Amps in between 5 lbs and 80 lbs

[Balog]

If you really just want the look get some cardboard 8x10s and SVTs made and just go direct with IEMs only.

 

[klyph]

Just got a great deal on this head and LOVE it! I think it’s about 25 lbs.

EA iamp 800 - Ive got one + a tuner in a rack and love it - BG and DB

 

[Thumpin6string]

Quite a wide range in your post. Almost every Solid State or SS/tube hybrid that has ever been made fits in your parameters. Most non-class D heads are in the 20-40 pound range. Even the heavy SVT4 Pro is around 45 pounds. Should be pretty easy to find something that suits your weight range.

 

[mikeswals]

Fender sells several:
Bassman 800
Bassman 100T
Bassman 300T

Looks like Ashdown offers ten heads?
Heads

Gallien Krueger
RB Heads — Gallien-Krueger
Fusion 550 — Gallien-Krueger

Aguilar Amps
Bass Amps

So it seems there is actually quite a bit of new hefty amps on the market. And this is only three minutes of me quickly searching. I'm sure I could come up with way more if I were amp shopping.

 

[gary mitchell]

I had a SWR750 head and a Aguilar 210 cab with a don't remember the name but a 15cab loaded with an EV 15. I am 68 years old and just got tired of loading and unloading. I sold it all and went to a combo, I use now a MarkBass Jeff Berlin 151p combo 300 watts by itself and 500 add another cab, if I remember right it weighs 47 pounds I put wheels on mine, also the amp will come out of the combo I made a lid for it and used velcro to put on the top of it and used a few times as a head. I used it at church on top of a SWR 410 cab why their old SWR 350 was in the shop. Great amp and i wouldn't get rid of it for nothing.

 

[Pilgrim]

Shop used. A Sunn Coliseum-300 would do nicely if you can find one. About 45 pounds. Goes down to 2 ohms @300W.

I sold mine because I went lightweight.

 

[David Jayne]

I've been gigging a Thunderfunk 550b for ten years or so. No issues. If there ever are it looks like it would be easy to fix.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've been gigging a Thunderfunk 550b for ten years or so. No issues. If there ever are it looks like it would be easy to fix.

The website is busted. Maybe they're moving things?

 

[David Jayne]

The website is busted. Maybe they're moving things?

I see. No idea!

 

[Rabidhamster]

I'll vote for a Genz Benz GBE 750, like I always do. I don't remember how much it weighs but its much more than 5, much less than 80.
I expected it to do as an interim amp until I replaced my SVT, instead I've essentially stopped looking at bass amps all together. I really like that it has tube and FET channels, and you can run both channels together.

 

[MarkA]

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

Must be about 40lb in the case.

I just picked one of these up in the TB classifieds. Not sure of the weight -- a good deal less than 40 pounds, though (roughly the size of a Mesa Walkabout -- maybe a hair bigger -- and the case is integral with the head). Nice sounding head. It's been compared to the Walkabout (which I owned, once upon a time) and I get it -- both have a tube-driven front end and a nice amount of harmonic content -- but the HB is a little cleaner, brighter, louder, and more evenly voiced. The EQ is simpler (whether that's a pro or con depends on your taste and use). The Walkabout is a little warmer, chewier... both overdrive nicely, but they do it in different ways. Gain affects the feel on both but, again, in somewhat different ways.

The Orange 4-Stroke 500 is another nice-sounding, mid-sized (2U and shallow), class AB amp -- similar in size to a TFunk 550B -- mid-20s (pounds) weight, I think. Has a little something going on harmonically that keeps it from sounding sterile, but not as much as the WA or the Handbox. Reminiscent, with its four, semi-parametric bands of EQ, of a Thunderfunk -- and sounds a bit more open than a 550B -- but the DI is post EQ/post master volume and there is no effects loop.

A 3- or 4-space, shallow rack, with a variety of pres and poweramps to choose from is an option.

The Genz GBE amps (mentioned earlier) are cool (I have a GBE 1200), but heavier and deeper than the amps mentioned above. Also more aggressive and modern-sounding by default (though you can influence that a lot with the gain -- on the tube side -- and the EQ). Not in production, but supported still.

 

[Ryan L.]

