Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 16 2014 05:22 AM
Anybody have experience with the following "MICRO" amp heads?
- Fender Rumble 150 150w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
- Carvin BX250 250w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
- Crate Powerblock 150w Guitar Micro Amp w/headphone
- Gallien Kruger MB200 200w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
- TC Electronic BH250 Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
They all fit my budget, size, weight, output wattage, and most important,
they have headphone circuitry that mutes speakers or allows for silent guitar
practice. Also, they all will drive my Fender 115 1x15 Eminence cabinet.
I will play electric guitar through these micro bass amps, but mostly
want their headphone features and ability to power large speaker cabs.
The only reason I have low interest towards the Crate Powerblock is they've
been out of production for many years. The other four micro amps are still
in production, I believe, for about the same price.
What do you know, have experienced or think about these micro amp heads?
Thanks ahead of time.
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
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winter_reverb
Joined: Mar 03, 2013
Posts: 2
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Posted on Feb 16 2014 07:07 AM
its a shame a headphone socket is such a rare feature. I really want a Egnater Tweaker 15w head but it doesn't have a headphone socket, might just get one of those vox amplug things for quiet practice purposes.
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Feb 16 2014 09:16 AM
A lot of (surf) people carry a Crate Powerblock as backup amp. Seems like the most commonly used in this line. Try the search function, it only got good reviews.
— The Hicadoolas
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 16 2014 10:10 AM
SanchoPansen wrote:
A small number of (surf) people carry a Crate Powerblock as backup amp
Fixed. Very few people bring backup amps and fewer bring a Powerblock.
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Feb 16 2014 12:16 PM
Of the ones you listed, I'd go with the G-K or the TC Electronics. Both companies' bass gear is top notch. The modern Fender Rumble series is their budget line.
My current micro setup is an Ampeg PF-350 that I like a lot. 350 watts into 4 ohms. Clean used ones are in your price range, a new one is $299. It's plenty powerful to be your "main" amp unless you are in a Metal band.
And it fits nicely in a medium-size laptop bag...
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
Last edited: Feb 16, 2014 12:19:56
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 01:18 AM
JakeDobner wrote:
SanchoPansen wrote:
A small number of (surf) people carry a Crate Powerblock as backup amp
Fixed. Very few people bring backup amps and fewer bring a Powerblock.
You are right. Sometimes I think about takeing an backup amp along, but then...who wants to carry all that stuff? From what I read IF people bring a transistor backup it might be a Crate Powerblock.
— The Hicadoolas
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 01:46 AM
WoodyJ wrote: > Of the ones you listed, I'd go with the G-K or the TC Electronics. Both companies' bass gear is top notch. The modern Fender Rumble series is their budget line.
My current micro setup is an Ampeg PF-350 that I like a lot. 350 watts into 4 ohms. Clean used ones are in your price range, a new one is $299. It's plenty powerful to be your "main" amp unless you are in a Metal band. And it fits nicely in a medium-size laptop bag... >
Thanks. I will add the Ampeg PortaFlex PF-350
because it has a 1/8" headphone jack.
Will you please verify if the PF-350 actually
will play with headphones and no speakers connected,
or no speaker load? Is the a "speaker disable" switch?
How does the PF-350 work with headphones?
Do you like the 1/8th jack better/worse that a 1/4" phone jack???
Main thing is being able to play silent practice
at night with my girlfriend trying to sleep - haha
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
Last edited: Feb 17, 2014 01:48:01
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 01:50 AM
SanchoPansen wrote: A lot of (surf) people carry a Crate Powerblock as backup amp. Seems like the most commonly used in this line. Try the search function, it only got good reviews.
Hi. The Crate has fallen off my list,
as of no production for nearly a decade.
And, the other four "MICRO Amp Heads" are in production
at nearly the same price as the Crate PowerBlock 150.
I am also taking off the Fender 150 micro amp head as well.
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
Last edited: Feb 17, 2014 01:51:38
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 01:54 AM
JakeDobner wrote: _Fixed. Very few people bring backup amps and fewer bring a Powerblock. _
That is kind of what I am hearing as well.
Good amp in its own time ~ but its time since has not been good - lol
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
Last edited: Feb 17, 2014 01:54:41
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 01:57 AM
ANYBODY with experience or opinions regarding
my main three contenders:
•Carvin BX250 250w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
•Gallien Kruger MB200 200w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
•TC Electronic BH250 Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
. . . . . and possibly the Ampeg PF-350 "MICRO Amp Head"
350w with 1/8" headphone jack.
