The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Amps: How would you like to lug this monster around to a gig?

How would you like to lug this monster around to a gig?

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- Rated: 4 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 2:47 p.m. RhythmMax:

Back in 1970 I moved a Vox Royal Guardsman (a little smaller than a Super Beatle) around in my Pontiac Firebird. I had to remove the back seat of my car ...and...the crazy frame that surrounded the speaker cab. Did I mention I lived in a third floor walk-up? I currently have about 20 amps - but nothing larger than a 1x12. AND -----HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
- Rated: 38 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 3:20 p.m. bobbyrivera:

Keith Moon didn't strike me as a very big guy, so I'm guessing it would only take about one big dude to put him in a "Kermit the Frog sized" coffin and haul him to the next gig. Oh wait... you guys were talking about the amp. Sorry.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 5:07 p.m. 51dblduece:

dub you don't 'tote' VOT's. At best you grapple them.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 5:33 p.m. will:

my first amp when i started playing in a band was a 'super six reverb': a twin with six 12" speakers. at that time i didn't even have a car (not even a drivers license!).

sold it, not long after that ...
- Rated: 5 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 6:47 p.m. jayster:

I had a Peavey Vulcan. This big bad bitch had Two 15 inch speakers and a big ass horn. That sucker must have weighed 500 pounds. Those where the day's of a younger man. Now it's a Vox Pathfinder. Jay
- Rated: 32 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 7:44 p.m. cyclopssam:

i had a super six once great amp,just the wrong tool for the job at least it had casters,ha!

oh? .... i believe those had 6 10's.....yeah HEAVY!
- Rated: 27 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 7:56 p.m. audiodrome:

I lugged this rig to one of my gigs last month - not fun!
- Rated: 4 ↑
Nov 27, 2008 9:23 p.m. buzzman:

Second on the Super Six. Used one for about a year, and loved it. Great conversation starter!
- Rated: 16 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 1:46 a.m. treblebooster:

And as you know, audiodrome,

your cab(4x12 sized) contains just two 12 inch speakers... Guess Fender's marketing department thought their amps looking BOLDER could be a way to compete with Marshall stacks.

I also doubt there's any sonic qualities(bass) about a bigger cabinet for two 12 inch speakers. You tell me.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 1:58 a.m. treblebooster:

Pete was advised by Jim Marshall about a 8x12 beeing quite nonsense, but he insisted.

Roadies would have to manage this so that wasn't a problem for him, until roadies complained. You understand them: look at the small leather handle on the Picture...
- Rated: 27 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 1:25 p.m. audiodrome:

treblebooster said: And as you know, audiodrome,

your cab(4x12 sized) contains just two 12 inch speakers... Guess Fender's marketing department thought their amps looking BOLDER could be a way to compete with Marshall stacks.
This one actually has two 15 inch speakers. It's a 1970 V.T. Bassman 15. 1970 was definitely the year of "bigger is better!"
- Rated: 7 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 1:35 p.m. fbama73:

You guys are starting to make me scared about my post holidays amp project I have planned.

But mine won't be portable, either in theory or in practice.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 3:54 p.m. treblebooster:

Ouups! sorry audiodrome,

I thought what I'm supposing to be a 67(?) "Bassman Amp" was pictured with the usual cabinet it was sold with:an oversized 2x12 cabinet. Two 15 inch speakers, this makes sense and should sound BIG, man!
- Rated: 19 ↑
Nov 28, 2008 5:49 p.m. CnW:

I used to have one of those huge 2x12 cabs under a SF Bandmaster Reverb. I was young and didn't mind lugging something that looked so impressive!

I think you will get more bottom-end thump with a bigger cab. Not lower lows but bigger, rounder lows.

And, as long as they're firm, bigger and rounder is better.
- Rated: 21 ↑
Nov 29, 2008 3:09 a.m. DrGretsch:

How about The Baldwin Exterminator?

Also, one of the largest amps ever made was a huge Magnatone that stood many feet high ,,, It's in some old guitar Player Magazine from the 60's.

