Downsizing from rigs of doom...which path did you take?

[VS]

I'm used to heavy rigs, large speaker configurations, horns, etc. with a lot of tone. I've primarily used Trace Elliot and SWR cabs and always preferred the sound of 15"s and horns and a more sterile, hi-fi sound. But I'm getting old and I want to take a more modern, lightweight and compact path. For those of you that have downsized from massive rigs, what path did you take? I'm looking for ideas for home studio/recording use, small venues and medium venues with PA support.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I just went from an 810 to a 212.

Plenty of punch and volume.

At 43 pounds, it’s easier on my back.

So far, I used it at 4 gigs with no regrets.

 

[WayneP]

Barefaced gets a lot of love as a cabinet that puts out as much or more volume as larger cabinets with more drivers.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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[shoot-r]

A few years back the country/rock group I'm working with went through a downsizing of our backline, (we're staying with the JBL PA system we've used for years...and I've FOH support 100% of the time).

I went from a 610 and two 210 cabinets powered with Mesa M-6 Carbines for large stage outdoor jobs, just the 610 for moderate stage outdoor jobs, just the two 210 cabinets stacked as a vertical 410 for most indoor jobs, and a couple of times I "tried" to get by with only a single 210 for small jobs (but honestly the single 210 was NEVER enough,) to the head/cab combination in the picture.

SansAmp BDDI V2 into a G.K. MB Fusion 800 head into a Bergantino CN212 cabinet.

"To my ears", it's not quite as loud as the 610 but it's closer than you might think (and it's proven that it's more than capable for any gig I've used it for), sound/tone is great, it's been 100% reliable, it's built to easy to transport dimensions and weight, and for the bonus, everything in the pic (SansAmp, G.K., Berg) was bought used, in great to mint condition at very reasonable prices from the T.B. Classifieds.

 

[jshinal]

A 2x10 and a 1x12. Tone wise, I was lucky they match. With a powerful head and efficient speakers I have a choice that suits anything.

 

[Killing Floor]

I went from 2 racks, 2 2X15 and 2 4X12 to 8X10 plus a head to 2x12 and a Subway and a tiny pedal board. Sometimes only 1x12 but that’s lame.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Can’t give you specific ideas, but: Weight 1st, then sound. Happens to us all, trust me! I am down to 2x10 cabs.

 

[Wasnex]

I found that about 250-300W with an efficient 210 is usually plenty. My last touring rig typically used a single Eden D210XLT. Sensitivity is 103dB 1W/1m and power handling is 350W RMS. The amp I used was rated 260W so the calculate SPL is about 127dB. I suspect this is a bit optimistic but I do think it's a pretty efficient 210.

I usually had PA support, so my rig was not expected to push the room. I never felt I was close to hitting the limits. I am only willing to play so loud.

The old Eden was pretty darn heavy. You should be able to find a modern cab with similar specs...it probably won't be super cheap though.

Power is pretty cheap these days, so you could go with a less efficient cab with a higher power rating. Of course a problem with this is there is no standardized way of developing specs.

Mesa Subway 210 is rated 500W RMS and Mechanicallly limited to 425W at 81.3hz. If you run lean lows you can use the 500W rating. If like fat, use the 425W rating

Sensitivity is 98.1dB 1W/1m

Calculated SPL with 500W = 125dB
Calculated SPL at 425W = 124.4dB

For me, a rig rated for 125dB is usually plenty. You could a pair a matching cab if one is not enough for some gigs. If your amp doubles the power when you add a matching cab you get approximately +6dB

Two Subway 210s at 1000W total = 131dB
Two Subway 210s at 850W total = 130.3dB

Real world SPL will be a bit lower due to power compression, but but a pair of these cabs pushed to the limit should be pounding pretty hard.

 

[Ostie]

Twenty years ago I was using a cab with 1-18 and 2-10 inch drivers. When I sold it I told the young man who bought it that he had to carry it up from my basement. Then I got a Peavey 115 combo, which was more manageable with a much smaller footprint. Not light, but not as heavy as that 118 cab. A couple years ago I bought a couple 210 cabs and a head. Now I can use one or both of the 210 cabs, depending on the size of the room. I still have the Peavey Max 115 combo for a backup.

 

[Jeff Scott]

There's lots of ways to go about this. For the past ten years now, it's been this rig.

Depending on the gig I'd take one or both cabs (reality check - it's been quite a few years since I've been in a band, but that's I would do if I ever did get into one, again).

 

[ezstep]

For quite a while I had an SWR 2x12 combo on top of another SWR 2x12 cab. Huge sound, and huge weight. The last few amps/cabs I have bought were a SW D-800+ (which is a keeper), a SW 1x15, a second SW 1x15, and a SW 2x12. For all practical purposes, I use the 2x12 about 75% of the time.Still a huge sound, relatively few pounds in weight.

 

[Marko 1]

But I'm getting old and I want to take a more modern, lightweight and compact path

I'm only 66...

not an old fart yet.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I'm only 66...

not an old fart yet.

Are you grumpy?

 

[paskisti]

I still have my Hartke Hydrive 810 in ATA case for practicing in one locations, but got Markbass 104HF (8ohms) for gigging and to another location. I though it would be enough but it didn't so I added Markbass 102HF (rewired from 4 ohms to 16 ohms) on top of it. Those are way more maneuverable alone and can be done even the flight of stairs, and now I can take only 102HF for small occasions (semi acoustic, home etc). Technically 410 was enough but I don't like when cab is lifted so I need taller set to keep it on the floor and around ear level at the same time. I like too when speakers don't need to work too hard, they'll give better sound.

My amp was downsized from ATA rack (RBI, QSC PLX 1802, tuner, cables: total 29kg) to plastic shallow rack with Crown XLS 1002 and RBI (with cables total 12kg), and clip tuner in bass guitar case.

 

[REV]

For all of my gigs in 2023 I used either a single 10 cabinet (for smaller gigs < 100 people) or a single 12 cabinet for gigs that were more than 100 people. Some of the larger gigs I was miked as well.

 

[pisces_bass]

Take your pick of the current crop of efficient, lightweight cabs that can handle plenty of watts. The vertical 212’s are popular for a reason.

 

[Ggaa]

Tube heads and heavy 215s and 115s to class D and light 115s.

 

[TOOL460002]

My post-back surgery solution to a 98lb Eden D410XLT and 6U rack was a full Schroeder stack. The 1210L and 1215L together weigh less than that 410. Also, both of them are 4ohm, so I can bring one or both. I would rather move 4 50lb items than a single 100lb item.

EDIT: I know a 410 isn't a rig of doom, but if we are talking weight that was my solution.

 

[MegaSwing]

I just kept working my way through cabs that were lighter and more compact. I was all about minimizing back-and-forth to the car, both at home AND at the venue. To me there’s no bigger headache than that.

There’s more leeway with amps. I’ll tolerate an older 20-30-pound amp over my shoulder, because they are no big deal to carry, and they are cheap to buy used.

As far as cabinet heft, 50 lbs is the limit for me. There is no benefit to hauling anything heavier, unless you just like the statement it makes.

My best performing cab is a RevSound 2x12, which weighs in at a trim 34 lbs. I also have a Genz-Benz Contour 2x10 that weighs about 46 lbs and can raise the roof on most places.

I also own a magnificent Eden D215-XLT (100 lbs), in case a cannon is required, but it has never left the house.

At the end of the game, it really becomes a matter of common sense.

 

[Katoosie]

Digital.