I've lost my Vox Bass Amplug. Before I get another, any alternative recommendations?

[Bass-Thing]

I think the Amplug is great and it's suprememly portable but it doesn't handle below E too well. I don't want to buy another if there is something better out there, especially when the moment I do I know that the lost one will turn up! Any ideas folks?

[Silvia Bluejay]

Sigh, don't get me started. My Amplug sounds even worse than my Rockit with my Warwicks (but it's the other way round with the uprights) and I'm currently waiting for Max of [sfx] to build me a Micro-H. More expensive than those, but hopefully much better quality. I don't know what your budget may be, though.

[BassTractor]

If you have an iPhone, then the Gallien-Krueger app might do for you. You'd need a cable that most probably is more expensive than the Amplug, but OTOH, this is way more flexible and gives way better sound.
Other apps do roughly the same, like GarageBand and iShred Live, which both incorporate a choice of amps and effect pedals.

best,
bert

Edited July 14, 2012 by BassTractor

[spellonyou]

i have the korg pandora px5d, and it works pretty well for me. also, it handles down to low-B without sounding funny. i did an a-b test in the shop between the pandora mini and the px5d, and found the sound quality of the px5d to be superior.

if you're looking for nothing more than a good quality instrument headphone amp though, i would consider trying out the one that is made by Palmer. It's more expensive than the amplug but cheaper than the pandora mini. i have not tested the Palmer myself but seen good reviews about it on the web.

Edited July 14, 2012 by spellonyou

[Bass-Thing]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1342273957' post='1732655']
If you have an iPhone, then the Gallien-Krueger app might do for you. You'd need a cable that most probably is more expensive than the Amplug, but OTOH, this is way more flexible and gives way better sound.
Other apps do roughly the same, like GarageBand and iShred Live, which both incorporate a choice of amps and effect pedals.

best,
bert
[/quote]

I do indeed have an iPhone and the PocketGK looks absolutely perfect. The iRiffport is expensive but opens up a load of other really good iPhone apps like Garageband. Might be something that you'd find useful Bluejay?

[Bass-Thing]

[quote name='spellonyou' timestamp='1342286180' post='1732866']
i have the korg pandora px5d, and it works pretty well for me. also, it handles down to low-B without sounding funny. i did an a-b test in the shop between the pandora mini and the px5d, and found the sound quality of the px5d to be superior.

if you're looking for nothing more than a good quality instrument headphone amp though, i would consider trying out the one that is made by Palmer. It's more expensive than the amplug but cheaper than the pandora mini. i have not tested the Palmer myself but seen good reviews about it on the web.
[/quote]

Had a look at both and to be honest I think I'm probably going to go down the iPhone app route. The Korg looked a little complicated for me and the Palmer looked great but is definitely a guitar amp first and foremost. My teacher has advised me to have a good pocket headphone amp setup for music college and I realised I can't find my good old amplug. I know it will turn up though. Thanks for your help though. Much appreciated

[Bass-Thing]

...and guess what? Found my Amplug! My specialist subject should have been the bleedin' obvious! Anyway very grateful for the advice I've had here and I think the PocketGK will shortly be joining my arsenal. If Palmer made a dedicated bas amp though...

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='Bass-Thing' timestamp='1342286291' post='1732870']
I do indeed have an iPhone and the PocketGK looks absolutely perfect. The iRiffport is expensive but opens up a load of other really good iPhone apps like Garageband. Might be something that you'd find useful Bluejay?
[/quote]

Sounds good, but I'm not an iPhone user, nor am I planning to become one for the foreseeable future. I will let you guys know my opinion of the Micro-H in due course, though.

Excellent thread - it's always good to be aware of the various options on offer for any given task

[Evil Undead]

I have the Amplitube app with iRig and I personally think it's better than the Pocket GK one. Horses for courses though

[Bass-Thing]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1342351382' post='1733522']
I have the Amplitube app with iRig and I personally think it's better than the Pocket GK one. Horses for courses though
[/quote]

Thanks that's good to know. It's a cheaper set up too from what I can tell, though you have to have a bass amp bolt on I think I was curious to know if iRig worked with the PocketGK or if you have to get and iRiff port. Anyway now I've found my good ol' amplug I can take my time choosing. Also curious to know how the Micro H turns out Bluejay.

[spellonyou]

One more thing about these iRig things; I've tested a cheap knockoff of this thing with an Android phone and found out that the Android platform is not useable for real time music applications, regardless of the quality of the hardware (at least for now)

So for the moment this kind of setup is only useable with Apple products.

I don't think there could have been much wrong with the iRig thing itself but I do not know for sure; I sent it back to Thomann. Price was good though; it's called the Jackamp Mobile...

[simon1964]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1342351382' post='1733522']
I have the Amplitube app with iRig and I personally think it's better than the Pocket GK one. Horses for courses though
[/quote]

+1. Although I think the bass amp is an add on. Its pretty cheap though.

[4 Strings]

Whichever one you buy, sounds like you need a bit of string for it

[spinynorman]

[quote name='spellonyou' timestamp='1342385121' post='1734195']
One more thing about these iRig things; I've tested a cheap knockoff of this thing with an Android phone and found out that the Android platform is not useable for real time music applications, regardless of the quality of the hardware (at least for now)

So for the moment this kind of setup is only useable with Apple products.

