Tiny Head, Same Big Speaker Cabs: What's the Point?

[dbsfgyd1]

Sorry about the accident. I sure hope you’ve recovered and don’t have too many permanent deficits.

As for heads, losing ten-fifteen pounds for most that have not gone through what you have, or an ounce difference in a bass being a determining factor to me is odd.

What to me is even more odd is it seems to be the most important single issue on the board. One would think that issues such as how to I get more gigs, durable equipment, where to get the best prices on gear, work arounds, and band business issues would be more prevalent.

I do have to admit that a class D power amp for my rack, replacing my current lead sled power amp might net significantly more weight savings. That said, to get an equivalent yield, I’d need approx 2000 watts a side, and the cost benefit at this point just isn’t there....YET, and I reserve the right to jump on the wagon.

As for speakers, I’m content to haul my 100 lbs worth of cabs around to most gigs, using a dolly or hand truck. This weekend we have a gig at a major theme park with a really nasty long load in. It will be in the mid 80s. I’ll report back, well, what’s left of me will report back on Sunday.. Have good one.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Its fer retrieving dead ducks.
Sorry, I thought he was asking "What is a Lab for?

A good lab will bring their own ones back alive....

 

[chadds]

Thats why they invented band mates....lol.

Back in the day, not only did we have ridiculously large and cumbersome bass rigs, keyboard players used Hammond B-3s, Fender Rhodes pianos (not exactly light weight), heck, we had one pianist that used an upright piano. And yes, we had basements, one night stands, and still managed to survive.

The other interesting thing about this is, there is a musical fraternity that started back in my high school in 1966, and over the decades , our number has expanded in excess of at least 70 musicians. We lost one to cancer, and one other has some cardiac issues diet related, but still is able to perform. The rest of us? None of us have back or orthopedic issues, most are still gigging, and most of us in our 60s and seventies are still in great shape. We’re all deaf as a post, but for the most part, none the worse for wear.

As a group based our numbers and years of life, we are morbidity outliers with one thing in common.
Like they say, a little physical work won’t kill you, but a lack of it, or avoiding it as much as possible, just might.

Just think how many posters on TB are claiming bad backs out of the 400 some members? And how many are ardently chasing the holy grail of the lightest gear humanly possible? Is there a correlation?

WOW!

 

[Korladis]

I just saw on the TB home page that Trickfish is coming out with a 408 cab. I keep thinking 8's are over, but they keep coming back

But a 408 is a 4x15" cab.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

WOW!

True story. We were idiots.....but today we’re living longer healthier lives....

 

[Munjibunga]

Did someone say tiny head?

View attachment 3007553

Or ...

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?

Seems you just missed the other trend toward lightweight cabs, which is strange, because it started a little while before the tiny, lightweight amp trend took off. Seem I was hearing about neodymium magnet speakers for a long time before class "D" micro amps hit the market.

 

[popgadget]

How about big amp, small cab?
Demeter HBP 1 racked with Crown XTI 2002 and Line 6 wireless paired with a Fearless F110.

 

[rodl2005]

Was it a Lab 4?

Lab Systems ...

Australian made amps. I've never owned one myself, but supposedly very good quality

 

[chadds]

True story. We were idiots.....but today we’re living longer healthier lives....

You’re talking about me. I was a 125lb bass waif. We moved Fender Dual Showman, Sunn 2000s, Ampeg SVT & V4B, Marshall 4x15, and Acoustic 361 cabs. Add the B3s & Leslies and respective amp heads and we are healthier for it.

 

[armyadarkness]

But a 408 is a 4x15" cab.

Well if that's true, then Trickfish has some serious explaining to do! And I'd hate to be the poor fool who orders the 415!

 

[SteveCS]

I don't know about you, but I now use a 10 year old Genz Benz 6.0 Shuttle with a 1-12 cab. The cab and head weigh about 30lbs. My old SWR 2-10 cab weighs 60 plus. The new cab is just as loud and sounds better. Pretty amazing.

Likewise - amazing amps...

 

[aborgman]

Thats why they invented band mates....lol.

Back in the day, not only did we have ridiculously large and cumbersome bass rigs, keyboard players used Hammond B-3s, Fender Rhodes pianos (not exactly light weight), heck, we had one pianist that used an upright piano. And yes, we had basements, one night stands, and still managed to survive.

When I was in High School - I did all that sort of thing.

I'm not in High School anymore.

Like they say, a little physical work won’t kill you, but a lack of it, or avoiding it as much as possible, just might.

