Loudest cab I can carry with 1hand?

[chris_b]

. . . . I have used a folding cart for many years, so I'm not hand-carrying things these days.

Me neither. A cart is one of my best buys of the last 20 years.

 

[el murdoque]

I've played in metal, punk, doom and hardcore bands with very loud drummers. Right now, I have a post punk project where the drummer needs to be miced in the rehearsal room because the guitards fight a loudness war.
My one trip load in is two barefaced cabs, a Super Compact and a Super Midget. I'm not that hot on tweeters so I chose one cab without and one with the small tweeter instead of the BB's horn.
Bass on my back, PT nano with the soft bag strapped to bass, Class D head in the gigbag and one cab for each hand.
In terms of decibels you get for lbs, this is the best I ever experienced. I came from an aguilar 412 rig that did about the same in volume, but weighed 45kg more than the barefaceds.

In terms of sheer loudness, I can only comment that I tried 810 rigs, my aguilar 412 rig, 215s and several of the dreaded 410/115 combinations. The best of those were able to produce so much output that when I was standing right in front of the rig, my eyeballs started picking up the vibrations form certain notes and my vision would wobble. That is the point where I draw the line. When a rig does that with headroom to spare, It is more than loud enough. I refuse to play at that level, even with my ears plugged - and even deaf guitarists in the middle of a loudness war are prone to comment because I'm pushing them backwards on the carpet.
The barefaceds reach that level, too.

Because these bf cabs are so frigging loud I made the choice of buying two small ones instead of one 212.
Most of the time, one of the cabs is more than enough.
I did the same with my aguilar stack - 2x GS212 instead of 1x GS412 for the same reason.

 

[aborgman]

I have a fearful 15/6 which is 50#. Can't imagine a gig it won't cover

I agree... but mine certainly isn't a 1 handed carry, even at <50lb

 

[FirewalZ]

I'm contemplating this very thing for situations where I don't need my double 410 stack. Depending how good it is I might sell the stack and get the powered extension cabinet. How's your experience with it so far?

I’ve been gigging with it for a few years now, zero issues. Even on larger outdoor gigs I have yet too push it, the tone is big and deep and has that GK crispness and tight punch. However, as with any low profile box, on small stages, or when you need to stand right in front of it, having it on a stand, or up off the ground a bit helps tremendously.

 

[BostonJazz72]

Have you checked out Mike Arnopol Soundworks? I highly recommend his cabs. His 1x8 cab can compete with 1x12 cabs out there. http://masoundworks.com/manage.numo?pid=27&module=shopping_cart&component=catalog&cid=1
I had two 1x8s. I could carry both in each hand, have my bass on my back with a micro amp. Thus, essentially having a very compact rig but powerful rig

Also, notables:
Vanderkley 112
Trickfish 112
BBC Cabs
Wayne Jones Audio

 

[InhumanResource]

I’ve been gigging with it for a few years now, zero issues. Even on larger outdoor gigs I have yet too push it, the tone is big and deep and has that GK crispness and tight punch. However, as with any low profile box, on small stages, or when you need to stand right in front of it, having it on a stand, or up off the ground a bit helps tremendously.

Cool, thanks. I was planning on having a stand for this arrangement unless I end up needing the extension cab. My double 410 setup is because I need the support FOH and our PA on sticks doesn't really cut it out front, but we recently upgraded so I'm interested in as powerful a combo as I can get. Sounds like this is it.

 

[FirewalZ]

Cool, thanks. I was planning on having a stand for this arrangement unless I end up needing the extinction cab. My double 410 setup is because I need the support FOH and our PA on sticks doesn't really cut it out front, but we recently upgraded so I'm interested in as powerful a combo as I can get. Sounds like this is it.

Yea, amoung the major brands, it very well may be the king of combo’s or at least right near the top when considering the balance of power, portability, tone and price.

 

[CosmicRay]

F212 but, made with Okoume.Very light.

 

[HotelX]

My one trip load in is two barefaced cabs, a Super Compact and a Super Midget. I'm not that hot on tweeters so I chose one cab without and one with the small tweeter instead of the BB's horn.
Bass on my back, PT nano with the soft bag strapped to bass, Class D head in the gigbag and one cab for each hand.
In terms of decibels you get for lbs, this is the best I ever experienced. I came from an aguilar 412 rig that did about the same in volume, but weighed 45kg more than the barefaceds

Because these bf cabs are so frigging loud I made the choice of buying two small ones instead of one 212.
Most of the time, one of the cabs is more than enough.

