Soledad Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Bought a minter from Munchies here about 4 weeks ago. I already use a 6B cab (with GB 900 head) and I am partial to the PJB approach. I'd felt these things were getting passed around a bit - see one for sale, few months it's up for sale again. So what's it all about? This isn't a proper review so not in reviews section - just a quick impressions thing. I seriously love this combo. Very small, quite a lump (about 13Kg I think) and sounds fabulous. The reputation is 'hi-fi' and I suppose that is a fair indication of what you get. I leave the EQ flat almost always - I may well use the L/F to correct for boomy rooms say, but apart from that either the Precision Special (PJ) straight in and all tone shaping on the bass, or the fretless through my board to use the Sansamp for mid shaping and a touch of drive, plus the chorus on subtle settings. I don't really bother with the compression, it's a fairly basic 3:1 limiter. So for me this is a swith on, set a level above the max I'll need (about 12 o'clock) and do everything at the bass (or pedalboard and bass for the fretless). How's it sound, I mean what's this 'hi-fi' thing? Well, I know exactly what my PJ sounds like straight into the desk and back through decent monitors. That is what it sounds like, I mean exactly that. It is not loud. It's seriously OTT for home practice. It's loud enough for acoustic/unplugged type stuff. Couldn't balance to most drummers so that's out. Fortunately I do get involved in a fair bit of acoustic so it has a purpose for me. Discontinued now and replaced with cheaper variants, but the Briefcase feels, looks and sounds every dollar. Do you need one? No. Do you want one? Depends. But I bloody love it - an absolute definite keeper. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 This review doesn’t surprise me at all - I feel exactly the same way about my PJB Double Four. Phil Jones makes some gorgeous gear. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Stop it, all of you. I'm trying to tell myself I don't need a Bass Cub to go with my other PJB stuff and you're not helping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted October 2, 2021 Author Share Posted October 2, 2021 2 hours ago, Dan Dare said: Stop it, all of you. Your fault I got the 6b, so what goes around. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Yes, I have a PJB briefcase and it's a really good bit of kit. I use mine mostly with double bass, but have also used it with a band rehearsal and it just about coped with a quiet drummer. Being able to run it off a battery for an hour is another useful feature. I'm even getting used to the farting noise it makes when you turn it off. I also had a double four for a while, but gifted it to an elderly friend who was struggling with the size and weight of his previous combo. Amazing to think that kit this compact can make such a big sound. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 3 hours ago, pete.young said: I use mine mostly with double bass I imagine that will sound very good. I tried plugging an electro-acoustic guitar into it, sounds very good indeed. I think the small speakers and clean amp make it a good solution for quite a few instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 I have a cream-coloured PJ Briefcase. It's been home practice amp for years and since I retired from gigging it's been my only amp. I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I had one for a while - amazing little thing - blew people's minds that a "silly little amp like that" could make so much noise. Sold it because of the Hi-fi criticism. Absolutely true that PJB make some amazing gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Forgot to say I also have a PJB Bass Buddy, which is largely the same item minus the power amp and speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ba55me15ter Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 A phenomenal amp, unfortunately let-down on mine by a very noisy (when it kicks-in) fan. It's an early model, I don't know if it improved..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted October 13, 2021 Author Share Posted October 13, 2021 21 hours ago, Ba55me15ter said: unfortunately let-down on mine by a very noisy (when it kicks-in) fan Don't think mine has kicked in yet, (or it is very quiet). I've not run mine hard anyway, mainly balancing with an acoustic guitar or two. Noisy fans do annoy me - not forgivable I think as super-quiet induction motors can be got on eBay for peanuts, I mean manufacturers can surely source near-silent fans. I recall a noisy fan on a Trace head some years ago but at fan-level the rig was so LOUD it really didn't matter! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 On 07/10/2021 at 16:36, EssentialTension said: Forgot to say I also have a PJB Bass Buddy, which is largely the same item minus the power amp and speakers. Love my Bass Buddy, just waiting to get it back from Selectron where it’s been in for repair since July. Don’t forget the bass buddy does have a 10W amp built-in and I’ve used mine as an effective home practice amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 9 minutes ago, JPJ said: Love my Bass Buddy, just waiting to get it back from Selectron where it’s been in for repair since July. Don’t forget the bass buddy does have a 10W amp built-in and I’ve used mine as an effective home practice amp. True enough but I am on headphones, due to neighbours in apartment block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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