The Phil Jones BE-17 is a Phil Jones amplifier, currently around $441.23. Close alternatives include the Ampeg BA- 115 V2 and the Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier. It pairs well with the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature and the Univox Super-Fuzz.
Phil Jones BE-17
Phil Jones · amplifier
The Phil Jones BE-17, short for Bass Engine 17, is a 70-watt bass combo built around a single 7-inch speaker, part of Phil Jones Bass's signature approach to compact bass amplification that punches well above its small size. Phil Jones built his reputation on proprietary small-driver speaker designs that deliver surprisingly full, articulate low end from cabinets far smaller than traditional bass rigs, aimed at players who need serious tone without the bulk of a standard 1x12 or 1x15 combo. The BE-17 continues that philosophy in an especially compact, portable format suited to practice, small gigs, or as a lightweight backup amp.
What stands out
“Phil Jones Bass has carved out a devoted following specifically because of how convincingly the brand's small-driver speaker technology reproduces full, articulate bass tone from compact enclosures most players would assume couldn't handle …”
— from the reviews
“The BE-17 continues that philosophy in an especially compact, portable format suited to practice, small gigs, or as a lightweight backup amp”
— from the listing
“phil jones built his reputation on proprietary small-driver speaker designs that deliver surprisingly full”
— from the listing
“The standout caveat is that even with excellent design, a compact combo like this has ceiling limits on maximum volume compared to a full-size bass rig for loud rock or metal gigs”
— from the community notes
“The Phil Jones BE-17, short for Bass Engine 17, is a 70-watt bass combo built around a single 7-inch speaker, part of Phil Jones Bass's signature approach to compact bass amplification that punches well above its small size”
— from the listing
- bass
- practice
- full
- low end
- articulate
- punch
- rock
- serious tone
Good for
- Busking
- Practice
- Live
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Phil Jones BE-17 is commonly used in
- Metal
- Rock
- Jazz
Pedals that stack with the Phil Jones BE-17
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
25% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Into a transparent tone, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Univox Super-Fuzz leans it toward mid-forward to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Colorsound Overdriver
pedal
23% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Colorsound Overdriver leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Boss BF-2 Flanger's lush voice goes after Phil Jones BE-17 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Phil Jones BE-17's own full character
Goes in front of the amp
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
7% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
What Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive brings here leans toward smooth — that's worth building a pairing around
Goes in front of the amp
Crazy Tube Circuits Splash
Crazy Tube Circuits
6% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Splash's spring voice goes in Phil Jones BE-17's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Phil Jones BE-17's own full character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Crazy Tube Circuits Splash MKIV Reverb
Crazy Tube Circuits
6% matchKeep Phil Jones BE-17's full voice out front: Crazy Tube Circuits Splash MKIV Reverb goes in Phil Jones BE-17's effects loop so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Into Phil Jones BE-17, Tone City Dry Martini is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Phil Jones BG-100 Bass Cub 2x5 100w Combo
Phil Jones
42% similarityShared character: jazz, punch, brand
Phil Jones BP-800 Bass Pulse 800W Head
Phil Jones
41% similarityShared character: jazz, brand, clarity
Phil Jones BG-120 Bass Cub Pro 120W 2x5 Bass Combo
Phil Jones
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ampeg BA- 115 V2
Ampeg
49% similarityShared character: jazz, punch, practice
Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Hartke
45% similarityShared character: punch, brand, bass
Gallien-Krueger Kruger GK MB 108 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
44% similarityShared character: punch, practice, clarity
Aguilar AG700 V2
Aguilar
42% similarityShared character: punch, clarity, bass
Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
41% similaritySimilar voicing: tight, high headroom
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Phil Jones BE-17 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Phil Jones BE-17?+
The closest matches in character are the Ampeg BA- 115 V2, the Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier, the Gallien-Krueger Kruger GK MB 108 Bass Combo. Budget picks: Blackstar Unity Bass U30, Blackstar #Bass U30. Boutique upgrades: Phil Jones BG-100 Bass Cub 2x5 100w Combo, Phil Jones BP-800 Bass Pulse 800W Head, Phil Jones BG-120 Bass Cub Pro 120W 2x5 Bass Combo.
What pairs well with the Phil Jones BE-17?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Univox Super-Fuzz, Colorsound Overdriver — Into a transparent tone, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature brings a pull toward low gain that's missing.
How much does the Phil Jones BE-17 cost?+
Around $441.23 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).
Compare
- vs Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
- vs Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
- vs Phil Jones BG-120 Bass Cub Pro 120W 2x5 Bass Combo