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Big rigs

wolfkeller

wolfkeller

Supporting Member
Aug 11, 2013
5,716
7,902
53
detroit
#1
I did a rehearsal yesterday and used the rig that was there s gk 700rb 2x10 combo. I found it to be seriously lacking any real oomph. Now, I use one of 3 heads ( 1001rbii, svt2 or gk 800rb) into 810e. These all kill in terms of loud, power and tone. I just cannot do anything less than a 4x10. I cannot see IMO, how guys can run tiny cabs. Sure we usually have em miked but there is still a lack of balls on stage and @ rehearsal. I'm talking hard Rock/metal here. I also can't personally stand to see a rock band on stage with woosie little rigs. I am all about big and bad. To me, nothing like seeing a wall of amps on stage regardless of if they're used or not. If I had the cash I'd add a second 8x10 in stage and use a full sized rolling rack. Anyone else? I cannot get with the tiny rig thing. Nothing against anyone who does, just me. I always felt rock/ metal was about big and bad.
 
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#4
Wut? I couldn't hear u? Sorry I ran 1500 watts through a van full of cabs for a decade and can't hear anything anymore. Good thing I don't like music or it would really bother me being deaf.
 
#5
There was a time, but nowadays I just do hard rock gigs occasionally, and I agree with you. While it's true that modern PA systems are so good that the wall of cabs is more or less a stage indulgence, there's just something disconcerting about seeing a metal band with tiny rigs. I'm no stranger to tiny rigs, but not when I'm playing hard rock.
 
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#8
Did anybody see Van Halen Diver Down tour? Nothing but speakers everywhere. Looked like The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound! During Eddie's solo he would repeatedly shred, run back and flying kick a stack that would teeter back and forth while he ran out to shred again! What a show.
Edit- Actually I think the tour was called Hide Your Sheep.
 
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#9
I know. I could never go IEM only, but you see my point, right? Hey, it's SHOW biz, but if there's a NEED for more than what 1 8x10 can deliver, you're FOH engineer must hate you.
 
#10
See! It ain't just me. Another thing, I've always hated that bass cabs are smaller than guitar cabs. A mediocre bass rig will smoke a good full Marshall stack, yet to me it looks kinda lame being physically smaller. I'd love a larger 8x10( insane but I don't care). Hauling big gear keeps ya in shape and lifted Right will not hurt your back. I know once apon a time Steve Harris used 4x12s with ev12ls and those made for big cabs Sheehan had custom 4x15s w Roth.
 
#12
I move my own stuff now. When I was younger, I went big, and while there is nothing like the force of an SVT and an 8x10, at 2am there is nothing like getting your pay and packing quick. Also, the size of the rig means nothing to me. I saw Brian Setzler perform with a smaller Fender amp, and a backdrop of a painting of Marshall stacks. If I want to see a wall of amps, I can just walk into Guitar Center.

Then again, I'm older, and I don't play metal. YMMV.
 
#13
I hear ya man. I'm 41 now so I'm still good. I definitely agree about getting out of there but it really only takes about 10 min to load up a rack, cab, pedalboard, stand case and 2or 3 basses and hit the road.
 
#16
Metal:

a.jpg
 
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#17
I used to do the whole fridge sized stack of speakers, preamp and poweramp etc ... what it mostly did for me was weigh too much and cause transportation problems. As bulldog above, the older I get the less I want to haul around. We also try to keep the stage volume as low as we can; it's better musically to be able to hear what everyone plays, and it's better for your health.

But I do recognize the image part of it especially in rock genres, and that some players need the oomph to feel the bass. If it works for you, go for it, but do protect your ears.
 

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