What a great thread. I remember feeling like I cracked the Enigma Code when I picked up an Eden WT400 in the late 90’s. I still deeply miss running my old SVT thru my beat to poo 8x10 cab. Nothing could top the feeling of playing smaller venues or house shows with that rig.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I Miss The Big Stuff
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
The several times I saw Jaco live ( including with Joni Mitchell's stellar band, Weather Report, etc. ),
he was running a pair of 360/361's - and I don't think the 2nd one was a spare very often. No need for additional sound enforcement in almost any venue. I wish that guy was still building the "reincarnation" units. I would probably prove my insanity defense and buy one in a heartbeat
Would I want to be running them to a gig all the time? God grant me roadie's!
I heard that 70's roadies looked like this:
I know of a band ("The Warning" from Mexico) who plays small to mid-sized venues. They use IEMs and usually an SVT 810 and Marshall (or similar) 4x12 rigs! They've said that while they could play without any amps onstage, they like to hear/feel the amps behind them, even though they play to a click and have a full mix in their IEMs. This is a young professional band (three teenage girls). It's good to know the kids haven't completely abandoned big amp rigs (or rock music!).
Personally, I don't gig much anymore, but I have two Aguilar GS112s and a rack w/ Crown power amp and Demeter pre. So it's a bit of a hybrid in that I have smaller cabs (weighing around 40lb. each - light enough to carry in one hand) but with separate power and pres still). I'm an odd one though....
Personally, I don't gig much anymore, but I have two Aguilar GS112s and a rack w/ Crown power amp and Demeter pre. So it's a bit of a hybrid in that I have smaller cabs (weighing around 40lb. each - light enough to carry in one hand) but with separate power and pres still). I'm an odd one though....
I Miss The Big Stuff
Can't say I do...because I refuse to jump on the "Class D, neo-speaker" bandwagon! I haven't tried all of it, but what I have tried has vastly underwhelmed me...
The good news is that the stuff I like, is getting cheaper by the day. I can afford to be picky when it comes to choice, too. Yep, it's win/win in Keger's World.
Can't say I do...because I refuse to jump on the "Class D, neo-speaker" bandwagon! I haven't tried all of it, but what I have tried has vastly underwhelmed me...
The good news is that the stuff I like, is getting cheaper by the day. I can afford to be picky when it comes to choice, too. Yep, it's win/win in Keger's World.
My lightweight head is an Aguilar TH500. I run it at 4 ohms into a pair of 8 ohm Aguilar GS112 cabinets. I absolutely love it’s tone, but it’s 500 watts don’t have nearly the impact that my Crest CA9 does.
Before I bought my TH500 I regularly used my CA9 to power my pair of GS112s. The preamp I was using at that time was my Demeter HBP-1.
I don’t want to start a flame war, and this is just my humble opinion, but my TH500’s 500 Class D watts don’t sound, -nor do they feel like my CA9’s Class H watts.
I don’t care about the CA9’s weight. And if I ever get to the point that it’s too heavy for me to put on my hand cart, or on top of my cabinets I’ll ask for help.
Here’s an ancient photo of me using it in the band I used to play 200+ gigs a year with, before I became an OTR Truck Driver.
Before I bought my TH500 I regularly used my CA9 to power my pair of GS112s. The preamp I was using at that time was my Demeter HBP-1.
I don’t want to start a flame war, and this is just my humble opinion, but my TH500’s 500 Class D watts don’t sound, -nor do they feel like my CA9’s Class H watts.
I don’t care about the CA9’s weight. And if I ever get to the point that it’s too heavy for me to put on my hand cart, or on top of my cabinets I’ll ask for help.
Here’s an ancient photo of me using it in the band I used to play 200+ gigs a year with, before I became an OTR Truck Driver.
My band is all DI, electric drums, the whole 9 yards. I love bringing my Nano (with my tuner, Rolls (IEM amp) and JDI) a bass and a stand. I help my drummer with his cases. The singer and I do lights while we wait for everyone else to get set. Same at the end of the night but reversed. I can go to gigs in my A6 instead of a truck. I like that. I've never been an amp guy. I don't need my amp for my sound. I don't miss my 2/4x10, 6 space rack rig...at all.
