Anyone else NOT into lightweight mini rigs?

[dukeorock]

I’m in my 50’s. Zero issues with carrying bigger/heavier gear in and out. What are we talking, 10 minutes, max? For years, until very recently, I only owned 4 cabs and they were all 810 cabs. I suspect many folks who say they’re too tough to load in never have. It’s super easy.

That said, technology is improving. I can get more power handling and ‘air movement’ from much smaller cabs than I could 15 years ago. My cabs aren’t featherweights, but I don’t have anything over 70lbs. Not because I can’t handle it. I just don’t need it.
I have heavy amps and light ones. I use the one I like best for the gig.

99.99% of our audiences don't give a crap about the bassist's tone. Great as it sounds, I'm not hauling out my big iron to gigs for that 0.001% anymore. If any of you want to volunteer to load it in and out for me, let's talk. Otherwise Class D/Neo crew checking in.

Not sure how this fake percentage keeps getting tossed around. It’s just a ridiculous made up number and isn’t true at all. Even if it were, I’d hope I’d still play like it wasn’t.

"Made in USA" has always meant bigger and better than the rest of the world - automobiles, trucks, aircraft, ships, tanks, bulldozers, bombs, interspace rockets, skyscrapers, hi-fi's, bass amps, speakers and national debt - to name just a few.

Seems like the lightweight bass gear fans have given up and are becoming like everyone else - is a pity

Big rigs give me all the exercise I need - saves going to the gym

"Yeah, big rigs are cool, man!"

That’s totally cool, and I agree to a point. Just to be fair though, lots of class D amps and light cabs are made in the US.

 

[lbbc]

For several years, when I was younger, I had 2 basses, a SVT w/810 cab, guitarist had 3 guitars, Marshall Stack w/monstrous sized pedalboard, keyboardist had a Hammond B3 w/Leslie and a Yamaha electric baby grand, drummer had a kit that took up most of the stage and our PA was big enough for any outdoor or indoor venue. We also had a 24 par can light system w/trusses. It took 2 vans and a pickup with a 16' enclosed trailer to get our gear to the gig and then at least 2-1/2 hours to set up.

Today, I have 1 bass w/Radial Tonebone Bassbone direct to PA, guitarist has Takamine Acoustic/Electric Guitar w/small pedalboard direct to PA, female singer w/ shaker egg and a Bose L1 Model 2 w/B2 bass module and Tonematch mixer. We have a 4-L.E.D. light system and can transport all gear in the back of my pickup w/cap. We fit in the corner of the room if necessary and it takes 20 minutes to set up. I have a Genz Benz 6.0 12T shuttle for rehearsal. Things, with times and age, change.

 

[JimmyM]

99.99% of our audiences don't give a crap about the bassist's tone.

Have you taken polls? I see this comment on here all the time, yet nobody ever provides any proof of it. Honestly, if that's how I felt about it, I'd just quit playing. How sad it must be to regard what you do as useless.

 

[KINGMUNSON]

So do you just ignore the sound man telling you the mix is subpar because your stage volume is making it hard to do his job? Genuinely wondering...

Whatever the band likes and feels good about. Thats all that matters to me. Loud rock and roll is loud rock and roll. I'm not representing anything other than that. If someone expects different that's their problem.. I don't need to make money playing music. So what a "pro" would do isn't my concern.

 

[BadExample]

Have you taken polls? I see this comment on here all the time, yet nobody ever provides any proof of it. Honestly, if that's how I felt about it, I'd just quit playing. How sad it must be to regard what you do as useless.

I cared for a long time before I ever held a bass in my hands. Also cared about the other instruments, live or recorded.

 

[chadds]

This is after I downsized. My guitar and bass rigs. 72 Marshall superbass. 69 Sound city bass 100 with period 4x12 cabs. Acoustic 320/370 with 301/402 cabs. My gear advice. Play the venues thay suit your gear interests. A crybaby soundman is the least of my concern. If people cant handle loud its my fault for picking the wrong venue or the patrons fault for not knowing what a loud band feels and sounds like.

I tend to bring the gear that fits the venue and music genre I’m performing.

 

[chris_b]

99.99% of our audiences don't give a crap about the bassist's tone.

I see guys all the time telling me they like the sound of the bass and at least one person a month comes up and asks about the 5 strings.

More people notice us than we think, even though most of them won't bother to walk 10 yards to tell us. . . . but many do notice. In the end it's our job to make them notice. If they don't we're not trying hard enough.