I have a couple of Vox Super Beatle Bottoms in storage for many years!

Clubs aren't big enough these days to bring them in.

They look cool as heck and look like they could also function a Bed Mattress besides :)
- Rated: 16 ↑
Nov 29, 2008 7:23 a.m. Gigatron:

In my younger days I used to tour with a Traynor Custom Special bass amp that had an 8-10" cabinet. Years later I had a Fender PS300 bass amp head that by itself weighed about as much as that speaker cabinet.

The last few years when I played in a band I used a Gallien-Krueger MB150 1-12" and plugged the line out into the PA system.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Nov 29, 2008 9:26 a.m. audiodrome:

treblebooster said: Ouups! sorry audiodrome,

I thought what I'm supposing to be a 67(?) "Bassman Amp" was pictured with the usual cabinet it was sold with:an oversized 2x12 cabinet. Two 15 inch speakers, this makes sense and should sound BIG, man!

Easy mistake! The head is a '66 and the cab is a '70. My father bought it as a package deal back in the early '70s and then I inherited it a few years back. I had the amp brought back up to spec and it sounds fabulous! The cab also sounds great (CTS speakers) but it's just too much to carry around, so I use it only for special "showy" occasions.
- Rated: 44 ↑
Nov 29, 2008 6:46 p.m. Jeff O(old News):

I gig with an SVT (vintage, not those crappy ass reissues) in a flight case. 135 pounds. I compensate by using 2 new Mark Bass Neodymium 2X10 cabinets, that are under 40lbs each.

I had to get those because I couldn't fit the Ampeg 410HLF, SVT, AND my upright bass in the SUV. And the SVT is well worth the trouble.

My buddy Pistol Pete uses an SVT and a Ampeg V9 Cabinet. 9x10. Weighs about 150 lbs, and is just a little smaller than Townsends 8X12 cabinet that inspired this thread.
- Rated: 4 ↑
Jan 5, 2009 2:47 p.m. ladyscaglyc:

Ah ya, 8 Dble15 Voice of the Theatre Cabinets, 4 Radial Horns, 1 Hammond B-3 w/2 Leslie Cabinets, 1 Ampeg V-4 w/2 4-12 Cabinets, 1 Fender Bassman w/2 2-15 Cabinets, all the Crowns, Board, 4 Road trunks, Full Dble Bass Kit and you had to be sure the scaffolding went into the truck first!

...all ready for the High School Dance!

...or the cover of The Rollin' Stone.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jan 5, 2009 3:47 p.m. macheesmo3:

I used to have a Kustom PA head on top of a Kustom 3x15 cab. ( the speakers were stacked vertically) I am 6'3" and it was nearly as tall as me!!! It was a bear to move , ended up selling it ofr peanuts just to be rid of the sheer magnitude !!
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jan 5, 2009 4:55 p.m. Zoso:

I gig with this

gets the job done
- Rated: 34 ↑
Jan 6, 2009 6:25 a.m. Bernw:

I used to use a Marshall 4x12 slope front cabinet driven by a Custom HiWatt 100. No real problems. But now - 25 years on - and I struggle with my Mesa F50!!
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jan 6, 2009 8:47 a.m. cielski:

Had a Super Beatle(OK for a Farfisa), and I still have a pair of Altec Voice of the Theater cabs (anyone interested?) You need a full size pickup, minimum. Two trips for the Hammond and Leslie. Hours and sweat.

The Korg BX3, Deluxe Reverb, and a couple of guitars all fit in the HHR with room to spare. And it's far easier on the back.

The best way to deal with amp stacks is called backline techs. It just takes money.

OK. I thought it over. Long ago, I had a Blond Dual Showman and a Reverb on top. I'd take that stack back.
- Rated: 25 ↑
Jan 6, 2009 9:08 a.m. senojnad:

Ye gads, a Stienway Baby Grand would be easier to tote around, given the looks of some of these rigs!

I feel like such a whimp after years of complaining about Fender Twins and Twin-Reverbs.....