Whats best - Lightweight Combo or Cab?

[JoshWhit]

Hello fellow bassists!

Ive suffered a back injury and Im selling off all my cabs but I just wanted your opinions on what is the best option to go for: a lightweight combo or head and cab setup?

Ive got an Ashdown Mag300 atm with all laney cabs (4x10, 1x15 & 2x15), and I dont know whether to sell the head as well in order to get a light weight combo (which one Im unsure of, opinions appreciated) or whether I should keep the head and get a light weight cab (or to keep the 1x15).

Your opinions will be greatly valued and if your interested in buying then check out my thread on marketplace. Thank you all!

[xgsjx]

If it were I, I would get a Markbass combo (that's what I did). I would however, go & try one before you do (same goes for any gear).

[chris_b]

I have a bad back and went for a cab and amp. I would imagine that's a pretty standard route, if you're dealing with a back injury.

Something like a Genz STL (9.2 for me) and a Barefaced Compact is the lightest, smallest and best sounding rig I would go for.

I'd also get a good trolley.

[Lozz196]

Having a bad (right) shoulder, I went for a Markbass Mini CMD121P combo (plus NY121 ext speaker for larger gigs).

Combo in left hand, bass in right hand, bag of leads over shoulder. Done. Plus, at gigs, only have to plug mains lead into amp, and bass into amp. Cuts down a lot of setting up/breaking down malarkey, and seeing as one of my bands has 8 members, this all helps when another band are waiting to get on stage.

Complete u-turn for me though, I was always an amp head/410 bassist, but I had to listen to what my body was telling me, and have to say my current set-up is so convenient, and I`ve in no way compromised on sound.

[Wylie]

My lift limit is around 45 pounds (though I can lift more if I want to hurt my elbows, shoulders et al.) so I went from a bulky 47-pound (and anemic) combo to a Carvin 250-watt head (3 pounds) and a Schroeder easy-to-carry 2x10 PL cab (35 pounds). Incredible big sound, very light weight, and the outlay was just under $800. Much bigger, better sound, much less weight.

Now to find a lighter bass ...

tg

Edited November 19, 2012 by tedgilley

[shizznit]

As mentioned previously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and D-Class amps and lightweight cabs are not to every players liking, but here's a list of what I consider to be the best in the business...[list]
[*]Mark Bass
[*]Genz Benz
[*]EBS
[*]TC Electronics
[*]Aguilar
[/list]
All those brands produce stunning lightweight amps and cabs. Schroeder, Barefaced, Purple Chilli and Vanderkley don't manufacture amps, but their cabs are the mutts nuts. If you can find a 2nd hand Bergantino HT cab (now discontinued) you have found yourself what I consider to be the Rolls Royce of lightweight cabs.

Edited November 20, 2012 by shizznit

[JTUK]

[size=5][sup]If it is a new back injury..as opposed to age etc, I'd geta good physio regime going.[/sup][/size]
[size=5][sup]You can manage back imjuries easiliy enough, IME..altho it might also depend on the type of injury.[/sup][/size]

[size=5][sup]My specialists says I have two prolapsed disks and I said what does that stop me doing...?[/sup][/size]
[size=5][sup]He asked me what I wanted to do...so I told him, ski, golf and play music. He said go ahead and do just that....so I do.[/sup][/size]
[size=5][sup]I also refer to my back physio who has all my history,... once in a while ( maybe once every two years ) so I take notice of what they say.[/sup][/size]

[size=5][sup]It is all about posture and core.... so learn to handle that, for starters.[/sup][/size]
[size=5][sup]Some Backs can be managed, IME.. [/sup][/size]

[HADGE]

I know how you feel about amp and cab i was just the same always used a ampeg stack but 2 years ago i was using a ashdown combo for practice and hurt my back so like you i was looking at what to do and tried a markbass 2x10 combo and must say i have never wanted anything else and if we do really big gigs i get our drummer to help me carry my 1x15 markbass cab but must say 90% of the time my combo will do the job and i play in a rock band who only know one volume and that is loud.But like we always say try a few and see what you like yourself. Good luck with what ever you buy.

[Truckstop]

Markbass and Gallien Kreuger combos are awesomely light. My MB210 is a very easy one hand lift if a little bulky, but that doesn't bother me. If it did, I'd go for the MB112; half the size without compromising on tone or volume. Weighs less too!

I'd say go for combo purely because it's ever such less hassle than a head/cab rig. There are combos out there that weigh less than your Ashdown head and (IMO) sound and look much much better.

Hope your back doesn't offer too much discomfort and good luck in your search for a new rig!

