Looking for small, portable, bass pre-amp for headphone practice (preferably w/rechargeable battery)

#21
I am very intrigued with this thread for this might fit my needs once I get the bass I really want. So to make sure I understand this correctly. I can get a "preamp" which allows me to connect my bass to it, hear it (using headphones) and even connect an IPod or something so I can hear the song and me trying to play along with it?

I wish I knew this before I got that crappy "Orange" portable amp. That thing sucked.
 
#23
I use a 3Leaf Enabler. They are discontinued now, but come up in the Classifieds on occasion.

The Enabler won't run off batteries though. It needs a 9V plug with a fairly high current capacity to run the headphone amp.
 
#24
fingerguy said:
I am very intrigued with this thread for this might fit my needs once I get the bass I really want. So to make sure I understand this correctly. I can get a "preamp" which allows me to connect my bass to it, hear it (using headphones) and even connect an IPod or something so I can hear the song and me trying to play along with it?
Click to expand...
With the Tascams mentioned they also play MP3's and can even slow them down, loop sections, and pitch shift them. No better way to learn and/or transcribe tunes :cool:.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AndyPanda
#25
I use the old Tascam GT-R1 - it's discontinued but you can find them used. mics to record live, 1/4" input for bass or guitar, drum beats, amp sims, for playing mp3 you can transpose or slow down/loop without altering key etc. I use mine all the time. And it is a rechargeable battery built in (same type as a mobile phone uses).
 
#27
I believe you have already stated this would be "too much", but the Phil Jones Bass Buddy is a very cool little device with aux input to jam with, EQ, compression ( comes in handy for saving eardrums ), etc. Built like a tank, takes 2 9V batteries. And his bass-designed headphones work really good with it too. IMHO, not the cheapest though (YGWYPF ).
 
#28
If battery power isn't a must, you could pick up some version of a micro mixer like the Mackie 402 VLZ. They are nearly immortal and nearly indestructible. They should have hi-Z input, simple EQ and a loud, clean headphone output. Should be able to find a slightly used one around $50 or so.

There are also some nifty little battery powered multi-track recorders that would do this and let you track simple tunes.

Otto
 
  • Like
Reactions: floydman
#29
Just my $.02, but I had the Vox and hated it (sound quality, cheap construction, scratchy sounds when adjusting controls, etc). The Ampeg SCR-DI is great, but I am looking to eventually ditch it (the OD is useless to me) and get a BigHead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SwitchGear
#30
Without knowing your budget I will toss in the the zoom b3. Headphone out, Amp and cabinet sims, tuner, some usable effects, looper, drums, the ability to play along with tracks. It can function as a preamp. It is a practice machine that has lots of uses on stage. Runs off usb, outlet or batteries. 200 new and they do come up used.
 
#31
I've messed around with a few different setups trying to find the right combo of ease of setup/teardown, portability and tone. I am currently using the Ampeg SCR and I am pretty happy with it. The Overdrive is not really my taste so I don't use it much - but otherwise it's a really good sounding, easy practice setup. I'd definitely recommend it
 
#33
I have a set of Oblanc stereo headphones. They have a bass boost control as well as volume. They are also usb rechargable. Works great. Paid $60 on Ebay
 
Last edited:
#36
DWBass said:
Pocket Rock-It Bass
Click to expand...
Speaking of.......I have one of the older all black models. I was just in a Cash Converters just perusing around and spotted one of the newer S1b models for $8.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20161107_150925295.jpg
    IMG_20161107_150925295.jpg
    224.6 KB · Views: 56
Last edited:
#37
El_Ohso said:
phil jones bass big head!
Click to expand...
Hard to go wrong with PJB - pricey but likely to give you substantially better quality than anything cheap.

That said, if you're looking for really small, portable, and rechargeable(ish), you might check out the Korg Pandora. I've got a PX5D (discontinued but you can find them on EBay) - preamp, output can drive headphones just fine, digital effects (not spectacular, but useful for jamming), metronome, tuner, runs fine on NIMH rechargeable AA or from USB power.
 
#39
DWBass said:
Pocket Rock-It Bass
Click to expand...

I have one of these, model SB-1, and it works great. Get better headphones though, the stock phones are meh. Has an aux in jack for jam along audio. Not the most versatile tone wise either, but it works.

I also use a Line 6 Bass Pod XT for silent home practice. Doesn't run off battery and isn't very portable, but it's awesome for a stationary practice space and doesn't bother anyone else. Tons of tones, solid headphone amp, and does so much more.
 
#40
Danonearth said:
I'm looking for small, portable, bass pre-amp for headphone practice (preferably with rechargeable battery)

I have been looking at the VOX ones, but they don't get great reviews...

I also saw the Phil Jones Bass Guitar Headphones H-850, and the PJB Big Head from them as well… I'm not sure I want to pay a few hundred for the Big Head though! I’d rather just find a good, cheap carry around for headphone practice

Any recommendations?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
While I have Sony phones, the purchase of a PJ Bighead was some of the best money I've spent in a long time on a new piece of bass gear. I'd tried a couple of headphone amps that plug straight into the bass and both sounded like farts in an empty bathtub, and I really needed something that allowed me to cram a lot of new music while staying with friends (with school age children) away from home who were closer to where I was doing most of my playing at the time, so I needed something I could work with that would give me a realistic idea of what things were going to sound like when I actually got to plug in to an amp and the Bighead delivered on all counts. Later on I got involved in a situation where I was doing some bass lines for a guy who was using Audacity to mix those lines with some steel guitar and drum tracks and the digital output of the Bighead made it so easy. Add to that it's rechargeable and and Bob's your uncle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Runlikegregg
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back