Small amp/cab combo for acoustic bass guitar

[scubaduba]

I'm doing more gigs with acoustic bass guitar and want to invest in a better amp/combo to augment front of house at some venues for stage presence. That said, some of my gigs have no FOH so I'd like something that can still carry weight on its own. I suspect the Phil Jones BG-120 or Double Four could be good options. Or more likely the BG-400. Any others? I don't want something that will be hollow sounding... looking for weight and punch to the tone but portable and small is important.

 

[dannylectro]

When I use my Martin Acoustic-Electric, nothing sounds better to my ears than a GK MB150S. Expensive and difficult to find.
I’ve also had good luck with the Traynor SB112.

 

[gtirard]

I use a PJB Double 4 with my ABG, very happy with it, it sounds great (exactly the sound of the intrument but louder), it's very lightweight and super easy to carry.

I only play with a guitar, a cajon, and 20 singers, I don't know if it could hold against a drummer.

The gain knob is a little bit "shy" with my Taylor GS Mini because the preamp of the intrument is not very loud, so I often set it to the max, which I never do with other basses and amps, but it's ok.

 

[Aloe]

I don't know if it could hold against a drummer.

ime not really. quiet drummer with brushes — maybe. sticks — no way.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

I use an Acme Low B-1 with an outboard pre and a GSS Sumo amp (though any of a number of tiny light SS amps would probably work fine). But now that Andy Lewis is retiring, if you want an Acme, you'll probably have to look to the used market.

Much would depend on how big the venues are that you think you might have to play without a PA.

 

[lomo]

I'd be inclined to bring the largest cab with the sweetest lows & mids that makes ergonomic sense. IMO a super light 112 like a 20lb Genzler ULV or Barefaced will weigh as much as a PJB Cub pro (albeit much bulkier), but sound much more satisfying. I understand the bulk might be too much for the occasion but IME the PJB combos are clear and sound great at low volume in a small setting but aren't as satisfying if you want to fill even a medium room. I have and love a Double 4 and have owned Cub Pro with ext and the original Suitcase

 

[scubaduba]

Yeah I really like the size of the PJB stuff. Is there anything similar in size that sounds fuller?

 

[scubaduba]

What about the GR Bass Cube models?

 

[Single Coil]

I have owned a PJB BG-120 for the last 5 years. It still amazes me with its capability. I have used it for theater work as well as quieter shows with a drummer. I have paired it with my Barefaced Super Compact with my cover band (vocals, 2 guitarists, keys, drums) and it easily handles the local animal clubs (200 people rooms).

In my experience, the BG-120 by itself doesn’t deliver the low end I prefer, but I can get closer using my preamp (Tech 21 Q-Strip) in front of it. I think that’s because the Q-Strip has two bands of semi-parametric EQ, whereas the BG-120 has five bands of EQ with fixed frequencies. Its clarity is incredible. I’m going to pair it with other cabs just out of curiosity.

 

[noahw1]

The Genzler Magellan 350 combo punches way above its weight. For a single 10 plus the 4 2” cones it’s big.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

I use a PJB Double 4 with my ABG, very happy with it, it sounds great (exactly the sound of the intrument but louder)...

+1

Another bonus is that it can be run with a 19 or 20v power bank (with 3A current capability.)

 

[BassicJazzy]

I think the one thing that my old SWR Baby Blue 2 excelled at was amplifying my Ovation Premier Elite ABG. It had just the right amount of sweetness in its tone. The Rumble100 is more powerful and better for EB, but for the ABG the BB2 was the bomb.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

My Barefaced Super Mini seems to be the smallest I go, without sacrificing my attack and low end.
This 1 12 far exceeds a 1 10 in capability and probably smaller and lighter...or close
BF 1/ 10 is compact but tonaly. different.
Usable with a 300w Gnome or 800 watt genzler. and can cover most gigs actually.
I have the PJ Double 4. Just doesnt handle lower notes pushed a bit.

 

[gtirard]

What about the GR Bass Cube models?

That's a different category, much louder and fuller. You can easily play with a drummer, and even at low volume you can get much more low end. The Double 4 is surprisingly loud for its size, but it doesn't beak the law of physics. Also you can play in a very small room with the Double 4 but not in a big one, whereas with a GR Bass Cube you can play in any room.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Speaking with my sales guy at Chuck Levin's today, he just sold a GR 10 cab and their MiniONE to a guy that plays that kind of situation. Oh, he winters in Belize and plays in a tiki bar near his beach house. Tough life but somebody has to do it. Heh. But anyways, little cab, little amp and punched hard.

 

[Wasnex]

I suggest identifying priorities and budget. How much portability do you require? How loud and how much low end do you require. How much are you willing to spend? At the fringes these characteristics tend to work directly against each other.

Over my career I tended to use multiple amps. Often it was a big powerful rig and a small grab and go amp with limited volume capability. I used the small amp for jazz trio. It was loud enough and portability was a significant advantage because we wanted the option to sneak out on the break after our set.

Some of the grab and go amps I used include GK MB150S, GK MK200, SWR Baby Blue II, Acoustic Image Contra. Some of these amps weren't quite loud enough on some gigs.

My last grab and go amp was a GK 700RB/112 combo. Bigger and louder than all of the previous amps I mentioned. However, it had a telescoping handle and tilted back on wheels. So you could roll it around like airport luggage. Also it sort of functioning as a dolly because I could place my accessory bang on top and my garment bag across the front. With the bass over my shoulder in a gig bag, it was an easy trip from parking to the bandstand...as long as the volume was within range.

 

[SJan3]

You might consider the MarkBass CMD802.

 

[Jens Telemark]

The GK MB150 is still one of the great small combos for ABG and DB.

 

[scubaduba]

You might consider the MarkBass CMD802.

Possibly. Not a lot of EQ on that one.

 

[el murdoque]

Yeah I really like the size of the PJB stuff. Is there anything similar in size that sounds fuller?

No. Mr. Jones bent physics beyond what was thought possible when he made the D4 and nothing in the same size/weight ratio can keep up.

Bonus: The D4 runs off a laptop power bank, so your front porch does not even have to have an outlet.

If ease of transport is the main issue and you want to one-up the D4, the Barefaced one10 cabinet is a good contender,
that's a very loud 1x10" cabinet at 7kgs - add a class D head of your choice and you're well below 10kg, and it all fits neatly in a cajon bag.

Also, should money not really be an issue, the GR cabs are worth looking at.

I myself have a D4 and a Barefaced Super Mini. That's a 4kg combo amp and a 9.5kg cabinet. The latter can keep up with a loud drummer and is sufficient for more than 90% of what I do, including metal.

In a nutshell:
D4 is impossible to beat at the size/volume ratio of things. It's the smallest full sounding amp that can even do a low B with credible authority and it works in acoustic settings, but has to bow out once the drummer picks up the sticks.

GR makes incredibly light cabinets. A 112 is comparable to other 112 cabinets, but at a fraction of the weight. Careful: Carbon fiber sidewalls are incredibly stiff and make the cab work well as long as it's standing around, but they are not the sturdiest things against impact with pointy objects. Buy the padded cover if you intend to carry it around a lot.

Barefaced makes very light cabinets, but they are much louder than they have any right to be. Their 112 setups often successfully compete with 212 setups of quality brands.



Budget option:
Fender Rumble 100. A solid 112 setup at around 10kgs