Phil Jones Bass 8B Neo Cabinet

This is an 8x5" inch neo-speaker cab that debuted in 2008 along with a smaller 6x5 cab and the larger 12x5 cab. The 8x5 operates at 4ohms for 400 watts. I was looking for a stand alone cab that I could run my Acoustic Image Focus head at a 4ohm load and get the full wattage (600 watts). This cab and amp head work perfectly together.

I love the size of the cab:15.7 x 17.3 x 28.4 (in.) and weighs only 54lbs.
Built in roll-back caster wheels with a telescopic handle make you think you're rolling in a suitcase. I also like the top mounted handle for lifting. This is better than sidemounted ones IMO.

I use this cab with all my basses including a Fender style P, a J-bass, Lakland 5-str., Pedula Pentabuzz, Azola EUB, and doublebass. All sound full, warm, rich and still have plenty of punch and definition with this cab.

There's no hiss in the high's because you have no tweeter in the Phil Jones design. These speakers react so fast you don't need it. I hear myself so clearly now and I find I don't have to use as much brute volume because the entire frequency spectrum is so evenly produced.

Before I got my PJB 8B cab I was always trying to boost something in the mids for definition or reducing a honking frequency. Now I run everthing flat from the amp. In fact, I've been bypassing the preamp section of my AI Focus and running from my pedalboard into the effect return. I use a Radial PZ-PRE to handle my channel selection, effect loop, muting, DI, eq'ing (if I need it).

Any style I play sounds awesome through this speaker - jazz, funk, rock, folk, whatever, it doesn't matter.

Seems well built, although there are certain materials such as the speaker grill or the tolex covering the cab that seems a little cheap looking to me. If I were touring with this cab I would get a cover made to protect it because I think it would show wear and tear faster than your typical cab.

I've never worked with these type of speaker before so I can't comment on the reliability. It seems they handle everything I throw at them with ease. No straining or farting sounds. Very effortless sounding if that makes any sense.

Don't have any experience in this dept.

At least there is now a US rep. and the PJB line is carried at Sam Ash Music so I think you could get some help pretty easily.

I've never been happier with a speaker cab like the 8B. I've owned lots of them: Epifani, Euphonic Audio, Ampeg, Trace Elliott to name a few. None of them gave me the COMPLETE SONIC PICTURE like the PJB does. Some came closer than others but I was never 100% satisfied. I can say now that I've found my perfect cab. I'm now the only limitation in my signal chain - lol!

Light weight, telescoping handle and wheels, two speaker inputs. Build quality is top notch. Can't really imagine any other features it would need.

The price and the hype of PJB cabinets can cause fascination and skepticism, however the former got the best of me and I decided to purchase an 8B Neo from theperfectbass.com without ever playing one. I've had it now for 4 months and I can say with confidence that it's the best musical purchase i've ever made, by a long shot. I was playing through an Avatar 2x12 before i got the 8B and the difference is simply night and day. I'm playing a Genz Benz GBE600 and my one bass is a Fender Marcus Miller Jazz 4 string. The tone from the cabinet is simply awesome. All ranges of the sonic spectrum come in loud and clear, and they only get better as the volume goes up. The low notes thump with authority and the mids and highs all come in crystal clear. Chording is especially brilliant sounding. Slap and pop sounds sweet as well. Really any technique sounds awesome. Due to the clarity of sound, the cab will make your clams all the more obvious, but I take that only as a reason to practice. You truly have to play one of these cabs to appreciate them.

I haven't gigged with it. It's given me no problems since I've had it.

I've never had to deal with PJB Customer support.

I've been playing bass for a few years and like I said before, it's by far the best piece of gear i've ever bought. The portability and build quality and sound leave nothing to be desired. It's pricey, but in my opinion it's worth every penny.