portable amp for jazz about $400

**newsense** · 07-30-2013, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by disco~juice

I'm really happy with the mambo 10".
Fits strait ahead jazz, conteporary, fusion, funk.

Disco:

Does that mean you are using it with an OD pedal or just the clean sound for all styles ?

**msr13** · 07-30-2013, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bill C

The Mambo sounds very good with a laminate jazzbox so I would imagine *might* be similar with the semi. I was also going to put in a word for the Phil Jones AG-100 - this sounds lovely with a carved top guitar imo as a way of *supporting* the acoustic sound but maybe isn't the loudest amp I've heard ...

my $0.02 ymmv etc!

I picked up a new Cub for $400 at the New York Amp Show. So, I figure a used one would be less than that. Phil Jones is putting out the upgraded model now, which is basically the same thing but with two channels. I love this little guy and through it in my suitcase when I travel. Very light and sounds super. Definitely not loud, but really, really nice sounding with my archtops and Soloways. My travel guitar is a great match for it and that is a plank of wood.

**disco~juice** · 07-31-2013, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by newsense

Disco:

Does that mean you are using it with an OD pedal or just the clean sound for all styles ?

No, I'm a clean guy!!
I just play with the volume knob, so hitting the preamp with more power from the guitar gives more "body" to the sound, plus the "harmonic" feature of the mambo gives a sort of tube quality.

**konstantine** · 08-04-2013, 07:11 AM

I played with an Ibanez TSA15 with an Ibanez archtop (I dont know the model) yesterday. I was amazed (for the price) with the quality of the cleans (and TS and Boost if you want to use them) even with the stock speaker and no reverb. The clean channel is very fendery, feels great and a sounds great for jazz. Its 6V6 and IMO is a step above most amps in its class with EL84 if you are looking for fendery cleans.

I tried the TSA5 also but it was too quiet for any real usage.

The TSA15 combo is about 15kilos which is not too bad but still quite heavy, an idea is to get the head version which is only 8kilos and small enough so I can be put in a bag and a light 1X10 cab around 8kilos that I can easily lift.

also, I would like to ask how is the Mambo 10 stacks up with the TSA15 for anyone who has played both. I'm thinking about saving up for one since its the perfect form and the few clips on youtube sound great but I have prefered tube amps for years.