up-to-date best TINY amp?

[WRM]

TBF, with that instrumentation the violinist probably isn't Jean-Luc Ponty, and you don't need much power for presence in the low end.

Violin has to be one of the loudest un-amped instruments, though I'm pretty sure my Flute could be heard in most cases, and there's no way they won't hear my Piccolo?...

 

[jtg]

Violin has to be one of the loudest un-amped instruments, though I'm pretty sure my Flute could be heard in most cases, and there's no way they won't hear my Piccolo?...

It sure was loud when I was sqwaking horrible noises out of mine for five years in grade school, so bad I found a less offensive instrument on the other side of the bandwidth. No offense to those who can play it well

 

[brianrost]

Violin has to be one of the loudest un-amped instruments

I think that’s why it became such a common instrument in folk music (as in music played by ordinary people for their own entertainment). Small, very portable and really loud for it’s size. Plus it’s not as annoying as bagpipes

 

[agedhorse]

TBF, with that instrumentation the violinist probably isn't Jean-Luc Ponty, and you don't need much power for presence in the low end.

Jeff and I worked on an amp project for Jean-Luc Ponty about 30 years ago. It became the Zeta AP-12 (IIRC).

 

[William K]

alright thanks y'all. a little disappointed that the pj d4 is the (almost!) only quasi-unanimously recommended small amp, because it's not as tiny/micro an option as i'd hoped...such is life!

 

[BassicJazzy]

alright thanks y'all. a little disappointed that the pj d4 is the (almost!) only quasi-unanimously recommended small amp, because it's not as tiny/micro an option as i'd hoped...such is life!

If you just want tiny, get a Blackstar and just live with the fact that it's not going to be exactly "hi-fi."

 

[ShadowGroover]

Jeff and I worked on an amp project for Jean-Luc Ponty about 30 years ago. It became the Zeta AP-12 (IIRC).

That was a cool little amp for a forever great. If I remember correctly, Zeta marketed it for cello, as well.

 

[bucephylus]

I still use my trusty GK MB150E-112. No reason to look further.

It doesn’t do batteries; but, my busking days are past.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Jeff and I worked on an amp project for Jean-Luc Ponty about 30 years ago. It became the Zeta AP-12 (IIRC).

I remember when he came into a music store in Evanston, IL where I was trying out basses around the time of the first Mahavishnu album, and I started playing some riff from the album, poorly. He just smiled and moved on past me, looking at acoustic guitars. I am still embarrassed by that performance!

 

[Aloe]

If you just want tiny, get a Blackstar and just live with the fact that it's not going to be exactly "hi-fi."

or loud, right. I had busking both and Blackstar wasn't like that really bad, but I appreciated more volume in the D4.
other things equal, 6W to 70W is like a 'twice louder amp'.

 

[brianrost]

it's not as tiny/micro an option as i'd hoped

Micro and bass don’t go together well.

 

[agedhorse]

That was a cool little amp for a forever great. If I remember correctly, Zeta marketed it for cello, as well.

Correct.

 

[gtirard]

Thread 'Mooer F15i Li Intelligent Amp (portable)'

Jul 12, 2025

This might be useful for someone: drums, looper, amps, effects, stereo, Bluetooth.

Bass demo starts at 2:07:

​

It’s pronounced “more?” I always said “moo-er” like the cow sound.

And the video that introduced me to it. Jump ahead to 7:11 or so:



Official product page:

F15i Li-MOOER Audio

F15i Li Intelligent Amp

www.mooeraudio.com

• OlyWhite
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

• 

 

[reynhart]

I'm waiting for the pricing of this new little thing as it can be my futur practice amp

 

[WRM]

Thread 'Mooer F15i Li Intelligent Amp (portable)'

Jul 12, 2025

This might be useful for someone: drums, looper, amps, effects, stereo, Bluetooth.

Bass demo starts at 2:07:

​

It’s pronounced “more?” I always said “moo-er” like the cow sound.

And the video that introduced me to it. Jump ahead to 7:11 or so:



Official product page:

F15i Li-MOOER Audio

F15i Li Intelligent Amp

www.mooeraudio.com

• OlyWhite
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

• 

Someone needs to put this up against a D4 and let us know how it compares?...

I'm waiting for the pricing of this new little thing as it can be my futur practice amp

Someone needs to put this up against a NanoX4 and let us know how it compares?...

 

[Yahboy]

there are a lot of threads on the subject and i've read them, but they are old.

i just want to plug a bass ukulele (kala ubass with rubber strings, really going for dbass sound) to be able to accompany a small group of acoustic instruments (fiddle, lute, gamba, folk singers, no percs) and am looking for the smallest/lightest/most discrete option that can pull that off. has anyone had success with any of the numerous new cheap micro bass amp options out there (joyo, laney, blackstar, pj nanobass, positive grid spark, etc)? as long as i can have a clean/non-distorting sound from the ubass just loud enough for this acoustic setting, i don't really care about other "concerns" (specific tone, effects, looks, etc).
is it all junk? like for everything, reviews are always either fantastic or awful...
i'll go the small combo route if everyone is unanimous about micro amps being trash, but with so many recent models i'm enclined to think some of them are decent. money is no concern but i'd rather pay less than more IF possible.

thanks!

Vox VX50ba

Not the best, but nice sounding compared to rumble , Ampeg, orange, hartke with same 8' driver.

 

[Major Seven]

i am indeed impressed with this consensus about the pj double four. it's really pricey though, yeesh!!

Yes but then all the hemming and hawing is over. I have mine for a year now. Each time I use it I'm pleased and glad I bought it.
PS It has a very clean "hi-fi" sound.
If you get used don't get one with the power supply that does NOT have a 3 prong ground plug. (or an aftermarket replacement)

 

[Major Seven]

alright thanks y'all. a little disappointed that the pj d4 is the (almost!) only quasi-unanimously recommended small amp, because it's not as tiny/micro an option as i'd hoped...such is life!

I predict you will like it.

 

[SomewhatHarmles]

I've been using the Double Four with a laptop battery since 2014, it's 70w. I recently switched to the D4 Plus, 90w, but only if it's plugged into the A/C connector rather than the USB-C power port, so I bought a small powerbank with an A/C port, which lasts for many hours. I also have the Blackstar Fly3 bass stack, which I wear when a few members of my uke group go to UCLA/Mattel Children's hospital and roam the rooms playing for the kids and giving away ukuleles.

Battery is available here:

Amazon.com

View attachment 7272158View attachment 7272153

Just gonna say, that's super cool of you to be doing music at the hospital.
When I was at UCSF, we'd really appreciate the volunteers make life better for these kids.

 

[FretRiff]

i just want to plug a bass ukulele (kala ubass with rubber strings, really going for dbass sound) to be able to accompany a small group of acoustic instruments (fiddle, lute, gamba, folk singers, no percs) and am looking for the smallest/lightest/most discrete option that can pull that off.

For $330 the 10"x14"x8" Boss Dual Cube Bass LX, which one person mentioned previously, is a solidly built double 5-watt practice and busking amp which can run on AA batteries and has 5 preamp types built in plus 3-band EQ, dual XLR outs, and a bunch of Boss effects (chorus, flanger, delay) onboard, with rhythm/drum patterns, and user presets. I think it could work in your situation, but not in a big room, or if a drummer showed up.

It's a bulletproof design based on the decades-old, now-discontinued Roland Bass Cube line.