Complaints about bass gear weight

[steve_rolfeca]

I appreciate all the replies and respect everyone's perspective/reasons for the gear choices. I feel that as bassist we just need to expect our gear to be bigger/heavier than others on stage.

I appreciate all the replies, and respect everyone's perspectives as well.

That said, I received the spinal injury that has plagued me ever since my teens, while carrying an oversized, overweight, crappy-sounding twin 15 cab down a narrow metal fire escape after a gig.

On the size issue: Bass amplification needs to be as big, as it needs to be. That's a moving target, complicated by engineering compromise, technological advances, and the laws of physics. The monster 200 watt, 150lb Gibson 2*15 stack that I was using in 1974, was the best amp I could find at the time. But it was nowhere near as good (or as loud} as my Genz Streamliner 900, powering the tiny sub-40lb wonder that I just purchased from AudioKinesis. If I ever find myself in a band situation where I need big cabs as a stage prop, mine will be empty. And the gig better come with roadies to carry them, even then.

On the elevator issue: I've played a lot of nasty halls where musicians are required to use the "servants entrance", and the exits are downright dangerous. Come to think of it, I've played some pretty swank halls that were just as bad. Double that, when it comes to outdoor gigs.

On the sound issue: We all have different ideas of what sounds best, and not everybody thinks the world stopped with the advent of the SVT. I've never owned one, but I've used lots of them as backline, and they never really floated my boat. Predictable, loud, and usually reliable, but just not my cup of tea. Meanwhile, the lightweight gear I'm using now, sounds 100% better than the stuff I was using 10 years ago, never mind the crap I was putting up with back in the early '70's.

On the cost issue: I just paid about $800 for a boutique "super twelve" cabinet, that will play as loud as I need, and goes lower AND higher than a SVT cab. I probably could have gotten a used 8*10 or a 2*15 for the same or less, but when you factor in chiropractor's bills, gas costs for a larger car, the convenience of having my wife let me keep it in the living room, etc., I think the new cab is a bargain.

If you like big gear, if you don't mind carrying it, and the tone floats your boat, good for you. But I'm grateful to have a one-trip solution that sounds the way I want, weighs less than 70lbs including my bass, and is prolonging my career by reducing the wear and tear on my spine.

 

[bradjonesbass]

I bench press 325 lbs for reps and I chose a small head (MB SA450) and a custom built, NEO loaded 3 way cab (LDS) that weighs 42 lbs with 3 drivers in it. Because it sounds better and is easier to schlep around. I've yet to play a gig where my amp was turned up to the point I needed more. Normally I get asked to turn down a little, and that's with the volume well under half. The only issue I have is I'm 6'5" and in the normal club situation where I'm standing 6 inches in front of the cab it's hard to hear without being too loud for the room, so I solved that issue with a speaker stand.

 

[sethlow3]

I appreciate all the replies, and respect everyone's perspectives as well.

That said, I received the spinal injury that has plagued me ever since my teens, while carrying an oversized, overweight, crappy-sounding twin 15 cab down a narrow metal fire escape after a gig.

On the size issue: Bass amplification needs to be as big, as it needs to be. That's a moving target, complicated by engineering compromise, technological advances, and the laws of physics. The monster 200 watt, 150lb Gibson 2*15 stack that I was using in 1974, was the best amp I could find at the time. But it was nowhere near as good (or as loud} as my Genz Streamliner 900, powering the tiny sub-40lb wonder that I just purchased from AudioKinesis. If I ever find myself in a band situation where I need big cabs as a stage prop, mine will be empty. And the gig better come with roadies to carry them, even then.

On the elevator issue: I've played a lot of nasty halls where musicians are required to use the "servants entrance", and the exits are downright dangerous. Come to think of it, I've played some pretty swank halls that were just as bad. Double that, when it comes to outdoor gigs.

On the sound issue: We all have different ideas of what sounds best, and not everybody thinks the world stopped with the advent of the SVT. I've never owned one, but I've used lots of them as backline, and they never really floated my boat. Predictable, loud, and usually reliable, but just not my cup of tea. Meanwhile, the lightweight gear I'm using now, sounds 100% better than the stuff I was using 10 years ago, never mind the crap I was putting up with back in the early '70's.

On the cost issue: I just paid about $800 for a boutique "super twelve" cabinet, that will play as loud as I need, and goes lower AND higher than a SVT cab. I probably could have gotten a used 8*10 or a 2*15 for the same or less, but when you factor in chiropractor's bills, gas costs for a larger car, the convenience of having my wife let me keep it in the living room, etc., I think the new cab is a bargain.

If you like big gear, if you don't mind carrying it, and the tone floats your boat, good for you. But I'm grateful to have a one-trip solution that sounds the way I want, weighs less than 70lbs including my bass, and is prolonging my career by reducing the wear and tear on my spine.

Amen brotha! I don't understand the heavier is better crowd and this sums up all the advantages of the other option. Especially your cost analysis. Economics is all about hidden costs. It's not a science of what is obvious on the surface.

 

[fokof]

So I read alot of stories where people so "I love the sound but ohhhhh the weight." Personally I love having something I need help lifting on stage or loading in the vehicle.

