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

[el murdoque]

I don't know if a 412 setup qualifies as a rig of doom, but I used 2 Aguilar GS212 cabs when I played with the loud band. My back certainly thought it was a rig of doom whenever I moved it.
I went to two barefaced 112 cabinets and they do exactly what you describe in terms of tone, and they do exactly what you describe in terms of weight.
I lost a lot of weight in my rig and I lost a lot of size, but I did not lose any punch or volume.

 

[vickerekes]

Recently bought this Wayne Jones 2X10 Powered Cab from a fellow TBer. At half the weight, half the size (a one-handed schlep with the tiltback casters), and twice the power (1000W!) of my former 'big rig' for decades; it's a transparent MONSTER! The trusty Sansamp BDDI v.2 through a DSM Deluxe Omnicabsim (also recently acquired from a fellow TB'er) makes for the sound of a little vintage grit through a huge 8X10 cab through the cab or FOH. I see this as the quintessential mini rig of doom and am very happy with it.

Wayne Jones Audio WJ 2×10 and WJ 1×10 Bass Cabs | Bass Gear Magazine
Review – Wayne Jones Audio WJBP-1, WJ210 and WJ110

 

[Gigas444]

I used heavy heads (all valve like my beloved Marshall VBA 400) and cabs (I loved my Hughes & Kettner 2x15 + 4x10 configuration, never used anything with less than 4 cones) since the early '90, some year ago I switched to a pedal board with EQ and pre (I use Darkglass B7K ultra which has a DI out and cab sim) and love it both for recording and venues with a good PA system, for smaller gigs + reharsal I have now a Darkglass Microtubes 200 watt and a Markbass Traveler 102p (a 4 ohm version) in total it's more or less 15 kg (before this combination I used for some years a Markbass mini 121p combo and loved it), the sound I get from this amp+cab is massive!

 

[woodyng2]

I’ve always used modular rigs with reasonably sized cabs. Early days was a Sunn tube head and a pair of 1-15” Ampeg Portabass cabs. Not tiny, but still very portable. I used a Markbass cmd121p combo with an extension 12” traveller cab for gigging for over a decade. Very light and loud!
When my main band bought a great PA, I went ampless, plugging a Tech21 VT DI pedal into the board.
This worked fine for indoor club gigs, although I did bring the Markbass combo for outdoor gigs. (Still hooked into the PA, mostly just using the combo as a stage monitor.)
I’ve retired from all that, at least for the time being. I only have a Micromark8 for home use these days.
If I were doing an acoustic gig, it would work great by itself, plus it also has direct out for PA reinforcing.

 

[RattleSnack]

Went down to GK MB115, than MB112, and than two years ago to ampless setup (IEM). Smartest thing I've done.

 

[Nebadon2000]

You might want to look at Mesa D-800+ and their Subway 1x15
[many are also reporting great Gig results with Mesa D-350 & 1x15]

I went with Mesa WD-800 but 800+ may have more of 'Hi Fi' tone your looking for

The 1x15 Cab is Fantastic and not your Father's 1x15

If Mesa is out of your budget I second Markbass Combo based on real world experience

I also came from SVT, SWR, Trace Elliot and started downsizing in 2009 and my Mesa setup 'Overall' out performs my previous setups along with light weight, useable features and easy carry

 

[pingvuiini]

I had a rack mounted SWR SM-900 on top of an Eden D410XLT and D118XLT stacked sideways. Sounded great and looked formidable but moving all that was a drag even as a youngster. Took a few years off and when returned to music I got a Markbass 2x10 combo which was very portable, convenient and versatile. I regret selling that combo. I then went to a modular Markbass rig with a 1x12 combo and matching 1x12 extension cab. Although much lighter than the SWR/Eden rig it was bothersome to carry two cabs. Eventually gravitated to a Quilter BB-800 and GR Bass 212 Slim cabinet, which evolved to custom built 212 Slim combos that I currently use. The GR Bass combos sound much warmer than the head/cab setup, hav a lot of power and it’s great to be able to hand carry everything in one trip.

 

[tvbop]

Always a man of extremes. Pair of 2 x 12's and an Ampeg rack top down to a BA110. That lil 110 thru the PA/monitors could be an old school SVT rig...you'd never know.

 

[HardNHeavy]

8x10 to 2x15 to 4x10....had a gigging swr 1x15 till it died...so i use the hartke 4x10 to noodle around with here at home..no gigging but if i were i'd get another 1x15 or something.

 

[EvilJ]

I used to haul a Eden D410XLT @ 98lbs, now I have a Trickfish 4x8 at about 50 lbs and a Class D head @ about 5 lbs. So much better on the back, and I don't need to take appliance moving equipment with me.

