Heavy Gear?

[Zaphoid]

Hi All,
Im curious who out there has some heavy gear that they lug back and forth to practice and gigs? Personally I have a 100lb rack that I lug back and forth and it really bothers me( and my back ). I just dont feel comfortable leaving a rack with around $3k worth of gear anywhere but my own home. Id love to downsize my rig and have tried in the past but I just cant get that great tone out of my racked Mesa Mark IV. Why does guitar gear have to be so heavy in this day and age? The digital modeling stuff just isnt there for me yet. I long for the day when I can fit my whole rig in my pocket lol. Anyone else have to lug gear back and forth?

 

[beej]

I hear you. I try to split it up so it's manageable. 1x12 or 2x12, no 4x12s. A lighter pedalboard vs a big rack.

When possible I take my light rig out to play (and to practices ... don't need all of my junk for rehearsals, and it forces to you to play more creatively). Very light head (Badger), light 1x12 and a few pedals. Less is more.

The rack is the killer. Maybe get a few smaller portable racks? So you can carry one in each hand?

 

[Zaphoid]

Yeah Beej I was just looking into that. Getting 2 4-space racks instead of using an 8 spacer. I think that would solve all my problems.

 

[dannymusic]

my practice rig:

GNX4 guitar workstation (8 pounds)
(1) EV SXA100 powered wedge (36 pounds)
(1) 1 piezo equipped EBMM (JP6)

allows piezo and mags. mp3 playback and 8 track recording all at my fingertips.
AND I can carry all three in from my itty bitty car in 1 trip

It doesn't get any better then this folks for practice. For gigs, it certainly works too, although I'm partial to real tube amps. I did a theatre gig last year with this setup and it was REALLY good. My VOX and MESA amps would have been wayyyyy to much.

 

[JMB27]

Heavy gear?

Prolly my old Fender Twin and Super Reverb ... along with a couple of non-Ball guitars and various effects.

Since I got my first Ball?

Most of my gear is easier on the back and simpler.

 

[rocksalt]

+1 on the Fender Twin, the sucker comes in at around 75 lbs. EASY. It splits time at the practice space (my drummer's basement). At the house I run my pedal board into a digitech jamman looper and run headphones out. Gets me through practices just fine.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Well...... starting next week I will be rehearsing with Yellow9 as their new lead guitarist (Pete is retiring), and lugging around all my gear a few times a week just doesn't make sense, not to mention I can get by playing without effects. I have a small solid state 1x12 combo amp for practice, and the SLO-100 w/ a 2x12 cab for gigs. That's all I need there! With my original band I use a full 4x12 SLO-100 rig split wet/dry with a 6-space rack and pedalboard/footswitch switch setup.

 

[Lou]

I haven't had to move my new Mark IV yet, but at a gig I was hauling a 4 space SKB with a triaxis and 2 mesa EV loaded 1x12 thieles and 2 guitars. Smaller venues just a mesa F30 and maybe 1 thiele.

 

[www.lamusic.ca]

I'm guilty - My 412 weighs a massive 175lbs in case, and my rack is 3 man lift.... Hell, my pedalboard is about 75lbs!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

My guitars are both very light, and my amp is manageable (50 lbs.). My problem is that I drive a Mustang GT, so the back seat only really exists to make the insurance company happy, and the trunk is even worse. I usually only take one guitar, so it rides in the front and I stick the amp in back.

 

[Danserrano]

I use to lug a ton of junk, but I def learned from guys here that u can have great tone with less gear. Now I use an egnater mod 50, 2x12 avatar cab which is fairly light, tc electronic g system, and a few pedals in a 2 space rack case which hold the g system, a keeley ds1, mxr eq and bb preamp. All Very light considering what they are, easy to lug around and most importantly easy on the back cuz I'm not getting any younger lol

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Having suffered on and off with a serious back problem, weight is probably the most important issue when it comes to choosing gear. Over the years I have used the 'Stupid' rig that you dream about when you first get some money. I had a 4x12, 100w head, 6U rack, 2 cased guitars heavy flightcase with cables etc.. Now as the years go on, the rig got smaller and smaller, until its what I use today, which is a Line 6 2x12 combo, a smallish pedal board and a soft case of cables. I have always wanted to use a 5150, but when I found out they weight DOUBLE that of my L6, I think I will stick with what I have got. I may even swap the speakers in the Line 6 for Celestion Centuries simply because they would drop the weight a great deal!

 

[slukather]

Although l don't really play in bands.

Originally l had, my 5150ii head and 4x12, with my g-major, with some cheap midi controller and volume pedal. And using 2 Ernie Ball Lukes.

Then l changed the 5150ii for the Mesa Dual Rectumfrier.

Now l use a CAA 3+SE Preamp, VHT 2/50/2 poweramp, TC Electronics G-Major, 5150 4x12 controlled by a Ground Control pro. And i still use 2 Lukes.

But l am thinking of downgrading the 4x12 to a 2x12.

I never had a problem with lifting the gear, it's all on wheels, and it's not that heavy.

Scott.

 

[mikeller]

These days I try to use the same gear at rehearsal I do at gigs - my Mesa Maverick (2-12 and very heavy) and a powertrain pedal board.

I usually leave the amp at the rehearsal space, just carry the pedal board & guitar(s) between practice & home

 

[Dizzy]

I never had a problem with lifting the gear, it's all on wheels, and it's not that heavy.

Scott.

Maybe all these Yanks & Poms are just limp-wristed, what do you reckon Scott ??

 

[marduke]

well im glad i havent had to move my Mesa MkIV widebody combo as of yet.. that thing is damn heavy!! but i used to lug around my Kustom 100w head and 4x12 cab twice a week.. just fit in my car snuggly and it was a heavy bugger. for someone of my size anyways.. lol and my back really hated me for it.

 

[V_S]

A friend of mine offered me a MB Triaxis and a 2:90 poweramp for little money So I couldn't resist. It really sounds good. But one half of the poweramp would be moer than enough. And it's heavy like it was made of 100% lead. Last holidays I built myself a MB 1x12 Thiele clone so that i can leave my 2x12 at home.

 

[73h Nils]

Hmm, Mesa head is like 50 lbs and the cab is around there too. Cab has casters, thanks to Darren . Not really an issue, and I don't expect to expand my gear too much at all...Just need a nice boost pedal/EQ and I'll be done.

 

[marduke]

well looks like ill be carting my mk4 around.. my vox ad30vt is not well at the moment...the sound is breaking up alot (sounds like a wet fart.. lol) i think the valve may be on its way out.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

the sound is breaking up alot (sounds like a wet fart.. lol) i think the valve may be on its way out.

At least it sounds like something funny


I love my Vox