busking amp recommendations please

[alyctes]

I'm considering going busking with our guitarist. He'd probably just take an acoustic with no amp, but acoustic basses can't compete in my experience. Can anyone recommend a busking rig? I guess it will have to be battery powered.

thanks

[AndyTravis]

Roland bass cube rx.

Good fun, and solid.

Basic dum machine too.

[SlapbassSteve]

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1403393831' post='2482399']
Roland bass cube rx.

Good fun, and solid.

Basic dum machine too.
[/quote]

+1. They're not cheap, but the sound is totally unbelievable in both volume and tone (the amp emulations are great!) and I'm pretty sure the amp itself is completely indestructible, along with surprisingly waterproof if it starts randomly chucking it down. Here's a video of me using it on a typical day at the office, should give an idea of how well it projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVmP7jFMoKQ

[TheGreek]

Others have recommended the PJ Briefcase before...I wouldn't take mine busking though.

[2004gdavi]

The PJB briefcase can run with onboard battery or connected to external battery so it's been designed to travel. Sounds great but not cheap. It's probably this cost that would make you think twice about busking with it.

[mcnach]

For a very versatile and not very expensive option, check these out:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Qtx-178-840UK-QR10PA-portable-PA/dp/B009L4KZ8I"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Qtx-178-840UK-QR10PA-portable-PA/dp/B009L4KZ8I[/url]

There is a similar thread I started last year, as I was about to start busking with my band, and I got one of those. They're great. Good battery live, it can be a lot louder than is reasonable in a busking situation - even with three other guitars, a mini drumkit with brushes and a trumpet - and you can put other things through it.
It's not the best bass amp in the world, but it sounds pretty good. I'd recommend using an external EQ pedal (or an active bass with active EQ) for adjusting the sound, as the built-in tone controls are pretty limited for bass.
It's also smaller than it looks in the picture, and ultra portable.

A year later I'm still very happy with it.

[TheRev]

I use a Roland Micro Bass Cube (the 4 x 2.5" one). The battery life is pretty impressive and it has the interesting property of sounding louder 15 feet away than it does when you're stood right in front of it.

[media]http://youtu.be/Vgjs0JLCyC0[/media]

[Pukie]

Another vote for the Roland Bass Cube Rx (4 x2.5)
Ok I've never busked but it's a certainly a great little amp, and a fraction of the cost of a PJB, which is probably better
but if you have that sort of money I'm not sure you need to go busking.

[alyctes]

I don't need to go busking, we just thought it might be fun. And it would let us play stuff we want to play, instead of stuff the band wants to play.

(Is it inappropriate somehow to go busking if you don't need to?)

Thanks to all for the advice

[mcnach]

[quote name='Pukie' timestamp='1403614042' post='2484469']
but if you have that sort of money I'm not sure you need to go busking.
[/quote]

the money was a bonus, not a primary objective, for us.

we wanted more people to hear us. It led to selling a few CDs to tourists (who will hopefully start new fan clubs of our band in their home countries) and a few gig offers. And mostly, we had fun.