Everyone's downsizing these days..

[SuperFineLin9]

I have ampeg 6-10 and a 2-10 cabs. Because I tour in a very small van with 5 other dudes and a small trailer I take my 2-10
Besides, The venues 4000+ Watt subs are always going to be louder than anything I wheel up there.

 

[SuperFineLin9]

Also IMHO Id rather pay the same amount of cash and get a Really nice Amazing tone smaller amp than a Huge rig.
I see a lot of guitarist use a 1 10 orange amp. just so they can have that nice tone

 

[Ron Now]

I hurt my back for 6 months due to some improper gear carrying - it was awful, not something I want to repeat, so I switched to a couple of easier to move cabs.

Technically I downsized, but my new rig can put out more volume and gives me better tone - like the tone I've been searching for since we started the band.

So is my rig smaller? yes.
But is it louder and sound better? yes.
Am I happy? Absolutely.

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

Outside the US and most of Europe, micro rigs are way to expensive, that if you can actually find them, so Ampeg and all the big guns are still and will be the only real option for a big touring band.

I would love to have some micro stuff, but my VR+810 does the job extremely well at a the most I can pay.

 

[js1]

I prefer the big cabs. But, small car, small stage, and sick of the schlep has me using 2 GS112s.

Tone's not the same, but it works. The one thing that I don't like is that on some stages, I'm crunched against the cabs and the top speaker is at belt level. Kinda makes it difficult to judge the volume or in some cases, really hear it. I could stand the cabs on their sides, except my amp is too wide for that.

Anyone else find this an issue?

js

 

[I play metal]

No offense man but,hey,that's your own doing by improper lifting and posture.I consider a tere downa dn set-up a gym workout and treat it as such.I stretch,warm up light,go hard with the pA cabs,etc then light again,then stretch out at the end of the night.Also,you must have band mates...person for person the weight of a cab is cut in half so carrying it.Anything 410(ish) and bigger we "tag team" haha.

Obviously I see your point ad respect that.Glad to hear your rig suits you better now.hoooowa!!

I hurt my back for 6 months due to some improper gear carrying - it was awful, not something I want to repeat, so I switched to a couple of easier to move cabs.

Technically I downsized, but my new rig can put out more volume and gives me better tone - like the tone I've been searching for since we started the band.

So is my rig smaller? yes.
But is it louder and sound better? yes.
Am I happy? Absolutely.

 

[I play metal]

I used to have that prob...now my rig is litterally taller then me ,so not anymore.

But yeah I used to raise them anyway I could so there head level...get's a truer idea of what it's pushing out IMO.

I prefer the big cabs. But, small car, small stage, and sick of the schlep has me using 2 GS112s.

Tone's not the same, but it works. The one thing that I don't like is that on some stages, I'm crunched against the cabs and the top speaker is at belt level. Kinda makes it difficult to judge the volume or in some cases, really hear it. I could stand the cabs on their sides, except my amp is too wide for that.

Anyone else find this an issue?

js

 

[guy n. cognito]

Mostly opinion yeah, but seems like fact when you dont acheive the sound you desire haha.I've gotten close(our yorkvill elits system).But,safe to say it's FACT that distortion in DI always sounds wonky.Dont know if you've used distortion DI, but if have you know what I mean.

Opinion here, too. When you ho to a large metal show, the sounds you heat in the audience are from the pa, not the stage. Plenty of guitarusts and bassists run their distorted sound through the pa with good results.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Opinion here, too. When you ho to a large metal show, the sounds you heat in the audience are from the pa, not the stage. Plenty of guitarusts and bassists run their distorted sound through the pa with good results.

But that signal is usually mic'd from a cab or a DI off a head, not a DI directly from a pedal board. For a guitarist, at least speaking in terms of rock bands to keep this in context, distortion is 99% of the time coming from the amp. I don't know a lot of guitarists who would choose to go direct with a pedal into the PA rather than mic'ing their cab. As a bassist who uses multiple drive stages, I never send my pedal board feed direct because it causes way too much feedback/other issues with the monitoring system. I request a mic first and use my own DI to send a post amp signal second. I'm not saying my experience covers everyone else or every situation, but I've had bad experiences trying to run things direct with distortion and nothing to tame the signal.