I think this is the best advice. Barefaced FTW.

 

[Ric5]

This aint cheap …

But is light and loud and it works well for bass, guitar, keys, and vocals

 

[bassmacguffin]

this Cabinet has wheel and a telescopic handle, and it's a 800 watt powerhouse, the Phil Jones Bass C8

 

[nilorius]

Check out TC electronic.

 

[monsterthompson]

Love my Barefaced cabs. I’ve got a physical handicap that sent me searching for the lightest and loudest. I’ve ended up with a pair of Big Baby 2 cabs as a PA system. Before that, I tried the SC and SM, and the 110 and 210. I’ve played both Fearful/less 115 cabs, as well as 12” Hathor and TC cabs.

If you think you can do a 212 from Barefaced, then I think you’ll get plenty loud. I will say that the handle placement and design on their cabs isn’t the most friendly one I’ve tried. The handle is hard and thin, so I use a glove to carry it any significant distance. Some folks have complained about the placement and how you end up banging your knees when carrying them.

Duke’s 112 cabs have much more carry-friendly placement and design. I’d expect similar from his bigger boxes. His cabs won’t leave you wanting for tone or volume either. The TC and Hathor are different sounding, and I’d lean towards the Hathor design.

The Fear 15” cabs were not a one-hand carry for me. The handle design and placement didn’t allow for it. I’m biased against the cabs based on my bad experience with my builder (who no longer builds for them) so I won’t say much more because of that bias.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Currently running a Schroeder 12PL and a Schroeder 12 12 Lite, with a Genzler MG800 -- super loud. And super lite. Three twelves with 102 and 103 DB SPL cabs. Both cabs are 8 ohms. Can't go wrong.

BTW the bottom cab is the 12 12 L. One twelve is loaded into the corner slot. Schroeder will still make them on a special order.

 

[medievalrhyme]

This is the exact reason why I love my AudioKinesis cab. It's by far the best design for one handed carry with stairs. Disclaimer: I also have Mesa Subway and Barefaced cabs as well.

What model AK cab do you have?

 

[mmbongo]

What model AK cab do you have?

I have a Changeling 112t. Love it!

 

[Al Kraft]

I have a Changeling 112t. Love it!

+1...it's an absolutely stellar cab.

 

[bucephylus]

I do not get the posts recommending the various 212 cabs. Those have handles on two sides, placed such that two hand lifting is intended. My Bergantino AE212’s are of this variety. At 52 pounds each, the weight isn’t the issue with the lift so much as handle placement. Could I lift mine with one hand. Sure; but, I won’t be doing that on any regular basis, simply because the cabs aren’t designed that way.

I would be looking for a 112 or 115 with a top handle for routine gig schlepping. Otherwise, use a cart or hand truck.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

Mike Arnopol (Michael Arnopol Sound) has a line of 'powerhouse' cabinets with a pair of custom 8" woofers & various mid-driver configurations that are small and light. If I were still playing out, I'd be using one.

I just spoke to someone on the phone re: this thread. He was looking at the 28 cabs. He told me that he played in a prog rock band with a loud drummer. I told him that I didn't think that the 28 would be best. 38---yeah. I would say that honestly, the 28 comes in a bit shy of a 212 like Dukes. I told him that 1 212 cab would likely be needed. I recommended the MAS112. I just re-did this for myself. The bottom of the Bodai28 with two 3" mids and a 1" dome tweeter. Duke has shown me that crossovers are everything. Most cabs that I don't like can be attributed to poor crossover design. In the original Thunderchild Duke used what I would consider a crap $25 tweeter. Through filters he got it sounding glorious. So--I needed a balls-to-the-walls cab for big gigs. 212 volume gigs. So I went nuts with crossover stuff. The new MAS112 is 28 x 15 x 15 and weighs 38#. And I dropped the price.

I'm just mentioning this because of the suggestions of the 8" based cabs where in this circumstance I think that the 12 would be better. Keeps up with any 212.

 

[Revolver]

All the choices mentioned are more than capable of very loud levels in very compact enclosures. I personally favor (in no particular order) Barefaced,'Thunderchildren' and Schroeder over the fearless variety only because they bring their own ('baked in') sound. I can't comment on the revsound, though I'm sure it would be right up there with the rest.