Phil Jones Bass SIX-PAK Bass Combo

The amp is as well or better made as any I have owned. It is extremely versitile. It looks small but it rocks the house.

This is the best bass amp I have ever heard.

Still new but no problems yet

My gig rig blew up on stage on a Wednesday night. I needed the new amp by Saturday. I called Phil and Freda and they paid more than half the frieght to have it shipped to me overnight. they would have paid it all but i needed it quick. that made me happy.

Rate a 9 only because it is EXPENSIVE!

The amp is loaded with features. I will leave this to others to describe. My purpose in posting comes later

Again, I am sure the amp is well made and versatile.

I live in the UK and bought the amp new "in the box" from continental Europe in October 2005. It had a problem inasmuch as the protection circuit to prevent turn-on thump to the speakers did not work properly. I was having to press the reset button at every switch-on to engage the speakers.Despite the fact that I had not bought the amp in the UK, the UK PJB importer and the PJB assigned UK maintenance firm were very helpful. However, the cost of the amp being away twice for a total of 11 weeks was substantial and the problem was not fully resolved. I sold the amp this week.

This section is the main reason for my posting. The attitude of PJB to my problem was appalling. Some e-mails were ignored and I was told that it was difficult to answer every one as Mr Jones has a hundred a day to answer. Poor soul! There seemed to be a total blindness to the fact that a PJB unit could possibly have a fault as the spec, build quality and factory quality control were so meticulous. I was also told I should have bought the amp in the UK. I had assumed I could ask sensible, civil advice notwithstanding where the unit had been purchased, particularly as it was new. The customer support was non-existent.

I own some lovely top quality guitars and amps. In particular, Mesa Boogie and Tom Anderson have been absolutely brilliant. Top quality products and fast and friendly support. I did not have the PJB Six Pak long enough to know how good it was but I suspect it is really super, well made gear. That's why I bought it in the first place. However, designing a super product and making it to a high standard is just not enough. The customer must be treat with respect and supported if he is going to be loyal to the brand and recommend it to others. In this respect, and in my case, PJB were as bad as it gets. I am not interested in another PJB product.

Everything you actually need and nothing frivolous! Extensive EQ and tone shaping capabilities. If you have a great sounding bass, this is the amp you want. The six-pack alone is great for rehearsals and small venues. Need more power? Add a cabinet, the amp will grow with you.

This is the most important part of my review. I had been hunting for a new amp and cabinet for about three years. I had pretty much decided to go top of the line all tube with whichever company I felt sounded the best. I'd been trying Fender, Aguilar, every other brand you can think of, including of course, Ampeg. (I am a rocker at heart). For cabinets I'd pretty much narrowed it down to Bergantino. I was killing time in GC, and they had The Ampeg SVT CL, SVT AV, and the SVT II PRO. I was trying them all out in various speaker combinations and having a great time. I got up to stretch and wander through the used gear section, and I saw a six-pack tucked into a corner. I'd heard all about the phil jones stuff, and had done quite a bit of research, but I figured I'd never have a chance to play it. This was shortly after the product was even available to the public, so I had no idea where it came from. None of the sales guys knew either. (Big surprise!) I plugged in a 5 string (I've been playing only 5 strings for 19 years) and without touching anything the sound was AWSOME! I could hardly believe my ears. It sounded like a bass, not an amp imposing its own tone, but a glorious singing bass from high on the neck to wonderful full and clear tone on the low B. Way Way Way better than any of the ampegs through any of the other cabinets. Yes, do not fear the five inch speakers! All of the sales guys gathered around and stood there with their jaws dropped. None of them had heard it yet. Even without trying my own bass on it, I bought it without hesitation. As you can see, I got a great deal at $1,299.00 I can keep up with any amp, and everyone who hears it loves it.
I normally play a custom Tobias 5 string (made before Stephen sold the company, I had to discuss wood choice and get my hands measured). The bass growls, and the six-pack lets it. I have effects, but rarely use most of them. For a touch of vintage grind I use a fulltone Bassdrive.

It's built like a tank, and everyone says that customer service is amazing. One of the parametric EQ knobs is a bit sticky, but it doesn't effect the function or sound. I have to find something less than perfect in my review, or it won't seem real. I'd give a 9.5 if I could

I own a small studio, and this amp is now my favorite direct box as well. I couldn't live without it. It's strange to say that an amp with so little coloration has become the cornerstone of my personal tone. It sounds like a contradiction, but it's true.

Three inputs for passive, active and line levels and an input gain stage control let you know right away that this amplifier is designed by someone who is going to spare no effort in getting a high quality signal and handling it properly.

The Parametric EQ has +/- 18dB and great sweep ranges so as to be an extremely versatile tool. Want to blow away a woofy mudball at 200hz? No problem! In/out switch and function light. In/out switch is up for off and down for on, as are all the front panel switches. Gravity being what is it, most accidental switch changes will be from off to on, which is vastly preferable under playing conditions than the opposite. Great design.

The Graphic EQ is equally well thought out and is implemented with a separate in/out switch and function light so it can be used independently or with the Parametric in a G, G+P, or No EQ configuration with an instant recognition via the two lights.

