Small "Hifi" amp head recommendations sought!

[andyhaines]

Hey All,

 

Sadly my new PJB D400 is going back. Much as I love the open, clear "hifi" sound, the preamp section is just a bit too noisy for my fussy tastes - which becomes especially apparent when played through a high quality, revealing cab such as the LFSys Monza.

 

So the hunt is back on for a suitable head - here's what it needs to do:

*Easily fits into a gig/shoulder bag

* Doesn't need to be huge wattage (200+w) as the Monza does an astonishingly efficient job and I never play loud gigs.

* Transparent, hifi sounding - basically all the usual awful adjectives that get thrown around! I love the PJB sound but haven't really tried any other similar amps

* After my recent experience absolutely must have the lowest possible noise floor at both pre and power amp stages and through the DI

* FX Loop and pre/post DI

* Budget £450-£800

 

As with my "search for a cab" thread, I'm primarily playing Zon and Sei fretlesses with a touch of reverb for solo / small acousticy ensembles with the occasional theatre band pit and jazz gig thrown in. It will also be my main preamp for DI'ing into my PC for Zoom teaching online.

 

Aside from the PJB BP800, the only other likely candidate that looks promising see would be the Eich T300. I suspect I could be a Glockenklang fan but they don't yet make anything physically small enough.

 

But do please chip in with thoughts, experiences etc.

 

Thanks!

 

Andy

[Hellzero]

To date, the most transparent amp I've played is the GR Bass One series, but if you want to have the possibility to defeat the fan you'll have to choose the 800 version and use the studio mode.

 

Furthermore GR Bass are not "overpowering" their specified output power like Eich is doing, funnily they use the same ICE power module, but they don't use the same output power specs.

 

I've repaired a few Eich heads and there's a lot a bad marketing used to sell some bullshīt.

 

The TrickFish Bullhead mini 500 is the other transparent amp available (Mike Pope preamp inside).

 

Both are expensive, but worth a try.

 

Acoustic Image, Vanderkley and Hevos are also transparent amps, but the 3 brands are out of the market and you'll have to check the second hand market.

[pete.young]

I'm using a Euphonic Audio iAmp doubler with my Monza. It's very clear, but once again no longer available although they pop up second hand in the market place from time to time.

 

I also have a Walkabout Scout which is more old style than modern transparent, but does sound fantastic through the Monza with bass guitar - less so with double bass.

[andyhaines]

Thanks both for your very helpful comments! @Hellzero you mentioned that GR is not overpowering their specified output unlike the Eich - could you clarify? And what were the issues you found with the Eich heads that you've repaired? Do they have a reliability problem?

 

@pete.young I am indeed keeping an eye out for an EA iAamp - never tried one, but always felt it could be a good fit for me!

 

Cheers!

Andy

[Beedster]

11 hours ago, pete.young said:

I'm using a Euphonic Audio iAmp doubler with my Monza. It's very clear, but once again no longer available although they pop up second hand in the market place from time to time.

 

I also have a Walkabout Scout which is more old style than modern transparent, but does sound fantastic through the Monza with bass guitar - less so with double bass.

EA yes, but Walkabout transparent? 

[pete.young]

29 minutes ago, Beedster said:

EA yes, but Walkabout transparent? 

 

"more old style than modern transparent" not clear enough? Sorry. 

 

Walkabout Scout is not remotely transparent but sounds fantastic whatever you plug it into. Better?

[Linus27]

Would something like a MarkBass Nano tick enough boxes? Not sure how silent they are but my Little Mark IV is mega quiet and the sound is very transparent. As another fretless bassist, just throwing a suggestion out there but ignore if no good. Keep us updated on what you do decide on as I would be interested.

Edited 1 hour ago by Linus27

[andyhaines]

Thanks @Linus27 - I've never been a fan of the MB sound, but it could just be because I've only ever heard their combos or cabs which seem to make everything sound muffled (at least to me). The Nano certainly has the features and portability.

 

The biggest challenge I'm finding when doing youtube amp research is having to listen to a constant stream of slap demos - it gets wearing really quickly!

[Beedster]

58 minutes ago, pete.young said:

 

"more old style than modern transparent" not clear enough? Sorry. 

 

Walkabout Scout is not remotely transparent but sounds fantastic whatever you plug it into. Better?

Better yes 😁

 

In my defence Pete, OP did state transparent 👍

[Beedster]

Just now, Beedster said:

Better yes 😁

 

In my defence Pete, OP did state transparent 👍

…and low fan noise 😀

[Linus27]

28 minutes ago, andyhaines said:

Thanks @Linus27 - I've never been a fan of the MB sound, but it could just be because I've only ever heard their combos or cabs which seem to make everything sound muffled (at least to me). The Nano certainly has the features and portability.

 

The biggest challenge I'm finding when doing youtube amp research is having to listen to a constant stream of slap demos - it gets wearing really quickly!

 

As a fretless player as well, I play a lot of melodic bass lines around the 10th, 12th, 14th frets on the D and G strings so I need a lot of clarity for these melodies to be clear. I use two rigs, a LM IV through a Barefaced Two10 and the Warwick Gnome Ipro 300 through a TC208. The latter is a beautiful rig, crystal clear, small and lightweight. The only reason I didn't mention the Warwick head is I can't remember how silent it is but I'll check tonight and let you know.

 

As for my other rig, I totally understand what you are saying about MarkBass, I found the MB cabs to be exactly as you describe and got rid of mine when I had them some years back for those reasons. The heads however are super transparent and clear and I do very much like them. You'll notice a lot of electric Jazz bassists use them as they are very transparent. As for my Barefaced Two10 cab, its quite old school sounding so I'm looking at changing it for a LFSys cab.

 

As an example of my style, this is the sort of playing I do so you can hear from the start after the harmonics intro I am playing a lot of melody which needs to be super clear.

 

 

Edited 38 minutes ago by Linus27

[Downunderwonder]

Quilter BassBlock is fully transparent at lower gain settings.