Quality Quiet Sound, Loud Already Covered

[macmanlou]

Ampeg PF-20T.

Paired with a PF-112HLF, it sounds wonderful at low volume, but it can be loud enough to rattle my basement windows. It's one of the few all-tube amps that doesn't have to have a speaker load, so you can use it as a preamp only, too.

 

[JB1962]

My Ampeg SVT CL sounds awesome at low volumes. I just turn the gain knob to about 3 0'clock, turn the master way down, and engage the ultra low if needed. Not really understanding why you need two amplifiers. Just get one amp that sounds good all the time!

 

[ddarrell2]

Not really understanding why you need two amplifiers. Just get one amp that sounds good all the time!

Instead of lugging things around, I leave the big amp at band practice and take the pedals in between.

 

[ddarrell2]

It's one of the few all-tube amps that doesn't have to have a speaker load

What?! Didn’t know that was possible.

 

[macmanlou]

What?! Didn’t know that was possible.

The PF-50T can be used the same way. It's on page 8 of the manual here:

https://ampeg.com/pdf/PF-50T_PF-20T_OM.pdf

 

[lug]

Phil Jones Double 4. Just rob 2 liquor stores on the way to purchase it.

 

[lomo]

...yesterday I finally got around to auditioning an array of small combos....looking for the best tone in the smallest package....only needing enough volume to practice and play along with acoustic guitar/ djembe....price not an issue.....I already know I find the PJB offerings to project inadequate true bass (below 80 Hz), even at low volumes (I have owned several PJB products and still have a Double 4).....I tried Markbass, Traynor SB, Fender Rumble and GK combos with 8" and 10" speakers. I really wanted to like the Traynor SB110.....made in Canada and very robust, with a 2 yr unconditional warranty (double the others), but I hate the rat fur covering. I found the small Rumbles woefully disappointing (after reading all the raves on TB). The Traynors were OK and the Markbass were pretty good (but relatively overpriced and in that rat fur/ nuclear blast yellow combination I hate)..... the Markbass 10 incher was the runner up.........to my surprise, the GK boxes were easy winners by a lap. They sound deep and clear (if desired). I went home with the GK 8" combo which produces plenty of living room volume and great true bass tone. It wasn't the most expensive, but it was the best sounding box to my ears .
Edit: I decided that although a tweeter would have been nice for recorded play alongs and occasional slap, it wasn't worth paying more or the added size/weight, since the tiny GK sounded so good.

 

[ddarrell2]

GK 8" combo which produces plenty of living room volume and great true bass tone

Wow, great! Where’d you go for this analysis? PJB was in my blind lead since I can’t find it locally, but I’ll start looking into the GKs. Thank you.

 

[lomo]

1. Wow, great! Where’d you go for this analysis? PJB was in my blind lead since I can’t find it locally, but I’ll start looking into the GKs. Thank you.

I'm in Montreal, so I went to Long & McQuade Music in Laval. I still own a Phil Jones Double 4 because it's so tiny it fits easily into a carry on bag for travel; that's the only time I use it. I have owned the original PJB Suitcase with extension, Cub and 9B cab. Although they are all well-built and sound pretty good, I find the smaller ones to lack bass projection. They are solidly build and beautiful to behold, but the larger ones, IMHE, are both more expensive and heavier than competitive offerings by other companies.

 

[srayb]

...the Markbass 10 incher was the runner up...

Are you referring to the Marcus Miller CMD101 Micro60? I’ve played (and liked) the MicroMark 801, so wondering how the MM Micro60 sounds, as it is actually less expensive...

 

[lomo]

Are you referring to the Marcus Miller CMD101 Micro60? I’ve played (and liked) the MicroMark 801, so wondering how the MM Micro60 sounds, as it is actually less expensive...

They didn't have an 801. It was the M. Miller.....it sounded very good. To me it was a close 2nd to the GK boxes......and it has a tweeter.

 

[Blankandson]

Two comments: First, the GK MB 150 bass combo has a metal frame and can take bumps from little ones well. It's also not big. Really. I walked right past one once because I thought it was a bedroom amp. But it's not cheap.
Second, I'm currently using two PJB cabs - the CAB 27 and the CAB 47. Weight is 30 lbs and 40 lbs. Two 7" speakers or four. The 27 can handle 200 watts and the 47 400 watts. I leave one at home and one is on the stage all week. Just tote my amp back and forth so settings are always the same. As far as a quiet sound, the Cab 27 will get pretty low and still sound good. Again, they are not cheap. But both are excellent and will give you what you need.

 

[darwin-bass]

A mid-size stereo speaker hooked to your favorite head will totally kill most of the bass practice amps. It won't be loud but will sound great.

I've tried several:

• Rumble 200 (meh - too lower-mid boxy sounding)
• Rumble 40 (better, smoother sounding)
• GK MB115-ii (boxy sounding)
• Shuttle 3.0 with 2x10 cab

The only want I got any of these to really sound good was to bypass the internal speaker and feed the output into a home build hi-fi speaker. 10" woofer and 1" dome tweeter. Sounds great. Plenty loud for acoustic guitars.

I finally replaced them all with a micro and it sounds better than any of them:

• Genzler 350 with Trace 2x8 cab.