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Tiniest amp under $50

Joe Nerve

Joe Nerve

Oct 7, 2000
18,619
38,939
New York City
www.joenerve.com
Disclosures
Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
#1
Allz I want is something that will amplify the bass a little. Along the lines of this:

N-10-2.jpg


But I'm hoping to get something a tiny little bit better and wanted to see what's available that I might not yet know about.

PS: I have several practice amps and tiny gig amps so there's no need to say, "You really might want to consider..." I really just want the cheapest, lightest, smallest thing that will make sound and not take up much room in a suitcase or napsack.
 
#3
Joe Nerve said:
Allz I want is something that will amplify the bass a little. Along the lines of this:

N-10-2.jpg


But I'm hoping to get something a tiny little bit better and wanted to see what's available that I might not yet know about.

PS: I have several practice amps and tiny gig amps so there's no need to say, "You really might want to consider..." I really just want the cheapest, lightest, smallest thing that will make sound and not take up much room in a suitcase or napsack.
Click to expand...

I went through something like that recently - I want to be able to practice while I am on vacation. Last year I did it with a headphone amp and it works, but I wasn't entirely happy with the experience. I ended up with the Blackstar mentioned above (should arrive today actually).

Unfortunately, guitars get lots of cheap little amp options (that have a sound commensurate with the price), but a bass would quickly tear them apart. I guess one of the joys of bass is that we have to buy better gear.
 
#6
Since my mom got sick last week I'm going to be spending a lot of time at their place. My band has new songs to learn every week, and I need something super small and easy to take back and forth - maybe even leave there. I've been using this as my practice bass/amp:

apache-i_wht_body.jpg


It's great, but then I have to carry around 2 basses. This amp looks like it'll tuck away nicely in an overnight bag, and actually sound pretty good. At least in comparison to that Danelectro. I'm not expecting a whole lot, so I don't think I'll be disappointed.

@PillO , I look forward to hearing your thoughts. We can both post reviews simultaneously :)!!!

Amazon same day delivery freaks me out. Wonder if I have time to go to the gym?
 
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#8
Joe Nerve said:
Since my mom got sick last week I'm going to be spending a lot of time at their place. My band has new songs to learn every week, and I need something super small and easy to take back and forth - maybe even leave there. I've been using this as my practice bass/amp:

apache-i_wht_body.jpg


It's great, but then I have to carry around 2 basses. This amp looks like it'll tuck away nicely in an overnight bag, and actually sound pretty good. At least in comparison to that Danelectro. I'm not expecting a whole lot, so I don't think I'll be disappointed.

@PillO , I look forward to hearing your thoughts. We can both post reviews simultaneously :)!!!

Amazon same day delivery freaks me out. Wonder if I have time to go to the gym?
Click to expand...

I actually bought the package with the extension speaker. My reasoning is that:
I don't have to use it,
I can then dual purpose as portable speaker for travel etc.,
I have the option of more power,
Later, if I want an extension speaker, they may not be available.
 
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#9
PillO said:
I actually bought the package with the extension speaker. My reasoning is that:
I don't have to use it,
I can then dual purpose as portable speaker for travel etc.,
I have the option of more power,
Later, if I want an extension speaker, they may not be available.
Click to expand...
I wrestled quite hard with the extension speaker package, but I ultimately won the battle :). I want it, badly (and just an extra $30!!!!), but I know full well that I really have no use for it. I have a practice amp I love that I use in the house, and the whole point of me buying this thing is to have the tiniest amp I can find that produces halfway decent sound. The extension speaker puts the amp into the same category (size and weight wise) as my other practice amp. It would wind up just taking up space.

So I'll be a little envious.... I'll live. Ya just can't say any dumb stuff like, "I like the amp, but it only really comes alive when I plug in the 2nd speakeer." :)
 
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#10
joe why not just get a headphone amp and practice with headphones? i do that nightly and have on tour/vacation. i can practice silently while playing loud (and having the music loud enough to hear).

playing wiht a tiny amp do you have the music from your phone playing at a soft volume or something? never figured out how you guys do it
 
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#11
Joe Nerve said:
Since my mom got sick last week I'm going to be spending a lot of time at their place. My band has new songs to learn every week, and I need something super small and easy to take back and forth - maybe even leave there. I've been using this as my practice bass/amp:

apache-i_wht_body.jpg


It's great, but then I have to carry around 2 basses. This amp looks like it'll tuck away nicely in an overnight bag, and actually sound pretty good. At least in comparison to that Danelectro. I'm not expecting a whole lot, so I don't think I'll be disappointed.

