Were you happy after downsizing?

[Bufalo]

Cabinet-wise, I'm still on the fence. I wanted to go smaller/lighter than my Goliath III, but still ended up with a sizable cab. My Neo112 is impressive for what it is, but I've found that the SWR 12 Pack that I added is more useful for more settings. It's still 30 pounds lighter than the G3, so that's at least something! I'm still on the fence about getting a 2nd NEO112 to stack vertically, but it seems so redundant... GAAAAASSSSS........

Now, as far as my amp head is concerned, I'll never go back to a full size rig. I went from a 4U rack with an SWR 350X, a rack tuner and a power supply (50ish pounds), plus a bin of associated cables to an MB500, a Pitchblack and a few cables in a messenger bag (10 pounds, maybe?) That has been the best thing ever - load in is quicker, I can fit more stuff in the car, and I actually have MORE volume and power than I did before.

[zfunkman]

I used to play through 2 SWR Goliath 4x10s; they weighed over 80 lbs. each. I went to 2 1x15 bagends; 40 lbs. each. The best equipment change I've ever done!

[SteveC]

I've downsized to IEM. Very happy!

[marlond]

I have not read all the post but it seems I am an outlier. I tried downsizing and went back to the big stuff every time.

First I play Pop/rock with an aggressive bass sound so that probably plays a lot into my choices.

When I finally settled on the Aguilar DB750 + Ampeg 810 I then went out to find a way to get the rig smaller. I got a Berg NV610 and liked it, but eventually went back to the 810. A while after that I started using a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 and now I have decided that although it sounds great I really want to go back to the big bad DB750.

Lucky for me I kept the DB750 around for recording.

Just my 2 cents.

[lpdeluxe]

I'm 70 and I downsized with enthusiasm (and about $2K ). I went from a Hartke HA2500+2x10+1x15 to a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15 to my current rig, which is the head out of the Walkabout (13 lb) with two Genz-Benz 10t speakers at 16 lb each. It's as good a sound as I've had, and the weight makes it doable.

I play a Fender P through it, by the way. Note my avatar.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

I'm 70 and I downsized with enthusiasm (and about $2K ). I went from a Hartke HA2500+2x10+1x15 to a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15 to my current rig, which is the head out of the Walkabout (13 lb) with two Genz-Benz 10t speakers at 16 lb each. It's as good a sound as I've had, and the weight makes it doable.

I play a Fender P through it, by the way. Note my avatar.

70, eh? Never knew that about you. That's way cool.

[leomonster1973]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

but I still prefer the big tube stuff by a fair margin. I'm a raging tube snob, but a bit of a pragmatist as well, so I have been known to show up with small stuff now and then.

Me too. theres magic in that thar glowing glass...but since I cannot afford roadies and my friends who used to do this for me for free are all working day jobs, Lighter smaller portable. I have found recently that even the wieght of either my P-bass, or J-bass after 3 hours is killing me now. P-Bass Lyte anyone??? remember those

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by leomonster1973

Me too. theres magic in that thar glowing glass...but since I cannot afford roadies and my friends who used to do this for me for free are all working day jobs, Lighter smaller portable. I have found recently that even the wieght of either my P-bass, or J-bass after 3 hours is killing me now. P-Bass Lyte anyone??? remember those

Have one. Had to gut the pickups and pre and put EMG's on it for it to be usable, but they're nice basses that don't weigh a ton. Just got a Precision that I use most of the time now, but I do really love that little P Lyte, even though I kind of feel funny being seen with it

[BigBassBob]

I went from using a 4x10 to using a pair of 1x12s.

I'm extremely pleased with that choice. The 12s don't QUITE hit the thundering lows of the 4x10 but they sure do come close and that's good enough for me. They also sound nicer to my ears than the 4x10 did.

EDIT: volume wise, the 1x12s hold their own. I often get audience members and other musicians saying something along the lines of "you get THAT tone out of that little rig?"

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by Grateful

Went from hauling a 60 pound rack case and 98 pound 4x10 (all Ampeg stuff) to a different brand with a 250W 2x10 combo (not nearly enough for all but the quietest gigs) then back up to another brand 4x10 Neo cab with the big box. Still a pain.

Because I like Ampegs and they work for what I do, I now have the PF-500 and a single PF-115LF (the ported, tweeterless cab). Gigged it just last night playing my 5 string with a pretty loud 6 piece band with full FOH support, and it worked great. The cab fits in the back seat of my 4 door import with tons of room to spare, and the amp fits in my gear bag. It's a 1 trip load in. I do not miss the bigger stuff at all.

The plan is to add another identical cab for times with no PA support. I still have the big amp, just in case....

I've downsized, yet again....

