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Complaints about bass gear weight

#121
Thrill-House said:
Sometimes i just dont understand it when i see bands playing in bars that have large 8x10 bass cabs and two 4x12 guitar cabs. You just know those things weigh alot, and theres really no benefit. Nearly all gigs around here have PA support, and i was able to go without PA support with my GK Neo 4x10 cab one time! No way would i ever need more power!

Even during my guitar playing days, i very rarely used more than my 2x12 traynor combo... sometimes brought the 2x12 extension if i was feeling up to it, but it was rarely needed. With all the great lightweight gear and PA systems everywhere, theres no need to big heavy amps!
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I never need my Peavey Tour 700 and Ampeg 810, but I still love it. It's usually what I use at home for practice, and don't really feel that it's too tough to move. I've moved it up and down stairs by myself, and I'm about 5'10, 130lbs.

I just can't get that sealed Ampeg tone out of my Avatar 212, and love the look of a big cab or two behind me on stage.
 
#122
michael_atw said:
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?
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I can carry about 50 pounds for any length of time with one hand. I try to keep all of my gear at 50 pounds or less so I can open doors without having to put the gear down.

I don't think I could one hand an SVT ;) Maybe when I was young and bulletproof :D
 
#124
mouthmw said:
I used to gig Ampeg 810. Now I've got GK 412. It's neo. Anyone who tells me it doesn't look badass and big on stage is lying. I can lift it myself and it's a breeze with the help of a band member. I like big cabs yea, and this is a perfect combination of lightweight, big and loud. My amp is GK 700RB II. Also pretty light weight. It sounds great. Am I manly enough since I can lift the 99 lbs cab and put it in the back of the van by myself?
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I doubt it.
 
#125
I literally LOVE the sound that I get outta my gear! I toured for a few years with it, and these days it's more of a hobby, but I never once shied away from carrying my gear with a friend or a bandmate.

I understand and totally respect the micro/neo crew...they sound killer and they're light....I just love, truly LOVE the stage sound I get with my tubes and my five string Lakey P bass. I don't mind the lift, I'm a pretty accomplished picker up and putter down of people, so I guess gear that doesn't try to hit back or scramble away is not so bad:)

THAT SAID...I wouldn't be against one of those new Ampeg PF micro head/or a GEnz STL900 into a 2x12 of the neo persuasion... Why not, right? Variety is the spice of life!
 
#127
Mouthmw, I love and own the GK neo stuff. It's simple, light, plenty of speakers and KILLER tone.

I'd be willing to make a bet that a majority of the heavy crowd doesn't gig just about every week like another poster mentioned. I for one play out around 42 weeks a year. 2-3 gigs a month just isn't enough playing for me.
 
#128
I like the concept of a single trip to and from the car during load-in and out. My Acoustic Image / Schroeder rig helps me accomplish this easily. Gig bag & amp over the shoulder, cab in one hand, and another to open doors / use keys. Not too shabby.

I don't mind lifting heavy things - I really enjoy them. I lift weights on a regular basis, and have a 455lb deadlift (currently working to get this higher). However, trying to carry a rig through bar attendees (who don't want to move), or to the parking lot a block away, or on steps with ice - I'll take the lightest thing I can get.

A comment about lifting - weightlifting is significantly easier than hauling gear. For the deadlift, there is a nice handle, the center of gravity is very close to the body, there is only up & down motion, and there is usually a nice, stable surface in the gym. In lifting gear - the center of gravity is not as close to the body, and it has to be carried over distances, which introduces additional constraints.
 
#129
When I was young and playing in a touring band, I had a massive rig. 8x10s and 2x15s. My rack was always monsterous.

Now that I'm old with a bad back (likely caused by my rig in my youth) I have a 9lb. head and carry either one or sometimes two 38lb. 2x10 cabs :)
 
#131
themacinator said:
Saw two bands over the weekend. Both had big gear. Bass sound from the first band was low, muddy, and uninteresting. Second was full, punchy, and added to the mix. Same PA and sound man. Wonder what happened.
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One of my favorite stories to recall is about a bass player I saw years ago who was subbing with my friend's band. His rig was enormous, yet the sound was pale.

After the show, I went up to the band to say 'hi' and make small talk, and struck up a short conversation with the sub bass player. In the process I started checking out his rig up close, at which point he had the temerity to start bragging on it. My eyes immediately glazed over; I was done. I certainly couldn't say what I was thinking. Why start a ruckus?

The guy was clueless. All he had was a large rig, no smarts at all. It was OK for him to break his back for a mediocre sound, because it looked so bitchin'.

The moral of this story: It's the skill of the wizard, not the size of the wand.
 
#132
theretheyare said:
Totally true-but if you live and gig in a place like NYC where everyone lives in small 4 story walkups, moves around by train because parking is a b*tch and the simplest car insurance is like $200 a month, and joints one plays have stages the size of a postage stamp- maybe some compromising might be in order....
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Sounds like my gig @ The National Underground last week.

:help:
 
#133
My amp is a Fender Rumble 60 watt.

I can carry it with one hand.

Too bad I have to also lug a 6 piece, 6 foot tall acrylic drum shield; two JBL JRX125 speakers; my board, my rack unit with amps, etc; my wife's ancient bass rig with dual 15's; and all the lights, etc.

Sucks to be the bassist/bassist's husband/singer/sound crew. That's why the whole band helps load in and out, or NOBODY is getting paid!
 
#136
I find it hilarious/pathetic that I put keyboards on the back burner partially out of the frustration of lugging around 75 pounds of synth for very little gratification. So then I pick up bass and start slowly finding out that they make cabinets which weigh as much as I do. Maybe someday I'll reincarnate as a big buff 250-pound dude with linebacker shoulders, but in this life, I'm a 95-pound chick who is strong for her size...which still limits me to about 65 pounds if I do it right. And now I have to be very careful because I have bad shoulders. So I have a lot to complain about...at least I don't have to worry about being macho... :P
 
#138
JtheJazzMan said:
I move everything around on a fold up trolley. My spine loves me for it.
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Even with my light gear, i use one of these for longer hauls:

00987615000


Best $20 I ever spent on gear.
 
#140
Mongo, I have one of those carts that I also use for my synths and it's a godsend. I mean, if only the subway had elevators at ALL their stops...but it still helps quite a bit! And yes J, that is a viable solution. There have actually been times where I've just SAID, "I need a big strong man to help me carry this/open this jar of salsa." I do what I can for "girl power," but there comes a limit! :D
 

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