Nice gear!!!
I’ve got my eyes peeled for a used SVT-VR and 810E in clean shape. Several folks have told me used SVTs are now “Cheap”, but I’ve yet to find one at a blow out price that doesn’t look hammered.
I've played that rig as backline a couple times and was never that impressed. I have never gotten the SVT/810 thing. There are SO many other rigs I prefer. To each their own.
Maybe I should wait on the SVT/810E until I get my Mesa PH610 home from layaway next month. I’ll be using it with my Tech 21 GED-2112/CA9 and my pair of Mesa PH212s. Which all together should be a nice, sensible setup for small rooms.
They always make the bass player stand on the low side of the tent ceiling, huh?
I wasn't playing when the heavy stuff was all there was, but for some reason I was extra tickled with the attack and 'heft' that the V4B provided in last night's rehearsal room more than usual 
Still, that's where it will remain during gigs and people's houses anytime I need to shlep gear, as I'm pleased with my 4lb 600w classD atop a neo212 that combined weighs less than the V4B.
Bottom line... If you insist on heft, be prepared to do some hefty lifting
Still, that's where it will remain during gigs and people's houses anytime I need to shlep gear, as I'm pleased with my 4lb 600w classD atop a neo212 that combined weighs less than the V4B.
Bottom line... If you insist on heft, be prepared to do some hefty lifting
Last edited:
Lol! I look so tall with my head proping up the tent!
Last edited:
"More" for me typically means 2 or 3 total on stage. Most of the time I don't buy another bass unless it brings something substantially different to the table in terms of sound. I'm not the guy who brings 6 P-basses with rounds and only different paintjobs, it'd be a flatwounds P-bass, Jazz with rounds, and a 5-string Ibanez with EMGs. I'm also pretty quick at swapping
Obviously you have to go with what works best for you and your band. And I’m glad to hear you can switch quickly. You might be the person who could someday change my mind about it. But only after you talk to the last half dozen I’ve seen who couldn't and get them up to speed.
I'm a lightness fanatic, but I've never really understood why a head has to be ultralight. Nearly any solid state head is going to be fairly easily liftable. It's gonna be 30lbs instead of 5 lbs. Big deal. Light cabinets and combos, OTOH I understand.
I thought we were done with amps... went all in with the X32, P16, IEMs and decided to leave the amp at home. It didn't take long to bring out even the small iron again in the form of the Shuttle 6.2 and a pair of 12s just to give the stage some thump.
I'm 100% certain I'll never go back to the really big stuff, but my current setup is more than enough.
I'm 100% certain I'll never go back to the really big stuff, but my current setup is more than enough.
I still have my big stuff (SVT-IINP and SVT-810) just in case of a war. But even though I have compromised now and use GK MB-800 Fusion with 2X 212 NEO cabs, I feel that I still have the "BIG", but have offloaded more than 50% of the weight. I would have stayed with Ampeg if they offered a comparable product. But I think GK is sounding great, my back feels fine and I've still got that big sound if I am not being reinforced.
Being retired, sometimes I think they're the only exercise I get! With a modest D115XLT and an E210XST. I'm using a 600W AI until I can get my Eden tube amp in the shop. Oh, and the pant legs fluttering still makes me smile every time! And I'm cheap, that extra 50 to 75 pounds total rig weight loss just isn't worth paying fifteen hundred+++ for new gear.
Yeah, maybe "cheaper than they were" is a better way to put it! I only ever got to use an 8x10 once, & it was memorable! "Die guitarist, die I say!"
There's no sweeter spot on Earth than about 10' out in front of an Ampeg fridge.
But I don't have room to keep one, don't have a ride that'll move one, and don't have the back to lift one.
I don't even take out the 115 anymore because it weighs about 70 lbs. Even tho it's my best sounding cab. It lives at the rehearsal room.
But I don't have room to keep one, don't have a ride that'll move one, and don't have the back to lift one.
I don't even take out the 115 anymore because it weighs about 70 lbs. Even tho it's my best sounding cab. It lives at the rehearsal room.