 

[Marko 1]

When I get old and wise, Imma get a MESA D-800+ and Subway 1x15 or 2x15.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

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.

Sorry for the long answer, just to describe my path:

My first bass amp was a great 410 Hartke combo, but it was a real pain to move. I changed it for two of the TC Electronic "vertical" cabs, a 210 and 212 plus TC RH head, much easier to move. But soon I realized the 210 alone sounded just great for live use, as I just wanted to hear me clearly. I sold the 212.

I used that configuration quite a lot until I tried a MBass 12 cube, so easy to move. But then I started to use a 5 strings and it didn't sound so good with it, so I sold it and went back to my trusted (but somewhat heavy) 210. (later I went back to 4 strings exclusively).

A year ago I tried a superlight 112 from Lightbox (a company here in Spain) and it didn't sound so good as my 210 (too mid-ly), but it's very light (like 9 kilos, you can move it with one hand with no problem), just a fraction bigger than the MBass cubes and great for live use. My drummer LOVES that cab and has recommended it to other bass players.

I keep the TC 210, but don't think I'll ever need to use them both together, so I have the 210 for home practice and the 112 just for live use.

Regarding heads, I started with the TC RH450, had to sell it for financial reasons, then the MBass cube, then a EBS Reidmar head, it started failing, had it (badly) repaired, and, being unable to find a reliable technician and not trusting it anymore for live use, I got a MarkBass IV head, the one I use for everything. Great, simple, punchy, powerful, smallish. I have a GR mini just in case of need.

 

[pcake]

the GK neo 212 is super. i had the 112, and it sounded really great. has a tweeter, btw. 43 pounds.
Gallien-Krueger NEO IV 2 x 12" 800W 4-ohm Bass Cabinet with Steel Grille and 1-inch Tweeter

Mesa/Boogie Subway 2x10 is 43 pounds

fender rumble cabs tend to be pretty lightweight
115 - 39 pounds
210 - also 39 pounds
Fender Rumble 115 - 1x15" 300-watt Bass Cabinet
Fender Rumble 210 2x10" 700-watt Bass Cabinet - Silver Grille

if you don't need lots of watts, the ampeg 210AV weighs in at 26 pounds
Ampeg SVT-210AV 2 x 10-inch 200-watt Classic Bass Cabinet - Black

 

[alembicguy]

Went from (4) 810’s and (2) DB750’s to in ear system 5 years ago and have never looked back.

 

[40Hz]

These days I manage quite well with a 2x10 cab and a 300W rackmount amp for the things I’m doing. Big change from my younger days when I was lugging either an Acoustic 360/361 or 370/301 around.

More recently I’ve been looking at pedalboard amps like the SD PoweStage and wondering if I could get it even smaller and simpler by going with one of those.

 

[Ewo]

IME:

A stacked pair of Mesa Subway 1-15 cabs. Bring one if that's all you need for a small gig, but the pair can handle just about any gig short of an arena, and they're very easy to transport. My habit was to bring one to a rehearsal, and the pair to every show even when the stage was small; the footprint is the same.

Push them with the amp of your choice, but all of the Subway heads are great. Each offers a different flavor of native voice, with a control set optimized for it. It's clear the designer understands the needs of a working musician.

I pretty much wrapped up my stage performance career (such as it was...) with this past NYE show, but the Subway line is the best live amplification* I've ever used. For me, a pair of 1-15s and the TT head can do anything I want it to.

* Most tonal versatility, most clarity, most reliable, and all the volume I'd ever want to stand in front of.

 

[micguy]

In my case, the transition to a lighter rig was made easier by all my gigs going ampless. My rig is a couple hundred pounds lighter now. And it's a few trips less in and out - it only takes one trip now.

 

[chris_b]

My downsizing trajectory went from 210EV/115EV, herniated disc, neo 410, neo 2x112, to an even lighter neo 2x112.

From 2x90lb cabs to 2x21lb cabs.

Those EV's sounded fantastic, but I sound even better now. I'm lucky to be playing in a time of such great modern bass gear.

 

[VS]

I'm really appreciating all of this feedback and input, everyone!

 

[sawzalot]

I used to use two 4x10’s with an Eden navigator preamp and a QSC MX1500 power amp. Now I use a pedalboard with IEMs and no amp. In between I incrementally dropped down in size. If I do need an amp, I use a Quilter BB800 on top of a TC Electronics 2x12 + 2x10 stack, which has a great balance of muscle from the 2x12 and snap from the 2x10, plus it gets the sound right up to ear level. It’s also light and incredibly loud.