Add handles to Subway 1x12’s?

[Mr Joshua]

I thought for sure this would have been talked about but I can't find anything about it.

I'm considering adding handles to the tops of my Subway 1x12 cabs to allow for easier one handed carrying. Has anyone done this, if so how successful would you say it was? Do you think there's a reason there's no handle on top and adding one would be problematic in some way?

They have handles on the sides but they don't work well for one handed carrying.

 

[MrLenny1]

I'd say it was designed to be carried with both hands, especially if
your walking some distance.
I have the opposite issue with a cab I have. It has one handle on top
and the size makes it very clumsy to carry.

 

[agedhorse]

It's kind of a deep cabinet to carry with one hand from the top in practice.

If you do so, beware of the internal bracing that might get in the way.

 

[JimUltraPBass]

I carry mine with one of the side handles, off to one side of my body and rest it against my leg/hip to spread the load out.

 

[agedhorse]

I carry mine with one of the side handles, off to one side of my body and rest it against my leg/hip to spread the load out.

This generally works best with the top towards your leg. Probably more comfortable than from the top too.

 

[Mr Joshua]

It's kind of a deep cabinet to carry with one hand from the top in practice.

If you do so, beware of the internal bracing that might get in the way.

Thank you. I had not considered this and is exactly why I posed this question here. A younger me would have just screwed a handle on before I considered anything, then tried to fix any resulting issues.

 

[WayneP]

My Barefaced Baby 2 Gen III accommodates this by having rubber feet on one side. Of course, it only has one handle, on the other side. You could easily add rubber feet the Subway, but you'd have to keep track of which side you'd be grabbing the handle.

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[Jeff Scott]

I have the opposite issue with a cab I have. It has one handle on top
and the size makes it very clumsy to carry.

This cabinet has only one strap handle on the left side. Talk about clumsy to use!

Bass and amp for size reference.

 

[musicmansf]

I have the OG style Recto 1x12 for guitar. While it's 9 lbs. heavier than the Subway 1x12, the top handle is pretty awkward for the box dimensions/weight.

 

[Mr Joshua]

I have the OG style Recto 1x12 for guitar. While it's 9 lbs. heavier than the Subway 1x12, the top handle is pretty awkward for the box dimensions/weight.

Wow thats a really heavy 1x12 for guitar.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would think it would be easy to carry with one hand with the side handle. Just sayin'.

 

[WRM]

I would think it would be easy to carry with one hand with the side handle. Just sayin'.

That's what I do, and mine do have two sets of feet for horizontal or vertical placement. No mods/improvements necessary, IMO.

 

[Mr Joshua]

I would think it would be easy to carry with one hand with the side handle. Just sayin'.

Yup thats why I asked the question. Matter of fact it was too easy. I was trying to figure out how to make it more difficult to add some excitement to my loading and unloading experience. Sounds like I got all the ideas I need to accomplish that.

 

[DaveParker39]

i know this isn't the answer you are looking for, but when I encounter an unwieldy cabinet i use a 2 wheeler/hand truck... chances are it will help EVERYONE in load in/load out, not just me. You never know when some of the gear is just gonna be too much/too far

 

[Mr Joshua]

i know this isn't the answer you are looking for, but when I encounter an unwieldy cabinet i use a 2 wheeler/hand truck... chances are it will help EVERYONE in load in/load out, not just me. You never know when some of the gear is just gonna be too much/too far

Thanks. I was considering adding an externally mounted retractable handle and wheel

 

[DaveParker39]

Thanks. I was considering adding an externally mounted retractable handle and wheel

which could work... the nice thing about the hand truck is you don't have to modify the cab at all for the sake of keeping it stock. but that might not be a concern for you

 

[Mr Joshua]

Resale value is always a concern. But the Mesa cabs are one thing I don't foresee getting rid of. I don't use them all the time, but I love when I get the opportunity to. So modifying them in a mostly non-destructive manner by adding the handle/wheels would be acceptable to me.

 

[sokolasty]

I have the opposite issue with a cab I have. It has one handle on top
and the size makes it very clumsy to carry.

This is why I added side grips to my 18kg 210 combo

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks. I was considering adding an externally mounted retractable handle and wheel

A very real issue with this is rattles when the speaker is in use. Even with the best system we could find, we would sometimes run into issues on the Walkabout Scout and Carbine combos that used them.

 

[Mr Joshua]

A very real issue with this is rattles when the speaker is in use. Even with the best system we could find, we would sometimes run into issues on the Walkabout Scout and Carbine combos that used them.

hmm...yeah I could see that being a problem. I don't think I'll venture down that path then. Would hate to spend the money on the parts just for them to rattle.

I think I may have been being dramatic in my thought that I needed an additional handle. I just did a few practice runs of my goal of "one trip" with cab, bass, pedalboard, and amp and it wasn't nearly all as bad as I had earlier determined. I must have been doing it in the worst way possible the last time I attempted it.