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Lightweight bass cabs


daveybass

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So after a brief brush with the maker and two stents at the age of 47, I've been told that basically I can't lift any thing ridiculous anymore so need to look at a lightweight cabs to replace my Warwick Hellborg Lo and High cabs.

I haven't got a clue what is out there so would be glad of the advice but am using a TC rh750 amp at present

Thanks

Dave

 

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Glad you got the stents before things got any worse dude.

I'm about to list 2 Fender Rumble 112 cabs. They're light, good handles which make for an easy lift and they do go loud. Pm if interested and apologies if this is an infraction of any rules!

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I don't know Hellborg cabs, but when I used an RH750 it was with 2 and then 3 Bergantino AE112's. Great sound.

Then I decided to go even lighter and changed everything up to Aguilar amps and Barefaced cabs. A move from 30lbs a carry to 21lbs a carry and IMO an even better sound.

What's your budget?

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1 hour ago, funkydoug said:

Glad you got the stents before things got any worse dude.

I'm about to list 2 Fender Rumble 112 cabs. They're light, good handles which make for an easy lift and they do go loud. Pm if interested and apologies if this is an infraction of any rules!

Cheers mate, very much out of the blue and spent 2 weeks in Bristol ( I don't remember the first week) - all change for the best I suppose

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3 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

There is way more stuff than simply Barefaced. Most manufacturers do lightweight gear. Do you have a budget?

No budget at present, just a case of them having decent power, are easily manageable and the amp does have one input.

Cheers

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By 'one input' do you mean the head has one speakon connection on the back (output), which is the case on the head you mentioned?

Don't let that sway your thinking. You can daisy chain cabs using the two sockets you'll find on the back of any cab. You aren't limited to a one cab solution ... Unless you want one of course!

For what it is worth, my own take on this, especially where minimal weight is a "doctor's orders" kind of thing, is that I'd prefer to do two easy trips from the car than one awkward one. Larger cabs, including many 2x12s are great, and not always very heavy, but that doesn't make them easy to move from a car through doors, stairs and corners to your spot next to the drummer! Modular is the way.

Good luck and good health Dave.

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Given the circumstances I’d be after as light as possible, so from the ones I’m aware of it would have to be Barefaced.

My actual faves are the Ashdown NEOs but they are a few KGs heavier.

But of both of these two you get a UK based company with good customer service. Always worth having. 

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Another idea (in addition to lightweight gear to help with your back issues) is to get a sack truck to help with not having to carry long distances. I got one from Aldi that I can put my pedalboard (one of these), cab (Zilla, vertical neo 2x12) and head (Ashdown ABM600) on. Bass is on my back in a gig bag. It's a game changer and I'm only 33. I can move it all in one trip!

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I visited a guitar tech in Denmark street many years ago which was down a narrow flight of stairs. While I was there Lonnie Donnigan came in and told the tech he was there to have a pickup fitted to his acoustic guitar. He didn’t have a guitar with him though which was puzzling — until a couple of minutes later when his missus entered struggling with a rectangular aluminium covered flight case containing the guitar in question.

Perhaps you could keep your existing cabs and, like Lonnie must have done, tell the missus that you’re going to let her become your personal roadie.

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On 23/04/2021 at 12:29, funkydoug said:

Glad you got the stents before things got any worse dude.

I'm about to list 2 Fender Rumble 112 cabs. They're light, good handles which make for an easy lift and they do go loud. Pm if interested and apologies if this is an infraction of any rules!

Just spotted the ad, uber-bargain, @daveybass these have to be a consideration 

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On 23/04/2021 at 16:18, Aalin said:

Also, a one speaker cab will always be lighter than a two speakers one because of the magnets.

If you want to have two elements, one box (2 x 12") can be slightly lighter than two (12") boxes together because of the construction. If you have seen modern Nd magnets, you know they are very small compared to the old ceramic ones. The saved weight is substantial:

https://www.eminence.com/guitar-bass/bass-guitar/

Sound is also different, as box volume affects two other parameters: the lowest reproducable frequency, or the efficiency. This works the other way around, too: if a box is very small, you cannot reach the lowest frequencies with reasonable efficiency, i.e. the cab will be quiet.

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On 23/04/2021 at 14:38, Steve Browning said:

There is way more stuff than simply Barefaced. Most manufacturers do lightweight gear. Do you have a budget?

I do agree but Barefaced are the lightweight specialists. Their whole range is very light rather than most manufacturers who have a lightweight range almost as an afterthought. Incidently I don't own a Barefaced cab, I use @stevie's BC112 MK3 at 15Kg.

 

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Started using a Messa Subway 800 and 2x Barefaced 110's. Super light, very portable and sounds great. As the head goes down to 2ohm, I've always got the option of adding more cabs. Another pair of 10's would do nicely. Modular and loud enough to play most stages.

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Sorry to hear about your health.

It's a good time to be looking for a lightweight cab, the introduction of new magnet technology means that there are lots on offer and so you aren't stuck with one manufacturers 'sound'.  My advice is to set a weight limit and make a shortlist of cabs under that weight then try them out until you find one you like. Sound is still important. We don't know what your budget is of course or what your attitude to new versus used is.

The other thing to consider is moving your bass out of the backline and into the PA which someone else can carry. You can use a small bass amp just as your personal monitor, use a floor monitor or lightest of all just use headphones. All of these will have the advantage of lighter loads but will also improve the whole band's sound by cutting out the on stage noise levels. Though that will affect all the band members so you'd need some agreement on monitoring.

hope you recover well

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Most neo cabs - original MarkBass 'Made in Italy' - have B&C custom neo units in them (made in Indonesia MarkBass units have different speakers). I have a pair of the 2x8" Fender Rumble cabs - same size cabs as  Lozz196's 1x12. Lightweight and a bargain! The Bass Gallery in Camden has a range of new and used cabs - plenty of neo ones on the website - I'm sure they can advise on weights and quality etc. Another alternative would be to buy a cab that suits and upgrade the speaker with a neo - B&C, Eminence, Celestion, Faital Pro - among others. Lean Business in Essex and Blue Aran in Southampton have good stocks and helpful staff.

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35 minutes ago, Leftfret said:

Another alternative would be to buy a cab that suits and upgrade the speaker with a neo...

Have you ever heard about T/S parameters? This "upgrade" may lead to a serious downgrade. I had an extra 10" element and built a box to it. My intention was to build a closed box, but I received the parameters mentioned and made a total redesign. The element was for a reflex box.

G-word cabs and combos do not care so much about careful tuning, but bass is another animal.

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