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Hi chaps, this is one of those pre-Xmas what-the-heck-type queries. Maybe someone here has an answer to my obscure query.

I'm working out my ambient/slide setup for small gigs. The main work will be handled by guitar and limited fx into my much-loved Gibson Skylark, a Blues Lawyer amp if there ever was one (5w / single-ended Class A tube circuit / original Jensen speaker etc).

Here's the twist. I'd like to add a Boss OC-3 and/or drone synth into the mix. Obviously these can't be run through the Skylark. I'd like to identify a small, efficient bass amp that I can carry easily and that won't swamp the main amp. I've turned up a good small-gig bass speaker design on a bass forum that I can implement at a pinch, but I wondered if anyone else grappling with the same problem had, for instance, repurposed the bass speaker out of a gaming PC sound system. Or something.

??? (Festively, natch.)

Well, depending on your price range, there are TONS of options out there!
If you’re set on a combo; MarkBass, Phil Jones, and ZT Amps have something in their lineups that would fit the bill.
You might even find that a jazz amp, like a Polytone Brute or DV Jazz, might suit you needs.

Or, you could get one of several little pedalboard power amps, and then use any bass cab you’d like!

For small, intimate gigs (cafes, art galleries), your best bet is likely a PA speaker for synths (not a bass or KB amp). --If you pay attention in synth shops, that's what they use, too.

I was talking to an engineer about this a while ago, and he told me to get a 12" JBL. These are about 30 lbs.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ed-speaker

At $300, I'd rather buy one, than rely on others for renting/borrowing something for shows, where the venue doesn't have their own PA system available to you. I did a little browsing for used ones, but after you pay $50-60 to ship versus new (with free shipping), there's not much savings.

If you're trying to go well under 30 lbs/ $300, there are certainly other options out there. If it's just going to be a somewhat muted, complimentary part, I imagine you could find a SS amp at a pawn shop that would fill out most cafes fairly well. Good luck.

Fiber and probiotics.



Headrush FRFR108 or equivalent Alto (TS308?)? Reports are good. Cheap, light.

I would go about this close-mic’ing the Gibson, using a small mixer with inserts and sends, and processing the mic’ed signals and running synths and drones into other mixer channels. Obviously don’t point your FRFR/PA speakers at the mic to avoid feedback issues. Vibier Wet/Dry (or Wet/Dry/Wet) setup than you’re probably going to see on TGP.

For a small easy to carry bass amp, I have an Ampeg BA-112 that I like a lot. Sounds good clean and can be dirtied up with its Scrambler circuit. I play it with my guitar and a Digitech Ricochet an octave down.

A real subwoofer would be ideal if you’re trying to be loud, but if the bass parts are not needed to be loud (and felt), you can probably use an ordinary bass combo amp. A bass combo amp would be better than building something with the speaker from a PC gaming system.

Squats are good for that

I second the PA/full range amp approach, depending on how loud you want to be. There are portable combo options for both (look at cheap keyboard amps for example).

Have you ever looked at a pignose hog30?

My proctologist recommended the Fender Rumble series but it's maybe not small enough for you. They're pretty lightweight and sound decent.

Since you're just using it to bolster your sound, maybe even a roland bass cube 20? On the "super flat" setting, bass cubes are pretty solid as a cheap+portable PA with adequate bass. Not as clear and pristine as my main PA speakers, but at least I can carry the bass cube without a rolling bag haha

don't say it, Bob...don't say it...

Mudfuzz wrote:Have you ever looked at a pignose hog30?

Do they do a hog30-50?

Thx guys. God bless us every one. NP.

I looked more closely at echorec's suggestion and it's pretty smart, because that powered speaker can be used as a subwoofer, and also as a regular PA 'top' speaker. So it could be useful in a regular PA setup in the future, even if you stop doing this project (you can sing through it, etc). Whereas a bass combo might not be useful later on, if you aren't doing this project any more.

Get one of the 12" or 15" Hartke kickback combos. We use them for nasty synths and they're great.