I want something small enough to be carried easily (under 5 pounds) but loud enough to be heard over a small group of drummers, with sound quality that doesn't break up too soon.

Any ideas welcome.

A Crate Taxi would work, and a Pignose Hog 30. I don't think one of the original Pignose amps would really have enough output to get over a group of drummers, even a small group.

under 5 pounds and can be heard over a group of drummers? I'm sorry but you lost me at GROUP of drummers . even a single drummer is too loud for those things, because most drummers cant even play that soft

edit: in any case, get like the roland cube or something. It's over 5 lbs but it'll still be easy to move and has a strap. Even then, it would be hard to use in conjunction with a group of drummers

"even a single drummer is too loud for those things, because most drummers cant even play that soft "

I can't say that I have tried a lot of battery powered amps, but those that I have tried didn't have much push at all.

FWIW, I betcha george costanza means several players of various congas, bongos, djembes, and similar hand-drums, in a "drum circle" setting or the like.

Maybe not as loud as Jaimo & Butch, Phil & Chester, or Micky Heart's Planet Drum, but still plenty loud for a small, battery-powered guitar amp to compete with.

IF YOU CAN FIND ONE, a Smicz Portablues might be your best bet; otherwise, try those Crate Taxi amps that picker suggested. Maybe two.

In an efficient 2x12, this thing is KILLER!

I don't know what your budget is like, but the Zvex Nano amp is something worth considering:

That Nano Amp is a waaay cool little amp; a friend of mine had one for a while, and he was surprised at just how loud it could get when put through a 2x12 or 4x12 cab.

Just to be thorough, though, AND SAFE- concerning powering the Nano with a battery...

Posted on ZVexAmps.com :

Use only with 12 volt power supply included with unit, or a 12 volt lead-acid battery capable of supplying 1.5 amps for startup current. Unit draws .5 amps while operating but needs more current to start. If the "hot" light comes on, let the Nano cool for 5 minutes before reconnecting. You may have better luck by connecting the power supply to the wall first and then to the Nano Head if you have blown the internal fuse and are in a hurry to restart the unit. Also, if you are waiting for it to cool, turn it right-side-up to release heat from the inside of the unit. Feel free to hold it out the van window while driving fast.

Warning: UNIT CONTAINS DANGEROUS VOLTAGES (internal 230 volt supply). DO NOT OPEN. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. Contact Z.Vex Effects should service become necessary. DO NOT PUSH ON OR PULL ON TUBES. DO NOT PUT PRESSURE ON SILVER CAPACITORS INSIDE ROLL BARS. DO NOT ALLOW LIQUIDS TO ENTER UNIT! If this happens, REMOVE POWER SUPPLY FROM OUTLET IMMEDIATELY. Use only with supplied 1.5 Amp power supply, or "hot" light may turn on, disabling amplifier. Other power supplies may cause hum.

what's it sound like? Is it american or british in tone quality? Is it mean or clean? How does it deal in the midrange section? That amp looks pretty cool!

I have a Pig Nose 30 that keeps up with bass and drums (played at a normal small room volume) when I put a compressor and an overdrive/distortion in front of it...it probably weighs a little over 5 lbs....the roland cube can kick butt also....I don't see buying a palm size amp and hooking it up to 2x12 or 4x12 cabs (defeats the purpose if you have to haul big speaker cabs)...just buy a regular sized tube amp that puts out 30 to 50 watts....or smaller if the drummers play at low volumes...

Excuse my ignorance, Boggs, but what exactly is that ?

I am indeed, as someone mentioned, seeking a solution for playing in a setting with several individual drummers, along with a few horns.
Options for using additional speakers are not relevant because of the particular situation (outdoors, mostly. & moving) or else I'd just use a small amp pluged into AC.

Thanks for comments so far.
Anyone else ?

Feel free to hold it out the van window while driving fast.

Yeah-feel free to watch it in the rear view mirror getting run over by a truck.

I think you are going to have a hard time sticking to that weight restriction. If you had a portable power supply it would give you a lot more sound options, but that and an amp would be over your weight limit.

Only thing is, he's looking for a battery-powered amp...

I'll run that by my friend who had one, and report back.

I'll also see if he has any of his own Nano clips up on his SoundClick 'page, and post a link and navigational directions to 'em for ya.

You could also try Mountain Amps, they are basically a `boutique` battery amp-I think more so for the sound quality than volume but they are said to be loud as well-pretty good reviews at HC, have a look for yourself. Website is slow access at the moment.

It's a 2-channel 9v battery powered amp I make. Usually, I put them in cigar boxes. That is the whole amp! Here is a clip of a friend of mine (not the best player in the world) playing his Tele through one... Yes, his guitar does have a ground issue...

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/CigarBoxAmps/kerc_tele_cigarbox.mp3

The Pignose 30 is a battery powered amp...I use it around the campfires when ever I need more volume...can also plug in a high impedance mike as it has an additional input on the back...

OK, Grey', here's what my friend had to say:

"...I'd have to say the Nano sounds more my side of the Atlantic (British) than yours.

It's intended for break up and crunch of course, running into a pair of (12" Celestion AlNiCo) Blues it sounded excellent and... it's most impressive with a 4x12 of Greenbacks.

There's a surprising amount of control from the switch, it changes the lows and lower mids, so you can approximate some thinner Fender-ish sounds, although it never gives any illusion of headroom, there's always grit arising from anything more than a brushed attack."

Gheeze, touchy-feely fingerstyle guy that I am, that's makin' me think maybe I want one of these Nanos!

Roland Micro Cube. $130. I use it all the time and it can get pretty loud for a 5" speaker. It seems to sip the batteries, too.

Vox DA5 (1x6.5"). About$140 IIRC. They don't give the weight but it runs on 6 AA batteries and I liked it when I heard it.

Newf

I was just about to suggest that our good friend Boggs makes a mean little, battery powered amp...