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Post by HeavyDuty on Feb 29, 2024 8:05:26 GMT -5
I’ve been keeping my old G-K MB150s next to my desk for impromptu practice, but I’d really like to find something much smaller for the desktop. I don’t want or need much volume.
Any first hand suggestions for a Pignose-sized amp that can handle bass freqs? I don’t want to be restricted to earphones, so the little jack mounted devices aren’t it. Maybe an auxiliary computer speaker?
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Post by Leftee on Feb 29, 2024 8:32:30 GMT -5
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Post by Laker on Feb 29, 2024 13:47:55 GMT -5
I've been looking at the Fender Riff as a small practice rig.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 1, 2024 8:51:05 GMT -5
I've been looking at the Fender Riff as a small practice rig. Now that is interesting. |
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Post by morrow on Mar 1, 2024 11:47:54 GMT -5
I’ve been using a Phil Jones C2 cab at the in-laws. Great for very quiet practice , but not adequate for gigs or even rehearsal. I do have a Barefaced One10 for that , not much larger than the PJ and capable of seriously surprising volume. There’s some other tiny cabs around like the Trace Elf cabs. And there’s a bunch of tiny heads around at various price points. The Elf seems to have generated more positive user reviews than most others. The GK MB200 is a great little beauty. There’s quite a number of 350 watt cabs around too. Tiny , and will easily handle rehearsals or mid volume gigs.
A used mini Elf rig might well be the ticket!
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 2, 2024 9:35:05 GMT -5
I have a MB200, and it’s great - but much bigger than I have in mind for this. I just want barely amplified volume for practice at my desk.
Years ago I had a set of cheap computer speakers that worked decently for this. I looked and found a small computer sound bar on Amazon that has 3.5mm input (most these days are USB only) and a 1/4” mono to 3.5mm stereo dongle. If it works, great - problem solved for under $30. If not, back it goes.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 2, 2024 10:10:25 GMT -5
I’ve got one of these. It’s kinda groovy for what you want.
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Post by LTB on Mar 2, 2024 15:37:30 GMT -5
Phil Jones C2 cab looks and sounds really nice! I like it!  |
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Post by Laker on Mar 2, 2024 16:02:38 GMT -5
I have a MB200, and it’s great - but much bigger than I have in mind for this. I just want barely amplified volume for practice at my desk. Years ago I had a set of cheap computer speakers that worked decently for this. I looked and found a small computer sound bar on Amazon that has 3.5mm input (most these days are USB only) and a 1/4” mono to 3.5mm stereo dongle. If it works, great - problem solved for under $30. If not, back it goes. I presently do my practicing sitting at desk/computer using my Eden WTX500 with a pair of Koss Pro 4AA headphones plugged into it. I use one headphone ear cup for the bass and the sound from the PC. It works really well. |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 2, 2024 16:13:55 GMT -5
I’ve got one of these. It’s kinda groovy for what you want. That’s perfect! Scurries off to see if I can find one somewhere - they seem to be out of production. |
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Post by Leftee on Mar 2, 2024 16:15:43 GMT -5
I snagged mine about 5 years ago on Reverb.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 139
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Mar 3, 2024 13:35:08 GMT -5
I have my 7ender Tone-Master to turn to when I need something really small.  |
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
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Post by DrKev on Mar 3, 2024 15:17:19 GMT -5
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Post by insanecooker on Mar 3, 2024 15:59:33 GMT -5
My Dad got a Markbass Microbass for these purposes and it's a blast to use.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 139
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Mar 3, 2024 19:33:14 GMT -5
My compact bass amp is a Markbass Minimark that I bought in '06. Been handy for a lot of scenarios.
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Post by morrow on Mar 4, 2024 18:23:55 GMT -5
Perhaps a Hotone Thunderbass. I picked up one on kijiji , it was just an impulse at the time , I wound up using it as a headphone amp. It also has a mini aux in so you can plug in a tablet too. And spent a surprising amount of time on it. Later I picked up a PJ BigHead headphone amp and stopped using the Hotone.  |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 5, 2024 7:47:46 GMT -5
Perhaps a Hotone Thunderbass. I picked up one on kijiji , it was just an impulse at the time , I wound up using it as a headphone amp. It also has a mini aux in so you can plug in a tablet too. And spent a surprising amount of time on it. Later I picked up a PJ BigHead headphone amp and stopped using the Hotone. That’s interesting, and it appeals to my retro side. Something like that on my desktop with a small extension cabinet under the desk might be the best thing I’ve seen yet. |
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Post by morrow on Mar 6, 2024 13:36:48 GMT -5
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 7, 2024 8:30:34 GMT -5
Missed out. I’m really leaning to one of those Hottone amps.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2024 9:29:08 GMT -5
They make cabs for those Hotone heads. They’re pretty ok.
