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Up to date the smallest amp I use for gigs is a Fender blues jr. I have for like 10 years now – my bandmates prefer the tone of my vibrolux (2x10, 40 w). Before that I had a polytone, but we "scientifically" proved that the fenders sound better during a recording session. I also had an AER but it never had enough headroom for the second set (after the drummer had a beer during the break).
We are an organ trio playing classic soul jazz & rare grooves (think Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, George Benson) and more recent stuff like Scofield & Medesky, Martin & Wood, The New Mastersounds and Soulive (I'm still using a classic clean tone to play these). After experimenting with Ibanez and Gibson 335-Style guitars I settled on a Gibson ES 330 strung with flatwounds – that somehow allows me to live my Grant Green obsession.
Our volume differs a lot: Very quiet if we play coffee shops or private functions, more juicy if we play real live music venues.
I don't drive so I rely on public transportation for local gigs and on our organ player VW-bus for jobs outside the city. So the last gig (private function, very quiet – I got there dragging the Blues jr. through the subway on a foldable cart) made me thinking I want a new amp – smaller and lighter and with a clean tone. I#m not getting any younger. As the blues jr. seems to need some care (repairs) anyway I'm thinking of getting one of the small amps that came up in recent years – one of these little combos.
I have found these options:
- DV Mark little jazz – probably the best availabilty here in germany and the cheapest.
- Mambo Amp – a bit more pricy but maybe worth it – I think I can order from the UK with no problems before the brexit?
- Henriksen Amps – Bud, Blu or Jazzamp 10?
My problem: I looked at Youtube-Videos but none I found show these in a live band setting – there is always some nerdy and lonely guy noodling in his basement. Made me wonder how these little amps would keep up in a gigging situation.
Any experiences? Video or audio-recordings?Last edited by guavajelly; 06-15-2019 at 10:49 AM.
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06-15-2019 09:04 AM
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TOOB + micro power amp + preamp pedal
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Quilter combo?
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First of all, what are "rare grooves?!"
Plenty of posts and support here for the Blu/Bud with bands, as well as the various DVs. I would not want to haul around a large amp on the subway, either!
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Quilter Micropro200, this little monster gets loud. I've got the 8" speaker, full sound and very light.
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Originally Posted by marcwhy
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Originally Posted by guavajelly
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PC Jazz recommended TOOB. I make them. Quite a few are in use by N.Y. jazz guitarists and bassists. Per their request, a "Baby Toob" was born about a month ago. This is a 6.5" cab loaded with a Jensen P6V, 20W (6.5G -guitar model, 3.5 lbs) or Eminence Alphalite 6A, 100W (6.5BG - Bass and guitar model, 4.5 lbs). The photo below shows a 6.5G Custom together with a Quilter Interblock 45 amp. For organ trio, I'd recommend the BG powered by an MB 200, TC Electronic Bam200 or a floor amp such as BluGuitar Amp1 or HotOne Mojo Attack. No experience of preamps, as I only play cleans on moderate volumes.
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Originally Posted by fep
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Originally Posted by customxke
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I have a Blu and an AER Compact 60. Both are suitable for public transport and both will play a real world gig. If a loud drummer is on board, the Blu with an extension cabinet will do the job (by bringing down the ohms, the headroom and power, not to mention sound dispersion increases) better than the AER. I have a Raezer's Edge NY-8 for just that purpose, but many other suitable (and perhaps lighter if a Neodymium speaker is part of the equation) extension cabinets exist.
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Originally Posted by guavajelly
Last edited by Woody Sound; 06-15-2019 at 03:57 PM.
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I play in the exact same situation, organ trio going after Grant green sounds, with a 335. Amp is either a Princeton reverb, an Aer, a Henriksen 110 or a zt lunchbox.I think the henriksen can handle higher volumes than the rest, but they all need help if we get really loud. Sometimes I take the Princeton and the zt lunchbox since it's so light.
Some videos
Zt Lunchbox
Princeton
Henriksen
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I have been using my DV Mark Little Jazz exclusively for several months (except when there's already an amp at the venue).
It is plenty loud for a four horn band and I've played some large rooms with it.
It is marginal, but it worked, for a 19 pc big band in medium size rooms (for that size band).
I haven't played with a funk or rock band with it, but I'm guessing it might fall short in that context.
It's worth considering. Pretty good for 15 lbs.
I've looked for head-to-head comparisons with the other popular small amps. Opinions vary, but most don't seem to feel that the LJ is significantly worse than the others. Some have rated it higher. Most find it comparable, even to more expensive amps. I've compared mine to a 1966 Ampeg Reverberocket -- and they didn't sound that much different. I thought the LJ was better for tone than a Roland 40XL, although the Roland has additional features - which I don't use.Last edited by rpjazzguitar; 06-16-2019 at 02:27 PM.
