Does such an amp exist?

**Link** · Feb-27-2010, 11:26am

Is the such a thing as a very compact battery-powered amp that doesn't use a chord, but instead plugs directly into the instrument? Basically, I'm talking about a that attaches to the instrument so that the instrument has a sort of built-in speaker. The sound doesn't have to be good, I'm just wondering if it exists, as it would be pretty convenient.

**dan in va** · Feb-27-2010, 12:04pm

They're out there. One of the better and best priced models is the little Roland Micro Cube. The electronics are good enough to record with by running it directly to the board. It's designed for electric instruments and I don't know how it would do as an acoustic type amp.

**Tim2723** · Feb-27-2010, 12:35pm

The only things I've seen that plug directly into an instrument are headphone amps. They have no speakers but use ear buds or phones for practice. The Roland Micro Cube is a sweet little mandolin amp, but it needs a cord to connect it.

**swinginmandolins** · Feb-27-2010, 12:35pm

I don't know about an amp that plugs directly without a cable, but there is the Pignose that runs on batteries. I think that Marshall makes a battery operated amp as well.

**Tim2723** · Feb-27-2010, 12:40pm

Thinking about it a minute, I doubt you'll find such a beast. The amp would have to weight very, very little for the jack to support it, and speakers weight too much. Things like the Pig Nose and Micro Cube can be worn over the shoulder though.

I remember seeing an electric guitar years ago that had the speaker built into the top of the instrument, but that's all I remember.

**swinginmandolins** · Feb-27-2010, 12:50pm

I remember seeing one that plugged directly into the instrument years ago, cant remember who it was made by, but I would be leery about it due to the weight issue that Tim brings up.

**JMUSIC** · Feb-27-2010, 12:53pm

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...rap?sku=483379
How about this, an amp built onto a strap?!

**DaveNB** · Feb-27-2010, 1:09pm

Yes, they do exist. I was looking at a number of them on the web a while back, but of course now I can't find the site I was browsing. Here is another that I found though

http://www.ampuplugnplay.com/

Dave Alston

**rico mando** · Feb-27-2010, 1:56pm

i have something similair to that but its all distortion in sound

**Tim2723** · Feb-27-2010, 2:06pm

I was gonna say. Sometimes you can just hear what something sounds like from the picture.

**Dave Schimming** · Feb-27-2010, 3:09pm

I have one a AC30 Vox plug in guitar amp which uses ear buds when playing my electric guitars - I don't particularly care for the brittle sound which is hard on your ears. Used it several times and gave up. Don't know if buying some quality ear buds would help, kind of doubt it.

**foldedpath** · Feb-27-2010, 3:58pm

Originally Posted by Tim2723

I was gonna say. Sometimes you can just hear what something sounds like from the picture.

My thoughts exactly. The name "Fisher Price" ran through my mind...

For about $70 USD, the OP could get a battery Pignose amp and hang it on his belt. Or if it's the cord that's the problem, go wireless to the amp! You'd still need a thin cord to the belt pack transmitter for most units. One of the smaller transmitters might be mounted to the back of a Tonegard, or clipped to the strap. There was even a wireless "bug" that plugged directly into the 1/4" jack as a self-contained unit, but I believe that's discontinued now for the USA market due to the 700mHz ban. I know a local fiddler who uses one, and it's pretty cool... just a little plastic pod that plugs into the jack, and he has a receiver that goes into whatever amp or PA system is available. A wireless rig is probably beyond what the OP was looking for, but I thought I'd toss it in there.

And of course there are those novelty instruments that show up every now and then, with a built-in speaker and amp. I've seen that with guitars, but I don't think I've ever seen a mandolin version. Not much room for a speaker, but I guess it's possible.

**Mandoviol** · Feb-27-2010, 4:11pm

I think Marshall makes a tiny plug-and-play style amp, but my mind could be confusing it with one made for iPods and mp3 players.

**Tim2723** · Feb-27-2010, 8:51pm

Do you mean this?

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...Amp?sku=482812

Here's Fender's version:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...Amp?sku=480704

These are toys. Honest. They aren't even functional practice amps. Not sure why they exist, let alone why they cost so much. Ultra high doofus factor too.

**mcH** · Feb-27-2010, 9:57pm

I have a small Honeytone N10 amp similar to the Fender model posted above. It does fine to provide sound for my Risa mandostick, and while it doesn't plug directly into the mandostick, it does have a clip on back of it -- allowing me to clip it to my pants pocket and use a 5" cable to plug the two together.

You could probably use it for solo sidewalk busking. I think it's a 1 watt amp with a 2" speaker.