Battery powered amps Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive through March 03, 2010 » Battery powered amps « Previous Next »

Author Message
grateful
Advanced Member
Username: grateful

Post Number: 317
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 5:23 am:   Edit Post

Have any of you any experience of battery powered amps (for guitar)? Having had a Roland Cube many years ago, I've been looking at the Roland Cube Street and the Roland Mobile Cube.

Will they work well with an Alembic guitar?

I'll be very grateful (pun intended!) for any first hand info on any battery amp that works well with an Alembic guitar.

Mark
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4305
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 7:20 am:   Edit Post

The Vox DA5 is the best I've found out there these days. For the money, it is incredible. Kicks butt on my old Pignose, though I love the Pignose instructions that suggest you have a friend open and close the Pignose while you play for a cool vibrato effect!

Bill, tgo
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1836
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 7:45 am:   Edit Post

Not strictly a guitar amp, I have a Phil jones Bass PJB Briefcase amp which is optionally battery powered as well as mains powered, also has the cables for connecting to a cigar socket in a car for use and charging.

I have used mine with both my alembic guitars Orion and Series I and it sound great unless you want any distortion then it sounds naff.
It seems to bring out the acoustic sound of the guitar and more than a regular guitar amp does. A non alembic guitar doesn't really sound good through it in my opinion, although an acoustic-electric sounds fine.

Jazzyvee
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 706
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

If you obtain a 12 Volt Deep Cycle Battery and connect it to a 12-Volt DC to 110-Volt AC Power inverter by theory you can power virtually any Amplifier ! You can set up a remote power kit . Then Just for kicks take it to the Woods and have a nice Jam Session with all of your Musical Friends.

Sonic Regards !
jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 243
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 9:05 am:   Edit Post

There's some crazy street/subway musicians here in NYC with setups like that. Bass, pair of batteries, converter and a drum machine all on a little laundry cart and ready to rock and roll.
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 707
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 9:36 am:   Edit Post

I think that is really cool! I have fond memories of my visit to NYC.
grateful
Advanced Member
Username: grateful

Post Number: 318
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 2:04 am:   Edit Post

I'll definitely check the Vox DA5 Bill, thanks, costs less than the Roland as well. I definitely want something small and portable.

Mark
ed_zeppelin
New
Username: ed_zeppelin

Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

Nokie Edwards (guitarist for "The Ventures") turned me on to Carvin's "Stagemate," and I literally can't count the number of times that little sucker has saved the day. Take a look at the back panel:

Ooh, all those knobs...

Carvin's webpage for the Stagemate;

"...The StageMate™ S400D is Carvin's amazing portable sound system with built-in digital effects. Ideal for parties, picnics, club meetings, weddings, church gatherings, company functions, sporting events etc., and at just 34 pounds, it's lightweight and easy to operate. Use it with a keyboard or drum machine or as a DJ-Karaoke system. Operates up to 3 hours at 100w on it's internal, maintenance-free, rechargeable 12V no-vapor lead-acid battery, and the exclusive "pulse-width" mosfet power supply generates high output when on battery power or shore power. Features 4 channel inputs for mics and instruments and RCA inputs for tape/CD. The StageMate™ features a heavy-duty 200 watt 10" woofer in a tuned bass reflex enclosure delivering deep bass and a horn tweeter for crystal clear highs for superior tone & output, and you can add the 810 extension speaker to reach up to 200 people. This is the only 4 channel, 100w battery powered system that delivers pro-quality sound with the portability of a cordless system. The 24 bit digital effects processor has 256 effects parameters, including adjustable reverb, echo, flanging & chorus, FS22-footswitch controllable."

I just keep both cabs (the extension cab allows stereo, adds another battery - for around 8 hours performance at a rather ear-splitting volume) and speaker stands in the trunk of my car, and I'm always ready to go, whether it's just as a backup amp, a personal monitor system (I just put a cab on each side of the stage) in conjunction with my main amp, or set up mics and instruments for an impromptu jam, anywhere.

Here's an example; the band was traveling through Sudden California, on the way to a gig in Las Vegas. Out in the middle of the desert somewhere, we pulled off the road (WAY off the road), and within minutes were howling at the moon - amplified. With some nice chorus on the vocals, my five-string fretless acoustic bass, a PRS guitar (with an Ibanez tube screamer in line) and Yamaha digital drumset - all coming out of these two little boxes! (I plugged it into the cigarette lighter of my car!)

The Stagemate is one of the handiest pieces of equipment I've ever owned.

As for sound; I plug my upright (with Fishman BP-100/bass splitter combo) in two channels, my Alembic Series 1 into two other channels, and have self-contained stereo for each, with independent effects (though I only use slight chorus on the upright, usually, and Elvis-ish "slapback" tight delay for slappin' that puppy for the rockabilly stuff)... it sound incredible. I've never had it distort or "quack" in the slightest.

Considering the price, it's a screaming deal for the ability to have so much fun, and the assurance that you'll never be caught unprepared.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration