Double Bass Small combo

[Don Hergert]

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

It's not considered a boutique amp, but the Roland Micro Cube BASS might be worth looking at for you. A few of us are using these regularly and they sound exactly like what you are talking about. Very portable, light, small, battery powered (6 AA internal=~13 hours or much more at medium volume) or use the included AC adapter. It has 4 4" speakers, good usable EQ, gain, volume settings, effects, amp modeling, etc. The tone and volume are excellent -- in fact really quite surprising -- for a battery powered low wattage small and portable amp. Price is pretty affordable too (~$300US).

I routinely use this amp with no other volume assist when playing in for a small church service, ~100 people. I'll also use it for larger gatherings, sometimes mic'ing the amp, or sometimes pointed toward me, as a personal monitor while I'm also DI'ed. I have piezos on my bass and have plugged them in straight to this amp with surprizingly good success, although now I use a bass mounted blending pre-amp (for multiple pickups).

One key consideration for any small amp is that it really needs to be elevated above the audience's leg/table/waist level for it to be heard well. With it on the floor aimed at people's feet, it won't help much. I typically will put mine on a chair, a counter or really anything that will get it above waist level. If I have to put it on the floor, I carry a small "leg" that I can angle it upward with.

I keep mine strapped into a utility day-pack that I can just set down, unzip and plug my bass cable into. Very fast and easy to setup and move around.

The only other thing I'd recommend for any small amp is removing any existing logo items that are mounted on any front cage that may be there to protect speakers -- especially with small speakers they can block and reflect sound waves unnecessarily. If you feel safe enough to handle the amp without it, you may even want to remove any front cage that is there.

Cube BASS in zipped daypack

Cube BASS in unzipped daypack (before removing logo plates)

 

[damonsmith]

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

The Upshot is also a great option for this setting. I used mine tonight in Providence, it was fantastic. The Upshot is great for a strong drummer that listens. I use it with a volume pedal and don't use it when I don't need it. It is lighter and easier to schlep than any combo.

 

[Ric Vice]

I recently used my MAS 1/8 for a concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall here in St. Louis, It was an 8 piece band with a singer out front.

Naturally the drummer had to kick the ensemble. The MAS had no issues getting the sound right to my ears and the rest of the band.

While it's not super light 22.5 lbs is pretty easy to haul around.