Review: Phil Jones Bass Double Four Plus (BG-80)

Phil Jones’s ever-popular Double Four bass amp just got an intelligent update for 2024.  The Double Four has been a favorite among bassists for several years for the warmth and clarity the proprietary 4” drivers provide.   The Double Four Plus gets a 20-watt boost, from 70 to 90 watts.  It keeps the well-voiced 3-band preamp and the nifty Rectangular Auxiliary Low-Frequency Radiator (RALFR®) on the rear, which helps boost the low-end performance.  

Additionally, Bluetooth input allows for play-along tracks from your Bluetooth device, and a very cool USB-C power input makes the Double Four perfect for ‘bass on the go’ with an external power pack. 

The Bluetooth connectivity is very plug-and-play and has its own volume control, giving you complete control over your bass vs. audio mix. 

The sound is quite good, and the + could even function as a Bluetooth speaker, giving it even more versatility.   A separate Aux In 1/8” input gives you a standard input for external sound sources, and a 1/8” headphone output allows for silent practicing with Bluetooth or Aux input. 

The USB-C power input is perhaps the most interesting to me, as it cements the Double Four Plus’s placement in the small gang of portable battery-powered bass amps, making it perfect for campfires, busking, or any other applications where a power outlet isn’t readily available.  I was a massive fan of the PJB Briefcase, which had an integrated space for a large and heavy battery for mobile use, but Double Four Plus takes it one step further by externalizing the power source, allowing for a whole lot more flexibility and battery life potential.  A large single or multiple power supplies would give the + many hours of play and doesn’t add a weighty battery to the chassis. Requirements are fairly specific and are listed in the Double Four Plus’s manual.

As with all PJB gear, the Double Four Plus is compact, well-designed, intuitive, and hassle-free.  It sounds shockingly full and pleasant for an amp of its size and has a wonderfully neutral and clear tone.  As you might expect, it’s not going to knock down any walls, but for an amp of its size, which is shockingly compact, it puts out a surprising amount of volume and low end and sounds remarkably good while doing it.   Whether it will give you the volume you need for a given setting is ultimately up to you, but I’ll confidently say that it keeps up with some amps twice its size.  Plus, it sounds great and includes a very up-to-date feature set.   It may not be the cheapest small bass combo on the block, but it offers tone and features well above the price point that make it stand out in its class, and as always, you get what you pay for.  

The Double Four Plus retails for $559 and is available in white, red, or black Tolex. For more information, visit  pjbworld.com/cms/p-bg-80-double-4-plus/