• 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.

Double Bass Small combo

K

klem.gote

Jan 18, 2009
259
25
New England
Disclosures
Bass Player
#1
Hi!! I do a lot of work with a trio, upright, tenor sax and guitar. I have an AI Clarus head that I like and a couple of cabs, 10 and 12 inches that I use, but sometimes we'll do a gig where I can play acoustically, or close to it. I'd love a small combo amp to use on gigs like that, an easy in and out that gives me just a little more than the sound of my bass alone. I've been looking at the Phil Jones bass cub and similar amps. Does anyone have experience or recommendations with amps like these?

Thanks, Tom
 
#3
The Phil Jones Double Four would probably work perfectly for you. It can be battery powered which is a neat feature. Be sure you're using some sort of preamp if you're using a piezo pickup though. Without one I really have to crank the amp to get noticeable volume from the amp.

its an extremely transparent amp, and does a great job of amplifying whatever acoustic tone you have
 
#4
klem.gote said:
Hi!! I do a lot of work with a trio, upright, tenor sax and guitar. I have an AI Clarus head that I like and a couple of cabs, 10 and 12 inches that I use, but sometimes we'll do a gig where I can play acoustically, or close to it. I'd love a small combo amp to use on gigs like that, an easy in and out that gives me just a little more than the sound of my bass alone. I've been looking at the Phil Jones bass cub and similar amps. Does anyone have experience or recommendations with amps like these?

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...
Sounds like a lot of my gigs. Happy with the GK mb112 II. Just got the matching powered cab
for louder gigs with drums. (waiting for it to arrive)
Ok, Got the GK MB112 II. Should I spice it up with the 112 MBP?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winoman
#5
You've got a great amp and 10" speaker. Is it really that much of a hassle to wire up the two? The only advantage of a combo over what you have that I can see. If you want a smaller speaker, MAS16 is great for small group playing. You could get a powered version and ALIX pre for a really small setup. I don't think you'll find a small combo with as good or better sound.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dudaronamous
#6
Eric Hochberg said:
You've got a great amp and 10" speaker. Is it really that much of a hassle to wire up the two? The only advantage of a combo over what you have that I can see. If you want a smaller speaker, MAS16 is great for small group playing. You could get a powered version and ALIX pre for a really small setup. I don't think you'll find a small combo with as good or better sound.
Click to expand...

There's both a powered and an unpowered MAS 1/6 in the TB Classifides as we speek. I have a powered MAS 1/8 and MAS 4.5 they are
outstanding. Eric's right, although there are some nice combos out there, Mike's stuff is a whole nother ball game.
 
#8
Eric Hochberg said:
You've got a great amp and 10" speaker. Is it really that much of a hassle to wire up the two? The only advantage of a combo over what you have that I can see. If you want a smaller speaker, MAS16 is great for small group playing. You could get a powered version and ALIX pre for a really small setup. I don't think you'll find a small combo with as good or better sound.
Click to expand...
a lot of cabinets I initially design for something that I need. I play a lot of gigs that are duo or drummerless trio. That's specifically why I designed the 16. I know that Hans Sturm is happy with his in a big band setting. That's pushing it IMO.And it's nice to have a 13# speaker in a backpack
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ric Vice
#9
Eric Hochberg said:
You've got a great amp and 10" speaker. Is it really that much of a hassle to wire up the two? The only advantage of a combo over what you have that I can see. If you want a smaller speaker, MAS16 is great for small group playing. You could get a powered version and ALIX pre for a really small setup. I don't think you'll find a small combo with as good or better sound.
Click to expand...

Hi. And no it's not that big a deal, but more than I need sometimes and often means another trip. But I hadn't thought about the MAS16. Never played one of his cabs but I'm well aware to the reputation, that might be just the thing for me, thanks!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Povl Carstensen and Ric Vice
#10
Just one more data point... I gig in a trio with that same combo and although I have several different amps and cabs on the shelf my Phil Jones BG-150 has become my go-to for the trio. I park it behind us in the middle... the upfiring speakers help us hear and the front firing speakers work well for the audience. Plenty of power if the crowd gets loud, not too heavy, plug it in and go.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: klem.gote and Ric Vice
#11
I own three PJB combos - Super Flightcase, Flightcase, and CUB. The CUB is my least favorite. To my ears, the sound is great until the volume goes past a certain point. Beyond that, the small size of the cabinet gets overwhelmed trying to move the air and the sound gets muddy more quickly than I would like. I love the other two combos to death, and have played them, everywhere with great results. The SFC has been my go to amp for almost 10 years now.

I’ve heard great things about the double four, but have not yet had the chance to try one.
 
#12
Chris Fitzgerald said:
............ The CUB is my least favorite. To my ears, the sound is great until the volume goes past a certain point. Beyond that, the small size of the cabinet gets overwhelmed trying to move the air and the sound gets muddy more quickly than I would like....
Click to expand...

Chris,
I think that's true for most of the smaller cabinets I've owned. The EA VL-108's were just beautiful, until they hit "the wall". This is true I've ever owned, with the exception of the MAS 1/8. Phil Jones resides, here in

St. Louis. I have a close friend who used to work for him. So, perhaps I'll look him up. He's always working on new things. Since he's an sound engineer, who plays bass, he has a really good handle on how to design and build bass amps and cabinets.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Fitzgerald
#16
Vince Waldon said:
Just one more data point... I gig in a trio with that same combo and although I have several different amps and cabs on the shelf my Phil Jones BG-100 has become my go-to for the trio. I park it behind us in the middle... the upfiring speakers help us hear and the front firing speakers work well for the audience. Plenty of power if the crowd gets loud, not too heavy, plug it in and go.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. Upfiring and front firing speakers???
 
#19
Agreed 100%. And if you do you are going to out a grand or more. A bow upgrade or something will be a better use of money, or even just put out an album of one of those groups.

Eric Hochberg said:
You've got a great amp and 10" speaker. Is it really that much of a hassle to wire up the two? The only advantage of a combo over what you have that I can see. If you want a smaller speaker, MAS16 is great for small group playing. You could get a powered version and ALIX pre for a really small setup. I don't think you'll find a small combo with as good or better sound.
Click to expand...
 
#20
damonsmith said:
Agreed 100%. And if you do you are going to out a grand or more. A bow upgrade or something will be a better use of money, or even just put out an album of one of those groups.
Click to expand...

Now we're getting into really expensive territory, I should have purchased several bows when I was a student, as they are nearly triple the price they were in the 1970's when a $1000.00 got you a very nice bow, provided you had a $1000,000
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back