Truckstop

[Musicman20]

Th other option is a trolley, and make sure your band mates always get the other handle. This applies to any gear, no matter what the weight, (maybe not effects pedals etc though haha).

[LawrenceH]

If the budget can stretch, I'd think separates is the way to go if you want the ultimate in lightweight flexibility, simply because it allows you to distribute the load better or even do it in two trips. Even when the amp weighs just 2kg, add that to the 10 or so kilos of a small cab and it'll make a difference in some situations. It depends how bad the problem is. Separates also lets you match the lightest head with the lightest cab, even when they're not from the same manufacturer
Gallien Krueger amps are pretty much the lightest around at the moment, the MB200 and 500 particularly, and as a bonus they sound great. Cab-wise Barefaced use the lightest construction technique apart from a few specialist builders in the US who're using composite materials. Barefaced don't use quite the lightest drivers, but they are pretty much the loudest and most powerful for their weight and I've not seen any commercial offerings in the UK that are lighter overall (DIY's a different story).
Regardless of the combo v separates issue, how much volume do you need? You've got a lot of drivers currently with 3 fifteens and 4 tens!

[tauzero]

If you go for separates rather than a combo, you have the option to go for a lightweight cab now and then get a lighter amp some way down the line. You're not tied in to changing both amp and speakers at the same time. Plus you have flexibility in the combination, eg. you could have a Genz Benz amp and Tecamp cab.

[WinterMute]

My rig is now listed below, the amp and pod are in an ABS rack case, it's a one hand lift, the cab is on wheels and I can lift it with one hand, but I don't have bad back...!

It's the biggest cab Barefaced currently offer, so a couple of the smaller ones would suit. This is a 1400w monster rig that weighs less than my old 2x10 Line 6 combo...

I'd go separates for the quality, and you're not then limited to a few underperforming combos.

Edited November 26, 2012 by WinterMute

[BassTractor]

Separates for the win! Others have already told why.

In part due to my bad back, I sold my MAG 300 combo with 4*10 that was roughly 44 kilos.
Then bought a Little Bastard (14.5 kg) and two LB-112 cabs @ 14 kg or so.
Three light lifts is better than one heavy one, and, more importantly in my case, gives better spread and direction to the powers that else would ruin my back. Very satisfied.


best,
bert

[IanA]

I used to have a Markbass cms102p combo, a single Bergantino 1x12 walked all over it.
Go the modular route and spend a bit more!

[Ultima2876]

I think separates. Less strain on your back cause you can move it in two trips, less strain on your wallet because you can buy it in pieces (amp first, cab second). Also, you can upgrade modularly; if you buy a good amp, you can buy a decent cab later - then when you need an upgrade, get another cab. Then replace your cabs with great ones. Then upgrade amp.. etc. Whereas with a combo, when you want an upgrade you can maybe get an extension cab.. but then you're stuck replacing the whole combo after that

Plus head + cab looks better!

[MoJoKe]

Check out the MarkBass Alain Caron 121 combo, it will tick all your boxes....

[Big Mick]

Back injuries are usually caused by over reaching with too heavy a load. I chose Markbass separates because the cab is easier to get in and out of my smallish car than the combo. Wrestling with even a lightweight cab is increasing the risk of further injury. I recon the extra cost was worth it for me!

Cheers, Mick. :-)

[glefty]

Here here, get the lightest cab n head 2 fit ur needs so I'd say a GKMB200 or 500 with a 12" Barefaced cab, total 30lbs or a GK210 combo or Genz Benz 3.0t combo & extension 10" cab, 33lbs. Any lighter n u'll b playing thru the PA. Apart from levitaton, that's it currently as far as I know

[molan]

I've tried just about everything out there in the small/lightweight market.

I settled on an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 (the 350 is even smaller, lighter and cheaper but sounds the same if you don't need the 500w head).

After trying lots of cabs I settled on a Markbass 2x10 Traveller. One of the main, and very simple, reasons for this cab is that it stands vertically and is just nicely wide enough for a head to sit on top.

Having the extra height brings the 2nd speaker up a little and I find it really helps me to hear myself without excessive volume.

I keep thinking of getting a 2nd matching cab and stacking them both vertically but I haven't needed one yet.

With a gig bag for the head I can easily manage cab in one hand, bass over my shoulder and head either on the other shoulder or other hand.

The cab really is a simple one handed lift

For combos I liked the Markbass 1x12 but found it needed to come up off the floor to be heard really well.

The Carvin 1x15 or 2x10 combos are a very good low cost (£450) idea if you want the most bang for your buck.