I don't think there could have been much wrong with the iRig thing itself but I do not know for sure; I sent it back to Thomann. Price was good though; it's called the Jackamp Mobile...
[/quote]

What actually was the problem using it with Android? Did you just get no sound at all? What app were you trying to get the instrument into?

I ask because I can't see why it shouldn't work in principle.

Edited July 16, 2012 by spinynorman

[BassTractor]

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1342432225' post='1734617']
What actually was the problem using it with Android?[/quote]

Reportedly, and also IME, stuff just lags too much. Personally I've had a lag of 29ms, which is not very musical.
I don't know whether it's the OS workload or the presence of too many background programs which one can't shut down without a degree in Android, but reportedly it's not the main processor that is the problem here. Maybe a specialised side processor - if present. Idunno.


It was interesting to hear that people are satisfied with the iRig / AmpliTube combination. I may try that.


Since we're talking apps and cables anyway, how about trying to get an overview? Unless it's been done here before, that is.
I can try and compile a list of cables and amps with their features.

best,
bert

[woodyratm]

I wanted to try this irig. Ebay £13 yay!

[spinynorman]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1342461076' post='1735568']
Reportedly, and also IME, stuff just lags too much. Personally I've had a lag of 29ms, which is not very musical.
I don't know whether it's the OS workload or the presence of too many background programs which one can't shut down without a degree in Android, but reportedly it's not the main processor that is the problem here. Maybe a specialised side processor - if present. Idunno.


It was interesting to hear that people are satisfied with the iRig / AmpliTube combination. I may try that.


Since we're talking apps and cables anyway, how about trying to get an overview? Unless it's been done here before, that is.
I can try and compile a list of cables and amps with their features.

best,
bert
[/quote]

I can't get Amplitube to work on my laptop, let alone my phone. Doesn't help that it doesn't resize for a 15" widescreen display, so half of the interface is inaccessible.

[spinynorman]

I found [url="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.delayeffects&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5kZWxheWVmZmVjdHMiXQ.."]Delay Effects[/url] on Google Play, which is all I can find that is trying to be a guitar amp app. And it is written to live with the delay, so that doesn't look promising. If there's anything else, it's very well hidden.

One of the reviews suggests Asio drivers, but doesn't look like there's an Android version. Isn't there anyone on here who can write Android, or whatever you have to do to write a phone app?

[Gust0o]

Which cable do you need for this iPhone business? Saw one in HMV, but seemed pricey.

[Bass-Thing]

OK this thread was actually about replacing my Amplug which I've found! Not remotely interested in whether or not you can get an app or a laptop to work folks. I have my lovely wife to do that...Sorry, though I will say if you are still using a PC and not a Mac, I can neither understand nor be held responsible.

Any opinions on the DEAN portable bass headphone amp?...

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1342480262' post='1736056']
Which cable do you need for this iPhone business? Saw one in HMV, but seemed pricey.
[/quote]

Yup, some are pricey, but then again the apps perform wonderfully and can be had for peanuts.

There are different cables for the iPhones and iPads, and I'm working on a list right now,
but quickly and unfinishedly:
1) iRiffPort cable uses digital dock contact. Good sound quality. Expensive. Works with at least 4 different amps and their eventual effect pedals.
2) iRig cable uses analogue port (the combines input /headphone out). Lesser sound quality. Cheaper. Works with at least 2.
3) AmpKit cable uses analogue port. Cheap. Don't know yet what it works with other than the Peavey amp.

I'll get back to this with a more worked out overview.

best,
bert

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Bass-Thing' timestamp='1342482030' post='1736082']
OK this thread was actually about replacing my Amplug which I've found! Not remotely interested in whether or not you can get an app or a laptop to work folks. I have my lovely wife to do that...Sorry, though I will say if you are still using a PC and not a Mac, I can neither understand nor be held responsible.
[/quote]

Huh?

[Gust0o]

[quote name='Bass-Thing' timestamp='1342482030' post='1736082']
OK this thread was actually about replacing my Amplug which I've found! Not remotely interested in whether or not you can get an app or a laptop to work folks. I have my lovely wife to do that...[/quote]

This is going to sound a little peculiar mate, but is there any chance I can borrow your wife tonight? I'll only need her for about an hour. Ta.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Gust0o

[Highfox]

lol at some of the above
I've had the Pandora PX5 for a few years now, I still use it a fair bit and like that it's so mobile (I can easily take it outside in the garden etc) It's handy also that it has USB connection so you can hook it up to recording software pretty easily. The only downside for me has been my total lack of skill at managing to programme any of the drum patterns, so I have gotten bored with the preset drum patterns, sounds.

..Fast forward to this summer and I purchased myself an iPad and one of the first apps I tried was Garageband, pretty blown away by how fun and Easy (I have to stress easy) it is to use to record and throw ideas down, I especially like the drum sounds and their easy programming. The only thing missing was being able to use my bass and possible guitars, so I have also ordered an iRig and wait to see if this will take me to another level that the Pandora couldn't. Embracing newish technology

[Bass-Thing]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1342523709' post='1736457']
Huh?
[/quote]
[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1342525721' post='1736502']
This is going to sound a little peculiar mate, but is there any chance I can borrow your wife tonight? I'll only need her for about an hour. Ta.
[/quote]

That will teach me to drink vodka in the week. Sorry guys went off on one a bit there. I realise you are only trying to help.

If you are still interested Gust0o I will ask her but she's not keen on mustaches or big hair (which is why I shave my head because my hair looks like your when I grow it).