Why So Few Affordable Battery Powered Bass Amps?

[selowitch]

@Wasnex, I appreciate your knowledge but that is simply way over my head. I can't use that information because it's far too complicated for me. I frankly have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry.

I think I'll just stick with my current setup, which is a Phil Jones Double Four BG-75 and the Roland BA-330, each under battery power.

 

[bikemusic]

In another thread, someone is talking about using the Quilter Interbass as a head under battery power with any old cabinet. The claim is that even though it's only rated at 45 watts @4 ohms, it's quite a bit louder than expected and can even be used on small gigs. Intriguing.

Passinwind is on the right track when he points out that Class-D amps use on average only a small fraction of their rated power. So a 400W amp may only average 1/8 of that, or 50 watts. And batteries have come a long way in the last decade. My e-bike has a 700 watt-hour lithium ion battery that weighs under 10 lbs. In theory that battery could run said 400w bass for 14 hours.

On the other subject you mentioned, it's not "any old cabinet" when you're running a low-power rig. People around here talk about "You need 500 watts" when they should actually be saying "You need 124 decibels". It's amazing how much more volume you can get with more efficient cabinets, or more of them. For instance, two 101dB/watt cabinets in parallel, compared to one 95 dB/cabinet, gives a 12dB boost. That's the same as multiplying your amp wattage by 16, or the difference between a 50W and an 800W head.

Two of these cabs with a 45W Interbass head would put out 123 dB. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Not stadium volume by any means but >10dB louder than a car horn.

 

[Holdsg]

I used the PJ Double Four with a laptop battery. Worked ok accompanying acoustic instruments. But Sold that when I sold my upright.

I used a QSCk10 powered speaker with a large Duracel branded lead acid battery pack thingy. Not much bass as I'd like, but good for vocals plus keys as the speaker has 2 inputs. Still own these components.

That's the extent of my busking solutions experience.

 

[micguy]

A Tesla can probably power a decent bass rig for a few sets worth of music.

After the gig, load your gear back in the car, turn it on, and hope you have enough juice left to drive home.

 

[MynameisMe]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002D0K00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_5G3BGEM9C4NJP5K5ATF2
I can't believe no one suggested this.
Pignose Hog 30.
I've had one for a couple years.
You can plug a acoustic guitar in the back and a bass in the front at the same time.
They are nothing glorious but put out enough sound to be heard above a cajon.
Even with both instruments in it lasts at least an hour and a half with no issues.
We've used it with our church group out doing music in the community.
Like I said it's not going to be your SVT plugged in but it's good enough to get by.
I also used a battery powered di for some EQ ahead of it.
If I can find the pictures I will post them.

 

[MynameisMe]

Probably the only difference is when I bought mine it was only like $150 now it's like $ 300..
It's plenty for a couple of guys and an acoustic single drum.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Nah, man ... I'm asking the question in earnest.

 

[selowitch]

Arrrrgh!! I hate animated GIFs.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Arrrrgh!! I hate animated GIFs.

 

[Ric5]

 

[pocket_groover]

Major cordless power tool manufacturers now all make small to large job site inverters that work off their batteries.
Their batteries are everywhere and have good multi-year warranties.
If you have small to medium class-d amp you can plug into one of these and play for hours.

If an amp manufacturer tried to buy as good of batteries they wouldn't have the same scale of sales and price discounts. And they wouldn't be able to stock replacement batteries needed over time. Look at Tesla roadster battery issues. The cars are fine, but replacement battery packs aren't available.

It's not worth it to bass gear manufacturers to get into batteries. Especially now with job site inverters with capable manufacturers managing the battery supply streams.

You can get one of these at your local hardware store:
Power+ Nexus Escape (150W Power Inverter)
You can buy any one of several choices of batteries from 2AH to 7AH at 56 volts (they are used for their power tools too).

However, by the time you buy the inverter, charger and battery, you're in for quite a bit of $.

Good alternatives are:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093GV115...olid=3D4QB5WG2IPRI&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
300 Watt-hour for $300 (extra $30 off from that right now) and your small rig or combo that's fairly loud and it may just work.
For a little more $:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P2ZMCV...olid=3D4QB5WG2IPRI&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
You get 555 Watt-hours for $400 ($100 off right now) and you could power your small loud rig or combo for a little longer.

Of course, they have them up to 3000 Watts for a lot more money.

Haven't really tried one out but just throwing out some suggestions. I may bite the bullet and try one out.

 

[allen_m]

In 1980 I played electric bass in my high school marching band. And not in "the pit" but on the field. Also did it in a few parades.

I used my Bassman 70 and a 2x15 enclosure angled back on a 4 wheel cart we welded up in shop class. Pretty sure we used bicycle wheels. Another guy pushed it behind/beside me. Power was a deep cycle marine battery and an inverter. It would last about an hour on a charge and I used AC in the stands. The director and I had no clue about how to pull it off and it probably shouldn't have worked but it did. And it was loud enough to play a tasty solo on the fifty yard line that could be heard throughout the little class 3A football stadium.
So, I would imagine that with a little ingenuity and a strong back, any amplifier could be battery powered.

 

[lermgalieu]

I have both a Roland Cube (6 AA batteries) that projects amazingly well even with drummer and amplified guitar and also a battery (internal, the believe lithium) powered JBL Eon One that is a portable PA speaker but I am sure would do nicely for bass.

 

[KohanMike]

Let's see: A 12V, 8AH battery into a 200W inverter. Let's be generous and say the inverter is 80% efficient. And let's be generous with the amp and give it 80% efficiency as well. 12V * 8A * 0.8 * 0.8 gives you about 60W out for no more than an hour at best.

You can throw mathematics around all day long, I know my own experience, my battery and inverter lasts for at least 5 hours

 

[Iristone]

You'd need a rather large battery for it, and it might get a bit shy in power. For kind of a similar reason I quit using digital modelling hardware - I'd prefer throwing away less batteries whenever possible.

 

[selowitch]

For my part, I decided to pull the trigger on the Jackery Explorer 300 that was on sale on their website for $269.00. I figure I can experiment with different amps attached to that thing and see if I can make it through a gig with it.

 

[Artman]

LOL Portland could just as well be Austin!

 

[funkymonk13]

There's Portable PAs with rechargeable batteries. Not the same as a bass amp but you can still go straight in or If you're into amp modelers you can do that with the PA.
You would still need to power whatever amp modeler/pedal you're using but that's a bit easier.

 

[dkelley]

Technology is a challenge. Battery power for a PRACTICAL bass amp is very very tough. Remember how much more power it takes to drive a bass amp than a comparably loud guitar amp. I know I'm generalizing here, but that rule of thumb is still present when it comes to powering a battery bass amp. The main reason for battery anything is playing on the street - busking. So the designers I'm sure would be thinking of how that could happen.

That being said, now with class D amps, it certainly more possible than it ever was before class D amps were perfected.

So yea the pickings are slim ;-)


I guess bassists are thought of as a dry bunch of purists who aren't considered likely to pay money for battery powered amps, according to marketing staff at amp companies??

 

[two fingers]

Despite the pandemic and the movement toward outdoor-only performances, I remain surprised at the dearth of battery-powered bass amps and/or heads. I have a Phil Jones Double Four BG-75 with a portable power supply, but it's just not quite loud enough on its own for my outdoor gigging needs. I also have a Roland BA-330 which functions decently as a bass amp as well as a 4-6 channel PA and runs on 8 x AA batteries. It's even possible to use those two in concert with each other and that gets me pretty much where I need to be. I even hear that a Quilter Interbass with a mobile power supply and speaker cabinet can surpass the Double Four in practical volume, though I don't have one of those.

Still, I'm wondering why there are so few options for battery-powered bass playing outdoors. I know Phil Jones has some higher-end battery-powered stuff like the Briefcase Ultimate, but that's mighty expensive.

So, in those situations where you think you need need battery bass amp, is the rest of the band using battery guitar amps and a battery PA?