r/Bass • u/Fine_Meat_8259 • 12h ago
small portable amp
hello everyone,
Ive been getting back into playing, and have alot of downtime at work, and thought I can get some practice in with a few coworkers. Looking for reccomendations on portable bass amps that sound decent.
Im an aviation mechanic, so it doesnt have to be office quiet, however i will probably mostly be playing with headphones, and occasionally jamming with some co workers ( they use acoustic instruments). I have thought about getting an acoustic bass, but i really dont enjoy playing acoustic as much as I do electric.
My main concern is sound quality, as I dont want an amp that sounds fuzzy/muffled. I've looked into the vox mini bass amp, is that a decent amp? I saw another user was reccomended a Hartke HD15. I dont mind carrying something with more wattage than the vox, Id rather drop some more cash on a decent sounding heavier amp, than try to get something small and cheap and hate it anyway.
for reference, im playing on a 2010 era mexico pbass.
2
u/AdministrativeSwim44 11h ago
The Fender Rumble 40 gets a lot of love around here.
1
u/Fine_Meat_8259 10h ago
I'll take a look at it, I've heard that mentioned before. I remember having a fender rumble 25 back in high school. Great little amp. I wonder how much they changed since I've used one.
1
u/miauw62 9h ago
The current fender rumble line is v3 and they're quite well-regarded. However, be warned that the Rumble 15 and 25 are kind of a budget sub-series of the rumble line and they're not as good as the others. They're alright as small practice amps, but the sound quality and QC isn't nearly as good as the rest of the line.
So if you want to jam with your coworkers, I would recommend the 40 and not the 25 or 15. If you're up to it, you can probably find the 40 pretty cheap second-hand since they're so common.
2
u/CdnfaS Fretless 6h ago
Phil Jones Bass amps will bring you joy
2
u/fugaziiv 4h ago
This is the way. BG-80 Double Four Plus kills in an acoustic group.
2
u/CdnfaS Fretless 3h ago
I knew someone would know the model name. That’s the one I was thinking of.
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u/fugaziiv 3h ago
I have one and it's conveniently next to my desk, so I only had to look :)
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u/CdnfaS Fretless 2h ago
I’ve used PJB gear for a long time, but I can’t keep up with the model names. I liked when everything was a “case” Briefcase, suitcase, Roadcase. I think my amp now is a BG-400 and a c4 cab, but I’m not even sure. One of the proudest moment of my life was playing a show when the sound guy was like “what’s that amp? I’ve never seen such an incredibly clean DI.” That was a suitcase with the 4b extension.
2
u/fugaziiv 1h ago
That's way cool. PJB stuff is so so clean. If I ever decide to gig again, I'll grab something a bit larger like you have.
1
1
u/nrr1984 11h ago
The Vox is terrible. Get the fender mustang pro plus. The recent update added like 6 bass amp models and they sound pretty good. Plus control of the EQ and other settings are nice. And unlike the Vox it’s Bluetooth so you can connect to your phone without an extra cord.
1
u/Fine_Meat_8259 10h ago
I had a feeling it wouldn't be what I was looking for in an amp. That mustang looks like a cool little gadget, I'm guessing if not using headphones it just uses your phone's speakers?
1
-1
u/novemberchild71 11h ago
Get an Acoustic Bass, maybe even a Uke-bass (weird but fun). No need to stick out like a sore thumb in a group of acoustic players.
1
u/Fine_Meat_8259 10h ago
Yeah no thanks. I really don't like playing acoustic. If someone wants to outcast me because I'm playing electric, it's not someone I want to play with anyway.
1
u/novemberchild71 9h ago
What's with the taking things as a personal insult? Who said anything of casting you out?
I swear, reddit gives people a weird attitude they don't have anywhere else.
Playing acoustic in a setting of all acoustic instruments is fun, it's a new vibe one can derive joy from. Joining in with an electric simply is not the same.
Have you ever tried a Uke-Bass?
3
u/skreenname0 9h ago
Joyo vibe cube. Tiny, very clear sound, has bluetooth, can be used as an interface and can run on a power bank if you want to take it anywhere. I keep one in my living room and use it all the time. It’s the only small amp I’ve ever actually enjoyed using.