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I've just been looking at the whole small amp think yet again. Henriksen is on their third gen version of their JazzAmps plus they now have the Bud. Mambo has upgraded the power stage of all their amps to 400 watts plus added a extension cab out as a standard feature. AER continues to get support for their newer models. And I'm sure their are a bunch more that I'm not thinking of.
I've been using a Galien Krueger MB200 micro amp with a small ported cab for a while now. I like it a lot but as my wife will gladly tell you, I'm always thinking about amp alternatives. I'd love to see a thread that pulls all this info together in a single place. Anyone want to add contribute thoughts?
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08-05-2016 08:33 PM
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I don't know, Jim - the MB200 is hard to beat. I just sold my Evans Eighty and kept the G&K along with my RE 10 clone and I'm going to build an 8" to use as an extension cab if I need it. Probably get another G&K for backup - they just have so much going for them.
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Small, light and powerful is a good thing. Purchasing an amp that weighs more than 20 lbs is unthinkable, as are 12" speakers.
I find it interesting that the EQ controls are different on the Bud and the JazzAmp; the Bud is 80Hz, 420Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.5kHz and 7.2kHz while the JazzAmps are 100Hz, 300Hz, 1kHz, 3kHz and 7.2 kHz. It's nice to see they put some thought into the different amp lines, I wonder if it's compensating for the Bud's smaller cabinet or is the EQ targeted towards different users (JazzAmp for jazz guitar and Bud for acoustic instruments).
I wish Mambo had representation in the U.S. for demo and/or repairs, but with the weak £ Mambo's have become a bit cheaper buying direct.Last edited by MaxTwang; 08-05-2016 at 10:34 PM.
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I've been gigging with Acoustic Image Coda or Corus amps for the last dozen years. If it weren't for them, I would have probably stopped gigging. Lots of headroom, excellent sound at any volume, project well and in a controlled manner, which helps reduce feedback; highly useful notch/high-pass filter helps reduce it even more if necessary. Very flexible layout--two channels can handle electric/acoustic/mic, direct out before the master allows adjusting stage volume without affecting FOH. I use the Mute switch with my tuner plugged into the Effects Send for silent tuning without having the tuner in the signal path. Can drive an additional 4-Ohm cabinet. Have been completely reliable through thousands of gigs & rehearsals. Weigh 20 pounds.
Only downside I've found is that they'll buzz if the line ground is missing, but that's really a safety feature.
Danny W.
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Jim,
What are you looking for from an amp?
From your clips it seems you are more reliant on your technique for your sound than driving an amp for a particular color or response.
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I think I've told you that I did exactly that: buy a second MB200 (for very cheap) as a backup. I also have it hooked up to a 1x8 cab. These days I mostly play through my Earcandy 1x10 and use the 1x8 for lessons as a student rig. I probably don't need anything else but my mind wanders very quickly after I play the same rig for a while, especially if I have a bit of cash in the bank. So having just sold the Heritage, I have cash calling out to me. Probably the best idea is to just not listen to it
Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
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That's probably true, especially with my archtops. I played slab guitars for a long time and I was always looking for an amp to add a bit of "air" to my sound but with the archtops, I really don't need to add anything. Originally Posted by rictroll
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I have a GKM150 for general purpose. It is a good rig for standard reference clean jazz. Reliable and portable. It's the cheapest amp I own and the one I use most. I suspect there are lots of alternatives that do this. If the need is more power, amp color to the sound or mojo, well there are lots of new, older and vintage alternatives. New amps offer potentially better parts and more reliability but many use tried and true amp fender circuits for new tube Amps. To me the biggest break through is the D class Amps eg Demeter. I'd like to try some and gear views of others - they seem to offer small size, color, power and reliability. I am keen to know if I can still get the basic reference sound as well. I am happy with my GK, I have some Fender vintage for nostalgia in my home studio and an Allessandro Italian Greyhound for perfection.
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What would be a good cab to complement the Galien Krueger MB200?
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I have never played an MB200, but the GKs I have played changed my tube snobbery around -- they make SS sound damned good.