That also brings me back to my original point a few pages back, I use my giant 70's 8x10 cab particularly because of the sounds I get from it, especially when running distortion, fuzz, and octave pedals through it.

 

[guy n. cognito]

To the point at hand, there's no reason for a wall of cabs, even if you want to mic. The same tone is achievable with a much smaller rig or, in many cases, no stage rig at all.

But that signal is usually mic'd from a cab or a DI off a head, not a DI directly from a pedal board. For a guitarist, at least speaking in terms of rock bands to keep this in context, distortion is 99% of the time coming from the amp. I don't know a lot of guitarists who would choose to go direct with a pedal into the PA rather than mic'ing their cab. As a bassist who uses multiple drive stages, I never send my pedal board feed direct because it causes way too much feedback/other issues with the monitoring system. I request a mic first and use my own DI to send a post amp signal second. I'm not saying my experience covers everyone else or every situation, but I've had bad experiences trying to run things direct with distortion and nothing to tame the signal.

That also brings me back to my original point a few pages back, I use my giant 70's 8x10 cab particularly because of the sounds I get from it, especially when running distortion, fuzz, and octave pedals through it.

 

[RickenBoogie]

To the point at hand, there's no reason for a wall of cabs, even if you want to mic. The same tone is achievable with a much smaller rig or, in many cases, no stage rig at all.

A wall of cabs, no, but I would argue the point about getting the same tone without my amp, and at least enough speaker to carry it.

 

[coreyfyfe]

A wall of cabs, no, but I would argue the point about getting the same tone without my amp, and at least enough speaker to carry it.

Ditto. That was kind of the point of my post.

 

[jjk2007]

This gets it done for me, and if needed I have a second 210 to throw on top. With todays technology this rig surpasses some of the larger ones I owned years ago. And I love it! I can have this rig broken down and in my truck in one load and it takes me no more than 5 minutes if that. Great tone and enough juice for me.

 

[I play metal]

Opinion here, too. When you ho to a large metal show, the sounds you heat in the audience are from the pa, not the stage. Plenty of guitarusts and bassists run their distorted sound through the pa with good results.

YES,they do,but they do it mic'ed...NOT DI...IMO.
Running DI you'll hear the worst,tinny,weak,buzzzz when you hit a distortion pedal.

 

[Metal Matt]

To the point at hand, there's no reason for a wall of cabs, even if you want to mic. The same tone is achievable with a much smaller rig or, in many cases, no stage rig at all.

My reason for a wall of cabs is this. I want every single person in the crowd to feel intense vibrations, not just kick drum and a little bass like most heavy bands. This is about consuming people with sound ultimately leaving them zoned out and relaxed by the end of the set. Seeing as how many of the places we've played and will play have very little or no PA support and even if they did, wouldn't be willing to push their system as loud as desired, I'll be playing through a wall of cabs for a while.

Also, when you're in front of a wall of cabs at full volume, you're able to sustain notes and chords nearly infinitely due to the intense air movement going on near the rig, which considering how slow some of the music is I'm playing, is important to me. That type of feedback manipulation can't be done without a LOT of air movement behind you. I'm sure I could nail my tone with a smaller set up, no problem... but I could run a 1,000 watt amp through a 2x10 and it'd be nowhere near as loud or move the amount of air my rig (see sig) can.

Of course, there aren't too many genres out there with these goals in mind. Kind of a different set of wants and needs than more common types of heavy music that most are familiar with so take all this for what it's worth. I just say, use whatever works for you, plain and simple. If that's a 500 watt micro amp through a 2x10 or a wall of large amps and cabs. I don't see any of this as a "right or wrong" issue. Use what works for you and your band.

 

[I play metal]

well said and I share your passion and needs.(in terms of music heh)

P.s your sounds kinda "stoner metal"(IMO) and it's tricky to ahceive the right sustain and oomph.
You gotter though!!Your rig is megatron!!Sounds like a sunn!!

