Phil Jones Bass Briefcase

I bought this amp in 2008. It has following features:
- active/passive switch
- 5 band eq
- compressor with variable threshold but fixed ratio 3:1
- integrated pair of 5" wide band 'pirahna speakers', 4 ohms tot. impedance, external connection by mini 1/4" jack cable.
- XLR line out
- possibility of battery integration
Yet, I think this amp it is missing 2 important items :
- input gain control
- you can't add an additional cabinet unless you use it alone, without the Briefcase's integrated speakers: it would have been better to put an 8 ohm internal speaker system in order to allow for an external additional cabinet of 8 ohms (4 ohms in total) and make the amp a bit more powerful (100 W on 8 ohms, perhaps 150 on 4 ohm)

I am playing various styles and have been happily using a Gallien Krueger 700RB with 4x10" RBH cabinet. I was looking for a portable amp for jam sessions etc. This Briefcase amp sounds best on its own: the volume is decent and produces very detailed, transparent and natural tone without need of a horn. As long as you want a clear and clean tone, this amp is really great. On the other hand, what it lacks is beefiness, volume and grunt (on the edge of overdrive type of grunt), especially when playing kind of greasy funk or rock with a band and a drummer:
the power is quickly too low for beefiness and volume, and the 2x5" speakers are also quite limiting, despite of the 'place it in the corner' trick. At higher volumes it sure starts to clip, but not in a nice and usable manner. Also, the compression is OK at moderate volumes & playing but when attacking the strings it does something ugly to the tone attack, as if the attack/release settings could be really imporved.
I really think a more powerful amp with a more versatile pre-amp section including a gain control would have been a really good asset for being able to dial in some juicy overdrive tone edge: no question, the hifiness is excellent but what's really missing is the grunt'n'phat. I got me a Markbass F1 and that's a complete different thing, even when connected to the 2x5" speakers of the Briefcase.
In other words, for gentle playing this amp is really good, but for bass brutalizers it does not serve the purpose at all.

So far no problems. It does look sturdy, but since I haven't really brought it on the road I couldn't really say.

no problems yet.

A couple of years ago this amp was really a very interesting option. But today classD amps and neodymium speakers are growing everywhere like mushrooms, and this Briefcase is neither classD nor with neodymium speakers. The power to weight ratio is not bad but could be much better. The portability and size are really good with the 14 kg and slim briefcase shape, but more power would really be welcome: it would be easy to get some 300 W with a classD amp, and an 8 ohm internal speaker system in order to allow for an ADDITIONAL 8 ohm cab.

100W Class A/B, 2 5" ceramic drivers, super small. single input with active or passive switch. 3:1 optial compression, variable. 5 band eq. Headphone out on the front. DI out on the rear. Speaker out on the rear can be connected to other speakers. Can run on 12V battery that fits inside the bottom of the amp (battery not supplied) for 1-3 hours, and recharges off the wall with ease. Can run from a car lighter (12V) as well. Weight 28 lbs. Size ... damn small. $500 'on sale' new at Scam Cash, which has to be close to cost.

Used with an upright bass and Fishman Full Circle for jazz quartet rehearsals and gigs. Used with any electric bass as a greta practice amp or gigging amp where all you need is some basic monitoring.

It's pretty new but built like a brick *****home. All Phil Jones gear is absolutely maxed out in terms of quality. Made very well in China. Drivers are made in house.

No issues, but great phone support from PJB. Spoke with Phil himself as well as two others who were all very helpful with some questions I had.

I've been playing for 30 years and this is the coolest, cleanest power, smallest bass amp ever. It's only 100W and it's small, so gigging with a loud rock band is out unless you use the PA. It's really hard to believe how good it sounds for the size. It's in the clean but not sterile camp. It kills Hartke and anything else that you think is clean for punch and open tone. Can handle low B if the graphic is not cranked on the 50hz setting.

This review will be about the PJBB as a an upright double bass amplifier.
It is portable(6 1/2"W, 14 1/2"H, 15 3/4 D). At 28lbs., it can stand to lose a few pounds for its size. But it has a good "toss it in the trunk" vibe as it seems well made and durable. Also good for the subway!
A compressor which I don't use(doesn't seem necessary for the upright).
Graphic EQ-5 Band-50,160,630,2.5K,10K, +/- 18dB.
It would be nice if the separate power cord could be stored with the unit, but that is a quibble.

I am using a Christopher hybrid bass with a Shertler Stat-B pickup. For comparisons sake I will compare the PJBB to an SWR Workingmans 12, which I was using prior. The sound of the PJBB is warm and clear, but, make no mistake, it is not as clear and "hi-fi" as the SWR. The PJBB tends to round out the fretboard and string noise, which does come out of the SWR. Yes, this amp colors the sound, but it is a very nice, musical, smooth, warm, round tone. It is not "The sound of my bass only louder", but it is still very musical- sort of like the early GK amp heads(good). Its best feature is its BIG sound and its projection. You will be heard in the audience and you will hear yourself on stage. It is loud and powerful enough for small to medium venues playing JAZZ.

Seems very Solid. I have only had it for 2 months. The workmanship seems meticulous. They are assembled in China.

I ordered the dust cover for $9.50 from the Phil Jones website and received it within 5 days.

I would say that the value for this is pretty good at $6oo. I mean you could get an Acoustic Image Contra, or the Euphonic 300 with Wizzy 10( around $1000, and I really thought about it), but this amp is less expensive and really does the job.
So, all in all, a portable good sounding combo amp that won't set you back $1K. From what you get for your $600 bucks, and the low price of the dust cover, I think Phil Jones is trying to give us musician bass players a break. I, for one, can certainly use it.
I hope this helps you make your choice.

What looks like a sleek little practice amp is in fact a nifty high-quality and highly portable serious piece of equipment. It features a 100W amp into the 4ohm load of 2 pirana 5" speakers wired in parallel. The amp features a 5 band eq, a 3:1 compression with variable threshold and an "active" switch. All that in a briefcase size that is truly light and very compact. There is a special room for a battery as well as a 12V car cigarette lighter power cable: very smart indeed ! Only annoying detail: there's no smart storing place for the power cables: you have to carry them separately !

It's amazing how good this little thing sounds: the tone of the bass guitar is reproduced with high fidelity and amazing clarity, yet delivering an involving & exciting full tone with crystal-clear overtones. The power might seem a bit limited, but all of the 100W are there, with astounding deep-reaching bass frequencies that are furthermore enhanced if orientating the back of the cabinet towards a corner. Any of the eq setting sounds really good and some sonic details are really shining out in comparison to other nice amps I have tried, without having any horn-tweeter annoying hiss or harshness. Any of my basses do sound fantastic on this little thing: from the flatwound vintage to the active modern ones: Awesome !
One thing about the compression though: it would have perhaps been nice to have a bit more versatility on this feature - but OK - it's already very nice to have it altogether.

It sure looks very well and solidly built. Wait and see...

I sent an e-mail a few days ago, but they didn't reply yet.

Very very nice indeed. The price is not really cheap though, but seems adequate given the high quality and portability.