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Anyone still gig their old lead sleds?

#21
I had a Marshall stack - 400 watt amp and 2 - 4 X 10 cabs, which I gigged and loved (still have the hat in my Avatar.) However - the amp weighed 70 lbs and the cabs about 90 each. Every time I pulled them out of the truck and turned to put them (1 at a time) on a wheeled dolly, my back would scream - "noooooo"

Finally sold them and have a Genz Benz rig with Streamliner 900 (7 lbs or so) and 2- 4X10 cabs which are around 65 lbs or so each.

Save your back for your old age!
 
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#22
Yes, use my '92 Trace AH200 for most gigs. Took it out of its heavy wood case when I got it and had a custom steel cover made for it. Not that heavy, just over 20lbs, and overdrives so sweet for rock and roll. Players always talk about quantity of watts but it's about the quality of those watts and even more so the power supply with class A/B amps. Played through a lot of amps and I always come back to the Series 6 Traces.
 
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#23
I've been using Phil Jones Bass amps and cabinets for several years now, if I use an amp at all. Phil makes some incredible equipment.

Not solid state, but I still have my Ashdown Lil Bastard 30 watt Tube and ABM 6x10 cab.
20210718_085932.jpg

I use it on the occasional festival/big stage show (if backline isn't provided and stage support is). It still sounds glorious.

Speaking of Phil Jones, he recently posted an older pic of this cab.
PJB Pic.jpg

5" drivers, 50x at 100 watts ea. 5000 watts total. Phil said he built two of them

It looks like something Derek Smalls would used (once they got him out of that pod).

I'd love to try it. Once.
 
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#26
My Ampeg SVT3 Pro (circa 1993) and my Eden WT-400 (mid '90s?) still see regular use. I also gig two lighter heads; a Carvin BX-500 and an Aguilar TH-500. The Aguilar sees the lion's share of gigs as it's the smallest and lightest and it sounds quite good but I really like the way the others sound, too, so I still take them out and keep them working. If an Eden WT-550 showed up locally at an attractive price (and at that age it would have to be VERY attractive) I would even consider buying another lead sled to add to the stable. I also have a penchant for old tube gear and I have an old, early '70s Orange head that I need to restore. Once I do, I will definitely gig with it no matter what it weighs! Like the Eden 550, I wouldn't hesitate to grab a Traynor YBA-1 if it showed up at a good price. So I guess the answer is yes, I still gig lead sleds and I'm foolish enough to be looking for more!

What I have lost patience with, though, is boat anchor cabinets. I absolutely love my old Eden 210s but I just won't take them out anymore. My Baer 12/6s sound better and weigh nearly half as much. The Edens still sound glorious, but something's gotta give. I'll schlep a heavy head around if I love the way it sounds but my cabinets have to be light now.
 
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#28
Lo-E said:
My Ampeg SVT3 Pro (circa 1993) and my Eden WT-400 (mid '90s?) still see regular use. I also gig two lighter heads; a Carvin BX-500 and an Aguilar TH-500. The Aguilar sees the lion's share of gigs as it's the smallest and lightest and it sounds quite good but I really like the way the others sound, too, so I still take them out and keep them working. If an Eden WT-550 showed up locally at an attractive price (and at that age it would have to be VERY attractive) I would even consider buying another lead sled to add to the stable. I also have a penchant for old tube gear and I have an old, early '70s Orange head that I need to restore. Once I do, I will definitely gig with it no matter what it weighs! Like the Eden 550, I wouldn't hesitate to grab a Traynor YBA-1 if it showed up at a good price. So I guess the answer is yes, I still gig lead sleds and I'm foolish enough to be looking for more!

What I have lost patience with, though, is boat anchor cabinets. I absolutely love my old Eden 210s but I just won't take them out anymore. My Baer 12/6s sound better and weigh nearly half as much. The Edens still sound glorious, but something's gotta give. I'll schlep a heavy head around if I love the way it sounds but my cabinets have to be light now.
Click to expand...
In my sickness,I actually have & use a Traynor YBA 1 mk2. Killer head. My achilles heel is 'boat anchor' cabinets...
 
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#31
I wouldn't really call it heavy but I have an Orange 4 Stroke that I still take out to gigs periodically. I say periodically because I also have a Mesa Bass 800D, WD800, Laney Digbeth 500, Genz Benz Streamliner 600 and Orange Terror Bass 500 that go out much more than the 4 Stroke. Especially the Mesa's and Laney. Not necessarily because they are lighter, but because they sound so damn good :drool:.
 
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#33
Fondsdale said:
Anyone still lug around their old "lead sleds" to gigs?

I'm talking about non-lightweight solid state/hybrid amps such as Hartke HD 500, GK 700 RB, Ampeg SVT 3 pro, Eden stuff or similar?

Did you try lightweight class D gear and it didn't cut it? Or just never bothered to "update"? (if it ain't broke...)
Click to expand...
I have an Eden rack set up (Eden Navi Preamp, & the very heavy WT-1250 Stereo Power amp. Yup, heavy as a horse. It still to this day is the best bass amp I've ever used, amd there have been a lot of them from classic tube amps to any of the class D heads of today. Rock solid as the day is long.

However, most of my gigs these days have FOH,support or entirely ampless. So for the most part it's relegated keeping the dust off of my speaker cabs I don't use. That said outdoor gig with no band shell, I'm putting it to work.

The sad thing about this rig is it was extremely expensive top of the mark gear., Made with high quality components designed for life on the road. It has features while useful years ago, today mostly totally unnecessary.

It is A master piece of design and function not to mention just how stinking good it sounds, today it has a market value of $0, So it's going to the grave with me. Just put it on top of the casket boys….
 
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#34
I recently began playing again after a long beak. My Eden WT to Eden 410xlt still sounds great. But I am lacking the desire to lug the cab around. Thought about getting a 2 10 combo. Anyone have thoughts on the Amped RB210 or the Asdown or GK?
Maybe another option that is not the rumble.
 
#36
Fondsdale said:
Anyone still lug around their old "lead sleds" to gigs?

I'm talking about non-lightweight solid state/hybrid amps such as Hartke HD 500, GK 700 RB, Ampeg SVT 3 pro, Eden stuff or similar?

Did you try lightweight class D gear and it didn't cut it? Or just never bothered to "update"? (if it ain't broke...)
Click to expand...
Yes, I have a AmpegV4B from 72. I love it and so does my drummer. I have a Traynor YBA-100 but I think it needs new pre amp tubes from what I've read here on TB. I'll look into that this summer after my daughter is done with collage.:)
 
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#37
Fondsdale said:
Anyone still lug around their old "lead sleds" to gigs?

I'm talking about non-lightweight solid state/hybrid amps such as Hartke HD 500, GK 700 RB, Ampeg SVT 3 pro, Eden stuff or similar?
Click to expand...
Nope, never really loved a single one I ever owned or played, going back to the mid seventies. So I did rack systems with power amps back in the day, and have no reason to use something like that by now.
 
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#40
Fondsdale said:
Anyone still lug around their old "lead sleds" to gigs?

I'm talking about non-lightweight solid state/hybrid amps such as Hartke HD 500, GK 700 RB, Ampeg SVT 3 pro, Eden stuff or similar?

Did you try lightweight class D gear and it didn't cut it? Or just never bothered to "update"? (if it ain't broke...)
Click to expand...

Hi Fonsdale , Guys.... you can add me to the list of forever "lead-sleading" (as you put it :)

Nothing against the lightweight fans, but I'll always prefer the sound of a good heavy amp with full analogue solidstate or valve. More than that personally I find a good heavy built amp and case feels secure and reliable on the road.
 
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