• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Small amp to play with acoustics

#81
Adaptive said:
Well... I got one of these: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Trace-...ybQzLYUa7JkVX3zAvtvBC7RwHcYz7jOxoCT4MQAvD_BwE

And I got a 1x12 cab because it sounded great and was used (and cheap). I would like to be able to fit it under my chair though. So now what would be a great under the chair cab?
Click to expand...

So you've bought a 200W Trace Elliot ELF and a 1-12 cab. Seems good to me!

I wouldn't sit on the cab. I'd put the cab away from me, near a wall or corner if possible, then sit in with the other players and get the volume mix right.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nixdad and Adaptive
#82
Playbyear said:
So you've bought a 200W Trace Elliot ELF and a 1-12 cab. Seems good to me!

I wouldn't sit on the cab. I'd put the cab away from me, near a wall or corner if possible, then sit in with the other players and get the volume mix right.
Click to expand...

FYI, If you're playing an ABG it can be nice to sit above the speaker to try and create a unified sound source.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lowtonejoe
#83
Wasnex said:
FYI, If you're playing an ABG it can be nice to sit above the speaker to try and create a unified sound source.
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll take your advice on that.

The OP said he's not playing ABG. I was suggesting what I do with an EBG, in a similar weekly jam. If I'm on top of the amp, I really can't hear the other players well enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#86
Stumbo said:
Which 1x12?
Click to expand...

This guy. I know literally nothing about except it was used and inexpensive and sounds really good. I have the Trace Elliot 1x10 on order as well for comparison.

20191203_090431.jpg
 
#88
jblock said:
I'm sure 100 watts would work fine, although with a more powerful combo you just would need to keep the volume low. I'd recommend a 12" combo. It's only a matter of time before someone says the Fender Rumble($299), but there's also the Gallien-Krueger MB112-II ($549), the Hartke KB12 ($449). There's more for more cash, like the Genzler Magellan 350 combo or the GK Legacy combo. Lots of choices!
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: jblock and Adaptive
#90
Adaptive said:
Hey guys,

I found a local group that has an acoustic jam which is really fun. These are guitars, mandolins, violins, banjos that mostly do bluegrass songs. I have a lot of fun with them and often find myself picking out bass lines (on an acoustic guitar). It would be sweet to play a bass with them but I don't really want to shell out any $$ on an acoustic bass.

Currently I play my bass at home through 2 10" PA speakers (via computer, eq, cab sim IR) and am very happy with it; it can keep up with my guitar maps just fine. However, it would be really cool to find a low power small and portable amp to play with this acoustic group. It would have to be small enough that it wouldn't intimidate or overpower the acoustics (and that it would be easy for me to plug in and go unobtrusively) yet I would still want it to sound good and be loud enough to hear with day a dozen acoustic instruments.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

I play that environment all the time. I have a Taylor GS Mini bass and use the Acoustic Image Contra with a Fishman Platinum Pro pre. Small, lightweight and killer sound.
contra.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: james condino and Adaptive
#91
I agree with the other people recommending the Rumble 40 v3. This is a step up from the 15 or the 25

I play a U-Bass, with a ukulele group which might contain up to 25 players

I might have gone for a Phil Jones but I would have needed to try it out first at some rehearsals and gigs, and wasn't prepared to take a chance, bearing in mind the cost

You may also need to consider what you would do if you played at a concert where the rest of the group were miked up but that didn't include you. This happened to me when we played as one of several groups of musicians, and where the PA operator said "No". My Rumble coped pretty well for volume but sounded rather rough - but this was an exceptional situation
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adaptive
#93
Roland MICRO CUBE BASS RX. It may be a little pricy but fits perfectly in a acoustic format for a ABG. Batteries seem to run forever or just plug in. You don't need to overpower the other acoustic players, just project a little more. The drum machine inspires alone jam time too. I always take it on road trips with my looper and ABG. BOOM!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adaptive and Lowtonejoe
#97
Hey guys, I went out and played at the acoustic jam today and it was great! The Trace Elliot Elf is so small that I could fit the amp, the power cable, the speaker cable, and the instrument cable all together in the compartment of the bass' case. SICK! The 1x12 I got worked fine, although it is a little heavy ;) The lower volume was perfectly controlled and sounded great. When the songs turned into faster "harder" bluegrass stuff, they even asked me to turn it up! With 200W on tap in that amp, there was no shortage of volume on the high end either. So many good recommendations made by everyone! As a six stringer (well, i did just play a bass in public so maybe that makes me a bass player now too) I was really nervous about trying this out. I really appreciate all of the feedback which gave me good confidence.
 
  • Like
Reactions: james condino, Playbyear, bbh and 2 others
#98
Adaptive said:
Hey guys, I went out and played at the acoustic jam today and it was great! The Trace Elliot Elf is so small that I could fit the amp, the power cable, the speaker cable, and the instrument cable all together in the compartment of the bass' case. SICK! The 1x12 I got worked fine, although it is a little heavy ;) The lower volume was perfectly controlled and sounded great. When the songs turned into faster "harder" bluegrass stuff, they even asked me to turn it up! With 200W on tap in that amp, there was no shortage of volume on the high end either. So many good recommendations made by everyone! As a six stringer (well, i did just play a bass in public so maybe that makes me a bass player now too) I was really nervous about trying this out. I really appreciate all of the feedback which gave me good confidence.
Click to expand...
Sounds like also had a great time! :thumbsup:

As far as the cab goes, you can pick up $20_$30 folding hand cart and a couple of bungees that will make moving it about a breeze.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adaptive
#99
Really nice thread, current to my situation. I've been working on some bluegrass myself and wondering about gear. I have a older Acoustic combo with a 10" speaker and my violin bass with tape wounds on it. Read one post, guy said he used a 18" cab, any thoughts? Thanks a bunch.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back