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In my experience it matches up best to the sealed back ported cabs. The smaller Raezer's Edge cabs (NY 8 or Stealth 10) are a good match. My Earcandy Ethan works well. If you can find a Redstone, it would almost certainly be a good match. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
I shoudl also probably note that the "contour" switch gives the MB200 two distinctly different voice. It's very flat (and I think somewhat boxy) without the contour. With the contour engaged, the sound becomes more scooped in the mids and almost Fender-like. I find that scooped voice much more attractive and I keep it engaged at all times.
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Thanks, Jim. I don't think we get those cabs in the UK, but I'll look around.
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This thread is very timely for me. I've been looking around for a small head type amp to use with my new (used) Buscarino Chameleon speaker. Been going back and forth between one of the Quilters (101, ProBlock 200, MicroPro 200 or 201) and Acoustic Image Clarus. I specifically like the small footprint of the Clarus Sl (R) series. Anybody have any experience with the Clarus SL, either the new version or the older 250 watt version?
Any small head type amps with a usable headphone jack? Will likely be an apartment-dweller soon and that would be a great feature.
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Mambo make a speaker cab for 195 pounds that would probably work. It's loaded with an Eminence Beta 10. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
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Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
Rob, I've used open back with a 12" SICA Neo, a sealed cabinet with a 10" Seismic Audio speaker and a RE Stealth 10 clone. I'm getting ready to build something with an 8 in it. A lot of my steel guitar buddies use it with all sorts of 15's. It's just a bunch of real clean power and takes pedals well and it's 200 watts into 4 ohms (150 into 8 ohms) and weighs 2 pounds! and, since it has a line in, you can use it to power a mixer in a pinch or plug in your MP3 player for backing tracks. If you go to it's big brother, the MB500, you get an effects loop. Also has a balance line out.
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Cheers, Skip. Two pounds, eh? Excellent.
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My new rig is an Acoustic Image Clarus through a RE Nighthawk 110 speaker cab.
I couldn't be happier with the sound.
I'd love to try an AI combo sometime just to see how their quirky speaker design sounds.
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And small enough to carry in my gig bag. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
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I'm afraid I'm still stuck in the 70s-90s. I'm carrying around one or the other of about five Polytones. They just get the sound that I _still_ prefer.
When the AI/RE craze hit 15 years ago, or so, I almost jumped. However, at a guitar show I was able to set up a top-shelf AI/RE rig (that Jimmy Bruno had been using to promote a guitar), a Polytone Baby Brute, and a Tweed Fender. After _careful_ critical playing and listening to other folks play, I rated the amps (1) Baby Brute, (2) Tweed, (3) AI/RE. It was splitting hairs. With a carved archtop/floater the AI was at its best. The Tweed Fender sounded great with anything you threw at it...it was a 50s Vibrolux in great shape. The Polytone was the champ with set in pickups/archtop--i.e., ES-175, L-5, etc. It sounded like most all of my jazz records back home.
Aside: it wasn't _my_ Baby Brute (it was back home), but I offered to buy it on the spot. No dice, said the owner. He knew what he had.
In more recent years I have come to appreciate Henriksen and Evans amps, in particular. I'd gain nothing in size or weight with the latter. With "The Bud," however, I'd move into the 21st century and have a lightweight, powerful, great sounding amp.
Maybe...
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I didn't know you had sold your Heritage. What brought on that decision?
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There's a much more complicated logic but here's a simple answer Originally Posted by Klatu
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Hello Jim,
For something small/portable/solidstate I haven't found anything that beats this Quilter 8, it has a darn authentic jazz/archtop tone. They also make extension speakers and bigger cabs. They are based in California - I don't know how widespread their distribution is and if you can find one near you to check out.
Russell
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Has anyone tried the little Traynor Small Block 200?
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I use an original 0zoro open back cab. It is fair to say that they are quite hard to come by, but could be readily replaced by an original MacKillop for example. I had a Eminence beta 12" installed in mine. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
It was quite enjoyable to build actually, and very simple. The longest part of the build was the finish which took several days to apply, dry, apply etc. I play through a POD HD sometimes, which gives me a huge range of possibilities sound wise after having downloaded the Line 6 vintage amp package.Turning the pic up right is beyond my level of competence I am afraid. 0zoro
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Haha. You can build a cabinet, but not rotate a jpeg. I can do the jpeg, but not the cabinet. In some parallel universe we are married
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