Thanks for the review!
Do you think it's loud enough to play bass along with a couple acoustic guitars? There's a jam that I'd like to bring my bass to, but they are afraid of any amps. I may be able to sneak this in.
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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
Do you think it's loud enough to play bass along with a couple acoustic guitars? There's a jam that I'd like to bring my bass to, but they are afraid of any amps. I may be able to sneak this in.
I'm thinking about picking up one of these... how baked in is the ampeg sound? I'm looking for something small that'll play nice when I'm playing with a couple ukes. A huge selling point is the tilt back on this little amp.
Thanks!
Could be the proverbial foot in the door, Rod! With battery power and perched on a table, or higher, for better dispersion, even if not sufficient for your taste, it could give your ampliphobes a taste of the sonic possibilities of having bass accompaniment. If they are discerning musicians, they'll soon come to appreciate the creamy goodness that is bass tone, if it's not forced on them.
After retirement we moved to another state and it was not easy finding musicians to play with! When I first started playing bass at some jams billed as "Bluegrass" I was acutely aware of that genre's aversion to electric bass. But I don't have, or really play, upright. I only ever got any acknowledgement if there was no one there playing an upright. So, I began with very low volume from my smallest looking bass amps. I waited to be asked to turn up the volume.
After several months, now I feel welcome to play at a reasonable level and never get asked to turn down. And I get calls for special gigs with subsets of people from of the open jams. Was even told one-on-one, by a few different musicians, that they're glad I'm not a loud player! Ha! They should hear me in my country cover band, with my Rumble 500 combo, no less !
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I think you and I may be the only people on this board that know how ultra cool the PB150 really is.
All 3 of my combos together. It doesn't happen that often....
It's not the other players I have to worry about. We play at the library, and the rule is "no amps" to keep the volume level down to the point where we don't get told, "SSSHHHHH!"Could be the proverbial foot in the door, Rod! With battery power and perched on a table, or higher, for better dispersion, even if not sufficient for your taste, it could give your ampliphobes a taste of the sonic possibilities of having bass accompaniment. If they are discerning musicians, they'll soon come to appreciate the creamy goodness that is bass tone, if it's not forced on them.
After retirement we moved to another state and it was not easy finding musicians to play with! When I first started playing bass at some jams billed as "Bluegrass" I was acutely aware of that genre's aversion to electric bass. But I don't have, or really play, upright. I only ever got any acknowledgement if there was no one there playing an upright. So, I began with very low volume from my smallest looking bass amps. I waited to be asked to turn up the volume.
After several months, now I feel welcome to play at a reasonable level and never get asked to turn down. And I get calls for special gigs with subsets of people from of the open jams. Was even told one-on-one, by a few different musicians, that they're glad I'm not a loud player! Ha! They should hear me in my country cover band, with my Rumble 500 combo, no less !
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I may consider a Taylor mini bass or one of the Ibanez models, but I'm currently leaning toward a tiny combo that is able to be batty powered. That way, I can play in my study as well as at acoustic jams. I tend to play quieter than most others, because my mediocrity demands it.
What about these options?
AC1 Rhythmvox Bass
VX50BA
PB10
Now I have a New Year's resolution. It'll take a lot of work, but I'll try.
The Library!?!
That's a new one on me for rehearsal space! What? A sound treated room in the Audio Section, or something? My college Student Union had that kinda thing many, many moons ago. I never saw them used that way, but seems to make some sense now you mention it.And that no-amps rule makes sense, too. Especially since bass frequencies propagate through buildings so easily! Even something like the low power Fly might be able to offend there. I dunno.
You may have found the place for an unamplified acoustic bass guitar! Although, you may struggle to hear it yourself, much less the others. And, what are the long term prospects of continuing there that would justify that kind of expense?
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AC1 Rhythmvox Bass - no longer in production, used market, possibility
VX50BA - no battery power, way overpowered
PB10 - no battery power, I think, possibly overpowered?
- See above reference to bass frequencies propagation.
Just my 2¢. Good luck.
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- Oct 22, 2015
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Used a bit of time here to A/B the BA108 and Elf at similar volume levels. And yes the little Ampeg has its own tone. It feels less "forward" than what I hear from the Elf. Can a BA108 really hang with a couple acoustic instruments? Not if expecting this:
Heres my Markbass CMD121P (combo) over a NY121 ext. cab- in action 
running DI into PA.
... the combo has served me well since 2009! (same one in my Avatar)
Goin thru some nice subs! 4 QSC KW181’s
running DI into PA.... the combo has served me well since 2009! (same one in my Avatar)
Goin thru some nice subs!
4 QSC KW181’s
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Looks like you’ve had plenty of good replies!
Seems like it might be OK for your situation. You could take the combo one week and if that doesn’t freak them out, you could add the powered cab next time!
I just learnt a new word.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Congratulations, instro! From my cursory search of da 'Net, you are the first to recognize my textual concoction as a word! Thank you. Thankyewveramuch.
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- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Is the opposite of ampliphobe an ampli-dude?
Some Englebert trivia, around 1967? he was on the same tour with Jimi Hendrix. Jimi used to call him, "The Hump."
Maggs! Great to hear from you, our British bassist. I’d enjoy plugging into a Fly Bass but haven’t found the opportunity as of yet. I once owned the Fly for guitar and thought it was decent for its intended purpose.
Say Maggsy, I’ve noticed the Bassman’s Pub is in need of some reordering for the holidays. Feel free to order your top choices for 2019 and hand the tab to someone in the central office. Thanks!
Congrats and welcome to the Ampeg family. Yes, there’s a little baked-in flavor, but when it’s the best-sounding flavor in the Bass World then you can’t help but enjoy it. Give it a serious whirl, C7, and don’t be shocked if you also Ed up falling for it like the rest of us.
RodRy, is put the Fly on your short list and I’d like to add a couple of more micros that may work in the library setting.
First, the Eden Micro amp. Quite inexpensive and maybe what will work for ya.
Second, the Roland Micro is much more expensive, but makes up with a ton of features. Like the Eden, it can be battery-powered which would be a benefit around a lot of books!
I’m sure others will toss you a few more ideas so enjoy the journey and let us know where ya land.
It's a great little amp from back before Carvin went to pooh. Interesting point: the new mb212 weighs about the same as that little Carvin. I picked them up one in each hand today and couldn't tell which was lighter. That's 500 watts and 2X12's at the same weight as 100 watts and 1X10. SCIENCE!