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 02:09 AM
WoodyJ wrote:> Of the ones you listed, I'd go with the G-K or the TC Electronics. Both companies' bass gear is top notch. The modern Fender Rumble series is their budget line.
My current micro setup is an Ampeg PF-350 that I like a lot. 350 watts into 4 ohms. Clean used ones are in your price range, a new one is $299. It's plenty powerful to be your "main" amp unless you are in a Metal band. And it fits nicely in a medium-size laptop bag... >
OK. The Ampeg PortaFlex PF-350 is on my list.
I checked out Ampeg's own specs
and discovered this amp has:
1) Headphone play when disconnecting the speaker cables!
2) 1/4" main speaker outputs instead of those shitty Speakon options.
I've enough already managing various guitar/amp cables, amp/speaker cables,
BOSS and Non-BOSS pedal power plugs, 9v 12v 15v 18v pedal power adapters, etc
~ much less do I want to deal with SpeakOn, XLR, RCA or Banana Plugs.
Thank the Surf Gods for 1/4" mono jacks 
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
Last edited: Feb 17, 2014 02:10:00
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 916
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 04:04 AM
I occassionally use a Powerblock, though not as a backup but in cases where I shared gear with other bands and somebody was bringing a speaker box anyway (or there was one belonging to the club). I would not rule them out just because they are out of production, they often pop up in ads or an ebay for reasonable prices.
Another amp that wasn't mentioned so far, but should fit the needs decribed would be the ZT Lunchbox amp, which even has small built in speaker for playing at lower volumes. (But note: there is also a Lunchbox junior with lower wattage and NO additional speaker out.)
— Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Feb 17 2014 08:14 AM
Toppscore, here's a thread from the TalkBass forum that may be helpful:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-pf-350-mega-thread-v2-0-a-995349/
The PF-350 is the least powerful amp in the Portaflex series. There are more powerful 500 and 800 watt PF versions. However, the PF-500 has suffered from reliability issues and there have been several internal revisions on that one.
I chose the PF-350 because I wanted a smaller gig rig with simple controls (sometimes "less is more"...) and the price was great for what you get. Even with a 1x15 cab, this thing can get very loud and the tone is Ampeg-y warm and fat. Through a 2x15 or a 8x10 the PF-350 would probably be enough for anything short of Iron Maiden.
Right now I'm using it with my silent practice rig which is set up for guitar and bass. Both amps I'm using have headphone jacks that when used kill the internal speaker. I use a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter for the headphones and it works great. And for bass use, some good "bass enhanced" headphones or earpieces are a good idea.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 18 2014 02:29 AM
simoncoil wrote:> I occassionally use a Powerblock, though not as a backup but in cases where I shared gear with other bands and somebody was bringing a speaker box anyway (or there was one belonging to the club). I would not rule them out just because they are out of production, they often pop up in ads or an ebay for reasonable prices.
Another amp that wasn't mentioned so far, but should fit the needs decribed would be the ZT Lunchbox amp, which even has small built in speaker for playing at lower volumes. (But note: there is also a Lunchbox junior with lower wattage and NO additional speaker out.)
Hi, Simon! Thanks.
I own a Pignose Hog-20 1x6 20watt and a G-DEC-30 1x10 30watt,
but this
ZT Lunchbox drives 200watts through a 6" speaker and weighs ten pounds? WOW!!!
But, the following four amps fit my needs better as I'm seeking
a "MICRO amp head" with desired headphone circuitry
and is able to leap tall buildings on a single bound . . . .
ooooops
~ I meant able to drive speaker cabinets when not in headphone practice mode:
Ampeg PortaFlex PB-350 Micro Amp Head 350w w/headphone
Carvin BX250 250w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
Gallien Kruger MB200 200w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
TC Electronic BH250 Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
Any experience with the above four?
