Recommend a Portable Amp

I do a lot of busking and lately I been wanting to bring out a uke but they just arent loud enough, even with a pick. Can you guys recommend a good portable amp that will last a good 4-5 hours on a single charge. Thanks.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AC33/reviews

This a write up I found of an expensive quality amp that is rechargeable. Not sure if you'd like to shell out that kind of dosh? On this board there is Ricdoug who has more experience with portable / rechargeable amps. I'm sure he'll weigh in . Good Luck.

Roland Streetcube is what I use and I'm very happy with it, but it's a little large and heavy (for me). You might want to consider going down to microcube, if you don't need too much amplification and want to be a little more portable.

Try youtube Roland Micro Cube. pretty loud and battery powered.

Roland AC-33

When I was looking years ago, I saw the Crate Taxi, $180, 15 watts, on the large side, like a floor monitor in front of a performer. But then I saw they also make a Limo, $399, 50 watts. The rechargeable battery last a few hours, but I replaced it with a higher capacity, which can last 7-8 hours. The Limo has 2 inputs, and effects.

I own and use more battery powered sound equipment than anyone I've met:

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?5333-Battery-powered-ukulele-amplification

For busking with an ukulele a Roland AC-33 using 8 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries along with an active D.I. box like:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/LR-Baggs-Para-Acoustic-Guitar-DI-and-Preamp-101359792-i1128134.gc

or

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behring...Recording-Preamp-DI-Box-103385159-i2547754.gc

and a headset microphone:

http://www.frys.com/product/6460952

will handle any busking gig where your temporary audience is less than 50. Two BA-330's connected together using the Stereo Link will handle a crowd of a hundred or more on speaker stands above the heads of the audience::

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Roland-BA-330-STEREO-PORTABLE-PA-SYSTEM-105930655-i1492771.gc

The Carvin S400D with the extra battery and 810 extension speaker cabinet will handle crowds of 200 to 300 on speaker stands above the heads of the audience:

https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=S400D

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/810

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/B400

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/SS20

All the above suggestions will handle 4 hours on a single charge, based on my personal experience of actually owning and using them. I own a Crate Taxi TX-15 which will last about three hours before recharging overnight. Take off the front grille and 8" speaker to get to the battery. You can replace the battery for a hundred bucks from Crate, or order one from Batteries Plus for fifteen bucks.

Thanks guys! I thought it was going to be easy to find one, haha boy was I wrong, sooo many options. Ok so for my sets I think I'm going to be alternating between uke and guitar, so I think I'm going to go with a smaller amp that will be easy to carry. So I have to take a couple of other things now to consider: amp size, volume and how good the amp will sound with guitar.

How loud would the small amps be with a ukulele compared to an acoustic archtop guitar or dreadnaught with heavy strings and thick pick? And would it even be worth using it on an acoustic guitar?

@ricdoug: 2 questions please?
(i) How important is placing the speaker up high ?

There are 12 volt rechargeable gell batteries for sale here with different amp/hour ratings. I was thinking of using these, but is that voltage not too high for question (ii)?

(ii) The amplifiers in your recommendation reply to this thread (battery powered), what is their DC operating voltage?