Sold off every single amp and cab and got a TC Electronics BG250. I get a compressor and a 'tubedrive' effect (yes, I know it's not real tubes or an SVT, but whatever it does it does just fine for me) and the whole thing is 35 pounds and walkable. I get all kinds of nice sounds and compliments on tone, and it's plenty loud too.

Nothing against any of the stuff I sold, I just wanted to be super, super portable.

[zachoff]

My current "downsize"... Doesn't mean I'm not super-sized at the rehearsal space. This is just at home and temporary until my basement is finished. Then I'll move all the big speakers back into the house. Waiting impatiently...

[Baird6869]

The only parts of my rig I don't miss much is my SVT-CL and SVT-II. Both sounded great.... but sorry, those were just pigs to haul around. AND all my smaller cabs were 8ohm, so I was stuck bringing at least a 410 to pair with the 2/4ohm SVTs.

I am very happy with my light Berg AE 210 cabs and having 2 of them is modular and allows me to play everything but the large gigs.

Add a 10lb 2000w poweramp and a 10lb tube pre..... I am in tone heaven and my back thanks me.

[jjk2007]

No. I downsized and have since re-upsized! I doubt I'll ever go back.

[Orpheus55]

Well, if lpdeluxe is 70 I don't mind admitting to 62; I too enjoy PA support for our 3-4 gigs a month and use a PF500 and an Avatar 2x12 neo cab. Sometimes I use an SWR WorkingPro 12 or--if I have been working out--a Peavey TNT115 combo.

[arai]

Originally Posted by Gremson

(Here's the backstory)
I know a lot of folks here haul around massive rigs, but I'm feeling that lugging around my Acoustic 106 2X15 cab might be a bit much.
I'm at a fork in the road of bass amps. My current head is a cheesy Ampeg in a case I made from old pallets. And the cones in my speakers are held together by Elmers glue, toilet paper, and ModPodge.
I play in a trio with a loud drummer and a nylon string acoustic player. Most of our gigs have a full PA and soundperson provided. The acoustic guy uses a tiny little amp, and I feel like my amp is a bit overbearing for our stage set up.
I know that if I got a more respectable head, and replaced my speakers, I'd have a badass rig. But the idea of a 2/10 or 1/15 combo is very appealing for aesthetic and portability reasons.


(Here's the short part!)
I'm curious what others have felt when they went to a larger stack to a more compact amp. Did you find yourself missing out? Tell me how it went for you!

I am very happy
I went from a 80 lb head and 2 1x15s (unsure of weight) to a class d head and 2 1x12 cabs. I can carry it all in one trip opposed to the three trips I used to do.
I have not yet come across a situation where it is not loud enough

[lowfreq33]

I went from a 60 lb lead sled and 85 lb 2x15 to a 4 lb micro and 50 lb 2x12. Due to the 12"s being a more efficient speaker my current rig is actually louder than the old one. I hardly ever turn the master past 10 o'clock. And the rack that the head is in weighs more than the head itself.

If I'm doing a local gig the head comes out of the rack and into the gig bag. Roll the cab in, grab my bass/head and pedalboard and I'm done.

[iualum]

Started off downsized, two BFM Omni 210s (2510s). Not tiny, but pretty light @ ~40 lbs./cab. A great vertical 410, at pretty much the beginning end, I think, of vertical 410s.

Since have picked up these:

* Schroeder 412 BMF. About as compact as 412s come. And only 65 lbs.

* Phil Jones Suitcase combo & matching 4B extension cab. Small but not so light actually. Still, a fine combo.

* LDS 215 (3015s & Selenium D220Ti w/HM25-25 horn/waveguide). About as small as non-isobaric 215s come & also just 65 lbs.

Think I'm actually pretty well set. But then why is there always this constant G.A.S.?

[chris_b]

I've spent my whole life owning and playing cabs I couldn’t lift without help.

Then 8 years ago a Mesa Roadready stack finally finished my back off.

Now depending on the gig I can choose to play any of 3 rigs with my Thunderfunk 750 and 3 x AE112 cabs.

And the best part is, I now sound better than ever.

[Ron Plichta]

I've owned SVT's, Aggie DB750s, Berg NV series cabs, Ashdown and everything in-between. I miss the pants-flapping ability the AVT gave, but for all practical purposes, I'm doing just fine with a Thunderfunk TFB-750A and two Berg AE112 cabs. And as an added bonus, I can use just one cab to run my double bass thorugh. Kill two birds with one stone.

[christw]

I have downsized several times and always gone back to massive tube amps and cabs in the end. After lots of pointless gear acquisitions and sell offs I've decided on having a "rig for every gig" with an emphasis on tubes in the signal chain. I like using less and practicing quietly but sometimes (often) you need more when it comes to gigging and my rigs reflect that.