Cab weight difference older vs new.

[Marko 1]

I'm kinda looking at a used Fender Pro 810, non-neo steel grill model.

While gooogling around, found these weight specs.

Older Fender Pro 810 (steel grill. Non-neo) - 157 lbs...
Fender 810 PRO V2 8x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet

New Fender Bassman Pro 810 - 97 lbs.
Fender Bassman Pro 810 8x10 Neo Bass Speaker Cabinet

60 friggin' pounds less?

Okay, eight lighter neo speakers... then what? Thinner/lighter wood?

The older one states “The Fender bass speaker cab includes 4 chambered and ported sections that each hold 2 -10"”,

but the new one doesn't state that... could the new one have skipped those divider panels?

Could they save sixty pound without any compromises in quality?

 

[Discount Bassy]

I'd bet it's in the magnets alone, but I am not speaking authoritatively on the subject. I do know that a neodymium magnet can outpower a traditional ferrite magnet up to twenty to one at a given weight depending on the compounds involved.

 

[gtirard]

Don't worry, Fender still have margins of progression:

GR Bass 810 - 50,7 lbs

 

[Marko 1]

Don't worry, Fender still have margins of progression:

GR Bass 810 - 50,7 lbs

That's "Two Houses In Youngstown" money...

I'm still looking at the 157-lb one.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I did some googling and found that a weight for a ferrite driver magnet on a single 10" speaker is north of 4lbs whereas a neodymium magnet may be 4oz. That can account for about half of the weight difference alone. I cannot speak for the changes to the steel structure required to support something 4oz vs 4lbs.

 

[Marko 1]

I'm suspecting the new ones don't have the dividers between sets of tens...

Are there any 8x10s without them?

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I'm sure the lack of a steel grill lighter thinner ply wood cab with considerably less bracing and neo speakers easily could shave off about 100lbs

 

[mcnach]

I'm still looking at the 157-lb one.

It's one way to get a workout I suppose... I'd rather get the lighter one and go to the gym instead, but that's just me

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Okay, eight lighter neo speakers... then what? Thinner/lighter wood?

Yes.

Lighter speakers produce less "load" on the structure.
Newer plywood and other materials that are both lighter and stronger contribute even more to the weight reduction.

 

[swink]

60 friggin' pounds less?

No one has yet managed to capture Vintage Mojo.... But one thing for sure is that it adds weight.

 

[Stewie]

^^^ nailed it. The 60 pounds is the Mojo. Without it the cabinet will be useless

 

[chris_b]

My cabs have neo-mojo.

Can lift with one finger while knocking down walls and sounding like an angle singing.

 

[ebo]

I would suggest getting a special harness where you could strap this cab onto your back, then play each one while walking around. Play the 157lb one and the 97lb one to see if you can feel the difference in mojo. Trust your ears, not your back.

 

[Drzejzi]

I have an old GK 112 combo that weights almost the same as my GK410 combo. Neo drivers, thinner enclosure and a class D amp are the main reasons for the weight loss.

 

[agedhorse]

The Fender weight difference is split between the drivers and the cabinet.

 

[themickster]

My cabs have neo-mojo.

Can lift with one finger while knocking down walls and sounding like an angle singing.

That would be down to whether the angle is more or less than 90°

 

[baxter_x]

Could they save sixty pound without any compromises in quality

As an owner of a this cab, I can tell you there is no compromise on quality at all!
That cab is simply awesome. Great tone, projection, presence, lightweight, handles a damn amount of power......
I miss the gigs where I can bring it.

 

[Mastermold]

The Fender weight difference is split between the drivers and the cabinet.

Have there been changes in kind of the plywood available too? Someone above suggested that, which sounds like it would also help weight reduction, but in my mind I thought all plywood was essentially about the same weight.

Edit: maybe it's just thinner, but I have no idea.

 

[Zak TMD]

10" ceramics are ~ 10 - 11 lbs a piece. 10" neos are ~ 4-5 lbs a piece, so that's around 50 lbs right there. Are the box measurements smaller? Maybe they removed additional bracing? Lighter weight wood? Less the drivers, 10 or so lbs is not that much of a difference.

 

[agedhorse]

Have there been changes in kind of the plywood available too? Someone above suggested that, which sounds like it would also help weight reduction, but in my mind I thought all plywood was essentially about the same weight.

Edit: maybe it's just thinner, but I have no idea.

Yes, different species of plywood are now used compared with the older models.