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 18 2014 02:35 AM
WoodyJ wrote: > Toppscore, here's a thread from the TalkBass forum that may be helpful: >
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-pf-350-mega-thread-v2-0-a-995349/ >
The PF-350 is the least powerful amp in the Portaflex series. There are more powerful 500 and 800 watt PF versions. However, the PF-500 has suffered from reliability issues and there have been several internal revisions on that one. >
I chose the PF-350 because I wanted a smaller gig rig with simple controls (sometimes "less is more"...) and the price was great for what you get. Even with a 1x15 cab, this thing can get very loud and the tone is Ampeg-y warm and fat. Through a 2x15 or a 8x10 the PF-350 would probably be enough for anything short of Iron Maiden. >
Right now I'm using it with my silent practice rig which is set up for guitar and bass. Both amps I'm using have headphone jacks that when used kill the internal speaker. I use a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter for the headphones and it works great. And for bass use, some good "bass enhanced" headphones or earpieces are a good idea. >
Thanks, Woody. Read the blog. Seems the blog is Version#2 from
another PF-350 blog. Much appreciated.
I'm definitely going to investigate the Ampeg PF350.
My only concerns will be the volume and tone at lower bedroom,
household, neighborhood volumes with 350watts causing an earthquake - lol.
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
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RaistMagus
Joined: Mar 30, 2011
Posts: 388
Copenhagen
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Posted on Feb 18 2014 04:50 AM
The Ampeg PF-350 sells for 300 euros + another 45 for a soft case/bag here in Europe. A lot of money for a backup and for playing with headphones.
A used Powerblock in good condition would go for much much less.
I always carry a Crate Powerblock with me as a backup and it has saved my ass more times than I can remember. I find its power barely sufficient, I have to dime both the level and gain controls almost every time. Everybody says theirs are too loud, maybe something is wrong with mine. I've used it through a DRRI cab (1x12")and a Super Reverb cab (4x10"), it got me through the night but it lacked the bass and the "oomph" the amps normally had.
— https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/
https://www.dirtyfuse.com
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slopoke
Joined: Dec 24, 2013
Posts: 145
Maribor
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Posted on Feb 18 2014 10:19 AM
The only amp on the list that I have any remote experience with is the Gallien-Krueger. I used to own two MB150s; one was the head and the other the combo with 1-12" speaker. They were great amps. The combo was good for practicing, and I gigged them with 2 15" Electrovoice cabinets. I had had many tube and solid state amps before (several Traynors and Fenders and one Acoustic) but the GKs were my favorite. Lots of tone shaping control, and when playing with a group, every note came out clear and distinct.
— https://striciizozadja.bandcamp.com/
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11058
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Feb 18 2014 11:23 AM
my bassist friend plays through a Aguilar hidden inside an repro vox super beatle head. Killer tone and tons of volume, weighs only a few pounds.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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slopoke
Joined: Dec 24, 2013
Posts: 145
Maribor
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Posted on Feb 19 2014 02:37 AM
DannySnyder wrote:
my bassist friend plays through a Aguilar hidden inside an repro vox super beatle head. Killer tone and tons of volume, weighs only a few pounds.
Sneaky!
— https://striciizozadja.bandcamp.com/
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Toppscore
Joined: Mar 10, 2013
Posts: 40
Northern California
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Posted on Feb 19 2014 04:18 AM
RaistMagus wrote:> A used Powerblock in good condition would go for much much less. I always carry a Crate Powerblock with me as a backup and it has saved my ass more times than I can remember. I find its power barely sufficient, I have to dime both the level and gain controls almost every time. Everybody says theirs are too loud, maybe something is wrong with mine. I've used it through a DRRI cab (1x12")and a Super Reverb cab (4x10"), it got me through the night but it lacked the bass and the "oomph" the amps normally had.
Thanks, Raist.
Question: Since the decade old used Crate Power Blocks
are about the same price is new or near new following three:
•Carvin BX250 250w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
•Gallien Kruger MB200 200w Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
•TC Electronic BH250 Bass Micro Amp w/headphone
Which would you rather have?
The above three "MICRO Footprint" amps are soooooo much better
than the Crate Powerblock 150w. I can use all four micro amps
for headphone practice, but, the Carvin Gallien TCElect Trio
generate more power, are modern, and can drive bigger speaker
cabinets better than the Crate PB. Plus, they all weigh less
than the Crate PB.
That said . . . . . I've reviewed on paper about seven micro/ish amps
and believe the above three are the my finalists to investigate live
at my local guitar store.
But, always looking for "MICRO footprint amps" with headphone features
until I pull the $150-$250 trigger. Thanks for all the suggestions.
— Fan of Surf & Rockabilly Reverb Music
Love Fender Trainwreck Dumbles Amplifiers
Play Fender Stratocaster & Fender Telecaster Guitars
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