Double Bass The Gear Rabbit Hole

[statsc]

Practicality suddenly becomes a huge priority once you're playing more outside the house than in - at least it did for me. I established a "one trip" rule for myself for either DB or electric gigs to try to tame my urges. If I can't carry the cab in one hand, rest in a backpack, and the DB on my shoulder for at least a couple city blocks, I have too much stuff. That includes snacks and water Of course, I'm thankful for still being young-ish, strong, and healthy - I'm sure I'll have to break that rule someday!

One-trip to me means... typically rolling in with an EA NL-112 in one hand, a backpack with an Aggie TH500 or EA Doubler (just for the power section) and a board with Noble, fdeck, and Cali 76 bass, and the DB. I still record with the REDDI most of the time though. Love that thing!

Practicality is huge, especially as you get older, and is in fact the main driver of my gear rabbit-holing. I started back in the 60’s with an Ampeg B-15N, then on to a tan Fender Bassman with 2-12’s, then to a Kustom with 2-15’s (remember the padded Naugahyde covers on those?). Back then, if you wanted a big sound you had to have BIG equipment. From there I went to an insanely heavy SCS mosfet power amp with a Dean Markley tube pre-amp in an Anvil rack mount plugged into a 15-inch 3-way Electrovoice cab on wheels! Finally got with the downsizing program with an early AI Coda + Coda Ex extension speaker, then an AI Ten2 with Ten2 EX extension, and now finally an AI Clarus I with MAS 16 or 18 plus a Tonedexter and (hopefully!) Sarno BB. The electronics (plus all required cables) all fit in a large-ish laptop case, the MAS fits in a backpack Ahead Armor snare drum case, and the bass rolls on a Bass Buggy. Two trips!

 

[Roger Davis]

These days the cities and towns in UK make it very difficult to get a car into. All my gigs are where I can get my SUV to the front door- or very close. So it’s ok to have a min of three trips from car to stage. Gives me a lot of choice in the gear I choose.

 

[Ric Vice]

I've also had my share of Big Stuff. I once owned a Kasino 200 (refridgerator sized) amp, but I never played DB gigs with it. After that, the amps got progressivly smaller and smaller.

Ampeg B-15N (C) (still have that one) Roland Cube 60 (Orange Vinyl), Gallien Krueger 200MB, Walter Woods MI-400-8, and Woods Electroacoustic Ultra (still have that one)

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Practicality suddenly becomes a huge priority once you're playing more outside the house than in - at least it did for me. I established a "one trip" rule for myself for either DB or electric gigs to try to tame my urges. If I can't carry the cab in one hand, rest in a backpack, and the DB on my shoulder for at least a couple city blocks, I have too much stuff.

^^^This

 

[Ric Vice]

^^^This

View attachment 3680889

Nice cart!

 

[vanselus]

Right on CHRIS!

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Bass in one hand, MAS 16 in the other and WW amp, etc in a bag on the shoulder, I can move some hundred meters, it is okay.
And between this, and my Countryman Omni mic and new Barcus Berry clamp (either/or, I'm not going down the mixing rabbit hole), I think I am at the "good enough" stage.
Of course, I would like a MAS18, allthough I do not need it for my current uses. And could it be 4 ohms, so my WW would put out 350 watts? Oh well...