Keepin' it light

[KingNed]

All of the best live sounds from bands I've liked (playing heavy music) have come from big amps through big cabs. It's not a surprise really. Big loud stacks sound wicked. I would love to use them, believe me, but right now it's not particularly viable for me. I have spinal problems, which makes carrying big amps around very uncomfortable. Also, I don't drive and most of the gigs I play are in my city. I get taxis everywhere. You can fit a fair amount in the bigger ones, but not much more than 2 cabs and a couple of guitars if you're happy to do some yoga to fit in with them. When we play out of town we have contacts for vans and drivers, but we don't do that often. If I could drive everywhere I'd be more willing to use big stuff, but all factors considered it's not really possible.
I play in a two piece and cover both guitar and bass range, so I've recently downsized from using a MIG50 through a 4x12, a Twin, and a 4x10 bass cab, to a 2x12 for guitar and a 1x15 for bass. It just doesn't hold a candle to when I play with bands using bigger amps and cabs, and makes us sound a bit underwhelming in comparison.

Basically, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions or experience in getting a big sound a sound as possible without the big weight. Speaker choice is obviously important, but are there certain speaker configurations I should try? Maybe specific smaller cabs that can achieve something closer to bigger cab volume and character? Neo magnet drivers?

Is what I'm asking possible? Or am I trying to defy physics here?

I'd also point out that the amp I'm using is a solid state preamp-power amp type deal so I've got plenty of volume on tap there. I run it in stereo with a guitar and bass preamp either side to effectively have both guitar and bass amps in one unit. Cuts down the number of stuff I have to carry. Although, I need to get a different power amp as the QSC RMX1450 I'm using it stupidly heavy...

Thanks

[odontophobia]

Why did you ditch the twin / MIG? feel like keeping one may have helped a bit with the feel.

I like solid state stuff just fine, sometimes it feels like there is a different feel/vibe to that stuff that evokes certain feelings.

[KingNed]

Why did you ditch the twin / MIG? feel like keeping one may have helped a bit with the feel.

I like solid state stuff just fine, sometimes it feels like there is a different feel/vibe to that stuff that evokes certain feelings.

I'm sorry, I didn't clarify that very well. I still own the Twin. I don't plan on letting go of it any time soon as it's a wicked amp. It's just really heavy. The Twin MIG combo sounded great, but taking both the Twin and a cab for the Sovtek was a lot of heavy lifting. Getting it in and out of Taxis was difficult. Although I'm tempted to grin and bear it and add the Twin back in for that feel/flavour, as you said.

I'm quite happy with the solid state thing. It's actually one of the most consistant and punchiest sounding setups I've played through. It just came about as a neat idea to streamline my rig, but has resulted in a lot of tone compliments and a sound that has fit me quite well. I've only used it a handful of times so far and needs a bit of tweaking here and there, though.

[tremolo3]

Get a couple of those small Quilter 200w amps and just borrow all other band's cabs?

[ognoy]

Get a couple of those small Quilter 200w amps and just borrow all other band's cabs?

Was about to write something similar.
Couple of months ago a saw this loud noiserock band and the guitarist was using one of those Quilter-heads into the venues beat up Marshall 412.
Sounded awesome!

I don't drive either, so I rarely bring my big amps to gigs. So thinking of getting some small lightweight head to bring to the gigs where I know there is a decent cab, but no decent heads for what I'm doing. Most clubs here in Norway usually has a JCM800+412, a Twin and a AC30. I prefer playing through 412s, but I don't like JCM800s.

[tremolo3]

I prefer playing through 412s, but I don't like JCM800s.

I once saw a guy (tall mf from Caspian) playing a Twin through a 412 Marshall cab, it sounded so good I decided to stay there, a couple of feet away from his amp, then every time they came I looked for that spot lol

[Sonaboy]

I prefer playing through 412s, but I don't like JCM800s.

I once saw a guy (tall mf from Caspian) playing a Twin through a 412 Marshall cab, it sounded so good I decided to stay there, a couple of feet away from his amp, then every time they came I looked for that spot lol

Phil.
Yeah - I don't really understand his setup. The Twin has no speakers in it, but he carries it in that big box anyway. I asked him once why he just doesn't put the Twin into a rack case to keep it better protected. He was like, "It IS protected."

[doommeow]

Class D amps, detuned cabs, and neo speakers? Made trade the twin for a dual showman - not that those are much lighter...

[KingNed]

I play in another band on bass, playing lighter folk rock kinda stuff. I run my twin through a 1x15. I'd love to get a head case made for it, but quotes I've got have been more than I want to spend. There's 3 other people in the band (one of whom is a builder who can lift the Twin with one hand with no issue), so it's not a problem with that band. I'm a big wimp with a dodgy back who doesn't work out, though...

Unfortunately, cabs are rarely available at gigs in my town. None of the venues have in house backline, headliners never let the support use their gear, and support bands typically bring combos. The bands who use big cabs are from the heavier sludge/doom/hardcore bands, and we rarely get put on shows with them as we're not AS heavy as them.

When 68 toured here a couple of year ago, Josh Scogin was using some Toneblocks and loads of other crazy looking stuff in a massive rack case and it sounded pretty cool. Something to consider.

I don't know much about detuned cabs. Who makes them? I put a neo speaker in the twin and it's much better. Still a bit of a beast, though.

[ognoy]

Do the venues you play have decent PAs?
If so, maybe you could use something like a Sansamp for the bass-side of your rig?
Not as much mojo as a huge amp, but your back will thank you.

[KingNed]

Do the venues you play have decent PAs?
If so, maybe you could use something like a Sansamp for the bass-side of your rig?
Not as much mojo as a huge amp, but your back will thank you.

Nice PA's, typically pretty bad monitors that have been kicked a few too many times

I've been considering the Sansamp approach, but something in me really repulses at the idea of not having an amp behind me. I just really like the physical sensation of having a bass amp flapping my jeans. Maybe that's something i need to get over for the moment...

[ognoy]

What about getting some light weight powered speaker, and use that as your bass monitor?

[KingNed]

What about getting some light weight powered speaker, and use that as your bass monitor?

Hmm... cool idea! I suppose i then have the option of going into a nice bass cab if one is there.

[K2000]

Look into the Eminence Lil Texas speaker, 8 ohms and weighs about 5 lbs (neodymium), very loud speaker (101 db efficiency I think) and can handle 130 watts each. A pair of those in 2 open-back 1x12 cabs would be loud A.F. I have an Avatar cab with that speaker, it's loud and weighs about 20-22 pounds. Put that with a Quilter amp... The Lil Texas is about $100/each, I found a used one for 70.

For bass, usually nothing will be louder than the PA, and you don't have to bring it. You just need something for on-stage monitoring.

[Gone Fission]

Eminence has a neo EVM clone now, the EM-12N. A hair less efficient than the ceramic mag, but a shit ton lighter. Would make TL-806s a lot lighter. So the light version of what’s been a great compact 412 sub for decades.