The Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo is a Phil Jones amplifier, currently around $930. Close alternatives include the Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo and the Phil Jones BE-17 Bass Engine 70W 1x7 Bass Combo. It pairs well with the Colorsound Overdriver and the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature.
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones · amplifier
The Phil Jones Bass BG-400 Suitcase is a compact bass combo from PJB, built on the company's established approach of using multiple small drivers rather than a few large ones. That design gives faster transient response and a clearer midrange than conventional bass cabinets, which suits upright, fretless and acoustic instruments as well as electric bass. The suitcase format is a recurring PJB configuration aimed at players who need real amplification in a genuinely portable enclosure. Detailed independent review coverage of this specific model is limited compared with the BG-450 Compact Plus and the Bass Cub range, so this description stays with what the format and brand approach establish.
What stands out
“That design gives faster transient response and a clearer midrange than conventional bass cabinets, which suits upright, fretless and acoustic instruments as well as electric bass”
— from the listing
“A clean, articulate, full-range bass voice with detailed lows, present mids, and crisp highs, the array of fast 5-inch drivers giving exceptional clarity and even response”
— from the reviews
“what holds across the range is articulate”
— from the community notes
“The Phil Jones Bass BG-400 Suitcase is a compact bass combo from PJB, built on the company's established approach of using multiple small drivers”
— from the listing
“For hi-fi bass reproduction, the BG-400 Suitcase is outstanding”
— from the reviews
- bass
- midrange
- clarity
- articulate
- modern
- mids
- transient response
- response
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 22, 2026
Genres the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo is commonly used in
- Jazz
- Rock
- Jazz Fusion
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Bluegrass
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Progressive Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Colorsound Overdriver
pedal
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Colorsound Overdriver in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Goes in front of the amp
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
21% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature leans it toward low gain to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
20% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Run mid-forward into Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz for more high gain on top
Goes in front of the amp
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo in the signal chain, clear of Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Artec SE-NGT
Artec
9% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Run the SE-NGT ahead of the BG-400 to gate out hiss before the amp's own articulate, clear bass midrange reacts.
Goes in front of the amp
Boss DD-2 Digital Delay
Boss
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Boss DD-2 Digital Delay in Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo's effects loop, clear of Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Crazy Tube Circuits Splash
Crazy Tube Circuits
6% matchPut Crazy Tube Circuits Splash in Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo's effects loop, clear of Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Cheaper alternatives
Phil Jones BG-80 Double Four Plus 90W Bass Combo
Phil Jones
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Unity Bass U250
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Unity Bass U500
Blackstar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
70% similarityShared character: array, crisp highs, fusion
Phil Jones BE-17 Bass Engine 70W 1x7 Bass Combo
Phil Jones
66% similarityShared character: array, crisp highs, fusion
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
45% similarityShared character: combination, jazz, clarity
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
45% similarityShared character: bass, response, studio
Ampeg Rocket Watts
Ampeg
41% similarityShared character: bass, studio
Phil Jones BG-800 Roadcase 750W 12x5 Bass Combo
Phil Jones
98% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo?+
The closest matches in character are the Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo, the Phil Jones BE-17 Bass Engine 70W 1x7 Bass Combo, the Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited. Budget picks: Phil Jones BG-80 Double Four Plus 90W Bass Combo, Blackstar Unity Bass U250, Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier. Boutique upgrades: Phil Jones BG-450 Compact Plus 300W 4x5 Bass Combo.
What pairs well with the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Colorsound Overdriver, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz — Put Colorsound Overdriver in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy.
How much does the Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo cost?+
Around $930 (live listing price, updated Oct 22, 2026).
Compare
- vs Phil Jones BG-800 Roadcase 750W 12x5 Bass Combo
- vs Phil Jones BG-80 Double Four Plus 90W Bass Combo
- vs Phil Jones BG-120 Bass Cub Pro 120W 2x5 Bass Combo