Yeah , if you're 'working' on a girl after a gig, first step before bringing her to your place is to bring her to your car , asking her to help load both your 8/10 is the ticket !

 

[MarTONEbass]

Yeah , if you're 'working' on a girl after a gig, first step before bringing her to your place is to bring her to your car , asking her to help load both your 8/10 is the ticket !

....and as soon as the girlies can tell the tonal difference between a lightweight rig and a heavy rig, I'll switch back to the heavy stuff.

 

[themacinator]

Clearly the "lighter is better" crowd got the memo.

 

[Decedo]

I just picked up a new gig with a cover band. They canned their last bass player for a number of reason. He didn't own a bass amp, so they'd have to borrow one for him for gigs. He wouldn't help with loading PA gear and complained when he had to load his 'borrowed' gear. I have an SVT rig and a markbass/accugroove rig for light stuff, hehe.

 

[fdeck]

Clearly the "lighter is better" crowd got the memo.

Memo received: Some bassists want to use heavy gear. That's cool. Nobody's dictating your gear choices.

My own view: Lighter is lighter, and typically smaller. That's all.

 

[michael_atw]

....and as soon as the girlies can tell the tonal difference between a lightweight rig and a heavy rig, I'll switch back to the heavy stuff.

The kind of girls I roll with can

 

[poorbassist15]

I love my 2x15, and, I don't have the funds for anything else, so I have no other choice. We really don't have major PA support for the gigs we play, so it helps to have something that can handle the volume.

 

[Fitz]

Good band mates help bass players move their crap. My mates always help me when I need it, feels good man

 

[MegaSwing]

I'd rather be tired from performing, not schlepping. The audience doesn't judge you by what rig you play.

Lug that boulder all you want, I'm saving my back for the rest of my life.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Good band mates help bass players move their crap. My mates always help me when I need it, feels good man

They go to your house before and after the gig to transport the gear from your house to car?

Just curious.

 

[bassphreak]

I've rolled through a lot of gear and I'm back to the heavy rig. I've got a a 210, 410 and 115 old school Peavey setup with the old Max head. The 410 is bout 100lbs, 210 is 55lbs and the 115 is 70lbs, with the head at 50 lbs. I usually just need the 410 unless it's outdoors. The full 410/115/head stack is one of those 200+lb behemoths. It sounds great but yeah I hate lugging.

I keep the 410 at our practice space. I'm lucky that we have a great band where everyone helps out. We all load everything. Guitarist uses a old school marshall and laney setup and our other guitarist uses a peavey setup. We have old school JBL monitors and mains. Heavy stuff. It's what we have and it sounds really good.

We usually just leave the stuff in the cars (we are rural) and unload later in the day when we are up and moving.

Back to point: I will say that I have several non-severe hernias (unrelated to the gear) and I have seriously thought about finding lighter gear. I've tried markbass and avatar in the past with a lot of eq changes and never got the sound I wanted. If I could nail my sound I have with the Peavey gear I would switch. But I haven't found anything yet (haven't gone boutique).

 

[Sterrrling]

After years of gigging with an Ampeg 810 cab and Ampeg SVT 3 Pro with other mounted effects in a rack mount box, I've decided that I wasn't going to kill myself for my gear so I've switched to a Genz Benz 410 cab with castors (thank you Harbor Freight) and a Little Markbass III amp (true its not tube - but there have been some great advancements in technology in tube simulation) in my trusty Road-Ready rackmount box.

I find its just easier to get in and out of rehearsals and venues with lighter gear and its more important to spend time playing not moving gear.

 

[Russell L]

Had a Peavey Mark IV head and two 115s. Too heavy and burdensome.
Got a Workingman's 12---45 lbs. Nope. (And not enough juice).
Trace Elliot GP7 SM combo. 78 lbs. Enough juice, but too heavy eventually.
Bassman 150---nah.

Now...

Markbass Little Mark III (under 7 lbs.) and 151P cab (37.3 lbs.)---OH YES!!

Friend of mine has a V4 and SVT 810. Sounds great. I don't want it, I'd never move it. My Markbass rig kicks butt, and just wait til I get the second 151P cab. I just don't want big heavy stuff when I can sound this good with small, light stuff. A no brainer.

And it ain't just because I'm 61.

 

[michael_atw]

I'm still confused as to why it seems many people make it out to be so hard to handle two 70-100 lb speakers with casters and a 100lb head. Is it really that hard?

 

[bass4worship]

I keep all my gear light. I have two heads that I can take in one small bag, a Carvin Bx500 and my Mark F1. all under 10 lbs. Then my 4 cabs that are all GK112 let me take only what I need to a gig may it be one or four.

 

[Epitaph04]

I'm still confused as to why it seems many people make it out to be so hard to handle two 70-100 lb speakers with casters and a 100lb head. Is it really that hard?

Stairs exist.

 

[michael_atw]

Stairs exist.

Don't put the stuff up the stairs

And if that's not applicable, get bigger muscles?


I have a portaflex, old Fender cab, a 1x15, 2 SVT heads, and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe five feet from me right now, upstairs. I've done more work on a slow shift at a lumberyard than it took for me to bring them all up the stairs.