Small amps???....

[Bassdude404]

So what's the deal with all the itty-bitty amps on the market these days??....I'm still using a late 80's Peavey Mark III 150 watt head that I bought used back in 1990 with a matching 410 cab for $350....Amp works great, and is built like a tank...Been dropped on the floor from knee height and didn't even put a scratch on it...But I've been thinking about upgrading to one with a little more power lately....Kinda looking for a Mark VI or Mark VIII, but those aren't exactly falling from the sky these days....But there's a buttload of these little (in physical size) high wattage amps out there...They sure don't look like they'd take much of a beating being loaded into the back of a van/pickup....Don't get me wrong, I take care of my stuff, but when you get friends helping tear down at the end of a gig, I can't always watch what is going on when I'm busy wrapping up cords and stuff...Those little amps just look very fragile to me...Kinda like taking a home stereo to a gig...Used to take a 5-disc JVC CD changer to gigs in a previous band for background music during breaks (not bar gigs, but multi-band shows in a rented hall)....Wasn't long and that CD player wouldn't read a disc anymore....I just imagine geting a foot caught in the instrument cord and pulling one of those amp heads right off onto the floor, instantly turning it into junk....

[Chris K]

At the end of a gig, disconnect the head, put it in your inside pocket, go for a beer and watch your bandmates wrapping up the cables.

[greenboy]

[greenboy]

...Seriously though, there are still larger heavy medium power heads being released, as well as rackable products that are still light for the amount of power they have:

Carvin B2000

- Discrete Class A input stages
- 12AX7 preamp tube (in/out switchable)
- Active/Passive input gain switch with input CLIP indicator
- Preamp DRIVE and master VOLUME controls
- Six EQ controls: SUB BASS, BASS, LOW MID, MID, HIGH MID, and TREBLE
- Signal MUTE front panel switch (also controlled by optional FS22 footswitch)
- EFFECT LOOP front panel bypass switch (also controlled by optional FS22 footswitch)
- DIRECT OUT balanced XLR with independent LEVEL control, switchable "Pre-Post" and "Ground Lift", DC isolated
- TUNER output jack independent of MUTE switch
- Internal OPTO (optical isolation) clip-activated power amp limiter with "limiter free" normal operation
- Switchmode power supply that operates at 100,000 Hz delivering maximum efficiency while reducing weight
- Convenient auto-switching AC input for 120V 60 Hz or 240V 50 Hz
- High current combo SPEAKON™ connectors with 1/4" speaker inserts
- Metal shaft controls with threaded metal bushings mounted directly to front panel
- Power Output: 700w at 8 ohms, 1300w at 4ohms, 2050w at 2 ohms
- THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) is < 1.0%
- Tone Controls: ±12dB @ 40, 100, 400, 800, 2k, 6k (Hz)
- Drive Control: Varies input gain and harmonic content
- AC Requirements: Auto switching 120VAC 60 Hz/240VAC 50 Hz
- Rugged steel chassis
- Size: 2U rack mount, 19" wide x 10.5" deep x 3.5" high
- Weight: 14 lbs
- Made in San Diego, California

[pedroims]

I dont need help to carry my MB F1, it travel with my bass, at the top of my 4x10 there is enough area so even is somebody pull the cord the amp still has 5 inches of wood per side where it will move before hitting the floor.