Amps in between 5 lbs and 80 lbs

[Al Kraft]

If you want an amp that sounds the part, looks the part and is in the middle of your weight range, an Aguilar DB series head might be worth a listen. The Aguilar name should tell you something about reliability and their ten year warranty on that head should drive the point home.

 

[Balog]

Oh, you can rack mount a WD800. Hmmmmm...... I thought based on the D800/D800+ / no rack mount option other than a shelf thread that the WD800 was also rack free. That is possibly final answer. Mesa has stellar support, I like Mesa gear already, it would look sweet on top of a Subway 215 (but what wouldn't) and Andy is super cool / helpful.

Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 WalkAbout Bass Amplifier | MESA/Boogie®

 

[Al Kraft]

My bigger amps are an SWR SM400S and the M3, M6, and M9 Mesa Carbines, but you'd need to go used and like their voicing (all of them are an acquired taste). The WD800 racked up would look the part and deliver at level where no one will laugh if they actually see how small and light the head actually is.

 

[TonyP-]

I've had a "less than pleasant" experience in this thread. Unsubscribed.

 

[Al Kraft]

...that was great movie with many memorable moments (like that one), but the graduation scene takes first prize. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[two fingers]

If you want more tone than you can stand, more power than you can stand, and medium weight, the SVT6 Pro is your amp. It's one of the only pieces of bass gear I ever regretted selling.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you want more tone than you can stand, more power than you can stand, and medium weight, the SVT6 Pro is your amp. It's one of the only pieces of bass gear I ever regretted selling.

I think Ampeg, with their new Yamaha overlord will roll in some Line 6 modeling technology and create a much lighter "SVT" head with some tubes and digital modeling doing the rest. Just a prediction, no information.

 

[Al Kraft]

I think Ampeg, with their new Yamaha overlord will roll in some Line 6 modeling technology and create a much lighter "SVT" head with some tubes and digital modeling doing the rest. Just a prediction, no information.

Many of us have speculated, but I agree that Yamaha tends to be about investing in R&D/innovation and doing things right, as well as respecting the power of a brand. To me this means only good things for Ampeg. I suspect they will look to update their line by leveraging Yamaha R&D/technologies while remaining true to their Ampeg roots.

 

[SactoBass]

Seems like there isn't a lot in the amp world between the lightweight class D amps and the SVT beast at ~ 80 lbs. The Milkman Half and Half is around 12 lbs and a standalone unit. Even considered getting a head case made for my Trickfish 1K to give it the appearance of a large amp but I need to look at it and see if it need side vents. Yeah, I know it's stupid, why would you want something bigger / heavier? Maybe partially for aesthetics, looking to simplify to cabs / head / bass. The little bump on top of the cab is a technical wonder, but kinda silly looking. The lead sleds are ok, but most of those are out of production and now getting some years on them. The SVT-7 PRO was a good format, but unreliability killed my like for that amp. Thunderfunk - interesting, but I've heard there are issues with support if you ever have a problem. I've never played a V4-B, maybe I should try that.

My Fender Bassman 100T (all tube) 100-watt amp weighs 48.5 pounds. It feels like a featherweight compared to the SVT's I used to own. And the 100T sounds wonderful!

The Fender Super Bassman (all tube) 300-watt amp weighs 65 pounds. Heavy, but still not as heavy as an 80-85 pound SVT.

Both are current-production amps.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Fender bassman 500 and 800 are built into their tube counterparts enclosures I believe they weigh about 14 pounds, Hartke HA3500s have a head case on some of them

 

[hennessybass]

Virtually every rack bass rig ever made, save maybe a few all tube ones?

Not a lot on the market right now.

I have a Fender TBP-1 housed in a 3U rack on the market right now.
Absolutely killer pre-amp, ready for you to drop in the power amp of your choice and rock.

Even with the 1000w "led sled" power amp I used to have in it, it still weighed half of an SVT and less the Aguilar DB750/1.
Drop in something like a Crest ProLite power amp, and have an absolutely monster rig - that looks like a propper rig - that is totally reliable - that could cover pretty much any gig ever - and only weigh maybe like 10-15 pounds.

I actually got the Fender rig to replace a Thunderfunk that was having some issues. I thought about a DB750/1 but for a number of reasons went with the Fender. I also had a small class D option at the time.

Dang,,, as I'm writing this, I'm actually talking myself into thinking maybe I should keep it!!

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Berg B|Amp one of the best and most versatile on the market.

 

[MattZilla]

My favorite amp to power my 4x215 rig is a Smokey Lucky Strike zip tied to a big ol slab of 3/4" cold rolled steel. That head weighs about 43lbs with that base plate.

 

[Downunderwonder]

There is something from Poland called Handbox that has some nice sounds in it.

Must be about 40lb in the case.

 

[InhumanResource]

I've had a "less than pleasant" experience in this thread. Unsubscribed.

Lol. Wow.

 

[agedhorse]

My main amp right now is a Carvin BX1500. It's a sweet, sweet amp that you can read about here. I have it snugly ensconced in a rack and it only weighs 10 pounds.

How can an amp that weighs 10 pounds by itself weigh only 10 pounds in the rack? That would have to be a zero gravity rack.

 

[Passinwind]

Not a lot on the market right now.

Jule
Demeter
Aguilar

And then plenty of rack preamps and power amps. But yeah, fewer than there used to be for sure. I built my own 2RU integrated bass amp a few years back, which I
use a lot more if I ever hauled out my 15 loaded cabs anymore.

 

[agedhorse]

Oh, you can rack mount a WD800. Hmmmmm...... I thought based on the D800/D800+ / no rack mount option other than a shelf thread that the WD800 was also rack free. That is possibly final answer. Mesa has stellar support, I like Mesa gear already, it would look sweet on top of a Subway 215 (but what wouldn't) and Andy is super cool / helpful.

You might check with the customer service guys to see what kind of head cases might be available for the WD through the custom shop.

Also, regarding legacy lead sled amps, if you decide to go down that path, be sure you can get manufacturer support and be aware of the challenges involved with repairing products that a manufacturer no longer supports.

This can be because parts are no longer available because they aren't being made anymore, or because the manufacturer itself is no longer in business.

 

[operagost]

I've had a "less than pleasant" experience in this thread. Unsubscribed.

 

[red_rhino]

That would have to be a zero gravity rack.

Great idea! When can we expect to we see this in the Mesa product line?