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

#301
I take advantage of the small head and bi-amp. I dont have a crossover, but I use the EQ to split. A Behringer Ultrabass runs an 18" cab (on casters) and my portaflex 350 head runs a lightweight 4x10. I am very pleased with the sound and it is not too cumbersome to deal with. I am 60 years old and have no roadies....quit whining
 
#302
Yep... Dream Rig....... LMBO
diatone-2.jpg

GENZLERMG800Head-2.jpg
 
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#307
So is the OP now aware of the light weight, portable cabs of the last decade? I have a 6 lbs. 1000w head into two Bergantino 1x12 35 lbs. cabs.
And get your exercise swimming, not crushing your vertebrae. My neurosurgeon is about to make in one surgery on me more than I've made in music over many years.
 
#310
Leo M Whitebird said:
I take advantage of the small head and bi-amp. I dont have a crossover, but I use the EQ to split. A Behringer Ultrabass runs an 18" cab (on casters) and my portaflex 350 head runs a lightweight 4x10. I am very pleased with the sound and it is not too cumbersome to deal with. I am 60 years old and have no roadies....quit whining
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Who is whining?
 
#311
selowitch said:
So I have to go out and buy lightweight cabs to replace the ones I currently own?
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All I know as I hit my 50’s, I had less desire (and no roadie/help) to lug the heavy stuff. I made the switch for just that reason.
I got a GK rig: 500w head weighs 4 lbs; both speaker cabs (2x10 and a 1x15) weigh 37lbs each.
LUV them. There’s a lot more out there, too.
IF you still HAVE TO push a LOT of air, you’re still stuck with big, heavy cabs - but - there are lighter options available even them.
Good luck and good hunting!
 
#312
You have to go buy lightweight cabs or not complain. For those of us who cannot afford paying $800 for one 12" bass cab, there are the Fender Rumble cabs. I have 2 12 inch cabs that weigh 30 lbs. each. I have a GK 1001RB head that is 15 years old, weighs 17 lbs, and a Carvin BX500 that weighs maybe 6 or 7 lbs., and a Schroeder cab with 2 15s, one at an angle that weighs 40 lbs, and a Traynor YBA-200 tube amp that weighs too much. The 2 Fender 12s are plenty for the small clubs I play and they cost less than $300 each. If what I have cannot handle the gig there will be pa for me to plug into. And if there is a backline that may not have much for controls, I always have my MXR bass preamp pedal with direct out for tweeking. If you have not kept up on bass technology since the 90s, get with it and stop whining.
 
#313
Two err three points: 1 - they do make two wheelers (and or drummers), I have found that if you have the vehicle to carry it an eight by ten is much easier to wheel around than anything else, and it sounds just great. My preferred rig is a Marshall vba400 & vbc810, however my cartage has changed along with venue volumes. I now cart a TC Electronic Staccato ‘51 and a rs212&rs210. Tc has od, compression, 3 presets and less weight, more compact and fits in my car. Yes, it’s a bit of a compromise, but what these days isn’t! I only play a four so it fits the bill!! Didn’t spend a boatload.
 
#314
My two rigs now:

Trace Elliott Elf w/ RevSound 2x8; loud enough to do small to mid-size gigs with 5 pc loud NewGrass band or jazz band - total weight 20 lbs
Demeter Bass 400 w/RevSound 2x10; loud enough for full-on blues/rock band in just about sny size venue w/o pa support - total weight 38 lbs

Any more questions?
 
#315
Making things smaller and lighter without sacrificing tone is expensive, so expect to pay for a decent rig that's also light.

Many people consider the PJB "suitcase" BG-400 one of the finest combo amps ever made. It reproduces the fundamental down to 35 Hz (I've read 30 Hz in places, not sure which is true). The combo itself does 300 watts. With the 4 speaker extension cab it does 500 watts. And very high fidelity: solid lows, crisp highs, instant staccato. I just bought one, can't wait for delivery. It will replace my PJB 6 Pack/9B, which is for sale if you think 74 lbs is light.
 
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#316
Yeah there is alot out there Mesa makes the subway series now...Eden actually makes a small head and light weight cabs too. I've owned the mesa subway plus the darkglass 900 and the Eden wtx500 and out of all I enjoyed the eden sound the best I love my Eden cabs to.also Bergantino is amazing I love them to just dont want to drop the cash I had a bergantino a while ago and still miss it every day.
 
#319
selowitch said:
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?
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As I have grown older and my back can't take the punishment it once did- my solution to this has been to go modular; I have a Markbass 1x12 combo, with a bag end 15. Small gigs, the combo does fine, larger, I use the '15 for more heft. I also have a Markbass 2/10 combo, so if needed, I will use the '15 with that. Its a fairly flexible set-up and sounds pretty good.
 

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