Does size matter?

[GregT]

In all honesty, I can't vote either way. I like my amp in between those choices. I don't want a giant amp, but I don't want a tiny one either. A medium sized combo for me every time. Fender Rumble to be exact as my profile picture shows.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Scenario: No IEMs/silent stage/etc- actual rig needed to cover the stage, PA support only sufficient to supplement the house. Cost/stage/venue/genre are also not a factors.

Note: I can't cover every possible particular, I'm hoping to avoid tedious semantic arguments- please try to get the gist of the poll question; thanks.

Poll choices:

A) If I could have a rig the size of a single 2-inch Post-it note with tiny little controls (use your imagination) that I could literally stick to the wall, the drummer's forehead, or wherever I like, that would be my preference. I'd take pleasure in how small and light my rig was, even shamelessly brag about it on TalkBass.

B) I have an actual size minimum for reasons of aesthetics, showmanship, feel, romanticism, toxic masculinity, small peener, not sure why...

… and that minimum size would be (please share).

Thanks.

I'd go with post-it note

 

[Old Fart]

My 2x12, with the drivers arranged vertically, lifts the head high enough that reaching the knobs is not difficult. an SVT atop the 810e is probably perfect in terms of ergonomics of sight, touch and hearing. But the Class D head and neo 212 are just a tad bit lighter and easier to schlep.

 

[Marko 1]

B vote here.

I feel like I understand the A voters in here. Personally I would need some visualization of "bass sounds" for the romanticism of seeing a band play live. It was magical all growing up and I'd love to share that with the future. Again, I understand A votes and even the idea of magical 'bass from this post it note' is cool. I feel like I'm allowed to like multiple things, so happens I like B more.

Could be anything visually similar to a svt cl on a 2x12, DI + pre-pedal on a 1x15, dare I say up to a MB200 on a 6x8 or 6x10

Wow, I think someone actually read and comprehended that this has absolutely nothing to do with sound or power...

Just the visuals, nothing but looks... how small can you go before it's embarrassing, if at all.

otherwise almost nobody read the opening post (I even went back and bolded the explanations of the choices) or any of my subsequent posts explaining it clearly.

 

[Passinwind]

your answer suggests choice A) in the poll. Sorry, no technology yet for smaller than a Post-it note. Thanks.

On further review, I've changed my vote to B. A post-it note can't accommodate control graphics I can read, which would feel less than swell, and following your explicit directions I am now telling you what size that amounts to. My minimum size would be 3.3 post-it notes.

 

[Nev375]

The knobs need to be big enough for my sausage fingers to twiddle and it needs to be significantly heavier than the cables plugged into it.

So I'm pretty sure a single carrot won't do. I need like 7 or 8 minimum.

 

[Andy Marshman]

My playing companions play DI to the PA. That works for them but I don't care for the tone of my bass in our monitors (when using an active DI box) so I opt for small combo. I'm in the PA Mains already, with subs which I don't consider to be 'mine'.

 

[smogg]

Since I am my own roadie this is my compromise between "need" & weight/portability for my loudish hard rock band. Plus is does have its visual appeal.

 

[Topkat13]

I’m blushing.

 

[NathOBX]

I like a half stack, otherwise I feel like I'm in High School.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I wash myself with a rag on a stick.

I got a gig today, gonna need my stick back.

Please remove your rag first. I am not doing that again.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Rule 1 of creating a better survey - write better questions.

 

[murphy]

When watching live bands, I like to see what amps people are using and when younger would go up front of the stage in front of the bass player to hear the bass amp . And blast me with big fat bass goodness!

 

[Greywoulf]

Ignoring the obvious silliness of post-it size bass gear, the smallest good gear I know of is PJB's stuff. ~So you might want to check out the PJB owners club here on TB? ~There you can read hundreds of posts where bassists are having good success (and lotsa fun!) doing all kinds of gigs with very lightweight gear!

If you want good info on bass stuff ya hafta go to the right info threads to get it, y'know? There are maybe a zillion places on TB where muscular young bassists will tell you 12lb basses and 60lb+ cabs are easy to handle. ~And for them, they probably are.. -But for the rest of us there really is good lightweight gear!

 

[Marko 1]

Rule 1 of creating a better survey - write better questions.

Or maybe... actually read the friggin question in the opening post before responding.

 

[Marko 1]

Ignoring the obvious silliness of stick-um size bass gear, the smallest good gear I know of is PJB's stuff. ~So you might want to check out the PJB owners club here on TB? ~There you can read hundreds of posts where bassists are having good success (and lotsa fun!) doing all kinds of gigs with very lightweight gear!

Those are the very kind of folks with these teeny tiny little rigs who got me to thinking...

just how small can bassists go before they're embarrassed?

Hence this thread.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Or maybe... actually read the friggin question in the opening post before responding.

I did. And you spent many posts clarifying your question. My response stands.

 

[Passinwind]

Those are the very kind of folks with these teeny tiny little rigs who got me to thinking...

just how small can bassists go before they're embarrassed?

Charlie Mingus often played with no amp at all, and if you didn't sit down and shut up you'd get a knuckle sandwich, per his explicit warning which I once witnessed in person. Somehow I don't think he was embarrassed by any of that.

 

[sikamikanico]

View attachment 4765516
and a post-it note amp.

was going to post this very picture

 

[Marko 1]

Why why why why oh why did I start this thread.