Gear Review
Wayne Jones
AUDIO WJBA & WJBA2 AMPLIFIERS By Jonathan Herrera
IN MY JANUARY 2018 BASS PLAYER review of the Wayne Jones Audio WJBPII preamp and WJ 2x10 passive cab, I described the gear as expensive and eclectic, but also among the best out there. I finished the review with the editorial equivalent of a cliffhanger: “Wayne also has a head in the works — stay tuned for a review.” Little did I know then that the follow-up review I promised would appear in an entirely publication, but nevertheless, I’m happy to deliver with this month’s review of the
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WJBA and WJBA2 heads. The design brief for the WJBA was simple: Start with the two-channel hi-fi hybrid preamp that is the WJBPII and mate it to a super-powerful Class D/SMPS power section. The WJBA delivers up to 2,000 watts with its stereo 1,000-watt power section. The WJBA2 is a one-channel variant with a mono 1,000-watt power section in the form of a bridgeable 2x 500-watt power amp. Given that the WJBA and WJBA2 feature the same circuit as
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the WJBPII I’ve already reviewed, a quick recap of the preamp is in order. The WJBPII is an unusually feature-packed preamp that features two discrete signal paths, making it ideal for those who use two basses on a gig, double on synth and bass, or use an upright with a pair of pickups or a pickup and a mic (there’s even a phantom-powered XLR jack on hand for powering a condenser mic). Additionally there are balanced outputs, extensive I/O capabilities, a builtin compressor, and footswitchable
