Amps are heavy!

[Mongillo19]

TGF

The Gym Forum

 

[spawnofthesith]

me prepping to bring my F100 combo for an outdoor gig in June (it’s 82lbs)

 

[Kagami]

The big issue is really the awkward shape and sometimes uneven weight distribution, especially with combos. That single top handle doesn't help either.

That was one of the nice things about the Randall V2/T2 series they had handles inset on the top edges of the cabinet which made them much easier to carry around.

 

[sleewell]

we should all go to gym

I fully agree and this is an totally an excuse not trying to sound like an excuse lol but man there's only so many hrs in day! I wanna work out bc it would make a lot of things way better but between family, work, band stuff, kids sports stuff, running this venue, and everything else I just struggle to find the time but I should find it.

Working a little less would be sweet but will probably never happen. I need to though, I think I def moved around better at shows when I was working out.

 

[Stratzrus]

There's basically a couple of ways to make tube combos weigh less. Don't use birch plywood, and/or use Neodymium speakers. Since Neodymium speakers come with their own compromises (you need to like the sound), using pine, paulownia or other lightweight woods helps a lot.

My George Benson Hot Rod Deluxe has a pine cab and after I put a Celestion Century Vintage Neo in it the total weight was under 40 lbs. And as a side benefit I really like that speaker. It made a dramatic improvement over the stock speaker.

we should all go to gym

I went to a gym once. Didn't really help me carry my amp.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I thought Blackstar was trying to solve the big iron problem a few years ago, but those amps made such an impression that I can’t even remember what they’re called.

Blackstar could have invented the wheel and not get credit for it

It’s the stJames, 50w all tube you can literally lift with one finger. 6l6 and El34 version.

I own & gig the EL34 version a couple of years now: Perfectly fine amps, should definitely be on your radar if you are looking to reduce weight. (And believe tube power matters)
It may not be my “bury me with it” amp, but to me it’s the best lightweight option out there. Tried a couple of solidstate solutions, some of which praised on “the internet”…stJames rolls on top for me, lightweight search = over.

I mostly use it as a “powered cab”: modeler into it’d return.

 

[Eagle]

Heaviest amp head I’ve come across is either the Marshall Major or the Mesa RoadKing . There are some big 4U tube power amps that are as bad.

 

[Orvillain]

The Orange Rockerverb is probably one of the heaviest amps I've had to carry. Diezel VH4 aint no slouch either.

The Recto and Mark V are lightweight in comparison - truly!!

 

[laxu]

That was one of the nice things about the Randall V2/T2 series they had handles inset on the top edges of the cabinet which made them much easier to carry around.

Or for something simpler, just two top handles at the edges.

 

[Eagle]

Road king 26kg
Vh4 21kg
Orange Rockerverb 20.75kg
Marshall Major 27.4kg
Marshall 9200 32.8kg
Anyone got any advance on a 9200?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

My tremoverb 2x12 was my heaviest amp.

 

[Eagle]

My tremoverb 2x12 was my heaviest amp.

Combos are even worse.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Combos are even worse.

I bought it in 98 or 99 for a stupidly bargainous price. As long as it was on a trolley it was totally doable. Wished I still had it tbh.

 

[Eagle]

I bought it in 98 or 99 for a stupidly bargainous price. As long as it was on a trolley it was totally doable. Wished I still had it tbh.

Roadking 2x12 combo is insane 44.5 kg.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Roadking 2x12 combo is insane 44.5 kg.

I honestly don't know how heavy my tremoverb was. I just know it was probably the heaviest amp I've ever tried to move and definitely the heaviest I've ever owned.

 

[Eagle]

I honestly don't know how heavy my tremoverb was. I just know it was probably the heaviest amp I've ever tried to move and definitely the heaviest I've ever owned.

The only information I can find says around 35kg which would figure because the Roadking has 6 power tubes and a bigger transformer. All horrible to move around though.

 

[ChordInversion]

I stay healthy and keep my cardio up, but I'm not going to pack on pounds of muscle in order to carry an amp now and then. That's silly. An awkwardly shaped heavy item can throw out the back of an athlete anyway.

Carts are a good solution, IMO.

 

[ejecta]

I stay healthy and keep my cardio up, but I'm not going to pack on pounds of muscle in order to carry an amp now and then. That's silly. An awkwardly shaped heavy item can throw out the back of an athlete anyway.

Carts are a good solution, IMO.

Injured backs aside….. the idea you have to start lifting weights and become buff to gig a reasonably weighted tube amp rig is absolutely ridiculous. Yeah I get why carry a heavier than a digital rig if you feel like you get enjoyment from playing a lighter digital rig but some people don’t enjoy that as much as other options and are willing to put in the effort. This whole hyperbolic hypothetical situations to try and make it seem like tube rigs are just not a sensible rig option is IMHO just trying to excuse that you want convenience over other things which is totally fine and understandable too but don’t sell people on the idea heavier rigs aren’t workable too. It’s like a lot things in this world… there’s always a plus and minus to a solution.

 

[ChordInversion]

The idea you have to start lifting weights to gig a reasonable weight tube amp rig is ridiculous.

A reasonable weight one, certainly. I'm talking about the especially heavy ones, which I gather were the basis of the "hit the gym" comments. If you have to hit the gym to carry it, it's probably an amp that should have a cart anyway. But plenty of amps are not that heavy.

 

[Zodiac]

I had one of these years ago, Marshall AS100D acoustic combo. That amp was as heavy AF to carrry up and down stairs!