Spines problems - micro rig?

NecroPolo

New member
After spending more than half of my life playing half-stacks wired together, my spine giving me hell lately make me want to shrink my travelling geetar gear as small and portable as possible. As doc ordered, to prevent further spine torture after two decades of push & pull heavy cabs and over a decade of returning arthrosis I should not lift heavy things at all, anymore. I need a micro giggin' rig, heavy on the diet, that I can move easily without increasing he pain of everydays and and that's it.

It should be like:

- feather-wheight

- small format (to fit my small car when some folks are also packed in)

- small budget

- heavy sounding, it should have enough gain for edgy metal with '80s/'90s flavour (my sound is JCM800 / JCM900 / Laney AOR through a 4x12" Greenback cab)


I was thinking about a light 1x12" or 2x12" closed-back cab and some extra light and small format amplification that can produce '80s British edge and sustain I'm after onstage, think of Megadeth or Puppets' era Metallica (rather the Marshall end). I usually play with powerful drummers but in the practice a 50W half-stack is an overkill, I run them around half the power to keep it up with the rhythm section without killing it. 25-30W tube or 40-50W SS would do it. For example, a Dual Terror would be a fit - the price tag wouldn't.

Being tube or SS is not an issue, I like to play both live and I can dig up an array of different preamps. I'd prefer the smallest format possible so no carrying 19" racks this time. Combo amps are out of the game, I feel losing power even with bigger power closed backs somehow, not to mention light ones, valid in my case. Digital modellers also don't count, as a geetar-wire-amp guy I've always felt lack of definition playing through them and the feel is just not right for me.

Think of something like that:

KeeleyDS1 or TriAc --> EHX 44Magnum --> Marshall MHZ-112B cab

I'm curious about your opinion. Do you know a reasonable stompbox with THAT Marshall vibe or a super-zipped power amp that works nicely? Maybe, a light 25-30W tube head that won't rob the bank? Do you have a virtually floating close-back cab around that still bites your pants off?

Put them on the scales and if it's light - I hear ya :)
 
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Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

if u shuld not lift heavy thingz at all per doc then


u should consider open mindednezz and switching to acoustic guitar, it is very light



its only ur health, right?
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Look into the Crate Powerblock. I think it weighs, what, six pounds? They can be had for far less than $150. And they don't sound too bad.
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Excerpt :

After spending more than half of my life playing half-stacks wired together, my spines giving me hell lately make me want to shrink my travelling geetar gear as small and portable as possible.

It should be like:

- feather-wheight

- small format (to fit my small car when some folks are also packed in)

- small budget

- heavy sounding, it should have enough gain for edgy metal with '80s/'90s flavour (my sound is JCM800 / JCM900 / Laney AOR through a 4x12" Greenback cab)

Do you have a virtually floating close-back cab around that still bites your pants off?

Put them on the scales and if it's light - I hear ya :)

==================================================

Hello NecroPolo :

I had a Marshall combo 12"X2 spkrs - 60 watt tube guitar amp loved it , but like your experience I too needed back relief as well , so I dumped it for $ 600.00 and got single 12"X1 Carvin 60 watt tube and loved it too as it was smaller in weight . Sound wise it was very comparative with that 2X12" Marshall , hair splitting was the difference . Still a back breaker too after 10 years of flawless working performances .

But - - - -

Here's one know you'll go nuts over , not easy to find , but not impossible either .

The Polytone Mini Brute series :

Polytone01.jpg


Small

Versatile with 3 channels this one , most only sport 2 channels with similar instrument/mic inputs

Polytone02.jpg


Light as a feather , I know what your after , I have a busted back too .

Polytone03.jpg
[/IMG]

Mine came with separate cabinets . Most don't and have a single 12" or even 15" drivers . This is the brand amp used by monsters like George Benson and company .

Polytone04.jpg


With about 75 to 95 watts of solid state power it screams . I am a tube man by nature and have been since the 60s , I was pleasantly surprised when I heard this two cabinet combo kick out some serous sound . It's a screamer when you want it to be , I have a Digitech GNX4 pumping FX and stomps through it and it is a real work horse . Run it clean no FXs for Blues and Jazz .

It can be a guitar / harp / amp stand alone

- or -

A clean little vocalist / instrument amp P . A . for solo and/or duet/trio act as well as a stand alone guitar amp on stage , man can this Solid State sucker kick it out for my Blues Harp Bullet mike . Most Solid State guitar amps suck big time for a harp sound , not this Polytone or any one of them .

And as I said it's light as a feather too . When you have the speakers separate like what I have it's a easier load up and load down proposition for the old back :):

I got this about a year ago and super cheap at a Thrift Store for only $14.00 :D Maybe you will get lucky too , I hope so .

Easy man :

Hurricane Ramon
 
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Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

A Crate powerBlock and a couple of choice pedals for gain, 1 or even 2 Marshall model 1912 cabs (1 x 12) or Orange 1 x 12's and you're good to go. You could also go POD or similar straight into the desk depending on what size gig you're playing?
 
I Rest MY CASE

I Rest MY CASE

Lightest way to go my way :

GNX4 into the P . A .

Use the house P . A. and their sound re enforcement speakers system and you have it licked totally . I have done this and it works superbly .

You - your guitar and case

gtrlgxsas-burst-a59f1683236f4a5b50e8b7acb10e261a.jpg


godin-vffx-case-guitar-hard.jpg


and the GNX4
imgres
digitech_gnx4_03.jpg
GNX4front.jpg


and - - -

I rest my case ..................

Hurricane Ramon
 
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Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Have you looked into the ZT Lunchbox? Everyone raves about them, and they are meant to take pedals really well.

