Lightweight Rig: is 100W worth 14lbs?

[Fine Cut]

i'm piecing together what will end up being a (to me) lightweight rig for small/medium venues, to take the load off my back. i'm looking at GK 115MBX cabs cause of the low weight and cost, and a GK head.

i'm down to 2 heads, the MB200 or the ole' BL600. i really like the MB200's weight, the fact that it would fit in my gig bag, and 200W through 2x15's would be plenty for my needs, but the Backline is 100w more, $50 dollars more, and 16lbs. my rocknroll! ! mind is telling me to spring for the extra wattage, but the thought of a super-light amp with punch is enticing. what would you do?

[Honk'n_down-low]

I would thing the MB200 would do it for small medium venues, there are other more powerful light weight heads.

[christw]

Will you have PA support? 300w has always been enough for me in any situation and I played a lot of metal.

[Fine Cut]

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

I would thing the MB200 would do it for small medium venues, there are other more powerful light weight heads.

oh i know, but the price is just right with these. college student budget here

Originally Posted by christw

Will you have PA support? 300w has always been enough for me in any situation and I played a lot of metal.

yea, i can relate. back when i ran a Tour 700 i never turned it up past 1/4 power. i know either head with a good cab could carry most small restaurant sized venues we play; anything bigger and we usually do have PA support.

[christw]

Originally Posted by Fine Cut

oh i know, but the price is just right with these. college student budget here

...

yea, i can relate. back when i ran a Tour 700 i never turned it up past 1/4 power. i know either head with a good cab could carry most small restaurant sized venues we play; anything bigger and we usually do have PA support.

Seems to me you've answered your own question. If you have an ample cab, which two 15's should be, I don't see any reason other than a scooped or low boosted EQ that the head couldn't hold up against a band.

I'll throw in my two cents and say that it might be worth it to fork up the extra $100-$150 from the MB200 for a used MarkBass head or similar lightweight model. The Ibanez Promethean is one I've been eyeing. A bunch of good ones are selling on here for cheap, cheap, cheap and these are heads that will hold up to almost any sized gig.

[impactwrench]

The weight on the head IMO is not a big deal because its in a small package. I think you'd do better to get 115MBE cabs and save about 11lb per cab, since a small, "heavy" item (BL600) is easier to carry than big, heavier items (115MBX) in my opinion.

I'm really in the same boat. I'm trying to justify getting a MB500 at full price over a 700RB-II at half the price, when in reality its not the amp heads that are hard to carry, its the cabs.

If you do go for a Backline, try to find one used. They are a good value new and a bargain used.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Anyways, sounds like the MB200 won't fit the bill for you since you want to run 2 cabs.

You can run 2 cabs off it with no problem whatsoever as long as the impedances are conducive. Amp-->cab1, cab1--> cab 2.

[impactwrench]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

You can run 2 cabs off it with no problem whatsoever as long as the impedances are conducive. Amp-->cab1, cab1--> cab 2.

Good point I forgot about series wiring. (Nevermind I was barking up the wrong tree)

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Good point I forgot about series wiring.

It would be parallel, not series, unless you do a custom wiring job. Two 8 ohm cabs, done.

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Good point I forgot about series wiring.

However it wont be at 4 ohms unless they are 2 x 2 ohms in series.

And if it is 2 x 4 ohm cabs, it would be running 8 ohms which is what, 140 watts?

That is not series. It is still parallel.

(edit: Passinwind beat me...)

[impactwrench]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

That is not series. It is still parallel.

(edit: Passinwind beat me...)

Thanks fellers. I learnt sumpin today!

OK I guess I don't fully understand those two plugs on the back of a cab. So they are just wired to each other and half of the current goes to each cab if you daisy chain another? Why do most amps have 2 speaker outs then?

Anyways back on topic, I find it more worthwhile to save weight on cabs than heads, unless youre talking about going from an SVT to an MB500.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Thanks fellers. I learnt sumpin today!

OK I guess I don't fully understand those two plugs on the back of a cab. So they are just wired to each other and half of the current goes to each cab if you daisy chain another?

Assuming equal impedance, yes.

Why do most amps have 2 speaker outs then?

Compensation issues?

