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How to make moving a heavy combo amp easier for back challenged player?

#61
Big Hoss said:
Boy did I get sidetracked with my GAS post. I should have known better...

Yes I want a lighter, more powerful amp without a doubt, but let's face it, if I had the cash for it now, it's not like my wife is going to tell me no. I mean really I coughed out for a $150.00 hair dryer and I don't even want to know how much the flattening iron she had me buy her cost... But the budget just doesn't have the room until well into the new year (Probably by the time Uncle Sam gets appeased in April...)

Until then, I am dragging my amp around more and more. Which with my back problems is getting to be a BIG problem... As you may recall from previous threads, I have had back problems since a major car wreck going on 14 years ago. It flares up from time to time and is seriously NO FUN...

So here's my situation. My current amp is a Crate BX-100. I know there's not a ton of love for these amps, but with my level of playing, it's ideal tone and loud wise... Last weekend's jam session I was playing on the E string a lot, and I could FEEL the air shaking around us, it got things moving enough we cracked one of the window panes in my buddies garage / jam room. (Good thing it's a cheap window!) So maybe for a LOUD bar this thing would be worse than useless, and honestly, it would SUCK for a loud metal band, but I don't do that stuff. I play some classic rock, some blues, some Praise music that kind of thing... and it works. Until I go to move it...

I have a small hand truck, and ratchet straps. So rolling it out of my home jam room, out to the drive, and then from the jam friend's drive to their jam room is no problem.

Picking that 67lb behemoth with only one handle smack in the middle of the top, and lifting it into the bed of my 4" lifted F150 4x4 without killing myself however, is a bit of a challenge...

I was hoping for maybe some pointers / ideas on maybe some sort of handles, or lifting assist device that I could use to make this job less, well hazardous...

My intent with this amp is to keep it even after getting whatever light weight / powerful / tone I like amp (Still leaning toward the Fender Rumble 500 with maybe a 1x15 extension cab...). If the jam gig gets to be a regular thing, I will simply house my Crate amp over there on a semi permanent basis. But for now... I have GOT to make this thing easier to lift, and lower down.

I am not adverse to building say plywood and 2x4 ramps if that is feasable, and understand it's not just the amps that are heavy here... I am also not adverse to cutting / drilling into the Crate Cab to install say casters and / or decent handles assuming I can be completely sure they won't pull out...

What have other folks done in situations like this while pinching the budget a bit?
Click to expand...
Cup handles on sides and 2x4s. Slide on a U-Haul blanket.
 
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#63
I have a broken back in two places. Idk, I have a set of fairly heavy Trace Elliot heads and cabinets. That being said, The cheapest manner of lifting them Ive found is called band-mates. Theyre readily available if your playing music with them. On a more serious note though, Something screams engineer to me about the OP. Lets stop overthinking this. Put your rig up for adoption (sale) take the proceeds and buy a lighter rig. You are not much good to your wife if you cant go to work because you didnt spend money on a lighter cab and amp. I still deadlift mine, I got rid of the wife years ago as she was a serious detriment to my musical playing schedule and instrument purchasing program as well as my motorcycle buying and racing program....but I digress. Im blessed to be able to lift stuff still like amps that were made out of lead and cast-iron. You however, really do need consider what your back is worth, sounds like it may be time for a discussion with the lil' woman.....and no, you not playing or jamming until you have money is not an option. Do NOT under any circumstances go there or allow the conversation to go there....trust me.
 
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#64
What is the resale value of the amp? If reasonable although you say you don't want to tell it will offset the cost of a micro pus neo. If the resale value is low and you are somewhat handy what you could do is take the amo out of the cab and built a sleeve for it. It's then in two lighter parts and would probably shave the heaviest component down to under 50lbs that is the limit your doctor has imposed.
 
#66
Big Hoss said:
Good point...

FWIW, the tailgate top in the lowered position is at 34" and I have a standard 6.5 foot bed truck.

I thought about using 1/4" ply and 18" tempered hardboard lamination (I can do that myself... the hard part is pressing it but I can rig that...) I figured 3/8" cabinet grade (400 grit sanded) ply should suffice... Maybe oiled & waxed...

Yeah I would have to figure out the attachment to the gate for sure!
Click to expand...

I also have a bad neck and back as well I'm a little leary of anything that says "slippy" a 67lb amp and a slippery surface would be trouble for me.
 
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#68
I have an old Fender Bassman Compact Combo that I now just use as a cabinet. The driver was dead so I replaced it with a Dayton Pro Audio 15 which is really heavy duty and also, very heavy. It also only had one strap handle on top. So I put on some casters but I also put on these handles on the side. Makes it much easier to move for very few $$.

http://www.parts-express.com/penn-elcom-h1053z-surface-mount-handle-zinc--262-310

It sounds like this is still too heavy for you but I thought I'd throw this out there as it worked for me.
 
