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Looking to Buy a Super Light Cabinet

johnvic

johnvic

Mar 15, 2011
81
12
NYC
#1
It's not the best time for me to spend money on a cabinet but I hate carrying my Ampeg B-100R. I have a Dave LIne head and was thinking of buying a lightweight cabinet. I want something I can easily carry on the subway or in a cab. I visited a fairly well know guitar store and the salesman showed me an Aguilar SL 112, which is not cheap and as I mentioned I should not be spending money. He told me that they are discontinuing super light cabinets and that in general super light cabinets are going to be scarce and going up in price.

Is this true, will it be difficult to buy a super light cab? Can I safely wait until I can afford to buy a good cab?

I play blues, R&B and a little jazz in small clubs in NYC. Any suggestions on super light cabs?

Thanks,

johnvic
 
#4
Unfortunately lightweight cabs that are well engineered will cost money. Check out Barefaced cabs. The Barefaced Midget is only 20 lbs and looks small enough to be portable anywhere and should be loud enough if your band doesn't have Marshall half stacks getting cranked up by your guitarists.

Another alternative that is heavier but can be built for you for less money would be a BFM Jack 10 at 35 lbs. I had one built for me by Leland Crooks at speakerhardware.com and it's louder than I will ever get to use in my band situation.

I've heard a SB112 with an Ashdown ABM 500. I don't know if it's the cab or amp or the bass but I wasn't very impressed with the tone.

Have you considered a Fearful 12/6?
 
#5
If you like the Ampeg sound and you don't mind only having about 200w worth of power handling, the Ampeg SVT 210AV is a super little cab that only weighs about 25 lbs. and is pretty inexpensive. I've been using one for a while now, and you might want to give it a little bit of an extra bass boost to get it up to the B100R's level, but once you do, it sounds just like a small version of the 810.

You can get super light cabs that handle more power, but the price of neodymium has gone really high and caused a big price increase in these cabs that use neos. But the 210AV uses ceramic speakers so its price is still the same ($300).
 
#6
johnvic said:
He told me that they are discontinuing super light cabinets and that in general super light cabinets are going to be scarce and going up in price.

Is this true, will it be difficult to buy a super light cab? Can I safely wait until I can afford to buy a good cab?
Click to expand...

The problem is, the skyrocketing price of neodymium is pushing lightweight woofer prices rapidly higher. It is possible that prices could come back down somewhat, but that's not likely in the near term.
 
#7
I traded off my B100R due to the weight. It sounded great, but loading it in and out of the dance halls around here was a hassle. I went to a Hartke HA2500+2-10 and 1-15 Transporter cabs, which helped (at least I could carry one piece at a time) but eventually got a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T with an additional 10T cab. Eighteen lb + sixteen for the second cabinet. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound nearly as good as my Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout, so I expect I'll start using it as a head (13 lb) with the G-B boxes. Not cheap, but it'll have the M/B sound and the G-B weight.
 
#9
Unfortunately the salesman is correct. The Japanese are the main supplier of neo magnets. Instead of selling the magnets to Eminence, who makes most speakers, they are selling it to companies who make those huge windmill looking things. Neo cabs, if you can get them are going to cost a fortune.
 
#13
My choices in order:



1. Thunderchild TC-112... weighs 31LBS and I think the price is b/n $700-900.

2. Barefaced Compact - I have one that weighs 27.4LBs, pretty loud and sounds good. Cost me $850 shipped from the UK. I *might* be selling mine (depends on how my fEarful 15/6 fairs).

3. Third on my list would be the gk neo II at 30LBS and $300. It wont be able to handle the same volume as the above two though.
 
#15
I'm happy with my TC Electronics RS210 which weighs < 40 pounds and you can find them used for $300-$400. The RS112 is another alternative for around the same price they're 8 Ohm cabs if that helps. Good luck.
 
#16
I second JimmyM's recommendation if you're playing smaller venues and don't need megapower. The Ampeg Micro-VR head is only NINE pounds and the 210 cab is 26. You can carry this rig ANYWHERE!!! At age 63, I got tired of hauling 70-80# cabs around. Spent $600 on the rig but I've saved a lot more than that at the chiropractor.
 

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