

There are some threads on here about adding laptop batteries to run small amps. Might want to check those out.

 

[Katoosie]

I've got a PJB Briefcase with a battery. It is tiny but the sound isn't. And the battery lasts several hours between charges. In fact, I've never actually run out.

If you're playing with a quiet band you might keep up (amp position in the room is a huge factor). Anything more and you'll be adding a second cab.

There are some threads on here about adding laptop batteries to run small amps. Might want to check those out.

Yep I'm leaning towards a double four with a battery or some headphone amp thing/laptop.

 

[Supadope]

I’m also concerned with what you are saying. What your landlord is saying doesn’t make sense. The landlords that I have dealt with will try to do anything except spend money on maintaining their properties.

First, get an outlet tester from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Receptacle-Tester-400-029/206303234

Buzzing can be caused by improper wiring and the tester will tell you immediately if that’s the problem. Like @Jonathan C said, you may be in a house with dangerous electrical issues. And if the tester shows improper wiring, you must get your landlord to fix it. And you may have to threaten them with calling the city on them if they refuse.

If after testing your wiring, consider buying a small UPS from Staples or Office Depot. They should clean up your line.

Edit: Just noticed that you are from Sweden. Look for a European version of that tester.

 

[Jonathan C]

I’m also concerned with what you are saying. What your landlord is saying doesn’t make sense. The landlords that I have dealt with will try to do anything except spend money on maintaining their properties.

First, get an outlet tester from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Receptacle-Tester-400-029/206303234

Buzzing can be caused by improper wiring and the tester will tell you immediately if that’s the problem. Like @Jonathan C said, you may be in a house with dangerous electrical issues. And if the tester shows improper wiring, you must get your landlord to fix it. And you may have to threaten them with calling the city on them if they refuse.

If after testing your wiring, consider buying a small UPS from Staples or Office Depot. They should clean up your line.

OP is in Sweden, but I am sure their regulations are at least as stringent as USA. And yes no matter where you live, landlords will always evade fixing anything that costs money. Watch the movie "The Super" with Joe Pesci. Lol!

 

[beans-on-toast]

A headphone amp could resolve your issue. Certainly an easy solution to try.

It might be more complicated. The source of noise could be in the form of RFI. In other words something is putting out noise through the air that your amp is picking up. If this is the case, another amp that is not on the mains may not solve your issue. Noisy line power is another issue.

Test for RFI with a portable AM radio that can be set between stations. Move it around your space, the level of static will highlight hot spots. If you have RFI issues, it might be the neighbour but it could also be due to a bad power transformer on the street (your power company can investigate this, maybe even help with the way power is fed into your house and the neighbours), a transmitting antenna, machinery or welding in close proximity, etc. Within the home, light dimmers, power supplies, even computer routers can be a source of RFI.

 

[Katoosie]

I’m also concerned with what you are saying. What your landlord is saying doesn’t make sense. The landlords that I have dealt with will try to do anything except spend money on maintaining their properties.

First, get an outlet tester from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Receptacle-Tester-400-029/206303234

Buzzing can be caused by improper wiring and the tester will tell you immediately if that’s the problem. Like @Jonathan C said, you may be in a house with dangerous electrical issues. And if the tester shows improper wiring, you must get your landlord to fix it. And you may have to threaten them with calling the city on them if they refuse.

If after testing your wiring, consider buying a small UPS from Staples or Office Depot. They should clean up your line.

Edit: Just noticed that you are from Sweden. Look for a European version of that tester.

Whats a ups?

 

[Katoosie]

It might be more complicated. The source of noise could be in the form of RFI. In other words something is putting out noise through the air that your amp is picking up. If this is the case, another amp that is not on the mains may not solve your issue. Noisy line power is another issue.

Test for RFI with a portable AM radio that can be set between stations. Move it around your space, the level of static will highlight hot spots. If you have RFI issues, it might be the neighbour but it could also be due to a bad power transformer on the street (your power company can investigate this, maybe even help with the way power is fed into your house and the neighbours), a transmitting antenna, machinery or welding in close proximity, etc. Within the home, light dimmers, power supplies, even computer routers can be a source of RFI.

We already tried running the power into my rig from her home and the interference was still there. Yes there is a dimmer light but it did nothing once the power was ran from outside of my home.
There is no interference when I run a battery fed amp.

 

[Bret Music]

I have one of these
(ION Audio Block Rocker Plus - Portable Bluetooth Speaker 100W W/Battery, Karaoke Microphone, AM FM Radio, Wheels & Telescopic Handle and USB Charging)
It would need charged probably once a week. Fully charged, last about 12 - 16 hours. I use it to play or practice on porch or outside. Sounds better than a Fender Rumble 15 I have.

 

[bpc]

Whats a ups?

Uniteruptible Power Supply.

A rechargeable battery pack that goes between the mains and an appliance, usually a computer, to protect it from mains power failure. Some only switch to battery when the power fails so won't make any difference to your issue. Some run the appliance on battery all the time which might help with your issue.