The compressor is very musical and does not intrude except to flash its light on triggering.

The Output gain is a stepped control so you can recall prior settings accurately.

The amp uses SPEAKON connectors -- the best.

There is a built-in direct box with pre/post EQ switch and ground lift.

The built-in retractable handle mechanism was not made for dragging the Six-Pak up stairs or bouncing the Six-pak down stairs. It's not a fridge dolly. At first, I mused that I wanted bigger slide-bumpers on the sides of the amp for stair negotiation, but after only a few excursions, I found the nicely placed and comfortable-to-use side handles are the hot ticket for stairs. The amp is heavy, but it is also amazingly compact for the sound it makes. t doesn't hump itself from gig to gig but the effort is worth it.

My bass is a Michael Anthony Yamaha (B1000MA).

This is a passive PJ config and very punchy. The newer $2k MA has the set neck and the chili pepper inlays but still uses the same pickups.

I also use a number of homebuilt Str@ guitars and my new Model 700 Variax, through a Pod 2.0 and into the Six-Pak. Before, I was always frustrated by guitar amp coloration that was not helping my Pod tones, but the Six-pak is so clean-sounding and at the same time, so WARM, it actually improves my Pod tones -- they sound better live than in the studio!

This amp is very musical and versatile. If they ever had a Swiss Army Amp Contest, this one would win it.

Reliability over time is yet to be determined -- i's just to new to say right now. It ships with a spare set of wheels and wheel bolts, which is always nice. It uses the ubiquitous IEC detachable power cord, making replacement a Circuit City snap.

I spent some time on the phone with Phil, and found him to be that rare and wonderful kind of person who does what he does because he loves it. His passion for tone, his attention to the smallest design detail, and his dedication to the player are things you won't find often in a Superstore Salesguy. In the early days, Lloyd Loar, Bob Taylor and Leo Fender were guys like this -- they got out among the players and they listened to their needs and they made instruments to fulfill them. And make no mistake, this is not just an amplifier, it is an instrument to be played and enjoyed. It's nice to know there are guys like Phil Jones in this world. Trust me.

Been playing for 35 years. I own Fender, Boogie, and more Fender amps. I have the B1000MA bass. I have Taylor and Goodall acoustics. I have about a dozen Strat or Strat-like electrics and the Variax. I use the Pod 2.0 as a front-end. My all-in gear list would take too long; the above stuff is what matters here.

I would replace this amp quickly if it went away.

I love the sound; I don't hate anything. I mean, sure, I wish it came with a roadie to hump it around, but the sound is well worth the effort.

When you start with a Six-Pak, you only add on -- you never replace. You can put more speakers under this dude and get up to 700 watts of the best sound you've ever heard.

Buy this amp. It isn't cheap, but you will get back a buck's worth of bang for every nickel you spend.

The PJB SIX-PAK is a compact 6x5" Bass Combo that will knock your socks off! As a standalone combo, it produces about 200W of the cleanest, purest bass tone I've heard in a live bass rig. With extension cabs, it will put out over 700W.

It features a Parametric EQ plus a twelve band graphic EQ with 18dB(!!) of boost/cut for each band that allows me to dial in my sound in any venue and cut right through the mix.

The amp also features an Opto Compressor/Limiter, a headphone jack, effects loop, and a killer D.I. for direct to a PA or recording console.

I play in live bands that vary from acoustic rock, Pop Rock, Classic Rock and Contemporary Christian music and the SIX-PAK alone handles everything I've thrown at it so far. I do see myself buying a PJB Extension cabinet for some of the bigger venues (maybe the 9B).

The combo is very dense (88 lbs.) for it's small size, but with strap handles on top...recessed handles on the side and a "telescoping luggage-type" handle and casters...It's portable and easy to move and fits in the back seat of the compact car.

I use this amp with a 4-string Jazz Bass and 6-string Pedulla Thunderbolt bass - both of which I LOVE the sound of. When recording, I prefer to go direct because of the tones I get from these basses.

When I play live through the SIX-PAK, I get studio quality sound from my amp in a live setting. What more can you ask for? The amp is transparent, letting the true sound of my basses shine.

The 5" speakers handle all the bass and put out clear highs (not brittle like you get from a horn). But the great thing about these small speakers is the dynamic response I get when playing. Every nuance of my playing can be heard - it's not lost in the MUD.

My buddy even tried his 12-string acoustic guitar through it and it sounded AMAZING. LOUD but AMAZING.

I've only had the amp for a trouble free month. It has been very dependable and is built like a brick house. Phil Jones spared no expense in building a quality product with well thought out features for protecting the unit - cosmetically and electronically. The manual is VERY educational and a must read. I think Phil Jones himself wrote it. You can sense the passion this guy has for this stuff.

I've called once or twice for information and have been able to talk to Phil Jones directly. A very nice man who I get the feeling would do whatever it takes to make sure I'm happy with my amp.

I was turned on to the Phil Jones Bass line of amps by a friend who works at one of the first US distributors to carry the new line. At first I was very skeptical of the idea of using 5" speakers for bass -but playing is believing. If you do your research on Phil Jones himself - like I did before buying, you'll quickly see the man has built a legacy in the field of Hi-Fi and Pro Audio.