BGRA: Review of Polytone Mini Brute III (or IV?)

BGRA: Polytone Mini Brute III (or IV?)

Manufacturer	Polytone	Model	Mini Brute III (or IV?)
Reviewer	Brad Weise	Email
Experience	33+	Item owned	A very, very long ti
Review Date	2007-05-30	Price paid	$45.00

Dimensions	17H x 17W x 9D
Weight	40 lbs
Power	90 to 120 can accept another speaker
Speakers	1x15 unknown make
Other	Tolex Cover with a diamond pattern - single rubber handle on top to carry; preamp out

Before all of the new-tech bass amps came out,this was the combo for Upright players. You could also get an Ampeg Flip-Top and a few others, but this was it for portability and decent sounds. Most guitar players will recognize this amp as one used by several jazz giants over the years. In more modern times, you could easily dial in that "Jaco" sound using your jazz bass. The amp doesn't have a lot of low end and would leave a slapper somewhat disappointed, but for straight-ahead bop, you can dial in a sound on this amp sooner than you can tune up. I have used it alone, with varying extension cabinets including an old EVM15B, SWR 2x10 Goliath Jr., Epifani T112 and a few other. I prefer it by itself. On occasion, I've used one of the old MXR 10 band EQ's and that offers a lot of versatility. At the end of the day, there is a reason that it has stood the test of time and can compete with everything else that's out there. Now don't get me started on Walter Woods - let me just say: lovely and leave it at that. I've been able to use this combo for small rehearsals in my living to large scale bands and was able to cut through and hear what I was doing whether I was on upright or playing my jazz bass. There is a lot of great new gear out there these days, but there's a good reason that this combo is still being sold to this day: compact size and its signature sound.

construction		(98%)
	Perhaps it a function of age, but it needs a new handle and speaker grill
clarity		(98%)
	Would have been 100%, but it doesn't have a tweeter for those who need it
versatility		(90%)
	Better at Jaco and bop than metal, but can do it in a pinch
volume		(100%)
	Mellow to impossibly loud for its size
portability		(100%)
	You can get it in any car, the subway, you name it
service		(25%)
	Don't even try to contact Polytone, they don't want to be bothered by musicians
value		(100%)
	I will always own this combo
overall		(98%)
	If you could only contact them to get any information that would get them 100%

The BGRA is generously underwritten by David King of Bass Guitar Systems.
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