Big Amps will come back one day!!!

[agedhorse]

Is Mesa going to bring back the Prodigy and the Strategy 8:88? Did they not make some technological advancement by using a different alloy for the transformers so they can keep them light. The Prodigy 4:88 was under 30 lbs when I had one.

No, the market is way too small for an amp that would end up costing north of $4k. Used ones are a much better value.

 

[fjbolebruch]

Idk, I thought I “needed” an ampeg 610 cab, sold it within a month of gigging with it. I get all the tone and volume I need with 500 watts and two 12” cabs (markbass)

 

[60bass]

They already have. They're called iso-cabinets and a HUGE FOH. Also just to make sure you hear yourself they also give you an IEM.

 

[Wesley R]

Big amps, big cabs may well make some limited form of comeback, it will not become a mainstream venture nor long term.

 

[InhumanResource]

I know Im in the minority, but I do think big amps will become fashionable again one day. Just like records have come back, kids will want to experience the real thing. There is something special that digital recreations cannot capture and just the feeling of moving that air cannot be truly mimicked. Prolly not 5 years but maybe 10. Thought?

Maybe, but there’s something more special about rolling to the gig in a comfortable car and carrying in nothing but your gig bag.

 

[Derek Kay]

I like a kick in the midriff, and compressed, HPFs 2x10" don't do that. That's intended. FOH takes care of it.

If you've been near an (East European) DB section, arco fff, it thunders. The stage shakes. It's part of the bass awe to me so I won't abandon all sub frequencies. They're an important part of a bass sound.

I mostly play BG. Bigger spkrs/cabs can produce a deep inaudible impact and it's great if it's clean and controlled. It's inspiring on bigger stages and outside, I enjoyed feeling the vibration when those gigs occurred. My rule of thumb was to use double the wattage of the amp. My back disagrees.

The amp is less important to me. A bass with a flat output is an advantage IMO, pick or fingers. I realised optimising the sound source is more effective than correcting it later, and most of my endeavour has gone on that. Feeling some grunt is satisfying. That's the neanderthal in me.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Why not just run multiple light cabs, like if you have to peel paint run 2x modern 212's. And I don't personally think that heavy heads sound better than light ones

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I know Im in the minority, but I do think big amps will become fashionable again one day. Just like records have come back, kids will want to experience the real thing. There is something special that digital recreations cannot capture and just the feeling of moving that air cannot be truly mimicked. Prolly not 5 years but maybe 10. Thought?

Just like records, they never really went away.

Having said that, whilst theres a love of old cars, we don't see the re-emergence of steel bumpers, points loaded distributors, "3 on the tree" manual gearboxes, twin or triple SU carby systems,
making a comeback..
So I'm thinking, what might occur is the modern day reproduction of parts to refurbish old gear back up to spec. There's more money in parts than re-creating the original commodity.

I shall refrain from putting a time limit on this happening.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

my fender 410 neos are about 55 pounds each. to offset the 65 pounds of the SB

Yup. Lightweight

 

[micguy]

Big amps still exist (as a matter of fact, they're bigger than ever), they're just not on the stage any more . The PA's I get to play through have tens of kilowatts of power (a bunch of amps are needed to provide all of that), and gobs of subs - although a "Fridge" may seem mighty, compared to a modern decent sized PA in a decent sized venue, 300 watts and 8 10's is really not impressive at all.

 

[brianrost]

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Backlines will always be available under contract to big name touring acts. I just bought this, it's YUUUUUUGE!

 

[bobyoung53]

They never went away for me, I've been using SVT's and other Ampegs since about 1975. Others: Dual Showmans and Marshall Majors.

 

[Fynn]

I'm not gonna haul an 810 around on my own... But if one of you is willing to do it, I'll be happy to use one every gig!!

 

[Clark W]

I know Im in the minority, but I do think big amps will become fashionable again one day. Just like records have come back, kids will want to experience the real thing. There is something special that digital recreations cannot capture and just the feeling of moving that air cannot be truly mimicked. Prolly not 5 years but maybe 10. Thought?

One day? I'm for the here and now.

The amp isn't big, but the stack still looks impressive.

Mesa D-800+ / 6 lbs
Markbass Traveler 102P / 37 lbs
Markbass Traveler 151P / 45 lbs
Markbass Traveler 102P / 37 lbs
Markbass Traveler 151P / 45 lbs

And it all fits, easily, in a Nissan Rogue SL Edition.

 

[Plastalmonus]

Gallien-Krueger is set to release a new version of the RB, which quote "will be a lead sled", in August according to the current projection.

I'm liking my QSC GX5 a lot, class H.

GK have been announcing the release of a successor to the RB for the last 3 years. At this point I'll believe it when it actually happens.

 

[KenD]

Gawd, I hope so! I'm yearning for the days when my amp head has enough juice to double as an arc welder.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I'm waiting...

 

[klokker]

If class D heads ever become "old school" then that's what I'll be.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nowadays, most gigs where you would have used a huge amp has FOH doing the heavy lifting.