#69
I know you don't want to replace the Crate,just for what it's worth GC has marked down the Markbass players school combo to $399,150watts into the built in 15"@8ohms,plug in another 8ohm extension and it goes to 250watts@4ohms and the combo is about 35lbs.I love mine because my Ampeg BA-115 is just too heavy for my torn rotator to allow dragging around
 
#70
Big Hoss said:
That is a big part of my interest in the Fender Rumble 500. 500 watts 2x10 speakers, and all for a measly 35ish lbs...

Okay specifically...

  • 500 watts
  • Dual 10" Eminence® speakers
  • Compression horn with on/off switch
  • Compact and lightweight (36.5 pounds) ported plywood enclosure with removable grille
  • Overdrive circuit (controlled manually or with optional footswitch)
  • Three-button voicing section (bright, contour, vintage)
  • XLR line out with ground lift
And yes I know it's "only 350 watts" when on the internal speakers alone... Like that is going to be a problem for me at any time in the forseeable future...
Click to expand...
I am seriously considering this. I already have just the head but with my SWR Golight 410 it get's really loud. If I got the combo for small gigs and for bigger ones roll in the SWR
 
#71
PortlandBass77 said:
I have the same amp. It sounds great and is LOUD, but is heavy as $$$$$. The only thing I can think of is to get a little roller cart or something.
Click to expand...
-Asdfgh- said:
What is the resale value of the amp? If reasonable although you say you don't want to tell it will offset the cost of a micro pus neo. If the resale value is low and you are somewhat handy what you could do is take the amo out of the cab and built a sleeve for it. It's then in two lighter parts and would probably shave the heaviest component down to under 50lbs that is the limit your doctor has imposed.
Click to expand...

It's kind of hard to say for sure. I see them come up on Craigslist from time to time ranging from $150.00 to $200.00 for ones in as good of shape as mine. Rougher units won't even crack $100.00. I am sure trade in value would be diddly / squat though... It seems to be more worth keeping the Crate and eventually leaving it in the jam space. I dunno, if I could get $200.00 for the BX-100 and MBX-10 together I would do it to at least put a sizeable dent into financing a better amp...

I'll have to check out that Markbass in person, but I see from the photos of it, it too only has a single handle which is not at all desireable to me due to the lifting problems. A single top mounted handle means I have to stoop over it and lift with my back, side mounted handles mean I can grasp lower and pull it close to my body and lift with my legs...

Come to think of it, most of the combos out there seem to have top handles. What sadist designs this stuff?
 
#72
If you're thinking of a newer lighter amp check out the TC Electronic BG250 115 combo. It's light, has a DI and built in tuner. Reminds me a bit of the Crate BX100. Bought it for Christmas gigs. Had to take a cab a couple of times and put it in the back of the trunk. The cabbie was shocked how light is was at 39 lbs.
 
#73
Do you have a budget to work with? As time goes by, you will most likely be able to lift less and less whether it's by doctors orders or sheer convenience.

Micro head + lightweight cab/s. If the thought of lightweight cabs is a bit unnerving, there are plenty of offerings in the boutique arena from people like Greenboy with his fEARful/FEARLESS line, and Duke with the Thunderchild and Hathor lines. These cabs are engineered to compete with the old tried and true heavy monsters.
 
#74
Coolhandjjl said:
Do you have a budget to work with? As time goes by, you will most likely be able to lift less and less whether it's by doctors orders or sheer convenience.

Micro head + lightweight cab/s. If the thought of lightweight cabs is a bit unnerving, there are plenty of offerings in the boutique arena from people like Greenboy with his fEARful/FEARLESS line, and Duke with the Thunderchild and Hathor lines. These cabs are engineered to compete with the old tried and true heavy monsters.
Click to expand...

I don't want to go over say $700.00 USD with taxes and all required cables etc...
 
#77
If I was still working at "The Buggy Whip Factory", (my name for a high-tech R&D lab, where I used to work), I would get the boys to design an autonomous-self propelled rig.

Time for load-in/out, whip out your phone, and summon the rig to position itself on stage, while you enjoy a drink at the bar.

Maybe I should put a bug in flameworkers' ear.
 
#78
Seriously, the only thing you can't afford is to re-injure your back.

You don't have to buy everything at once.

Maybe talk to the Mrs. about splitting this year's tax return, so you can afford an ultra light rig.
 
#79
Crates are heavy amps usu. made of particle board. I have a Polytone Brute 15" from the 70's. its made to be transported to paying gigs - so its light. it puts out 185 watts and sounds amazing. you can find them for about $200 - $300 used.
 
#80
Hoochie Coochie Man said:
If I was still working at "The Buggy Whip Factory", (my name for a high-tech R&D lab, where I used to work), I would get the boys to design an autonomous-self propelled rig.

Time for load-in/out, whip out your phone, and summon the rig to position itself on stage, while you enjoy a drink at the bar.

Maybe I should put a bug in flameworkers' ear.
Click to expand...

A drone Skyhook makes the perfect Christmas gift.
 
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