I tried both the Orange OB1 500 and the 4 Stroke 500 before buying a new Terror Bass 500. Both are great sounding heads. The 4 Stroke has a very versatile EQ on board, vs the more simple OB1. Rack mountable, but still not crazy heavy at all.

 

[Mingo Sanders]

And here's some of my other gear:
View attachment 3558968
View attachment 3558970

Wow I wish all your amp belong to us.

 

[CosmicRay]

Plenty of PA amps that can be driven by a rack pre or a pedal.

I went back to using my Crest power amp & Alembic F-1X pre-amp.
Both very lighweight.

 

[JimmyM]

Fun thread, Rich. I've learned that I should never say anything bad about Carvin, and that there are still some choices out there between the Elf and the SVT Personally, I don't blame you. I like the convenience of the small amps, but they can look a little odd when you put them on top of larger cabs. But there's always the option of hiding them behind the cab, and that's free.

Will say that the 7 Pro's been fixed for a few years now, though.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Not exactly... but apparently so for Bass amps anyhow.... but I know what you're saying. Carvin always was a brand in the Kiesel family, and it still is, but it's strange they kept the Carvin brand for new things, but moved the existing carvin instruments to the Kiesel brand... makes zero sense to me.

Overpriced pedestrian accessories? LoL, yea, I'm assuming you mean the newer Carvin doodads they are selling? I agree... it seems like a different direction, for sure, although they might be really good doodads...... who knows?

Read this Thread. >Carvin Liquidating

The short, they closed down Carvin Audio and said, "We will not support any products with the Carvin name, even if you bought it two months ago. We are out."
Then a Liquidation Firm sold off all there inventory and that is it.

Here is a quote from Carvin on October 16, 2017
- Many of you have asked about warranties. Once we liquidate stock, our company will cease to exist. As such, we won't be able to provide any warranty support.

- All sales on liquidated stock are final.

About 6 months or so after officially closing they came back selling the small accessories you see now.

 

[baxter_x]

Will say that the 7 Pro's been fixed for a few years now, though.

Absolutly, even if the bad reputation of that great amp is still there

 

[dkelley]

Read this Thread. >Carvin Liquidating

The short, they closed down Carvin Audio and said, "We will not support any products with the Carvin name, even if you bought it two months ago. We are out."
Then a Liquidation Firm sold off all there inventory and that is it.

Here is a quote from Carvin on October 16, 2017
- Many of you have asked about warranties. Once we liquidate stock, our company will cease to exist. As such, we won't be able to provide any warranty support.

- All sales on liquidated stock are final.

About 6 months or so after officially closing they came back selling the small accessories you see now.

yes. I didn't say anything to the contrary, I think?

 

[BogeyBass]

You could always make a Carvin MeMe
then post it on Facebook and talk about your emotions. lol

I make fun of most my old turd led sleds, just to fit in i guess.
unfortunately they still work....darn it.
i keep wishing they would crackle and shut off. but they just keep working


Aside from Fender and a few others. I cant think of many that have a classic head case look, but support class D

Like many have said there is countless Class AB heads in the 18 to 25 pound range. Still doing fine and rather affordable

Think the new Orange candidates are worth mentioning. Could be put in a headcase.
i wanna see the guts of one actually. No class D no switch turd power supplies all linear.
completely unheard of these days. besides maybe ashdown

Then again as much poop as i talk about Ampeg. Im really considering a new V4B.
Aside from that my on going joke but not a joke is the SVT350H lol

has the classic look. looks fantastic with a matching 4x10 or 810
dirt cheap
what it doesnt do that any other bass heads have, not sure. Actually it has more features than most newer thingys

 

[DJ Bebop]

So you're the guy who got their problem gear? Someone had to - my experiences have always been amazing for reliability and build quality with carvin gear, instruments and amps.

I get what you're saying - if you've been burned in the past with a brand, you steer clear - but unlike a company like Line6 that knowingly has built their hardware with absolute garbage quality (hot glue and plastic parts and pots/jacks soldered directly to the boards).... Carvin has excellent build quality. Something fails with any brand - but you're in good hands with most of the known-well-built brands, specially since they try to stand behind their work even if you aren't the original owner.

Not pushing Carvin on you - just defending the company's overall quality as a whole.

I still do get your fear though - once burned, twice shy.

I love Carvin but there is a reason the audio side went out of business for a while.