| Author | Message | ||
| richbass939
Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 84 Registered: 11-2004 |
Does anyone know anything about Phil Jones amps, especially the suitcase? I'm kind of looking for something suitable for practice volume that is light and can handle the low frequencies without maxing out the speakers. The company ads show Chuck Rainey saying it will handle his B and F-sharp strings. It is 100W and 28 lbs with 2 x 5" speakers. Rich | ||
| davr35
New Username: davr35 Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2004 |
There is a review of the Phil Jones suitcase amp in the new Bass Player | ||
| richbass939
Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 93 Registered: 11-2004 |
Thanks, Davr35, I just got it. The review wasn't quite what I was hoping it would be. Their comments about its handling of the low end thump kind of put it off my wish list. I am hoping to find something light that still can handle the lows without crapping out on me. I guess I should have made this thread more open-ended. Does anyone have any suggestions for a rehearsal/living room amp? One that could also boost an upright would be especially attractive. Rich | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 368 Registered: 1-2003 |
You won't find a smaller speaker with better bottom end than the Acme B1. Team it with an Acoustic Image Clarus or Focus amp for the ultimate portable rig. David B. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 446 Registered: 6-2002 |
Love my SWR Workingman's 12. Keep its back close to a wall and you'll get great low-end response. Go easy on the Aural Exciter. It will also do small to medium sized gigs that are not too loud. | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 107 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just played a "suitcase" this last weekend and must say it was lacking even for the E string. It's a great idea and possibly good for upright at low levels but 2-5" speakers just cannot push enough air for the low notes. Gale | ||
| richbass939
Intermediate Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 109 Registered: 11-2004 |
Thanks, everybody. I appreciate the input. I guess I was thinking that I will find something small and light that has some decent low end response. I already have a small/light one that doesn't. My old Rick combo sounds good but weighs 70 pounds. It has wheels, which does help some. I'll keep my eyes open. Maybe something compact that has some bottom will come along one of these days. Rich | ||
| beelee
Junior Username: beelee Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2004 |
I saw a Kansas show a while back, Billy Greer had 2 PJ stacks on each side of the drum riser, I wasn't impressed with his sound although he played well. Speakers that small to me just don't sound good for bass. for something small, I would use a single 15, a 2-10 or maybe a 2-12 cab, not sure who makes the lightest cab with the best lowend, for rehersals and some small gigs my Super Redhead handles a low B well, but its not that light....Rich what size speakers does your Rick Combo have in it ?............with the weight of an amp + a cabinet what's out there thats alot less than 70 lbs? B. | ||
| dgcarbu
Intermediate Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 183 Registered: 6-2004 |
Decisions, decisions...I echo beelee's recommendations, at least a 2x10 swr or eden should do the trick. They're small enough to lug on one of those small collapsable carts. Peace, Darrell | ||
| richbass939
Intermediate Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 112 Registered: 11-2004 |
B & D, Thanks. I was really skeptical about 5" speakers even if there were a whole bunch of them. I think I'd go with a 2-12 rather than a 1-15. Of course I've heard many good things about Edens. Seems you cant go wrong with them. Back in my old days no self-respecting bassist would play anything smaller than a 15 but it seems that technology has changed things enough that there are a lot of smaller speakers that sound good and can handle the low end. My Rick has 1-12". There's a pic of it on Showcase, Epic, Richbass family pics. I really like it. It sounds pretty good for something small from the 70s. I'm kind of nostalgic about it too. I've always liked Rick products. Rich | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 709 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, here are some ideas for small/light setups: EA 800 combo amp (1x12, much headroom, pretty small). The wizzy 1x12 cab is getting good reviews. Schroeder 1210 or 1212 cab with any reasonable head. These things are getting great reviews. Bag End 1x15 or 1x12 cabinets. These are really compact packages. There are a lot of sub-20lb heads on the market to match with any cab. AI gets raves for being tiny, and then there are things like the Eden WT550 or Mesa Walkabout that are also pretty portable and affordable. I also have been playing a Super Redhead, but I don't think it handles the B particularly well. I used a Hartke kickback with a 12" speaker as well and it was pretty solid for rehearsal-level volume. It might be okay as a stage monitor since it has a decent DI to hook into the PA for mains. I am really preferring the sound of 12s to 10s these days. There's no substitute for your own ears, though. Find your way to one of the GC shops out there and try a bunch of things. If you can't deal with GC, check out Bass Central's website and trade some emails with them. I bet they can hook you up right! -Bob | ||
| dgcarbu
Intermediate Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 185 Registered: 6-2004 |
I hope you find the rig you want. | ||
| jacko
Member Username: jacko Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rich Ashdown have just announced a new 'mini rig'.. http://www.ashdownmusic.com/news/fullstory.asp?ID=73 graeme | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 710 Registered: 3-2004 |
Graeme, 65 watts and two 1x10 cabinets is likely to produce a lovely practice amp, but not much for "real" playing. I wouldn't expect strong B-string reproduction with that little power. I have enjoyed Ashdown quality, so it's probably got pretty good tone for low volume duty with an upright or four string. I would think that the Ashdown Electric Blue line would be a better choice, though the 1x12 combo is still over 50 lbs. The 1x15 has about the same specs as the 1x12 if you prefer a 15. | ||
| jacko
Member Username: jacko Post Number: 98 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bob. Veering slightly off topic, I've been using a trace elliot 250w 4X10 for about ten years and I've been thinking more and more that it needs some more in the bottom end. Any opinion of Ashdown's ABM115 given that Ashdown are pretty much trace elliot in all but name? graeme | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 712 Registered: 3-2004 |
Graeme- To go further afield... I have minimal experience with Ashdown. I listened to a player testing a combo against a Super Redhead at Bass NW a few months ago. The guy played both upright and electric through it and the Ashdown sounded more warm and natural. I would say it had better bottom and low mids where the SWR sounded like it had a smiley EQ applied to it. I believe he bought the Ashdown, and I know I would have under the circumstances. I haven't seen any TE gear around here in quite a while, so that's a tough comparison. Certainly, you should be able to find some stock at a local shop there to hear it for yourself? I would say that you should be careful going from a 4x10 to a 1x15 or 1x12. Most 4x10 cabs spec out to have the same or better low end response compared to a larger speaker. What you may be experiencing is too tight a bottom such that the sound quality isn't what you want. I suspect that your combo has a tube preamp, so you might experiment with pushing the preamp stage a bit harder and backing off on the main volume (or the reverse) and see if you end up with a tone that you like better. If it isn't warm enough, you might see about inserting some sort of tube pedal or preamp to warm it up. For example, I sometimes play an F-1X into the effects return of my SWR to replace the preamp stage with the warmer Alembic version. In my experience, buying on recommendations other than your own ears usually results in reselling and buying something else. It's also true that the tone you enjoy solo in the shop or your home may not be what you want on a gig. One important concern is that bass frequencies suck mucho power. When you turn up that 250w amp to gig volumes, you may not have the juice for the low end response that you want. Go out and see bands playing where you want to play and see what they are using. Pay attention to what's going on when you hear something you like. If the place is large enough to have a soundman controlling the house mix, then see if you can chat with him about what works and what doesn't. In those venues, things that you think sound good may have little or nothing to do with the stage amp. As much as I enjoy the simplicity of a combo (and hate lugging gear, since I get to carry the PA as well), I am leaning toward the component setup at the moment. If I were starting from scratch today, I'd start with a good power amp (stewart 2.1?) with a ton of headroom. The power amp should be a permanent item that has minimal impact on tone unless it breaks. It's money that you won't have to spend over and over as you switch rigs. Then it's a matter of playing with cabinets and preamps to find what you're looking for. An F-1X or Bass Pod XT would be my current preamp choices, and I'd go with the BPXT if I had to choose just one. It's more versatile for what I need to do. For cabinets, I'd try to stay small with a Schroeder 1212. If space weren't an issue, I might try one of the more audiophile 2x12 cabinets. The ideal modular rig would add a 1210 to the 1212. Other than Schroeder, I might go Bag End to stay compact. I'd run the bass into the BPXT and send the direct out to the F-1X. Each pre would feed one side of the power amp full range. I'd have to experiment to see which pre should feed which speaker. Well, too much info as usual...Sorry! -Bob | ||
| jacko
Member Username: jacko Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bob. we can never have too much info so thanks for your input. I probably didn't make myself clear... I was thinking of adding the 15 cabinet to the 4X10 cabinet but after chatting with one of the guys in the shop yesterday I think it'll be a while before I can afford it having just splashed out on the rogue. Unfortunately, When Gibson bought out Trace, they didn't take too long before they stopped manufacturing so I guess I'll keep my eye on ebay for 2nd hand. I've a rehearsal this afternoon so I'll boost the valve side of the preamp and see how it sounds. Very small room though so not the best comparison. thanks again graeme. | ||
| bkbass
Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2003 |
I don't think Ashdown is Ashdown anymore.The prices have nose dived and everything is made in China.The power sections are gutless wonders.I'm currently using DR.Bass cabs and I couldn't be happier.Mark and I have designed a 3 way 2x12" that is just killer.It can handle a 1000 watts takes a low B no sweat and has detail and musical honesty that has eluded me for most of my bass playing years.It's also very compact and fairly light.BTW his subs are killer too. |
