Please recommend a battery-powered amp

**gadabout55** · 12-21-2014, 06:26 PM

I'm looking for recommendations on a small battery-powered amp for home use that can get decent jazz tones. I've been using a Fender Amp Can for this up till now, but it has developed some issues and I want to see what options are out there.

TH · 12-21-2014, 06:36 PM

I have been using a Roland Street that I replaced the stock speakers with Webers. It sounds really decent and the little speakers improve it's already good sound.
My vote anyway.
David

**Bflat** · 12-21-2014, 07:51 PM

I have a Roland Micro cube Rx. It has a good clean sound with some effects, built in tuner and a drum machine. volume is decent too.

**fep** · 12-21-2014, 09:00 PM

+1 on the Roland Street. (I'm pretty sure TruthHertz meant he replaced the speakers not the pickups, it doesn't have any pickups).

Not only can you get a good jazz sound, you can also a microphone. I've mic'd a classical guitar with it when performing for a wedding on a bluff over the beach where there was no electricity available. Worked great for that.

**gadabout55** · 12-21-2014, 09:23 PM

Thanks guys. I should add that I'm looking for something small - a bedroom amp, if you will. Don't care much about effects. Would rather have less effects and more tone shaping capability.

Also, what kind of batteries and battery life can I expect from these amps?

TH · 12-21-2014, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by fep

+1 on the Roland Street. (I'm pretty sure TruthHertz meant he replaced the speakers not the pickups, it doesn't have any pickups).

pickups. shmickups. speakers. shmeekers. it's all kinetic electro conversion. thanks for catching that, Frank.
Oh and it does have a pickup, right on the top. A little rubber piece attached to the cabinet. It lets me pick' up the whole thing if I'm going somewhere.
By the way, I made up a 6 pack D cell external battery pack and I can play forever, use rechargeable batteries, never worry about a plug again. And it's lighter than any battery amp I've played before.
David

**John A.** · 12-21-2014, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by gadabout55

I'm looking for recommendations on a small battery-powered amp for home use that can get decent jazz tones. I've been using a Fender Amp Can for this up till now, but it has developed some issues and I want to see what options are out there.

I use a Roland MicroCube. Small, loud enough to jam quietly with another instrument, very portable, reasonably priced. Mine is the original version that's about two watts and has a "tuning fork" tone. There's a newer version that I think has a couple more models, is 3 watts and has a chromatic tuner. Either is great.

John

**Longways to Go** · 12-21-2014, 10:37 PM

Roland Microcube RX has served me very well for the past few years. I've been thinking about a Fender Mustang mini, but haven't really seen the need. Maybe if the Rx craps out . . .

**Keira Witherkay** · 12-22-2014, 06:51 AM

there's a new roland street cube thats a 50 W with 2x 8 " speakers looks great and offers good battery life too ...

**Jabberwocky** · 12-22-2014, 09:10 AM

Home use? Battery powered? Decent jazz tones? Ask Morty:

.

**Rhoderick** · 12-22-2014, 09:25 AM

Hello.
I have used Vox amps, exclusively, since the 1960s. I still have, and use, my AC30.
I also have a mains/battery Vox AD5. I certainly can recommend them for sound and reliability.
You can find then here...
VOXAMPS

Music is the key that can open strange rooms in the house of memory.
Llewelyn Wyn Griffith

**drbhrb** · 12-22-2014, 03:17 PM

If it's for home use why bother with batteries? I had a Roland Cube Street(not the EX) that I returned because it wasn't loud enough to play outside which is the only reason I'd ever use a battery amp.

**Little Jay** · 12-23-2014, 03:05 PM

For some quiet noodling at home I sometimes use my Artec Tino MA3T (it's actually my travel amp for hotel rooms) that actually has a ver nice sound (but it's very small, don't expect loud volumes or huge bass response):

http://www.vsnguitars.com/productima...?product_id=31

**mangotango** · 12-23-2014, 03:37 PM

I have one of these

Artec Cubix G2R - Thomann UK

it's basically a Cube copy. But, it's not bad, I've gigged with it a couple of times. Loud enough to get across. Takes half-a-dozen AA batteries and will last for the gig without the sound degrading. Reverb (okayish), voices, EQ controls, master volume.

**lauwing** · 12-23-2014, 11:03 PM

How about a ZT Lunchbox Jr? Cheap and loud

**gadabout55** · 12-28-2014, 06:51 PM

I was at GC today and tried an Orange Crush 12L, a $99 amp. I was actually pretty happy with the tones I was getting from it. One thing I didn't like was the fact that the controls are in the back, like the old Fender tweed amps. I've been thinking about cloning this amp and setting it up the way I want, plus adding the battery-powered capability.