Customer Reviews

Pignose 7-300 HOG-30 Amplifier

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before I get into rating this amp, let me just say that it is not like regular guitar combo amps. Like the product descripion says it was designed for multiple types of instruments so don't go plugging into this thing and expect an amp with distortion when turned all the way up. It has a very clean tone when used alone with a guitar but add your favorite distortion or overdrive pedal and you will be amazed by its sound. Very punchy and with today's multi-effects with amp modeling built in, this is the only type of amp you want to use. Also, I can just unplug my guitar and effects and plug in my bass and not worry about blowing the amp. And the portability of it is great. The battery really does last long on just one charge.

The Pignose Hog 30 is a battery powered amplifier for electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards, microphone, and just about anything else that, according to the owner's manual "works at 20 watts, with 35 watts of peak power." In reality, the 20 watts is probably the more accurate number, as I have a fairly inexpensive Washburn 30 watt bass amp that provides more sound at about "4" than the Pignose does turned all the way up (and with the funk bass switch activated, to boot). This amplifier seems, though, to hold a charge nicely and would therefore seem to be the ideal amplifier to take along to any al fresco situation. My 4 star review is bassed (spelling intentional) on the fact that it has a "5" tone for clean-tone electric guitar, but is more of a "3" for electric bass. Mine seems to have an inherent buzz on F (10th fret, G string, electric bass). The speaker looks fine, the screws are all tight, but there's a buzz. I have tried three different basses and the buzz is most annoying on a short-scale bass, but it is noticeable on all three. Cutting the treble and mid-range and boosting the bass on the amplifier helps quite a bit, but still this amplifier clearly emphasizes the upper harmonics. At some point, it might be interesting to see what a larger speaker would do, although several non-Amazon reviews that I've read suggest that the relatively small (for a bass amp) speaker might not entirely be the culprit. I would recommend the Pignose Hog 30 without question for guitarists (the buzz is not really noticeable on guitar, so it does seem to be connected somehow to the harmonic series (overtones) of the bass. It is a crisp guitar amp and with effects pedals will do just about anything you'd need for practicing or for a small outdoor gig. With a classical acoustic/electric, it is also quite nice, especially for the price. On bass, it's just more fussy. I did connect through an emulator pedal that changes the overtones and the tone was better; however, ideally an amplifier should not require the use of an effects pedal. It is not a bad bass amp, provided that the music you are playing avoids the resonating frequency and the notes adjacent to it. Since I play both bass and guitar, I am happy with the amp, and will use it for both. If I only played bass, however, I might be looking for another battery powered amp.

I have owned the Hog-30 for nearly one month and have found it just what I had hoped it would be-- a perfect boost in volume for my acoustic bass guitars while strolling with another band member on acoustic guitar among tables and guests at weddings and parties. I have mounted the small amp on a small luggage cart so that I don't have to bend over to pick it up when we move; it rolls along with me nicely. I've been practicing with it daily during the month, and have only charged it once, before using it, as per the instruction booklet. That seems amazing to me. It really holds a long charge. Though you will have to charge it for 8-10 hours at a go. And it can produce a warm, rich, upright-like tone (at acoustic-level volume,) or a more edgy, aggressive tone if you dial it up. Acoustic bass guitars, in my opinion, need a volume boost to be heard in crowd situations, even playing with a single acoustic steel-string guitar. This little amp does that perfectly.

I play acoustic electric bass with a Western music group. Sometimes we perform away from electrical outlets and I need an amp with batteries. The HOG-30 will never compete with my Gallien-Krueger MB150E, but is perfect for me while playing at a campfire, out in a field, or on a train. It is not a rock 'n' roll amp for sure, but it gives a decent sound when coupled with my Fishman Pro EQ Platinum, EQed to full bass and zero highs and zero midranges. I am in the process of putting in acoustic insulating on the top inside of the amp to give it a fuller sound. I am very pleased with my HOG-30 and would purchase one again if I had to do it all over. It is very simple to use and built solid. No complaints!

I'm a bass player. I had my doubts, but bought this based purely on other people's reviews.

Is this a 4x10 200W Marshall stack? No, come on now...

But it IS a bass amp that sounds like, well, a bass amp... and it plays on batteries! 30 Watts in the park? In the back yard? At the beach? During a blackout party? YES!

It actually does a great job indoors and like any amp outdoors, it does the best it can... which is pretty decent. This is a GREAT amp for busking, and you can make it pretty easy to swap or supplement the batteries while busking if you play that long. In most busking situations, you can't play that loud, anyway, so the batteries will last a good long while (hours).

It has a bit of growl, it has that slightly soft sound that Pignose are known for, and it has a "make it Funky" switch which is better than no distortion/fuzz, but... use your own stompbox. Has a Pre out, Headphone out for clandestine practicing and is just tall enough to sit on (stool height), and strong enough for the burliest bass player to sit on it.

Metal hardwarde, groovy (stealable) Pignose volume knob and look-of-football vinyl wrap make it just a little different... and inexpensive for what you get compared to any other battery bass amp (in terms of power, size, simplicity or price). Not too heavy, a girl can lug this and it will strap to a folding luggage cart (busking 101 tip) with room to spare.

Great practic amp, busking amp, handles growly high output pickups or a kb and plays loud enough for what it is. Get one. It's pretty awesome, even if it's your only amp. Not too big, not too small, mikeable, etc.

wasn`t sure I would like it but when it came and I used it for a gig was impressed and glad I spent the money. Use it for a practice amp at home. Charge it for 8 hrs and play for 8 hrs!!!