Casters on Subs?

[Doley50]

Hello,

My band has just purchased a pair of Invalid Link Removed Subs.
These weigh 77 lb. each and I hate to drill holes in them to install casters, but first thing that I would like to know is, are subs best suited to sit on the floor or at least close to the floor? These Subs do have small rubber feet on them, I have been reading a little about casters on subs from different web searches, and it seems a lot of people seem to prefer the back conner casters you have to tilt the back to roll.
I am thinking that a simple [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] may be a better option. This one seems a little overboard however a good set of caster will cost just as much and I would need to put them on both subs.
I am hoping to get some feedback for you that have more experience with this, I would rather hire some 20 year old to move the stuff for us, but like a friend of mine said is, you don't get paid for playing , you get paid for setting up and breaking down. LOL !!!

Thank you for an advice you have

John

 

[T-Bird]

Hi John.

A Dolly guy here.

I even put my big rigs on a dolly if the stage is big enough, makes a world of difference in moving 'em around.

Casters on a sub tend to rattle no matter what You do, so I'd avoid that idea based on personal experience.

I'll leave the physical and acoustical floor coupling discussion to those people who believe it actually matters .

Regards
Sam

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

Most often, you'll see casters on the back of subs when lying flat on the floor. They're then flipped and wheeled speakers up. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but just what I've seen in most cases.

 

[zfunkman]

Hi John.

A Dolly guy here.

I even put my big rigs on a dolly if the stage is big enough, makes a world of difference in moving 'em around.

Casters on a sub tend to rattle no matter what You do, so I'd avoid that idea based on personal experience.

I'll leave the physical and acoustical floor coupling discussion to those people who believe it actually matters .

Regards
Sam

There IS such a thing as removable castors. They work great and are less cumberson than any type of "dolly."

 

[odineye]

There IS such a thing as removable castors. They work great and are less cumberson than any type of "dolly."

True, but one big common problem I've seen with removable castors is they're like socks in a dryer. Too often 8 go in and 7 come out. Even with crates, boxes, bags, whatever to store them in.

I've always been more inclined toward a dolly myself. Has a lot more uses than just one piece of equipment and always stores away nicely at the back of the truck. Which brings up another reason I'm not all that fond of castors... They waste a heck of a lot of space and make for a more insecure load when transporting.

 

[Bassamatic]

Dolly or tilt-back wheels are best. Subs and bass cabs should sit hard on the floor. And the dolly can be used for other stuff as well - double duty!!

 

[HarlowSound]

Subs on Floor it is technically called coupling.

 

[bassman314]

After the sockets on my cab broke, I switched to a Dolly.

So much easier to deal with. $25 at Home Depot.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

There IS such a thing as removable castors. They work great and are less cumberson than any type of "dolly."

The ones usually available are nowhere near sturdy or convenient enough to be placed on a 118 or 218 sub.

AND...

True, but one big common problem I've seen with removable castors is they're like socks in a dryer. Too often 8 go in and 7 come out. Even with crates, boxes, bags, whatever to store them in.

^This.

If You use a common ones like the Marshall screw-on caster, someone who has misplaced theirs, will steal one or two at the load-out when the cabs are on their side to preven't 'em rolling away without supervision .

Regards
Sam

 

[Zooberwerx]

Yep...bought 2 complete sets of Fender pop 'n pull casters for my Yorkville subs. Broke the rubber wheel on one and never bothered to look for a replacement. They are handy when shoving both cabs to the front of a low-slung trailer, though.

Riis

 

[Runnerman]

I don't know if there is a real simple solution with these compact subs. To me they are not really set up to be really portable/gigable by design. What about a road case, just lift off the top and go? Don't know if they make one for that or not...may be a custom or you could make one yourself. You lose the coupling with the floor that way.

Best I have seen are the built in casters. We have Cerwin Vega B36 Earthquakes which have the tlit cut out on the back for the built in tilt casters...which are more like wheels...much tougher than a caster. And the handles are built into the back as well.

I think the dolly is going to be your best bet. Just a flat dolly you can set it on would probably reduce wear and tear that you might get using a hand truck style.

 

[gearhead1972]

I use one of these for my Sub, and all my gear. Gotta make a few trips to the car anyway.

 

[Stu L.]

I say put the casters on the side of the cab. Roll up and turn it right side up. After the gig reverse the process. The added bonus of casters is you can stack on top of the subs for less trips. IMO of course.

 

[musicman7722]

My Ksub has them on the side.