Quiet amps?

[AJRussell]

Hi. This is my first post, but it feels like I've been lurking for ages. I'm doing a lot of "window shopping" lately and I've started adding 'talkbass' onto Google search strings for kit I might be interested in.

I do my own recording and I usually just DI into a mixer, and that's fine. Most of the time I can live without an amp. Lately, though, I've started jamming with a few friends who play acoustic strings - violin, mandolin, fingerstyle acoustic guitar, and so on. I'm the only one who needs an amp, and at the moment I'm playing through a Peavey Rage 158 guitar practise amp, a relic from my teenage years. It works fine but there is zero low end on the thing, just mud.

What I'm looking for is a combo amp that's small enough to be carried around by hand, and quiet enough to not drown out the acoustic musicians and to be played in a flat/apartment, but which keeps a lot of the low-end tone.

I work as an engineer, I know that what I'm asking for isn't really all that possible, because of Fletcher-Munson curves and that low frequencies need to be a reasonable volume to be heard and all that. What I'm hoping is that one of you guys will know of some small amp that uses... I dunno, black magic to keep the low end in.

I was also thinking of effects, something like the MaxxBass unit I keep seeing. I love the plugin for mixes I know are going to end up on MySpace/Youtube and played through laptop speakers. Any thoughts on the pedal?

 

[B-string]

Hmm combo, G-K MB112? Thinking hard myself on this one as I seem to get roped into a small coffee house gig more and more. 200 watts, single 12" and 28lbs!

 

[Joe Louvar]

I think what you're looking for is a "PJPS BRIEFCASE Bass Combo".

 

[Dave W]

I'd also check out the Markbass 1X12 combo...

 

[Jim Nazium]

I think what you're looking for is a "PJPS BRIEFCASE Bass Combo".

+1
The Phil Jones Briefcase, or a newer model called the Cub. What you're asking for in the OP - small, light, with good low end - is not impossible if you don't also require it to be really loud. Phil Jones is an audio engineer and bass player who makes some really high quality gear. Check it out.

 

[pasta4lnch]

Markbass minimark....served me well the last few years. Records well too...add a SABDDI and it's pure awesome.

 

[Joe Louvar]

+1
The Phil Jones Briefcase, or a newer model called the Cub. What you're asking for in the OP - small, light, with good low end - is not impossible if you don't also require it to be really loud. Phil Jones is an audio engineer and bass player who makes some really high quality gear. Check it out.

+1
The Cub AG-100.

 

[IntrepidCellist]

My favorite "big sounding, small box" is the Marbass CMD121P. Warm, clear, and gets reasonably loud while staying deep. Pricey, but it absolutely smokes the Phil Jones Briefcase in my opinion.

For a more budget-friendly solution, the G-K 112 or Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T are great ultraportable rigs.

 

[AJRussell]

Oh wow, replies!

The G-K and the Markbass I'd been looking at already. I've never heard a G-K amp but they come up a lot in searches on here. I engineered for a guy with a Markbass stack in a rock band once and loved the sound of it.

I've also been looking at the Ampeg BA-112 (or 108, 110 or whatever) because I have a hard-on for the SVT, and the Ashdown practice amp line.

All of these guys, I'd have to hear them first. Problem is I'm in Scotland and music stores are closing left and right, so trying them out isn't going to be easy. Also I suck at guitar shops

The Phil Jones Briefcase looks really, really interesting. A wee bit more than I wanted to spend but I think I'll look into it.

 

[agedhorse]

Not possible? With the right set of compromises, sure it is as long as you keep the maximum volume reasonable. You can have small and low as long as you don't need loud. Any of the recommendations would be worth looking at, and I understand your challenges in Scotland, the same thing is being felt around the world, but there are still dealers within a reasonable driving distance that should be able to help you in your quest.

 

[MrBEAR]

+1
The Cub AG-100.

If you do look into the less expensive Cub, they are priced @ $585.00 U.S., be certain that you look at/play a BG-100. The Cub AG-100 is designed for Acoustic Guitars etc., and Not Bass.

Cheers,

 

[RickenBoogie]

Another worth mentioning is the Mesa Walkabout Scout 12. A bit on the high side price-wise, but oh so warm and fat sounding. My favorite small amp ever. But really, anything in the 200+watt range with a single 12 should do you well, so long as you're happy with the tone.

 

[Lync]

I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t that is super light and can get loud enough to jam with a drummer. It also has a killer DI for larger gigs.

That being said...if I was to look into a light amp that I didn't need to punch the crowd in the face with, it would be this as it just oozes cool....