Lightening the load.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 21 Dec 2019 11:39 pm

With all the problems I'm having with my back (since May 19th) it has become necessary for me to get rid of as much weight in my gear as possible. I know the direction I'm going amp wise. I have a Telonics Twin 12 now but I'm looking at going with the Quilter TT12. I've already lightened my seat load with the Steelseat.com lite. I have an MSA SD12 on order but I may decide to go with an S12 as I know the cabinet hasn't been built yet. I'm just not sure if I can wait it out.
My Sho-Bud is currently in Brand X split cases but still too heavy.
What are some of you guys with back issues using?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Dec 2019 4:52 am

Johnny, I'm using the Millennium that you built for me. I may have already thanked you, but it's worth repeating. Thank you for making me such a wonderful guitar.

I'm using a Quilter Steelaire and a Telonics volume pedal. I have a Dunlop Q-zone stomp box hard wired into the amp's effects loop, so at the flip of a switch I have an instant pedabro.

(Note, the Q-zone pedal, which can give a reasonably good dobro sound, has been discontinued, but there are always a couple on E-bay.)

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 22 Dec 2019 6:48 am

If I only did gigs where I could rely on the PA, I'd carry just my guitar and a preamp (and FX). But I don't.

One day.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 22 Dec 2019 8:18 am

You can lighten the load even more (4#) by taking the Quilter 202 out of the speaker cab and transport the speaker and amp separately. also- consider using a lil' fold up cart from the car to the stage.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 22 Dec 2019 9:53 am

For a spare amp (or for a really light one), I have a Milkman The Amp. Sounds great; bandmates agreed.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 22 Dec 2019 11:21 am

A cubic foot of maple wood is 45 pounds

A cubic foot of Paulownia wood is 14 pounds

A source for Paulownia wood is Saint Charles hardwoods St Louis . Johnie paulownia wood , this is the ticket for light weight pedal steels a very popular luthier in town uses this wood for his personal Telecaster builds. This Paulownia wood has very good resonance. Probably weight
Wise it would weigh Maybe 3 times less than maple.
This Paulownia wood would make excellent speaker cabinets.
You can get this wood in Paulownia plywood or solid wood. Itâ€™s not the beautiful Birdseye maple or curly maple but you could use maple veneer.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 22 Dec 2019 11:22 am

Barry Coker · Post by **Barry Coker** » 22 Dec 2019 11:26 am

The Evans RE-200 is a great small amp 200 Watts through a 10" Eminence great Digital Reverb and 26lbs. Its a little beast and will hold up to the bass on C6 fine.

Barry

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 22 Dec 2019 12:13 pm

.

Magna Cart
150lb Capacity
$42 bucks at Amazon (or Walmart or Home Depot, etc).
Lightweight and folds down flat to 2 inches wide.

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Personal-C ... 168&sr=8-1

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 22 Dec 2019 12:27 pm

Been using the pictured hand truck for years and I have a feeling it'll get replaced with a lighter one.Last year I got a keyboard gig bag to carry my pedal rack and leg bag,so it's like having split cases,only lighter and less expensive.Went with a Milkman Half and Half,so the Peaveys and the TRRI Custom 15 are likely to remain hangar queens.....All that helps,but IMO the most important thing is to not lift any further than you absolutely have to.Helps if your trunk lid(or hatchback) goes all the way to the floor

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 22 Dec 2019 12:57 pm

Thanks for all your responses. I am getting a Quilter TT12 as I know how great they sound. And I've really lighted my pack-a-seat. I only carry my Telonics Volume pedal, cords, a couple extra strings and pick pouch. I have a magnacart already. The guitar is what is so heavy. I absolutely love my D12 MSA Legend but it's in a road case and impossible for me to get in and out of the car. My Sho-Bud is great too and is in split Brand X cases and is much more manageable. Still an S12 or Sd12 would be even better.

Rich Gardner · Post by **Rich Gardner** » 22 Dec 2019 1:30 pm

Has anyone ever used one of those Bose L1 towers? I'm thinking of getting one.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 22 Dec 2019 1:59 pm

Carts are nice, but the real problem is I still have to pick stuff up to load in and out of the vehicle. Carts won't help you there....or going up and down stairs...

Unless you have a ramp or electric lift, it takes raw strength to muscle this heavy equipment into the vehicle.

Once out, I can roll it around. I can usually beg someone to roll it into the venue for me, pay or buy 'em a beer...maybe even load it in for me, but it's another story when I get home and there's no one to load it out of the vehicle and into the house. I haven't found the answer to that.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Dec 2019 2:45 pm

I have 2 ZT club amps which weigh only 22 pounds. These are designed to distort, and it's difficult to get a clean sound out of them.

