Lightweight Bass Rig Suggestions

[bassundergrace]

The older I get, the less impressed I am by the weight of my svt 810. Any suggestions for a lightweight combo with some power, combo amp or head and cab config. Looking for country / rock tones. Mostly church gigs these days and a few outreaches here and there. Also tone hammer vs sansamp vs bass bone, which is best? Have not bought hardly any gear in the last ten years and am not sure where to start.
Current Bass is a G&L L-2500 5 String.

[Joe Louvar]

Checkout the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0
Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ
Paired up with a Barefaced Super Fifteen.
Barefaced Bass - Super Fifteen

[TinIndian]

As far as cab as cab choices go, I swapped out of a MESA PH410 into a Hartke HyDrive 410 because of the weight. I love the sound of the Hartke but the MESA was deeper in voicing. The big plus for me was 64 pounds versus 96 pounds and the smaller cab size. For me, the weight of moving that MESA around was not worth the deeper sound.

[cchorney]

The micro heads from Markbass and Genz Benz are really nice, especially when you are coming in via a Sandamp BDDI or VT. For cabs I can tell you that a 115 or a 210 Neo will cut it for some but not all indoor circumstances, so given that weight is an issue, maybe consider a pair of Neo 210 or 115 cabs, and for smaller spaces just bring one.

[Phat Ham]

If you want something to replace an Ampeg 810 look at the Bergantino nv610. Not exactly lightweight at 100 lbs but much lighter than a fridge.

A SansAmp RBI or RPM rackmount preamp with a lightweight power amp like a Crown Drivecore or Peavey IPR would be much lighter than an SVT head. Or if you want to go really lightweight look into the Genz Benz Streamliner amps.

[Vakmere]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

Checkout the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0
Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ
Paired up with a Barefaced Super Fifteen.
Barefaced Bass - Super Fifteen

^^ This or a Shuttle 6.0 with an Avatar 2x10 or 2x12 (4 ohm).
Sound is very good and will eliminate any potential for a hernia.

[T. Alan Smith]

I'd consider a pair of 2x10"s stacked on end(vertically).

[bassdog]

I am loving my GK neo 112 cab. Two of them stacked ought to kill. I use a GK 700RB-II head with it. The head is heavy but I haul it in a suitcase type thing on wheels.

[bassundergrace]

I will check out the Shuttle tonight, somehow we got lucky and have theperfectbass store here in town where I live. I am curious about stacking the 2X10's vertically have never seen that. Do they lock together? I would be a nervous wreck I would topple the stack while moving around.

[Russell L]

Well, I've gone with a Markbass Little Mark III head (300w, 8ohms, 6 lbs.+) and a Markbass Traveler 151P cab (400w, 8 ohms, 37.3 lbs.--so they say, I think it's a tad heavier). This set-up was the lightest in weight I could find and still keep at the level of quality I wanted, IMO. The cab is a bit mid-rangey, but I can eq it to get deeper. The LMIII head is killer through any cab!

[sad_katz]

I play a G&L Tribute L-2500 through a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 and a GB 410T-XB3.
Sounds terrific to me! Can't go wrong with GB's quality work and CS.

The Shuttle 6.0/12t combo is small, light, and punchy. Quite loud for the size too.

If you want more low extension and don't mind hauling 53lbs (still lighter than an 810 :P) the GB NEO-X 212t sounds massive and punchy. Quite light for a 2-12" too.
Or maybe the lighter NEO-X 112t if budget is an issue.

EDIT:
For the Ampeg route, the PF-500/PF-115 rig is not heavy and sounds like an Ampeg would. The PF-350 head is lighter and cheaper but has less features.

Almost went with Ampeg myself if not for a used deal on a Shuttle 6.0 here in the Classifieds.

[pbasswil]

There are so many lighter alternatives these days -- hence all the suggestions above.

It depends, too, on how far you're willing to stray from the built-in voicing of an Ampeg fridge. It's like the definitive old-school rock tone, right?

For cabs, I think my fEARful 15/6/1 puts out 85% of the sheer volume of your svt810. I ordered a composite (no wood) version that weighs less than 40 lbs. So that's about the ultimate weight reduction possible that still works in a loud rock environment.

However, unless you're willing to get serious with extensive EQ, I doubt that you'd like the sound for classic bass tone. With flat EQ, its tone is bit like seeing your aging face in the mirror, under florescent light, first thing the morning after. :^D All is revealed!

[cchorney]

Originally Posted by sad_katz

If you want more low extension and don't mind hauling 53lbs (still lighter than an 810 :P) the GB NEO-X 212t sounds massive and punchy. Quite light for a 2-12" too.

This is such a great cab, but it is 4ohms only. If it were offered in 8ohms I would say get a GB or MB micro head and 1 of those cabs with the option of expanding to 2 of them (!!!) if desired. Ahhh.

[bassundergrace]

I just bought a used lakland 55-94 deluxe, so my sound is gonna change some anyway. Should be in this week. Can't believe I dropped over $2k on a used bass I've never played, but I have been looking at them for years. Ever since I heard the tone buddy guys bassist had on austin city limits years ago.

[bassundergrace]

Do the neo speakers hold up well? Any long time owners out there?

[sad_katz]

Originally Posted by cchorney

This is such a great cab, but it is 4ohms only. If it were offered in 8ohms I would say get a GB or MB micro head and 1 of those cabs with the option of expanding to 2 of them (!!!) if desired. Ahhh.

That is true. However it all depends on OP's needs.
If the Neo-X 212t is anything like the 410t-XB3, then it's plenty loud and far enough projection for a single cab.
Not as loud as an 810, but loud nonetheless.
And there's always the "save up for the ShuttleMAX 12.0" route afterwards to accommodate another 212 in the future. The options are pretty wide.

Btw, there's also the Ampeg Micro-SVT/210AV option for that vintage-y Ampeg tone. Stack two 210AV cabs and you'd have half of an 810.

[mattplaysdabass]

Ive got a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.0 paired with a Barefaced Super 12T and Barefaced Compact. Stacks up as high an is just as deadly as an 8x10 but weights like 33kgs all up! That's less than my old Ampeg B410HLF, an I thought it was a pretty light 410!

[tallboybass]

You mentioned combo, so I gotta say GK MB212 with a SABDDI in front of it. 500 watts, 2-12's, 38 lbs., gets pretty loud for a combo.

[johnbassdoherty]

Have to agree on the Shuttle 6.0 great amp, same as you getting to mature (posh for old) to start lugging heavy gear around, so i changed for the shuttle 6.0 and for cabs i got 2 Bergantino AE112, i play in a functions band and this rig handles everything, also i use a 5 string Dingwall through it and it handles the low B no broblem with great clarity, i see Bergs on here for sale, well worth a look.

[Mike in Chicago]

Ampeg PF350 and a Seismic Audio 4x10