The most important people to impress with our tone and playing is the band. If they like what we are doing then they play better and the audience always notices that.

 

[Wisebass]

Most leightweight stuff I played on (different occasions, rock and blues jams)
the last ten years, sounded pretty good.(including my own class D head)
So I can perfectly understand players who don' t miss the schlepp.

But my fav backline will always be a big big big tube amp and a pair of big big big cabs

because drool

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[mesaplayer83]

I tend to bring the gear that fits the venue and music genre I’m performing.

Same here

 

[Rambazamba]

I totally get the advantages of light gear. It just doesn't make me happy.

 

[JimmyM]

I see guys all the time telling me they like the sound of the bass and at least one person a month comes up and asks about the 5 strings.

More people notice us than we think, even though most of them won't bother to walk 10 yards to tell us. . . . but many do notice. In the end it's our job to make them notice. If they don't we're not trying hard enough.

The most important people to impress with our tone and playing is the band. If they like what we are doing then they play better and the audience always notices that.

I do not understand why so many bass players don't get that. Personally, I think the only reason bass players say "99.9% of the audience can't tell" is because they like to think of themselves as special and their audience members as dirtbags. Insecurity issues, maybe?

 

[mesaplayer83]

Have you taken polls? I see this comment on here all the time, yet nobody ever provides any proof of it. Honestly, if that's how I felt about it, I'd just quit playing. How sad it must be to regard what you do as useless.

Yeah, I've never agreed with that sort of comment, either - I get compliments on my playing and tone on a regular basis from band mates and patrons alike - and even if I didn't, it would still matter *to me*...

 

[mesaplayer83]

I do not understand why so many bass players don't get that. Personally, I think the only reason bass players say "99.9% of the audience can't tell" is because they like to think of themselves as special and their audience members as dirtbags. Insecurity issues, maybe?

Or, maybe they(the bass players) just don't care all that much anymore - although I hope I never get that apathetic about my stage time...

 

[JES]

Does it count if I'm eyeing a lightweight all-tube amp? Of course, it's purely for fun and games. My Orange TB500 into two Neo cabs (15" and 12") has been more than enough for every gig I've done or am likely to do in recent years. Mostly, I just use one cab.

 

[sawzalot]

Were you running bridged?
Didn't turn the gain knobs down?

OF COURSE I was running it bridged! And why on earth would I want to turn the gain knobs down? They went to 11! (Not making that up, the guys at QSC have a sense of humor).

That thing was a hell of an amp. A boat anchor, but an amazing amp.

 

[JMacBass65]

I like light weight, but not mini. I'm happy with my 50 pound rig.
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Is that a Carvin Red Line combo you dropped that EBS into? I have one just lying around but have been thinking about dropping my Genz Benz NeoPak 3.5 into it.

 

[seansbrew]

I really don't think it is necessary. I don't feel my sound is deficient or lacking in any way shape or form by using a class d mini rig. Besides, 99% of the time we are listening to audio that is being pumped through class D technology. Car stereo, home stereo, front of house/ stage PA systems, every concert we go too.
Either that or I'm just trying to make myself feel better because my back cant handle hauling an SVT rig.

 

[muddycreek]

Have you taken polls? I see this comment on here all the time, yet nobody ever provides any proof of it. Honestly, if that's how I felt about it, I'd just quit playing. How sad it must be to regard what you do as useless.

I think the truth is in the middle. Most audience members would prefer some version of "good" over "bad," i.e. I can hear the music in a way that makes sense to.me, with audible vocals and balanced sound. I bet 99% don't care about, and cannot hear, differences between a well set up "big iron" rig and a comparable well set up "small and light" rig. I bet most of us couldn't either, if there was a sheet over the bass rig at a show we were attending.

 

[JimmyM]

I think the truth is in the middle. Most audience members would prefer some version of "good" over "bad," i.e. I can hear the music in a way that makes sense to.me, with audible vocals and balanced sound. I bet 99% don't care about, and cannot hear, differences between a well set up "big iron" rig and a comparable well set up "small and light" rig. I bet most of us couldn't either, if there was a sheet over the bass rig at a show we were attending.

That is a far cry from "99.9% don't give a crap about the bassist's tone."

 

[chadds]

I hate sushi and coffee. Someone else likes sushi and coffee. Big deal.

The rice starts floating around and bumping into the random coffee grounds which are coating the fish. I try not to look...