ZT just introduced their new Jazz Club amp, which is designed for jazz guitarists. I think this may be a good amp for steel players too.

https://www.ztcustomshop.com/jazz-club.html

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 22 Dec 2019 4:36 pm

Gator PG-49 Ultimate gig bag, and a D-10 Zum 40lbs, and carry the leg pouch by itself.
Boss Katana 100 = 34lbs
NV400 with Huff cabinet, and TT-15 speaker = 40.6 lbs

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 22 Dec 2019 5:11 pm

Quilter will take care of the heavy amp problem , as far as guitars go, Iâ€™m myself thinking about a nice Excel keyless , modern and very light little guitars...

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 22 Dec 2019 7:33 pm

Johnie King wrote:A cubic foot of maple wood is 45 pounds

A cubic foot of Paulownia wood is 14 pounds

A source for Paulownia wood is Saint Charles hardwoods St Louis . Johnie paulownia wood , this is the ticket for light weight pedal steels a very popular luthier in town uses this wood for his personal Telecaster builds. This Paulownia wood has very good resonance. Probably weight
Wise it would weigh Maybe 3 times less than maple.
This Paulownia wood would make excellent speaker cabinets.
You can get this wood in Paulownia plywood or solid wood. Itâ€™s not the beautiful Birdseye maple or curly maple but you could use maple veneer.

Paulownia is stronger for its weight than balsa, and has a nice, lively tone for a guitar. I have wondered what it would be like for PSG. You would want to put a maple veneer on it as it can dent somewhat easily.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 22 Dec 2019 10:33 pm

Mike Perlowin wrote:I have 2 ZT club amps which weigh only 22 pounds. These are designed to distort, and it's difficult to get a clean sound out of them.

ZT just introduced their new Jazz Club amp, which is designed for jazz guitarists. I think this may be a good amp for steel players too.

https://www.ztcustomshop.com/jazz-club.html

I still have my MusicMan HD130, which is just the best amp ever.

I would sound a note of warning about assuming old guitars are heavier. Of the 3 keyed guitars I have, my pot metal Sho-bud (Pro-1) is the most compact (smallest) and lightest (and I have no reservations about the pot metal, its caused me no drama). My 10U4x5 keyless Anapeg is far and away the heaviest of the 4

I like carrying heavy things

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 22 Dec 2019 10:49 pm

I know your feeling, At 76, a heart attack, and open heart surgery, I had to lighten my load 10 months ago. My MSA S10 on 3/4 body under bed. Now I play a GFI S12 U ULTRA. A light weight cabinet with a Eminence EP-15C Speaker and Evans AH-200 amp., Now to lighten my seat. Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Dec 2019 3:10 am

I tried the Quilters, both a Steelaire combo and a TT12 model and couldn't get the "fat" sound I wanted. I went with the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb, 33 lbs and it has the tone I was looking for.

I too am at the age (just turned 82 on Dec 18th) where weight is an issue and have some back pain problems. I gave the Quilters a fair trial but just can't get into them. Pat Quilter even worked directly with me and the Steelaire.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 23 Dec 2019 4:23 am

Like Johnny I have a Telonicâ€™s SuperTwin and at 39 pounds is a HUGE weight saver by than half of what I was packing... that said if I needed something lighter, Iâ€™d take a hard look at the Quilter 202 Combo... itâ€™s light and everyone Iâ€™ve talked to that has one or played though one is pretty stoked about them.

Danny Letz · Post by **Danny Letz** » 23 Dec 2019 5:23 am

Johnny, I have been fighting that for 20 years. I have a steel seat lite, play component amps, Sarno Classic or V8, neo speaker, Tommy Huff cabinet, Stewart PA 200 or Ganz amp. It takes many more trips back & forth to the car & take a good inventory before you leave home. You gotta have a good dolly, good friends & learn to use elbows & knees & whatever to keep the load off your back. I understand your problem though, where I am able to use an S10 guitar, you need a S12 or a D10 for the Western swing. My back got better but not good. Maybe you will find a cure for it eventually. Good luck, weâ€™ll pray for you.

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 23 Dec 2019 5:43 am

Lots of solid state talk and amp modelers in "electronics" forum: Tonemaster, Kemper Profiler, Boss katana etc

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=352459

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=349441

Rich Gardner · Post by **Rich Gardner** » 23 Dec 2019 5:55 am

Apparently not.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 23 Dec 2019 11:58 am

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I have it mostly figured out.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Lightening the load.

Lightening the load.

Lightening the Load