Downsizing my rig - anyone done it?

[Eminor3rd]

I did this same thing a while back. Started with an Eden WT550B in a four space flight case w/ Furman and tuner as an amp, SWR Golaith III 4x10 as a cab. Made two significant changes:

1. Swapped out the flight case for a Gator rack bag. Insane weight savings. Way more than I expected.
2. Swapped out the Goliath 4x10 for a Schroeder 1212L 2x12. Went from 89 lbs. to ~32 lbs. and a smaller footprint.

I'm very happy with the change. The volume feels about the same, and each component is actually one-handable, though the cabinet can still be awkward to move up stairs without two hands just because of its size and shape, so it ends up being a two-trip load-in still. I find the Gator rack to be easy enough to carry by the handle, but I could make it even easier by moving to a Class D head if it was important. As it is, I just haven't found a Class D head yet that I really like, and the increased portability isn't worth the tone sacrifice from my current Aguilar Class AB head.

I still like how those Goliath cabs sound, but man, I do NOT miss lifting mine up.

 

[TAZ]

Ya, I'm happy Still have to have the sounds I like, and they're not as big as when they come out of an 810, but they're quality.

You have high standards. I know what a V4B and 2 Ampegs 15s sound like... From what I remember using in 1973-76. It was and still is top shelf.

 

[johnpbass]

Yes. My "big" rig is now an Aguilar TH500 and 2 Ampeg 210AV cabs.

 

[SteveC]

I went from rack and 410 to GB Shuttle 3.0 combo and extension cab. 175 watts into a very loud 10 as a combo. Add the 110 extension and I get 300 watts into the 210. It can handle a lot of stuff amazingly well. Most of my gigs are either background or PA/IEM so I'm covered.

 

[Hot Rats]

Yes, I went from a 100lb 4x12 and pre amp/power amp (45lbs?) to two rigs. A Fender TV15 (smaller, but not lighter...holy cow) and a nice Genz Benz NeoX212 and Aguilar TH500. My back thanks me.

 

[eldorado2001]

In recent months I've used my Mesa Prodigy with either a G-K 212 Neo or two Hartke 210XL in a vertical stack. Both systems work well, the 210XLs lack the very deep bass tho. All are fairly lightweight, which was my original motivation for downsizing.

 

[Orpheus55]

I downsized my cab to an Avatar B115T; with the neo speaker it weighs exactly 50 lbs. (surprisingly less than the listed 60)--more than manageable for me even at 64. However, I shed my Ampeg PF500, which was light but unreliable (it just stopped working one day), for a Hartke LH500 in a Gator shallow rack--about 25 lbs. I'd like a micro amp, but haven't found one that holds up to the many outdoor FL gigs we do in summer. On a really tight stage with good EOH support, I use my SWR Workingpro 12.

 

[Scottkarch]

For smaller shows, TC BG250 115, for bigger shows RH450 and either/both 210/212 cabs. We're all going direct into a Mackie DL1608 each with our own dedicated wireless IEM mix. Last show, I actually had my master volume at 0 onstage. I had great sound in my in ears, and since none of us are loud on stage, the Mackie FOH mix that gets recorded is super accurate and gives us fantastic recordings. When we played louder stage volumes and the sound guy pulled my bass out of the mix, it was fine out front, but the recording was missing bass.

So, I could go ampless... but I won't. Just in case. call me paranoid. With nice IEMs and a dedicated mix, I can hear myself more clearly than ever before. When we go to a place with a house PA, we have a 16 channel splitter and STILL use our mackie mixer and wireless transmitters so we have the sound we're used to all the time. Playing on stage sounds just like practicing. It really makes us comfortable and play better.

Sorry to sidetrack, Playing a big outdoor gig this weekend, bringing head and both cabs partly because the stack looks cool, partly just in case the PA can't handle the bass and I need to supplement. Almost all other places I could start bringing my head and just using it as a preamp.