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Originally Posted by Alter
[You may, however, want to get your guitar checked: it's pointing the wrong way!]
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As the OP is in Germany, probably the new mambo 200/ 400w 10" models ( 400 w with ext cab) will give the highest headroom for louder gigs at an acceptable price. With ext cab., the acoustic output is multiplied x 4. I recently used one in 2 x 8" format with ext cab., and it cut through everything in a high-volume situation. The Bud/ Blu, although no doubt very good amps, are considerably more expensive in Europe. It's been debated in these forums many times, but worth repeating that SS amps do need much more wattage than tube amps to sustain power on peaks without distortion.
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"rare grooves" are some kind of medical skin thing.
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I've been lugging a Fender Champion 50XL since the beginning of 2019, and I mainly got it because it weighs only 19 lbs, but has a 12" Celestion speaker in it. What a dream to cart around. Clean Fender blackface tone, and volume that holds it's own in a rhythm section vs 15 horns. The price is stupid low.
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A couple of years ago I went through a lot of amps and cabs at XL Music in Helsinki, just to update myself on the traditional offering and how my TOOBs stack up. The big surprise: Fender Champion 50 offered easily the most pleasant clean jazz tone, while weighing and costing a fraction of the rest. However, this thread is about public transit compatible gear, which means that not only weight but physical dimensions matter. Jam-packed coaches, rude cab drivers, stairs, more stairs, small stages in small venues - it's a jungle out there. On the other hand, guitarists and blowers are lucky compared to percussionists, bassists & the rest.
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I have gigged for years in settings from solo jazz to funk, loud country and UK pub bands with a Music Man RD 50 112 hybrid. Small, a little heavier than a champion but sweet, loud, clean for trio gigs and warm break up in a rock setting, plus channel switching for tube distortion. Think Fender Super reverb in an easy package with more headroom. Can't say enough good about this amp. Used $500-1000. There's also a 110 version, rarer but even smaller. Definitely bussable. DO NOT get the 100 W version...Totally different amp. There is now a reissue but price is way higher.
Recently bought a Thomas Blug Amp1. 100W, fits in the pouch of my guitar bag. Their Nano Cab single 12 is amazingly light. Lots of channel switching capable, but for jazz, the good news is that the clean channel is very warm and you can control clean gain to dial in Grant Green or Wes clipping. I am shocked at how organic this thing sounds. Nano tube driven. A great design. In my study, master set to 2.5. But with a raucous pub band, it keeps up with a 100W Marshall and 4x12 bottom. Great Swiss army knife amp. No regrets since I bought 6 months ago. Would love in an organ trio setting.
The Quilters are great. Aviator with 8" speaker is tiny, loud and sounds good for organ trio. Almost as good sounding as a boutique gender style.
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That's my situation, I live in NYC and I don't have a car.
I have two main amps: Vintage 47 VA-185, 12 inch speaker, octal tube, 22lbs.
AER Alpha, smaller version of Compact 60, I think around 16lbs?
I also have a good quality wheel cart to transport an amp. It's been good so far, it sure keeps me in a good shape!
V47 is my fav amp, but AER is more versatile. I don't understand how OP said it can't keep up with a drummer? Sure you have a PA when you play with a full band? My AER can keep up in any situation, but usually I go XLR or Line Out to the board.
With V47 I do the same putting SM57 mic in front. Common practice. If there is a gig that require a full band with no PA then it better pay good enough so someone from a band can bring it in their car.
So in my observation AER Compact 60 is THE most used amp in NYC for most gigging jazz guitarists.
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Originally Posted by Woody Sound
Quilter Aviator Gold 1x8 Combo Amp | Reverb
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Mambo 8 (I like the wedge version). No problem having it delivered from Germany before Brexit. After Brexit - who knows, it might be a mess. Be sure that Jon can deliver before the Brexit deadline.
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Originally Posted by Alter
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
After 3-4 gigs like that I sold it and got a polytone with a 12 inch speaker– that could handle everything. Later in the studio I found out that I liked our bass player's little fender blues jr. even more. It did hold up well with only 15 watts – I think that I experienced some light overdrive only once in years of use. I used the bass player's amp for years until I got my own.
Maybe speaker size is more important than watts? I contacted Jon Shaw of Mambo and he seems to be a pleasure to deal with. I think I get his 10 inch combo and see how that works on it's own.
Henriksen Blu 6 w/ gig bag
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