@PillO , I look forward to hearing your thoughts. We can both post reviews simultaneously :)!!!

Amazon same day delivery freaks me out. Wonder if I have time to go to the gym?
Click to expand...
What's the name of the bass in your picture?
 
#12
markjazzbassist said:
joe why not just get a headphone amp and practice with headphones? i do that nightly and have on tour/vacation. i can practice silently while playing loud (and having the music loud enough to hear).

playing wiht a tiny amp do you have the music from your phone playing at a soft volume or something? never figured out how you guys do it
Click to expand...

I was never a headphones guy, and don't get how YOU guys do it with headphones :).

When I'm learning songs my preferred method is with my PC, Transcribe, and a Roland Bass Microcube. I can EQ the song with Transcribe to get the bass to jump out, and levels with my bass are a no-brainer.

I need an alternative now because I'll be spending a lot of time at my folks (don't remember if I mentioned that or not). What I'll wind up doing is either plugging my phone or ipad into the amp, or I'll use a travel speaker I bought not too long ago if that sounds like crap. I have an app that does the same stuff Transcribe does on my Apple devices. Seems a lot easier to me than trying to EQ and mix everything to best hear and learn bass parts with headphones on. I actually wouldn't even know where to start.

I once had a Tascam bass trainer. I tried several times to work with that and headphones and it was just frustrating to me. I know many people have headphones on throughout the day, so I guess it's second nature to them. To me it's really uncomfortable, I feel like I lose touch with everything around me, and I get tangled up, too :).

Betcha weren't expecting that in depth a response :). It's only cuz I'm avoiding chores.

Couldda just left it at, "I'm not a headphones kinda guy."

:)
 
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#13
bassplayertom77 said:
What's the name of the bass in your picture?
Click to expand...

It's a Vox Apache. They stopped making them, and there are very few left. If interested I'd find one quickly as the prices are rising since they've become less availabe. They used to run somewhere around $300. It's a rock solid bas with a great neck and lots of fun to be had. Only drawback is you can't balance it on your lap. A strap is needed, or a really strangely shaped thigh.
 
#14
Joe Nerve said:
I was never a headphones guy, and don't get how YOU guys do it with headphones :).

When I'm learning songs my preferred method is with my PC, Transcribe, and a Roland Bass Microcube. I can EQ the song with Transcribe to get the bass to jump out, and levels with my bass are a no-brainer.

I need an alternative now because I'll be spending a lot of time at my folks (don't remember if I mentioned that or not). What I'll wind up doing is either plugging my phone or ipad into the amp, or I'll use a travel speaker I bought not too long ago if that sounds like crap. I have an app that does the same stuff Transcribe does on my Apple devices. Seems a lot easier to me than trying to EQ and mix everything to best hear and learn bass parts with headphones on. I actually wouldn't even know where to start.

I once had a Tascam bass trainer. I tried several times to work with that and headphones and it was just frustrating to me. I know many people have headphones on throughout the day, so I guess it's second nature to them. To me it's really uncomfortable, I feel like I lose touch with everything around me, and I get tangled up, too :).

Betcha weren't expecting that in depth a response :). It's only cuz I'm avoiding chores.

Couldda just left it at, "I'm not a headphones kinda guy."

:)
Click to expand...

gotcha, different strokes i guess, but playing amplified i need to be louderish to hear the bass in a recording, loud enough that when added with my bass its too loud. so only headphone amps for me. i just have a little behringer mixer that has 2 inputs, 1 for bass 1 for phone. 2 volume controls i just mix to taste.

thanks for the explanation. one day if i buy a house i will practice amplified because honestly it does sound the best.
 
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