Phil Jones Bass amp?

[richbass939]

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]

There is a review of the Phil Jones suitcase amp in the new Bass Player

[richbass939]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I hope you find the rig you want.

[jacko]

Rich  
Ashdown have just announced a new 'mini rig'..
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/news/fullstory.asp?ID=73
 
graeme

[bsee]

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]

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