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The best mini bass amp.

Joe Nerve

Joe Nerve

Oct 7, 2000
18,619
38,939
New York City
www.joenerve.com
Disclosures
Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
#1
I'm not talking about a 500 watt 4 pounder. I'm not even talking about a 6 watt Roland micro 10 pounder. I'm talking about the almost useless battery powered throw it in your napsack $10 to $40 kind of amp that can't be used for anything much more than hearing yourself... but I want to know which one you can hear yourself best with. :) Not sure if they even make any of these for bass. Lots of em for guitar. I kinda like this one for it's looks and the fact that it has 2 speakers, but I want to know what you guys know about any and all of these things.

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The goal is to find the smallest, lightest, cheapest amp that will allow me to hear bass notes out of an electric without making it distort like a guitar. Not looking for any that will shake (or even vibrate) the furniture. Just make things audible. Thanks.

Thanks.
 
#2
Does it have to be an "amp"? Vox makes a thing they call the amplug. i've never tried one, but i think you plug it in to your bass and plug headphones into it. there is a bass model. other than something like that, i don't think you can do it under ~ 6 1/2" speaker, +/- 5 to 10 watt range--- the 8x10x6 black box. sorry:(
 
#3
Yeah, that thing (and all of those $40 throw it in your bag amps) wouldn't be worth a crap for bass IMO of course. ;)

Something like this might be worth a look - Invalid Link Removed
 
#4
Thanks. I already have a micro cube. And I think it's my most utilized bass investment ever. I love it.

I'm not looking for something to gig, nor even jam with. I just bought an electric ubass, and I'm trying to work out the most compact traveling arrangement possible, for learning material, writing, and practicing. Just looking to get a clean audible sound out of the ubass in the smallest possible package. Don't want to do the headset thing either. Severe tinnitus has turned most headphones for me into torture devices.

PS. I already have an acoustic ubass, but now want the extra frets and gigability of the electric
 
#7
christw said:
Deleted my prior comment-Try an Orange Micro Crush CR3 or CR6. I have one of the original ones that's 2 watts and it actually puts out some decent low end for its size.
Click to expand...

We may possibly have a winner. Although I'm going to wait this out just a little longer. Thanks.

Orange Micro Crush Bass Test - YouTube

Actually hoping for even smaller than that, but realizing I may be dreamin.
 
#8
I'm probably getting the Fender Pawnshop series Greta. Seems like a really cool amp. 1 or 2 tube watts. It also has an aux in for you to play your iPod or so. Perfect for learning songs. Also perfect as a kitchen radio! =)
 
#9
I use a Danelectro Honeytone [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and it does exactly what you want. Turn the Tone all the way up, keep the Drive all the way down, and keep fresh batteries in her, she'll make some interesting noises.
Though I do like the look of the Hodad, but the extra features are a turn off.

and while i currently play an Orange head, i gotta say $70 for the MicroCrush is a bit much for what I'd use it for.
 
#10
Ivansson said:
I'm probably getting the Fender Pawnshop series Greta. Seems like a really cool amp. 1 or 2 tube watts. It also has an aux in for you to play your iPod or so. Perfect for learning songs. Also perfect as a kitchen radio! =)
Click to expand...

I wondered about the Greta too. It even has a line out - maybe it could find some use as a groovy overdrive too? Anyway, I was talking about it with a guy at L&MQ and he made a good point that with them not being intended for bass that those low frequencies could potentially cook that little speaker pretty quickly if you were playing at any sort of higher volume.

I still think its a cool looking little amp. I may get one just for my iPod.
 
#11
I paid $25 for a Micro Crush at a Hot Topic of all places! ;)

As far as the speaker thing with the Greta (which is a cool amp btw!) goes, it's just silly to worry about. The speaker is made to take full on overdrive from that amp all day long. Playing bass through it at what will be an inevitably lower volume (and output power) than a guitar in overdrive has zero chance of doing damage.
 
#13
After waay too much research, for a cheap, tiny amp... I have decided to go with a honeytone. I don't believe I'm going to find a cheaper, tinier, louder amp. Can't see spending over $20 either as nothing this small is going to sound "good" anyhow. Just placed my order. Will this qualify for a new amp day thread when it arrives? :)
 
#16
I had a HOG 30 (or was it 40?), and for the money spent on that, the Roland microcube is light years away. Sounds 1000X better, is smaller and lighter, has bass treble mid plus a bunch of amp models, a tuner, drum beats, and some very usable effects. I was a little upset by the pignose cuz the battery is easily overcharged. Went through 2 of them pretty quickly and then gave up. I have to give kudos though to the head of the pignose company. He overnighted me some batteries for free because the amp went dead right before a camping trip. Some of the best customer service I ever got.

I think I said this already, but I'll say it again. My goal here is to put together the smallest, usable, bass/amp package possible, for traveling and stuff. I think I just may have accomplished that. Kala and Honeytone. Hmmm... I think I might rename my 2 cas.
 
#19
Spiritoflife said:
Did the honeytone work well or what? I heard the honeytone can't play low freqs without "farting". What do you say
Click to expand...

I say... its a smokin guitar amp. Unbelievably loud and somewhat decent sounding for its size. For bass it works only at super low volumes. An acoustic bass would be louder. :)
 
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#20
Alright I need a mini bass amp I had one that was perfect but let a friend borrow it and it was misplaced I believe. Fender bassman am 59 I bought it from a music store about 5 years ago and now try are hard to find well thanks if you know of anything 20ish $ that will work without headphones it would be helpful for personal practice.
 

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