Actually, probably because not all cabs have 2 jacks. It's a reasonable fail-safe mechanism too.

[christw]

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Thanks fellers. I learnt sumpin today!

OK I guess I don't fully understand those two plugs on the back of a cab. So they are just wired to each other and half of the current goes to each cab if you daisy chain another? Why do most amps have 2 speaker outs then?

Assuming equal impedances, as noted above... You got it. Most amps have 2 parallel outs so you can hook 2 cabs into it. Cabs will have two parallel jacks so you can hook more cabs together. If you have a 2 ohm capable amp, you could be using 4x 8 ohm cabs. Well, most amps don't have 4 output jacks. Y'dig?

[Fine Cut]

to answer the question about the cabs weight vs. the head, i won't always be using both cabs. i spent a couple of years hauling around a 100lbs 410TVX and a 30lbs Tour 700. a 41lbs 15 and a 2lbs head sound amazing to me nowadays lol. i guess when ya start talking about that big of a difference in weight, that extra 14lbs just makes ya go "maaaaan, do i really wanna lug more around?"


i guess the weight savings is moot as far as carry, but size is also a factor. the smaller head could ride into the venue in my bag with my 'Ray, while the cab rode in the other hand. the BL would require a second trip and two hands.

i guess i'm just feeling the same way as some of the older guys here; sick and tired of using all my energy loading in before i play lol

[christw]

Originally Posted by Fine Cut

to answer the question about the cabs weight vs. the head, i won't always be using both cabs. i spent a couple of years hauling around a 100lbs 410TVX and a 30lbs Tour 700. a 41lbs 15 and a 2lbs head sound amazing to me nowadays lol. i guess when ya start talking about that big of a difference in weight, that extra 14lbs just makes ya go "maaaaan, do i really wanna lug more around?"


i guess the weight savings is moot as far as carry, but size is also a factor. the smaller head could ride into the venue in my bag with my 'Ray, while the cab rode in the other hand. the BL would require a second trip and two hands.

i guess i'm just feeling the same way as some of the older guys here; sick and tired of using all my energy loading in before i play lol

Well, I've accepted that in order to have my cake and eat it, I have to make it first. That means if I want the big guns, I'll bring 'em in. That being said, I have smaller rigs that'll cover almost any gig that I get in the near future. My 4x6 + 2x8 cab combo will probably suffice for the next year at least. If not, my E140 will step up.

True story, I happen to consider my 1001RB to be a lightweight head. Then again, I'm comparing it to my SVT-II at 73 lbs unracked. I do want smaller cabs to combine this or that way for my gigs but I can't part with the big cabs or what they do for me.

[newbold]

Fine Cut: 15 lbs isn't heavy. Get an over the shoulder bag and you can throw your cables in it.

If you need the micro size and weight then go for it. 200W is plenty loud and can fit on a pedalboard.

Here's another thought: Go for the micro head, and then get an EHX Magnum .44 and a guitar cab to get the top end out of your bass rig and focus your lows with your micro head. Pedalboard rig deluxe with plenty of grind and midrange definition up top and super-sculptable extra-deep lows.

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by Fine Cut

to answer the question about the cabs weight vs. the head, i won't always be using both cabs. i spent a couple of years hauling around a 100lbs 410TVX and a 30lbs Tour 700. a 41lbs 15 and a 2lbs head sound amazing to me nowadays lol. i guess when ya start talking about that big of a difference in weight, that extra 14lbs just makes ya go "maaaaan, do i really wanna lug more around?"


i guess the weight savings is moot as far as carry, but size is also a factor. the smaller head could ride into the venue in my bag with my 'Ray, while the cab rode in the other hand. the BL would require a second trip and two hands.

i guess i'm just feeling the same way as some of the older guys here; sick and tired of using all my energy loading in before i play lol

Or...........

You could go with a Carvin BX500 which is a micro head, 500 watts, under 5 pounds, and currently on sale for under $400

[Mingo Sanders]

Everything else equal, 300 watts is 1.8 dB louder than 200 watts.

Check it out.

[kosmicwizard]

You can't hear a change of 1.8 dB.

[lbwdog]

Barely.....1 dB is said to be the unit that is just perceptible to the human ear.