Battery powered ukulele amplification...

What’s up ricdoug, hope alls well on your end! Let’s delve back into the latest and greatest in battery powered amplification, shall we?

My AC-33 just doesn’t have enough gusto for gigging or monitoring myself at gigs, and I don’t always need a full PA setup.. so I’m thinking about upgrading and pulling the trigger on one of these: https://www.fishman.com/products/series/loudbox/loudbox-mini-charge/

Thoughts? Knowledge/opinions or better recommendations..etc? I’d be buying used of course so I wouldn’t have to exactly fork out $500, maybe closer to $350
 
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What’s up ricdoug, hope alls well on your end. My AC-33 just doesn’t have enough gusto for gigs or monitoring, and I don’t always need a full PA setup.. so I’m thinking about upgrading and pulling the trigger on one of these: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...1x6.5-inch-battery-powered-acoustic-combo-amp

Thoughts? I’d be buying used of course so I wouldn’t have to exactly fork out $500, maybe closer to $350

I don't want to stop you buying new gear if that's what you want to do but why do you think that the AC-33 doesn't have enough gusto for gigging?
Has someone said something?
The sound from them is VERY directional so you as a performer are not going to hear the volume they output. I've used my AC-33 at a Farmers Market in a huge shed and its plenty loud enough at just over half on the Master volume knob. The first time I played at the markets I turned it up to 3/4 on the master volume and I was actually too loud and this is on batteries so its only 20 watts max.

I may replace it myself one day for something else but not because its not loud enough. Before you spend the money just be sure you know why. The AC-33 is loud enough. I will likely replace mine one day (It's had a hard life for 9 years so far) with a unit with an 8" driver for better sound quality but I'm not sure that just going up to a 6.5" driver is much of an improvement.
 
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That looks like a nice mixer, Kohan Mike. Can it be operated on battery power?

Sorry for the late reply. It doesn't have a battery itself, but I use it with a small 12v 8aH motorcycle battery and a 200w pure sine wave inverter. And the mixer is for sale, I found I needed 8 inputs so I bought one. This one is in like new condition.

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This is Michael Kohan in Los Angeles, Beverly West near the Beverly Center
9 tenor cutaway ukes, 5 acoustic bass ukes, 11 solid body bass ukes, 11 mini electric bass guitars (Total: 35)

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children in hospital music therapy programs. www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/video, Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCCStrummers
 
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Behringer 1002B $120

If you want a Mixer then why not go for one with internal batteries.
 
King David, you could go with a medium large BlueTooth speaker, like the Nyne Bass, of which I've owned one for over 3 years and it's still going strong:

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Blu...mt=e&keywords=nyne+bass&qid=1570311966&sr=8-1

and a large capacity USB Power Bank, of which I own and use this one with the mixer that follows, for portable battery power:

https://www.amazon.com/Omars-10000m...&psc=1&qid=1570312583&sprefix=usb+pow,aps,200

using a quality 1/8" stereo cable to connect the amplified speaker to the mixer below:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079L8FTZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


along with a TU04 USB powered mixer with a BlueTooth channel:

https://www.amazon.com/Console-Phan...er&qid=1570312985&sprefix=tu04,aps,192&sr=8-1

mine arrived about 3 weeks after I ordered it. I'll include some screenshots of the mixer and owners manual below:

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What’s up ricdoug, hope alls well on your end! Let’s delve back into the latest and greatest in battery powered amplification, shall we?

My AC-33 just doesn’t have enough gusto for gigging or monitoring myself at gigs, and I don’t always need a full PA setup.. so I’m thinking about upgrading and pulling the trigger on one of these: https://www.fishman.com/products/series/loudbox/loudbox-mini-charge/

Thoughts? Knowledge/opinions or better recommendations..etc? I’d be buying used of course so I wouldn’t have to exactly fork out $500, maybe closer to $350
 
1st song at Jeff Linsky's concert at Island Ali'i in Carlsbad, California, last night Jeff's Bose S1 Pro is on the table to the right of him in the monitor position. His is plugged into AC power. Uncle Harry Akioaka's Bose S1 Pro and my Bose S1 Pro are mounted on the left on a T adaptor on a speaker stand and are running on battery power. Uncle Harry Akioaka was playing back of Jeff Linsky, so as not to interfere with Jeff's arrangements, which we're done as Jeff Linsky's backing band using the iReal Pro app as you can see the complex chord progress on his smart phone. The crowd grew to well over 100, before the end of Jeff Linsky's concert! The 3 Bose S1 Pro PA systems were operated individually and were plenty more than enough for this venue. You could hear the music inside the restaurant, as well as outside and in the parking lot. Ono grinds at Island Ali'i!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjurgwf9Zdw


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Wow, you guys sound GREAT! And what a nice bunch of people in attendance! Looks like it was a good time for all concerned!
 
Hi guys,

One of my uke group purchased an 'as new' 2nd hand Roland Mobile Cube a couple of months back - and when plugging her mic in last week - it made a big noise and now it won't turn on at all using the batteries. She said it was turned off before she plugged the mic in.

I've tested it with my 240v/9v powered transformer & it works fine with the electric power source - just not the batteries.

When turning it on 'with the batteries' - the red 'on light' momentarily comes on & there is slight 'interference sound' then it turns off completely. Using the transformer, it turns on & the red light stays on & both mic & uke will play thru the amp. Just not with the batteries.

So it looks like the battery circuit board may have 'fried' for some reason? I will recommend that she get the 240v/9v transformer so she can continue using it as a useful amp ... but I know the battery function was important to her, for performing away from a power source.

