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It wasn’t until I started living here that I realized why guys play unamplified- the schlep.
I’ve got a Phil Jones double 4 (9 pounds fits in a backpack) my “big” amp is an acoustic image head with an old GK MB extension cabinet (the lightest cheapest thing I could find at the time). Hauling an upright and a hand truck on the subway is a massive PITA and is to be avoided. I’m about to upgrade to an acoustic image upshot combo (backpack) and an epifani 112 for the loud stuff. Also, a good DI box is very useful, I just replaced an ancient sansamp with a trickfish minnow.
I’ve got a Phil Jones double 4 (9 pounds fits in a backpack) my “big” amp is an acoustic image head with an old GK MB extension cabinet (the lightest cheapest thing I could find at the time). Hauling an upright and a hand truck on the subway is a massive PITA and is to be avoided. I’m about to upgrade to an acoustic image upshot combo (backpack) and an epifani 112 for the loud stuff. Also, a good DI box is very useful, I just replaced an ancient sansamp with a trickfish minnow.
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Hell I'm a total car geek (own three), see my sig line
But if I lived in NYC I would not own a car; well if I was a rich guy who could pay for a private garage I would but I would only drive it to LEAVE the city and go somewhere, not IN the city.
I've driven OVER NYC (on my way to Connecticut) but never in it. All I know about NYC is from watching old episodes of "The Naked City" LOL.
I suspect it's a bit different now than it was back in 1958 - 1962 LOL
Analogeezer
And funnily enough I bet in many ways it's no different than it was in 1958-1962. Ha!Hell I'm a total car geek (own three), see my sig line
But if I lived in NYC I would not own a car; well if I was a rich guy who could pay for a private garage I would but I would only drive it to LEAVE the city and go somewhere, not IN the city.
I've driven OVER NYC (on my way to Connecticut) but never in it. All I know about NYC is from watching old episodes of "The Naked City" LOL.
I suspect it's a bit different now than it was back in 1958 - 1962 LOL
Analogeezer
I'd be interested to know the OP's age. This whole conversation is kind of taking me back to my early-to-mid 20's, when I was doing the NYC hustle, doing Craigslist gigs, playing in original bands, jazz groups, doing the Williamsburg scene, going into Manhattan on the subway to do a $20 rehearsal, etc etc. Very much the OP's current condition, from what it sounds like. Then I hit 30 a few years back and every gig is on Long Island, NJ, upstate in the mountains, Westchester, PA, CT and even further afield.
My final bit of advice on this topic would be to find some kind of space in your budget for a vehicle. Make a cut somewhere. Move to a cheaper place further out in the boroughs or Yonkers. Or at least start to plan for that. Fun fact: When I lived on Long Island (Glen Cove) for a couple years, I actually SAVED time on my commute if I was working in the city vs. when I lived in Queens. I lived 30 miles outside the city, all the way up on 107, and the fact that I didn't have to wait on a million traffic lights and park a mile away from my place at the end of the night saved me 30-60 minutes, every night. I could leave my gear in the car over night, too. Man, I miss that place. Kinda.
And my final advice on an amp: speaker NO SMALLER THAN 12". Don't get a briefcase-style amp, unless the designs have drastically improved over the years. Having some width and depth to the cabinet is important for the sound. Wattage is less important than those two features. Ampeg stuff sounds nice but is too heavy.
My final bit of advice on this topic would be to find some kind of space in your budget for a vehicle. Make a cut somewhere. Move to a cheaper place further out in the boroughs or Yonkers. Or at least start to plan for that. Fun fact: When I lived on Long Island (Glen Cove) for a couple years, I actually SAVED time on my commute if I was working in the city vs. when I lived in Queens. I lived 30 miles outside the city, all the way up on 107, and the fact that I didn't have to wait on a million traffic lights and park a mile away from my place at the end of the night saved me 30-60 minutes, every night. I could leave my gear in the car over night, too. Man, I miss that place. Kinda.
And my final advice on an amp: speaker NO SMALLER THAN 12". Don't get a briefcase-style amp, unless the designs have drastically improved over the years. Having some width and depth to the cabinet is important for the sound. Wattage is less important than those two features. Ampeg stuff sounds nice but is too heavy.
400w is a volume level.
Many great sounding, small, lightweight heads can do 400w. This allows smaller, lighter, inefficient cabs to be driven to adequate levels.
But add more cones and they are ear bleeding loud.
Venue's you're playing don't have a backline - but do they have a PA/FOH?
If not, PS/FOH cabs are also small, lightweight, powerful and up to the task of amplifying a bass, plus a guitar, or singer, or sax, or backing tracks. If you have a regular band then you might want to go for PA/FOH. QSC, JBL, ... all top brands make excellent portable PA/FOH cabinets.
I think it's great to find something for public transportation. I done it myself and it saves a ton of hassle, but uber is good to if you let them know ahead you have luggage size amp to haul.
Hey thanks for everyones responses! I've decided to go with a Markbass New York 112 but I'm going to keep this forum up so other folks in my position may gain some insight!!!
Portability/loud enough for drummer is the Fender Rumble 100 IMO. So light...use the XLR when they have FOH and you are good. For smaller venues, it is fine alone. It is just so damn light...makes the ride home easy.
I would highly recommend the Genzler MG350/MG12T-V combo. The head is very loud for its power rating and the whole combo is only 27 pounds with a heavy duty bar handle for an easy carry. The head can be easily removed from the cabinet and the vertical orientation brings the sound closer to your ears and the controls up higher for an easier reach.
