I need a lighter amp!

Emp_Fab

My HRD is just too bloody heavy for my ageing frame and it's a pain in the arse, back and shoulders to lug in and out of the car.

I'll probably keep it for gigs when there's extra hands to help but for practice etc I need something much lighter that's also quieter and more controllable (i.e. doesn't go from silent to ouch between 0 and 0.1 on the dial!).

I don't need any dirt channel or built-in effects as all mine are offboard and I need to try to keep the end tone as close to the HRD as possible.

So, what's light, has good full rounded cleans and isn't full of effects and gimmicks?

Thanks in advance!

soma1975

Lunchbox head and Neo speaker in a 1x12" cab

octatonic

Princeton style 1x10 amp.
The Fender reissue is very good, or there are boutique versions- I have a Louis Electric Roadrunner.

bazxkr

Like the recent thread I'd say out of the amps I've had the laney vc15 is a great little beast. If you needed to move more air run it through a 2x12 but big sound for such a light small footprint amp. 

EricTheWeary

Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb. Pre order one, weighs 23lbs. That’s nearly half the weight of your HRD. Not a cheap option. 

Roland Blues Cube Hot, about 27lbs and fairly simple. Small, lighter than the HRD. £300 for a used one on Reverb. The power control knob means you shouldn’t suffer from volume twitch and tweed inspired tones like the HRD. 
https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/roland-blues-cube-hot-635775

Emp_Fab

bazxkr said:

Like the recent thread I'd say out of the amps I've had the laney vc15 is a great little beast. If you needed to move more air run it through a 2x12 but big sound for such a light small footprint amp. 

I used to have one.  Nice little amp but I wasn't thrilled with the build quality and I think I need something solid state.

Wazmeister

I must say Emp, I dragged my new Matchless (and its only a 1x12) up 2 flights of stairs the other night ... and thought the same.

”Im getting too bloody old for this !”

PolarityMan

If you like the HRD couldnt you do a head conversion?

Legionreturns

Bassbreaker 15? Very easy to shape your base tone, a lot lighter and smaller than the HRD and the volume is quite useable! 

HAL9000

Recently bought myself a Blues Cube Stage which I'm really pleased with. Fendery tones,  plenty loud enough, and only  weighs about 15Kg.

vasselmeyer

Small head  into a cabinet with a neodymium speaker.

Beexter

Quilter 101 mini head and a Bluguitar Nanocab/ DV Mark Neoclassic/ Matrix Neolight. 
Quilter do a reverb version of the head with traditional TMB controls but you lose the voicing control. The 101 mini head and a reverb pedal gives you more options.

stratman3142

Which HRD do you have? My HRD IV is a bit lighter than my previous HRD III and sounds better.

My other amp is a Blues Cube Artist 1x12 which is quite a bit lighter. The clean sound is pretty good although I prefer my HRD IV clean. However, the drive channel on the Blues Cube is better.

Emp_Fab

Not sure of the series numbering but it’s an early one with the eminence speaker.

Blueingreen

I have the Quilter Micropro HD.  About 21 lbs, great Fenderish cleans, takes pedals beautifully.  One of my favourite gear purchases ever.

It does have a range of dirt options on it as well as tremelo and reverb, but I use it as a clean pedal platform with a touch of reverb.

stratman3142

Deja vu

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/36702/lighter-alternatives-for-my-hrd&ved=2ahUKEwjR_KWpop_lAhVzA2MBHeBiCSwQFjAKegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw2md0uPQe24h5IpflrXDS6S

Emp_Fab

Waaaaaay over budget for what I’m after!  I only want something for band practice.  Boutique stuff isn’t really needed.

EricTheWeary

stratman3142 said:

Deja vu

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/36702/lighter-alternatives-for-my-hrd&ved=2ahUKEwjR_KWpop_lAhVzA2MBHeBiCSwQFjAKegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw2md0uPQe24h5IpflrXDS6S

Wow, over four years ago. Well, I was suggesting a Blue Cube then and the Hot has come out since and is even smaller and lighter. 

Jalapeno

Any of the lunchbox/ss heads, the quilter or even chop the HRD into a head, any of those with a neodymium speaker in a separate cab

A first step might even be just to get a neodymium speaker for the HRD

ICBM

Peavey Transtube Bandit, Studio Pro or Envoy in descending order of what you can lift . The Studio Pro is probably the best for what you want, it’s lighter than the Bandit but only marginally less powerful.

They do actually have a very decent overdrive channel, but you don’t have to use it - the clean channel is great, very Fender-like.

I have one of the ‘red stripe’ Studio Pro 112s for exactly these reasons . It weighs 28lb (13Kg) and they typically sell for under £100.

Just remember to always set the ‘T-Dynamics’ control up full...

Like this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-Studio-Pro-112-Red-Stripe-Guitar-Amplifier/153685362260

Sassafras

Wonder how many dozen pages this will run to?