My reason for a wall of cabs is this. I want every single person in the crowd to feel intense vibrations, not just kick drum and a little bass like most heavy bands. This is about consuming people with sound ultimately leaving them zoned out and relaxed by the end of the set. Seeing as how many of the places we've played and will play have very little or no PA support and even if they did, wouldn't be willing to push their system as loud as desired, I'll be playing through a wall of cabs for a while.

Also, when you're in front of a wall of cabs at full volume, you're able to sustain notes and chords nearly infinitely due to the intense air movement going on near the rig, which considering how slow some of the music is I'm playing, is important to me. That type of feedback manipulation can't be done without a LOT of air movement behind you. I'm sure I could nail my tone with a smaller set up, no problem... but I could run a 1,000 watt amp through a 2x10 and it'd be nowhere near as loud or move the amount of air my rig (see sig) can.

Of course, there aren't too many genres out there with these goals in mind. Kind of a different set of wants and needs than more common types of heavy music that most are familiar with so take all this for what it's worth. I just say, use whatever works for you, plain and simple. If that's a 500 watt micro amp through a 2x10 or a wall of large amps and cabs. I don't see any of this as a "right or wrong" issue. Use what works for you and your band.

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

Well, you rarely see any touring rock, metal, indy whatever bands having micro rigs. I mean you have a van, you are always 4-5 guys to do load in and load out, I'm not even talking about roadies there.

For a guy that play blues or jazz gigs in bars or pubs around town, that has to load all his gear in an out by himself and go back to his house/appartment everynight and take his gear out of his car etc. Having a 810 with a 80lbs tube head is just plain stupid. These bands are not loud and do not require big rigs.

I was in band doing lots of shows, a few years ago and had a van, fridge All tube SVT and it wasn't a problem to me for the reasons I mention earlier. Now all of this is history, I like to jam with friends, and do my own things. i was pain fully getting my fridge back to my flat after a two hour jam in a friends basement with the help of one of my buddies when I realised that lugging all this gear just had no sense.

I kept the heavy tube head and bough a light 410 i can easily carry myself, to me this setup is perfect, some people get even tired of moving the gear I use now and downsize even more and I can totally understand that.

 

[Rob Martinez]

My reason for a wall of cabs is this. I want every single person in the crowd to feel intense vibrations, not just kick drum and a little bass like most heavy bands. This is about consuming people with sound ultimately leaving them zoned out and relaxed by the end of the set. Seeing as how many of the places we've played and will play have very little or no PA support and even if they did, wouldn't be willing to push their system as loud as desired, I'll be playing through a wall of cabs for a while.

Also, when you're in front of a wall of cabs at full volume, you're able to sustain notes and chords nearly infinitely due to the intense air movement going on near the rig, which considering how slow some of the music is I'm playing, is important to me. That type of feedback manipulation can't be done without a LOT of air movement behind you. I'm sure I could nail my tone with a smaller set up, no problem... but I could run a 1,000 watt amp through a 2x10 and it'd be nowhere near as loud or move the amount of air my rig (see sig) can.

Of course, there aren't too many genres out there with these goals in mind. Kind of a different set of wants and needs than more common types of heavy music that most are familiar with so take all this for what it's worth. I just say, use whatever works for you, plain and simple. If that's a 500 watt micro amp through a 2x10 or a wall of large amps and cabs. I don't see any of this as a "right or wrong" issue. Use what works for you and your band.

If you can find a venue where you can do that on a regular basis, go for it!

 

[jowens004]

Im with ya "I play Metal" All the way!
I would challenge those guys with a Micro head and a couple of 1x10 cabinets to try to even tell they are playing while standing next to this!

 

[I play metal]

Im with ya "I play Metal" All the way!
I would challenge those guys with a Micro head and a couple of 1x10 cabinets to try to even tell they are playing while standing next to this!

Sorry but saw this and had to say(enter preacher voice)...AMEEENN brothaaa!!