Has anyone had to replace a battery circuit in a Roland Mobile Cube & able to talk me thru it? Would a regular electrical repairer be able to check the continuity of the battery circuit & find the source of the problem & possibly look at repairing it? I live in a small coastal town without access to many electrical repairers.

I've contacted Roland in Australia but they want $162 just to 'look at it' (plus courier costs to get it there & back in Sydney) and if it needs a main board replaced, it is another $246 (more than the cost of the entire unit brand new - which is absolutely RIDICULOUS!)

I personally have 3 Roland Amps (including 2 more Mobile Cubes) and have never had a glitch with any of them, so am quite disappointed that this one has a problem. The amp is in 'as new' condition & has not been dropped or abused in any way that I am aware of.

Many thanks, in advance ..... I know a couple of members have built their own amps ..... they may have some tips as well??

cheers

Roberta

roland mobile cube.jpg
 
I have been doing outdoor swing concerts since the pandemic hit. For complete off-grid nirvana, I evolved gradually and came to use the following: Two Bose S1 speakers mounted on a single speaker stand (with double speaker adapter). For a duo or trio, this is all I need. I can use my Baggs DI to shape my tone, and run into one channel. I use two of the XLR inputs for mics and the final input for the daisy chain beween the two speakers.

If we have a full band (3 or 4 horns, two vocalists, Drummer, Bass and Me (uke band leader) I will amplify my uke with an amplifier plugged into a pure sine wave power station (mine is good for 280W for several hours). Currently, I plug a 200W Raezer's Edge Luna 200R into it--the best I have ever had.

This lets us fill a big outdoor space with lush-sounding swing and jazz. Many have commented that it's the best amplified sound they have ever heard (battery or not!).
 
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First, maker sure everything is cool with the internal batteries - all inserted correctly, all connections solid and clean, Using new alkaline batteries. Rechargeables can put out a different voltage that disposable batteries.

Simple solution - try an external battery pack.

Try something like this first: https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Power-Bat...ords=9v+battery+adapter&qid=1601048512&sr=8-7 My guess is that amp will suck down a regular 9v battery pretty quickly.

If that works, she can get a rechargeable USB battery pack to run it on.

Something like this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

or this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

or this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/327...98#911_4452#3098#9599#408_4452#3564#16062#704

or this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
 
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Most of those have internal charging boards - you could wire them directly to the terminals of your mains input plug.
 
Many Thanks aremick - the external battery is definitely a cheaper option to the total cost of $350+ that Roland is talking about!!

Yep, we'd checked all the batteries had been put in correctly & tried 3 different new lots - all duracell alkaline. I think the single 9v would drain very quickly, tho still worth 'a go'?

I am Very disappointed that it is playing up as Rolands are usually pretty well bullet proof .... but at least it is working via full power.
 
Hi Arpie - I have the same amp as you. If you are convinced the battery circuit is faulty the following ‘fix’ is about AU$80. I use this set up to provide 9v power my looper and multi-Fx pedals.

1. A Joyo USB power converter which plugs into the 9V DC jack

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313035651638

2. A good quality 20,000 mAh power bank

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313035651638

This will last at least as long as the 6 AA’s you were using.

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Many Thanks for that, CFC99 ..... I am still hoping a local electrical guy can check it out too, to see if it is an easy fix!

If we were in Sydney, I reckon my brother would sort it as he is a whizz with electrics .... but wth the covid thing, we are not planning on going down til next year, to be sure, to be sure! :(

I will also suggest she also gets her new Mic checked out in case IT caused the problem. It is a Shure so ‘should’ be ok ....
 
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I had contacted Roland to see what they could suggest - and initially they said as it was 2nd hand, they weren't interested - so I contacted them back, saying I had 3 other Roland amps (including 2 more Mobile Cubes) & considered them bullet proof and recommended my group to buy them, so was very disappointed that this one 'blew'! I also told them that Rode fixed one of our Rode Condenser mics free of charge, even tho it was 2nd hand .....

Yesterday they got back to me to say that if I got the Amp down to them in Sydney, they would check it out, repair it & return it, free of charge (so long as it wasn't the Mother Board that needs replacing!) I hardly think it is the mother board, or the 240/9v power source wouldn't be working at all!! SO I've packed it up & sent it to Sydney & got my fingers crossed that they can fix it!!

Failing that - the external battery power source should work OK with it ...

I will get her to get her Mic checked (which is a Shure & brand new) just in case it caused it! One of my uke group is a tech person, so hopefully will be able to determine the Mic is OK - as we don't want it to blow it up again when the mic is plugged in again!

So now, it is a waiting game! ��
 
Just wanted to throw this out there if people haven't discussed this already: if you're into DIY, the LM386 makes for a very nice amplifier, the circuit is really simple, it sounds decent, it's cheap as chips and draws so little current that I had to add a dummy load to my USB Power bank to prevent it from shutting off after 1 minute.

I never tried them with an ukulele (will do if/when I'll get a pickup) but for electric guitar they are fantastic for practicing at home.
How loud they manage to get without starting distorting will depend on how much voltage you feed (12V maximum) and the sensitivity of the speaker(s) used.
 
Woohoo ... I’ve got the amp back and it is working 100% .... it was dodgy batteries that the previous owner had left in and leaked. So they cleaned all the terminals, checked the jacks and returned it. Battery acid can totally kill an amp!

The head of the Rolands Repairs Dept then advised me to only use Energiser Batteries, not Duracell is n all battery amps, as Duracell are known to leak more! I’ll have to buy in a stock of them, as I usually use Duracell!

Thank you for your comments and suggestions also re alternate amps .... all good!
 
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