3990384820_828459f873_z.jpg
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

@Hurricane: Man, Lots of good suggestions! Yes the Polytone is exactly the thing that I'll need, I'll look around, I may be lucky! The multi/pre unit into the PA is not really my thing onstage and it has nothing to do with the unit itself (so many times I just use pres and multis in the studio, directly into the desk) but the control monitors in the small clubs around my area. Unadequate speakers coupled with careless soundguys - I can't depend on them :)

@d1dsj, Agileguy_101: Powerblock can be a good option, I just must test one with my pre and a small/deep 1x12" CB cab.

@zakk_speed: Man, I MUST try one!

Thanks for the tips!
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Have you looked into the ZT Lunchbox? Everyone raves about them, and they are meant to take pedals really well.

===================================================

zakk :

That's one sick little amp man .

200 watts out of a 6.5 speaker is nuts - but I like it -

HR
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Neo speakers have really taken off for bass use, but are less well known for guitar, except for the Celestion Gold. Also, weight savings is slightly less high a priority.

Eminence and Weber make some excellent neo magnet speakers, and not just for bass. Might be another way to reduce back strain without completely giving up a normal rig.

You might check out other tube lunchbox amps, besides the Orange and Mesa's upcoming mini-recto, there's the Jet City JCA22H (1 channel based on the Atomic, the other on the SLO, IIRC) and for lower gain, the Egnater Tweaker is pretty popular.

Vox has the Night Train 15H, but it seems to have been eclipsed by recent competition. There's also the Jet City Picovalve, but like the Univalve it seems to be a pretty niche item, not being rooted in more mainstream amp tones.

A tube preamp or pedal in front of a solid state is another good option already mentioned. I used to play a Real Tube II into a JC120, worked very well for higher gain tones.
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

@Hurricane: Man, Lots of good suggestions! Yes the Polytone is exactly the thing that I'll need, I'll look around, I may be lucky! The multi/pre unit into the PA is not really my thing onstage and it has nothing to do with the unit itself (so many times I just use pres and multis in the studio, directly into the desk) but the control monitors in the small clubs around my area. Unadequate speakers coupled with careless soundguys - I can't depend on them :) Thanks for the tips!

===========================================

I just found this :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/V-RARE-POLYTONE-MINI-BRUTE-II-M-PA-3-CHANNELS-HEAD-AMP-/170692710730?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27be14114a

Kind of cheezy with the " velvet " covering it's sports now but what the heck it's a Polytone :)

HR
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

I'd get a ZT Lunchbox and if you just have to have a closed back cab a THD cab with 2 Neo magnet speakers should do you fine and will be about a light a rig as you'll find...
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

careful with anything heavy, at a young age spinal stenosis can develop and result in back surgery, and arthritis may also be an issue...
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Personally, I've gone digital and have a rig that's pretty cartable.

If you're not ready to turn to the digital dark side, there are still plenty of options, many of which are mentioned above. One other thing that you might consider is the Tech 21 stuff. A new TM 60 will set you back about six bills and it only weighs 36 lbs.
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Check out the AMT stuff, www.amtelectronicsusa.com

I'm using a SS-20 and some pedals and running direct at church. Thinking about picking up a 44 Magnum and using it with my 1-12 cabinet some too.
 
Re: Spines problems - micro rig?

Thank you guys for all the info, there are lots of good options mentioned!

@Mattt - Smallest budget possible. Despite that I'm working on album projects these days, assignments are still not consistent, I can't afford bigger purchases now'days. Micro Recto must be a hell of a tone machine, though!

@ericmeyer4 - Yes I was thinking about Duncan pre/distro boxes as front-ends, too. I've tried the Mayhem, it is a superfine pedal and would work well in most of my projects. The price is above my budget but in the long term it can be a permanent solution.

@Despair - Excellent point about using lighter neo speakers. Sure, an 1x12" Neo cab would not hurt much. I'll check the local market. Lunchbox amps were among the first ideas to solve my "diet problem". I need approx. 30Watts and the amps of this range that would work in my band projects are way above my budget at the moment.

@Hurricane - Man it is nice of you ;) I checked my available $$$s to spend but this Poly is above my budget. I'll keep the eyes opened for those.

@the guy who invented fire - ZT + light cab is a good contender. I'll have to testplay one.

@JOLLY - Man :D Comment made my day ;) On the serious side, neither of my bands have the budget of having pro roadies. With voluntary ones, I always ended up like bumping around 4x12"s myself alone at the end of the day. Other way, I would not even think about replacing my present live rig, for sure ;)

@everdrone - For sure. All guys who are younger and in better shape than me please take an advice: think about tomorrow, not only today. At the moment I can't stay in bed longer that 3-4 hours and it kills sleepling, I start to forget how it feels waking up without nails in my back. I'm about improving the conditions and sure they will be better but all these problems would be much less intensive without lifting them rigs during the years I guess.

@aleclee - I've used/had a range of digital gear in the studio, during recording they can save the day more often than never. Anyway, none of them worked for me well when I took them onstage. Strictly subjective but there is something in the response that makes me less confident somehow. Something in the raw response of real amps is missing maybe, I don't know. For their direct feel, I really like Tech21 gear, a TriAc is a trusty workhorse in my studio for years. If I can find the right PA and cab for it - case solved.

@devastone - I haven't heard about these pedals before but according to the specs and description, the M1 can be a perfect solution for my problem as a pre/front end and its price doesn't hurt. Definitely it's a smart solution that I exactly need, I'll check it. Thank you for the info!

@eschoendorff - I haven't tried that exact model but there was a 15W Cube and a 60W cube around for a while. They are nice and I liked them but always missed something in COSM simulations in general, I can't really name what. I used them as component for add some shizzle for dark amps. I can still borrow the 15watter, maybe using it with some tinly power amp and a cab would make it feel more natural for me.
 
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