I'm all about physical work - but I prefer to do my damage doing something I enjoy as opposed to schlepping unnecessarily heavy band equipment.

I run, mountain bike, snowboard, canoe/kayak... as well as doing basically all my own home repair, car repair, and lawn care... I get PLENTY of physical work.

Just think how many posters on TB are claiming bad backs out of the 400 some members?

Ummm... more like 200,000 members.

And how many are ardently chasing the holy grail of the lightest gear humanly possible? Is there a correlation?

Is there a correlation with people who already have back problems and seeking the lightest gear possible? Of course.

Is there a correlation with seeking the lightest gear possible and future back problems? Ummm.. No.

 

[mrjim123]

But a 408 is a 4x15" cab.

Hmm ... I thought the 408 was 40 8" drivers stacked vertically.

 

[Hundred proof]

I don't see as many guitar players going "new tech" most of the ones I know cling to old lead sleds, ever move a 65 Fender Super Reverb not light gear.

 

[StatesideRambler]

It's a great era to play bass!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

When I was in High School - I did all that sort of thing.

I'm not in High School anymore.



I'm all about physical work - but I prefer to do my damage doing something I enjoy as opposed to schlepping unnecessarily heavy band equipment.

I run, mountain bike, snowboard, canoe/kayak... as well as doing basically all my own home repair, car repair, and lawn care... I get PLENTY of physical work.



Ummm... more like 200,000 members.



Is there a correlation with people who already have back problems and seeking the lightest gear possible? Of course.

Is there a correlation with seeking the lightest gear possible and future back problems? Ummm.. No.

I was long out of high school and still hauling gear full time until my late 20”s early thirties. I’m still hauling it today 40 years later.

I would doubt we have over 200,000 regular contributors, and based on polling numbers, that figure is more like my estimate.

While I am glad you have an active lifestyle, I’d lay a wager your average working musician dosen’t. In case you’ve missed it, our nation has become supersized due to eating too much, and not doing much of any physical activity. If you know anything about morbidity rates, there is a distinct correlation between inactivity and physical breakdown.

Sorry guy, after many decades of working in the health insurance field, my wifes 30 year career in the medical field, my sister retired after 60 years in the medical field, I stand on what I said. A little extra physical work does pay dividends. Avoiding it has has an exponentially adverse affect on long term quality of life. That is a fact.

And just what is your dog in this fight anyway? Obviously you’ve got the message. Why advise and condone people to do otherwise?

 

[David Jayne]

Depends on what kind of schlep you have to deal with. If it's your garage to the van, then van to front door of bar, great. Mine is more like: Stairs to car, then at venue schlep halfway across parking garage to elevator. Down hall to kitchen, through kitchen to ballroom then length of ballroom to stage. Then reverse at midnight. I'm always in the PA. I'll bring light stuff. You do whatever you like.

 

[pappabass]

My my swr combo weighed 80+ pounds, after trying to squeeze it in my car, hurting my back, then carrying it a long distance, I kissed it good bye. Now I have a TC head, a SWR pro series 12" cab (33 lbs) for small stuff, & a swr WM15 cab (43 pounds) for a little larger venue. Either works pretty well in the smaller venues I play. Plus it is 40 lbs lighter!

 

[aborgman]

While I am glad you have an active lifestyle, I’d lay a wager your average working musician dosen’t. In case you’ve missed it, our nation has become supersized due to eating too much, and not doing much of any physical activity. If you know anything about morbidity rates, there is a distinct correlation between inactivity and physical breakdown.

Sorry guy, after many decades of working in the health insurance field, my wifes 30 year career in the medical field, my sister retired after 60 years in the medical field, I stand on what I said. A little extra physical work does pay dividends. Avoiding it has has an exponentially adverse affect on long term quality of life. That is a fact.

Exercise is good - lifting lots of cumbersome, unergonomic, unbalanced weight once a week/a few times a month... generally isn't.

No one who doesn't get enough exercise is going to improve their health by hauling band equipment occasionally, but they very well MAY injure themselves through improper lifting or overexertion.

Americans in general need to get a lot more exercise - moving furniture isn't the solution.

And just what is your dog in this fight anyway? Obviously you’ve got the message. Why advise and condone people to do otherwise?

My dog is that light weight cabs and heads make sense - especially, if as I do, you have to haul them up stairs where casters/hand trucks aren't there to help... and get your exercise somewhere3 else that is safer and less likely to end in injury.