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Post by morrow on Mar 7, 2024 13:04:47 GMT -5
I had a good practice rig , so I didn’t plug the Hotoneinto a speaker often , but I remember being somewhat pleasantly surprised when I used it with an Ampeg 210AV. I did use it a lot as a headphone amp , with a tablet plugged into the aux in channel. I was memorizing a ton of material and wanted to spare the others around me.
I used it a lot.
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Post by morrow on Mar 7, 2024 13:05:51 GMT -5
I had a good practice rig , so I didn’t plug the Hotoneinto a speaker often , but I remember being somewhat pleasantly surprised when I used it with an Ampeg 210AV. I did use it a lot as a headphone amp , with a tablet plugged into the aux in channel. I was memorizing a ton of material and wanted to spare the others around me.
I used it a lot.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Mar 8, 2024 8:36:15 GMT -5
They make cabs for those Hotone heads. They’re pretty ok. I’m not seeing them on the Hottone web page. (Hotone may be a totally different thing.) |
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Post by Leftee on Mar 8, 2024 9:45:02 GMT -5
Maybe they discontinued them.
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Post by morrow on Mar 8, 2024 19:23:56 GMT -5
I think they discontinued the cabs , they had so so reviews but their Thunderbass reviews were generally quite positive.
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Post by oldfartbassplayrwalt on Apr 1, 2024 12:07:15 GMT -5
I LOVE my Phil Jones micro 7, 15 pounds, DEEP bass. BUT-
Its a 12" cube, not much better than your MK150
It's pretty costly for a private practice amp.
But this amp can easily
be used with my Praise band, with acoustics, light drums and keys).
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Post by Taildragger on Apr 1, 2024 19:36:24 GMT -5
I looked into the PJB stuff.
Looked nice.
Sounded very good.
However, I balked at the price, which seemed excessive, given that the stuff is made in China. Plus, I avoid buying MIC gear. That's my personal choice and enumerating the reasons behind that decision would not be appropriate here. Others should obviously do as they please in regard to any "point of origin" qualms or lack thereof.
From PJB website:
"1998 – Opened manufacturing facility in China producing every component including drivers and cabinets. 200 employees, 300,000 square foot facility."
I do appreciate that he openly states place of manufacture on his website, while various other companies are getting coy about the source of their products and have even omitted the "made in _____" labeling on the items, themselves.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Apr 1, 2024 19:45:11 GMT -5
I picked up a Blackstar Fly 3, and it seems to meet my needs for a low volume practice amp.
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Jim622
Halfnote
Posts: 83
Age: 58
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Post by Jim622 on Apr 21, 2024 16:36:42 GMT -5
I picked up a Blackstar Fly 3, and it seems to meet my needs for a low volume practice amp. I have one for my desktop at work. Checked all my boxes. |
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Post by Taildragger on Apr 27, 2024 11:32:58 GMT -5
I have these two for practice:  Neither produces tone that will knock your socks off, but they are adequate for practice. Both produce rudimentary beats that are synthetic, but useful as a time reference. I primarily play finger-style with a light touch, so having at least this minimal amplification, especially when playing a solid-body instrument strung with flats keeps me (with my less-than-youthful hearing) from digging in too much with my right hand just to hear what I'm playing. I use the Roland RX Bass Microcube for quiet solitary practice or low-volume jamming without a drummer. I use the Vox Bass AmPlug 2 as a headphone amp for late-night couch noodling that won't disturb others. Both are totally portable. The Roland will run off either wall current or batteries and the Vox is battery-powered. Both have an aux in for playing along with pre-recorded music. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/amPlugBassG2--vox-amplug-2-bass-headphone-guitar-ampwww.amazon.com/Roland-Micro-Cube-Battery-Powered-Combo/dp/B00186JFW4?th=1The Roland has been discontinued, but they're around , used. |
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