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Smallest amp you’ve been impressed by?

#41
Here's my newest setup; however it is for double bass.
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I've since replaced that amp with an even smaller Clarus SL one channel. Still 650 watts. The "cabinet" is an Acoustic Image Upshot, up-firing 10". With the new smaller amp, the speaker and amp, plus a couple of cables and power cord, fit in a back pack (not including the mic stand). About 15 pounds.

Just thought you might like to see what some of us on the other side are using for small rigs.
 
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#48
The main thing about a small combo amp is being able to clearly hear it. The size limits air displacement and thus volume. And if the cab is on the floor pointing away from you -- well, good luck with that. I've tried a bunch and the Phil Jones Flightcase BG150 has provided the "best" experience for the audience and player. Terrific tone and decent volume for what it is. Works well with my Fender 5-string Jazz and Taylor AB-1 acoustic bass guitar.

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  • Dimensions: 13.6″ H x 12.6″ W x 15.75″ D (345x320x400 mm)
  • Weighs only 24 lbs / 11kg


flightcase-bg-150-top-view.jpg
 
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#53
alaskaleftybass said:
Ampeg BA108v2. $99 with free shipping to Alaska via Amazon Prime. I've gone through half a dozen practice amps in the last year, and this is the only one that stayed home. It's a little bigger than most of the others, but the tone is pure Ampeg buttery goodness.

I was a hardcore GK fan for years but as of late I'm going back to my roots with Ampeg. This little guy can actually do small coffee house gigs and low volume rehearsals. The tone is gorgeous and very recognizable as Ampeg. It really has added some enthusiasm to my home rehearsing, I love listening to the tone with my Ibanez SR500.

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I was going to post this amp too. Got one for my "at home" amp. For $99 it sounds great, has good volume on tap and the little kickback shape is pretty useful.

I also tried one of those little Prometheus guys which was very nice but used and still more expensive. At this pricing it was worth buying new.
 
#54
Back in 08 or 09, my band opened for Pat Green at the House of Blues- Chicago. It was a one off gig for us, so we drove up that day from Nashville (leaving really freaking early) in our mini van. Space was lacking, so I borrowed a buddies Markbass 121 combo. It was a first edition i'd never seen before with front facing head all in yellow and sounded great. Markbass wasn't as really well known I guess at the time. Any who, we show up and park our Chrysler town and country next to the tour buses underground. Had to wait our turn for the freight elevator, and we got all our gear in one trip up. We setup in front of the bands gear. They were using in ear monitors, so they had to throw out a few wedges for us. I sit down my little markbass combo with tuner and VT Bass velcro'd on top right in front of their bass players SVT. Sound guy walks up, looks at it and just yells for a DI. We run through a quick song for soundcheck. The sound tech on stage walked up to my amp wide eyed, took away the DI, and promptly put a mic on the amp. After the show, one of the merch guys said the sound guy was looking for me to ask about my amp. Never could find him, but was curious what he had to say. It was probably around the time I was one handing my amp and bass down the stairs as crew guys were rolling the SVT into the freight elevator lol.

I eventually bought that 121 Markbass combo from my buddy, but sadly it got destroyed in the 2010 Nashville flood. Still miss it and don't think the newer ones are quite the same as that older one.
 
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#55
I am sure that there is still nothing to compare to the MarkBass CMD121P for size vs. output. 14" cube, 30 lbs. 350W, custom Neo 12. SCARY loud. I can play ANY indoor gig with it for Classic Rock. I even played the Canyon Club with it and no extension speaker. For rehearsal last week had to keep it on 2. Their best product for sure.

I still remember the night a couple of bass players came up after our show and wanted to see my "stack" and were dumbfounded when I showed them the little box in the corner!
 
#59
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I was amazed with this the first time I plugged in at the store and tried it out. I took it with me that day. It is great for personal practice, coffee houses, semi-acoustic situations (Where every one else is playing acoustically and I don't do uprite anymore) and smaller churches I play in from time to time. It handles my Ubasses very well. I even use it with my percussion pad!
 
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