One doesn't have to be old or weak to prefer lighter gear, just practical/efficient. Although gravity hasn't increased along with my age, the range of good choices in bass amplification has 
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I went from a 150 pound Trace Elliot rig to a 5 pounds head and 28 pound 212. One easy carry to the car, including bass and cables.
I'm 36, my days of gigging with 810s and 412s are in the past but I'm happy at the moment moving my 410 and 115. I think when I do get tired of them I'll go for a greenboy audio 1212/6 or something light weight but still reasonable loud. For right now the worst part of moving my cabs is getting them in and out of my car. Other than that my bandmates help me get them onstage and the rest of the time I make good use of casters. I've tried some smaller cabs but they just don't cut it when the PA isn't great, we occasionally play gigs where the PA is just used for vocals and acoustic guitar so the only bass the audience hears is from my rig. Also for local festivals in my area the stages are huge and then monitors don't handle bass well if they don't have subs as part of side fills.
Ductapeman
Ringmaster and Resident Geriatric
I found an absolutely pristine Sunn 200S in the back of a friend's garage-- I've been losing the fight against buying it, but boy do I remember tube amps-- but they sound so goood for some things, and the 200S was a Cadillac-- maybe if I can get one of my grandsons interested in playing-- strike that, get him to roady and buy him beer (he's 24)--
I still have my heavy gear, but it does a lot of sitting in storage these days. I love my Ampeg SVTCL head, but dead lifting it in its road case in and out of the trunk of my car every weekend was making me worry a little. I'm in pretty good shape but I've had a semi herniated disc in my back which is fixed now, but I still remember the fun that it was.
Lately I've been using a lightweight class D amp in my six space rack, so the wireless, preamp for foh, effects, and amp are in one tidy box. I play a lot of medium sized stages, so about the smallest cabs I run are a 410 cab. I have a GK neo 212 I use in small rooms, but it can get swallowed pretty easy.
I'd really like to audition a Bergantino cab for some shows, as they do sound really good and are compact. I'm jealous of you guys that can get by with running just a single 10 or 12 at a gig. Unless I'm missing something with some new high tech cabs, those don't move enough air for me on a stage I'm not running in ear monitoring for.
Lately I've been using a lightweight class D amp in my six space rack, so the wireless, preamp for foh, effects, and amp are in one tidy box. I play a lot of medium sized stages, so about the smallest cabs I run are a 410 cab. I have a GK neo 212 I use in small rooms, but it can get swallowed pretty easy.
I'd really like to audition a Bergantino cab for some shows, as they do sound really good and are compact. I'm jealous of you guys that can get by with running just a single 10 or 12 at a gig. Unless I'm missing something with some new high tech cabs, those don't move enough air for me on a stage I'm not running in ear monitoring for.
A few years ago I decided to stop gigging with my GK 800RB (which wasn't light) and my Kustom 215 tuck-n-roll cab (that had to way well over 100 lbs) and get something lighter and easier to move. I went with Markbass. And while I love my rig, I now know that I could have gone even lighter (Fender Rumble, Barefaced,fEarless, GK Neo, etc). As long as you know that the standard rule applies (weight/cost/tone - pick 2 you want), you can go pretty darned light.
Well, "back in the day" I used to drag my 950-pound 20 x 18 cabinet through the snow by a length of barbwire held between my teeth, naked, over the mountains, with my bass in one hand, tube head in the other, and obese girlfriend on my back.
It's time to cut your loses and move on to light weight amplifier heads and some light 2*12, or in my case 2*10 cabinet My Svt refrigerator is retired and sees playing time in my music room only.
Some times when my back starts hurting I just bring the Di and no amp. I came to the reality that I can get my Svt tone out of a pedal a few years ago. I wish they had that when I was lugging two Svt amp heads and 3 8*10 cabinets across the country. I probably would be able to stand without as much pain today.
Some times when my back starts hurting I just bring the Di and no amp. I came to the reality that I can get my Svt tone out of a pedal a few years ago. I wish they had that when I was lugging two Svt amp heads and 3 8*10 cabinets across the country. I probably would be able to stand without as much pain today.
This is my Rig today and the V-tone pedal I use when I just have to leave the rig at home.
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Not all of us.
I'm 64 and almost always take half of this to gigs unless it's just ridiculous. Never any ear plugs and I still hear fine, you're only as old as you feel.
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I went from an old SWR Silverado Special (very loud, but very heavy) 2x12 combo to two GB Shuttle 2x10's. From 93 lbs down to two 37's plus Shuttle on top.
The pedalboard sure keeps getting heavier.
... back in the day we also used to stand in front of that stuff because we had to carry an old arena or armory building with it, while our big square Altec VOT PA cabs had to carry the vocals over the top ... and, back in the day, nobody used ear protection ... and now, (no longer back in the day) if we are lucky, we hear about half of what we should be hearing ...
I for one, am glad we are no longer 'back in the day' ...
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I will attach a pic soon!I bet lifting that little TC head with one hand on top of your stack sure does feel nice.
Edit: BTW, where are the pics of your gear? You know how we here on TB love pics.
I did a gig recently with two Eden EX110's and a GK MB500. We were playing downstairs. A guitarist eating in the restaraunt upstairs said he felt the bass through the floor and had to come down for a listen. I did turn down a little after that.... 
At this point the only upgrade I see in the future is one of these guys. Of course I will keep my MB200 and MB500 as backups..
Back to the original point-- Yes we are getting older and heavier!
At this point the only upgrade I see in the future is one of these guys. Of course I will keep my MB200 and MB500 as backups..
Back to the original point-- Yes we are getting older and heavier!
Kinda funny, a new band I jammed with tonight had two no-master SVT's in the rehearsal room. Just used one head (second is the spare) but it was connected to both cabs, a towel bar and a flat back. They said they'd bring an SVT to gigs for me 
but I'd rather have my regular Aguilar TH-350 and two 12's or two 15's. Just looking at that rig 'bout gave me a hernia LOL.
Oh, and there was an old tuck'n'roll Kustom rig too. Maybe I'll try that next time...
but I'd rather have my regular Aguilar TH-350 and two 12's or two 15's. Just looking at that rig 'bout gave me a hernia LOL.Oh, and there was an old tuck'n'roll Kustom rig too. Maybe I'll try that next time...
Im still gigging with my MKIV head through my 1820 cab 26 years later..it really pushes some air and lacks for nothing at any size gig. I agree with everyone though that it's a very heavy cab and its a wonder after 26 years of dragging it around I havent got a hernia. From some research ive done its probably 120 pounds plus. I play a Peavey '91 Dyna Bass through the rig as well and it really does make for a good match. Its gotta be about time now to grab a lighter punchy rig of some sort.
