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Anyone still gig their old lead sleds?

#42
I've been playing for about 25 years now. Started on lead sleds but quickly switched to D class and stayed there until 4 years ago when I joined band that plays ampless and with IEM. Best thing equipmentwise that happened to me.
Recently I decided I still may need amp+cab, and since I might use it never or very rarely, only thing that made sense was to buy used lead sled. So I got GK 400RB and matching 12" cab. They were inexpensive, actualy sound very good, are not too heavy, but still stay in my basement... Who knows, one day I may gig them.
 
#43
My main band owns a great PA system and we often bring that to gigs where the house system is sub par for our arrogant, snobbish little ears.
This means hauling subs. And even though the power amps that drive everything are class D, the 19" rack for them is a two man carry.
In the grand total of how much weight is moved on a night like this, the bassist opting for a lead sled instead of a class D head would not really factor in.
I totally would use one of those if I saw the point. When I bought my Tonehammer more than a decade ago, I tried it against my Peavey Mark IV, a Trace Elliot (the one with the suitcase handle on one side), and that Ampeg that looks like an SVT but is all solid state.

The Tonehammer was louder, punchier, had more of basically everything and packed all that into the size and weight of a car stereo.I did not see the point back then, still don't see it today.
 
#44
I do use my older SWR 2x10 heavy (60lbs) cab the most. But it is because I have a house gig where I leave it. I do have nicer neo cabs, but this has been so easy. This cab has been at the club for 15 years and nobody touches it. There is no way I would still use this if I had to move it.
 
#45
Not sure if it counts as a lead sled, but if I was gigging at the moment it would be with my Yorkville XS800.
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#46
Yep. I use gk 700rb, 1001rb, backline 600, eden metro all with relative frequency. Even my lightweight cabs are not any lighter than a lead sled head, so no real reason to have a 6lb head of I'm also carrying a 30lb cab or two. The only amp I've ever had fail was a class d Genz Benz and I just haven't had the drive to spend the money to send it in for repair.
So the old school stuff wins until it dies at this point.
 
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#47
ugh...yeh still using my hartke 4x10...tho not in a band since lastyear, but i did sell my traynor ts120b solid state head and replaced with a hartke ts300@ 5 lbs compared to 20lbs of the traynor head. If i join another band i'm def downsizing the cabinet.
 
#48
I dont gig anymore but the only thing I have left for amps is the 400RB-IV combo 115 cab which I took the 400RB head out of and got a cover for the amp, so my only options are that 400RB, the 60lb 115 or my SWR Henry 8x8 which is nearly 100lbs. The 400RB is about 14lbs so its not bad, a modern lightweight cab paired with it would be easy to haul.
 
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#50
After gigging with it for 25 years, I sold the Ampeg SVT3-PRO amp (26 lbs., likely over 30 lbs. with the Furman Power Conditioner, Sabine Rack Tuner, and road case for the three) / Ampeg PR-410HLF cab (128 lbs.!!!) and replaced it all with an Ampeg PF-500 Class D amp (11 lbs., not using a case), a Hartke HyDrive HD-210 cab (38 lbs.), and a G-K NEO 115 cab (40 lbs., neodymium magnet). I use a Zoom B3n for effects and tuning. MUCH lighter and easier to transport, and I can use just one of the cabs for rehearsals and smaller venues. VERY happy with the equipment, power, and tone. Originally bought the cheaper Peavey Headliner 210, but the cabinet had an internal rattle, so I exchanged it for the Hartke HD-210, which was on closeout for a great price (only $100 more than the Peavey) because Hartke was discontinuing it for the HL-210 with the neodymium magnets (only 28 lbs.).
 
#56
Astronaut said:
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Most of the guys I see running the older gear are younger guys. It's generally cheap as the old guys with more disposable income aren't bidding up the prices the way you would see with a tube guitar amp or a vintage 4x12.

That said, I'm of the opinion that unless you're looking for a specifically old school bass tone, the new gear is probably the best bass gear that's ever been made.
 
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#59
I have an assortment, depends on the gig & venue.. For outside gigs, I still sometimes run an old Gk 400RB (I have 3 of them), into a Gk Neo 2/12, love how that sounds. I have a Glockenklang Blue Soul that I'll be using too, it's not really a lead sled, but not ultralight either. I'm a big fan of the Quilter Bass Blocks, tho, and play my Quilter on indoor gigs, usually.
 
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