Double Bass How do you schelp your amp? (DB Forum Thread)

[basss]

edit: this was meant to be posted on the double bass side amps forum. Mods you can delete this or if people are interested in continuing this discussion be my guest. Obviously this topic is a bit less relevant with an bass guitar on your back versus an upright.

Assuming that you are using an amp: How do you schlep your gear?

I've always been a little obsessed with portable amps. I gig 2-3 times a week sometimes in cities where I'm parking several blocks away. Rarely I'll take public transportation. Making 2 trips is sometimes impossible so I've always used a shoulder bag - 1st with a GK mb150 and then with a succession of other small rigs. The shoulder bag seems the easiest to me as it leaves one hand free to open doors etc. I see lots of players with much bigger rigs than mine and wonder how they can stand to deal with that regularly.

Curious how others deal with the schlep. Also if you 1 hand your amp or use a luggage cart, how do you deal with doors? The few times I've done that it was always akward: set amp down, open door, hold with foot, reach back to grab amp, try to squeeze bass through while dragging amp and holding foot on door...

 

[JRA]

most of the time: a cart in one trip --- so that's how i voted.

 

[Nashrakh]

Foldable cart. On that I toss my wee 1x12 Markbass CMD combo (loud enough for anything you throw at it, amazingly), my overkill of a pedalboard (heavy sucker!), my instrument stand, and my music stand. Bass on my back, still got one hand free.

 

[gln1955]

I'm fortunate that everywhere we play is a short load-in. Making two trips carrying everything in is easier than negotiating doors and steps with a cart.

 

[basss]

Aw crap, I meant to post this on the double bass side!!!

 

[Earl]

PJ Double Four in it's shoulder bag, or Upshot in backpack. Bass buggy.

 

[Jefenator]

Changed my vote to one hand carry, since none of my speaker cabs are currently bag-able.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Also if you 1 hand your amp or use a luggage cart, how do you deal with doors? The few times I've done that it was always akward: set amp down, open door, hold with foot, reach back to grab amp, try to squeeze bass through while dragging amp and holding foot on door...

I usually set down my luggage cart, open the door and the prop it open with my foot while I carry my bass and wheel my amp through. Sometimes the door bangs into my cart as it closes, but it's not a big problem. Each venue has it's own unique set of issues that I get used to after loading in a few times. It can be awkward, but this works better for me than any alternative I can come up with.

 

[Don Hergert]

Roland Micro Cube Bass RX in a backpack. Bass Buggy wheeling my DB. 1 trip.

I figure if I need more amp power than the Roland I'll lean on the venue for an amp or a FOH.

 

[jj.833]

Bass in a backpack gigbag on both shoulders. A little bag on one shoulder with amp (GR One) and cables. One hand carrying the light cab (Eich 112XS or homemade 1x6"). Other hand opens the doors. Low doors need a very polite, far-east style bow. Narrow doors need to put everything on the ground, shlep the bass, and then the rest.
Gigbag on both shoulders is the thing that makes difference.

 

[E2942]

Too heavy for a schelp, I leave it on the floor.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Everything just fits in the back of my wife’s Volvo SC90. Smallest rig has wheels. Biggest rig needs a beverage dolly.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

1st schlep: Bass in hard case with all cables inside in right hand and guitar stand in left.
2nd schlep: Amp in secure hard case, placed on top of my Markbass 152 cab, on a hand trolley.
Often take a small wooden wedge to hold the door open.

 

[svlilioukalani]

2 Audiokenisis 12 inch cabs, 23 pounds apiece. Mesa 800+ amp, tiny pedal board, and a Mike Lull bass on my back.

 

[dylanjohnson]

Shoulder bag for my GK 200mb.
One hand carry for my MAS 18 and WW in bag over my shoulder.
Shoulder carry tip for bass bags or amp bag- Ditch the original strap for a dedicated luggage strap. There are neoprene ones that make a HUGE difference in comfort on the shoulder.
Bass on shoulder or on wheel for long shleps.

 

[fdeck]

I've always tried to be capable of a single trip if necessary, while usually making two trips to avoid risk of injury, and just take it easy. Upright is on a bass buggy. Electric in gig bag has a shoulder strap. The vast majority of gigs have easy parking and minimal schlepping.

But these days I've added a stool to my essential gear, and I've got plantar fasciitis, so I don't like to walk while carrying any kind of load. So the amp and stool go onto a cheap folding luggage cart that I got long ago.

 

[nixdad]

My Phil Jones Cub Pro fits inside my rolling tool chest, which also doubles as my amp stand.

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

Typically one trip: DB on a wheel, or if it's bass guitar; bass in one hand with a combo amp in the other. If it's a louder gig for bass guitar; bass and amp in one hand, and a cab in the other hand. Often times two trips: DB on a wheel, and another trip for the amp and cab.

 

[uprightbass.com]

Anyone specifically use the Trolley Dolly Rover? Seems like it could be a little easier for our purposes than a luggage cart.

https://www.amazon.com/Trolley-Plat...cphy=9031251&hvtargid=pla-1969509543988&psc=1

 

[fdeck]

What I want is one of those wheeled shopping baskets that the old people use at the grocery store: