Alternative for carrying amps?

[hunter]

Usually my amps weigh around 25Kg (+/- 4Kg like most 100W heads do).

Parking is usually a few 100m away as both, my appartment and my rehearsal studios are downtown.

My Hands/Arms usually hurt from lugging amps around, and all wheel based solutions sooner or later break because of the shitety sidewalks here in brussels - don't expect plain surfaces here.

So I was wondering, wouldn't it be great to carry the amp like a Sherpa would do? I really like the idea of it. What do you guys think?

[roland_rat]

Hunter,
I have never tried carrying a amp on my back. I have however done lots of hill walking with a rucksack on my back and also used the ruck sack to take  boxed effects pedals down to a mates.  I would think that having  a amp head on your back could end being quite painfull.  Not so much the shoulder straps cutting in to your shoulders but your lower back geting bruised off the amp sticking in your back as you walk.   Personally the idea is not for me.

Hope it helps
gareth

[hunter]

Hunter,
I have never tried carrying a amp on my back. I have however done lots of hill walking with a rucksack on my back and also used the ruck sack to take  boxed effects pedals down to a mates.  I would think that having  a amp head on your back could end being quite painfull.  Not so much the shoulder straps cutting in to your shoulders but your lower back geting bruised off the amp sticking in your back as you walk.   Personally the idea is not for me.

Hope it helps
gareth

Well I thought the same. But then on Mount Everest Expeditions, Sherpas carry up to 50Kg this way uphil. They would never carry it with their hands. And in the reviews of the Tatonka, a guy describes how he carries his 30Kg boat around with it and it's suprisingly easy. Another guy tells the story how he carried his dog, who had broken two bones in the mountains, all the way down, after he had constructed a carrying thing with some planks (what a story) a dog >40Kg.

http://www.globetrotter.de/de/shop/detail.php?part=rates&mod_nr=ms_31801&k_id=0400&hot=0&GTID=df3d6bb1f57b713349236a6e9b21c63fa31

My back is strong (Bikram Yoga, provides good core stability). I am still wondering if this might be the best way to do it. The belts and stuff look very well padded.

[Dmoney]

i think it could work right? you're not going to walk miles with it?
I dont think it would stick in your back, the metal frame on that rucksack would spread the weight over your back more, and as long as you have nice padded straps and that belt to go around your waist for support, you should be good.

as long as the frame doesnt brake.

half the problem with carrying amps in your arms, i think, is the shape of them. its really hard to get a comfortable hold on them. also, the weight distribution can make it hard.
 i know my uber is awkward to carry because the trannies are at one side, where as my Avenger is much more balanced.

[hunter]

i think it could work right? you're not going to walk miles with it?
I dont think it would stick in your back, the metal frame on that rucksack would spread the weight over your back more, and as long as you have nice padded straps and that belt to go around your waist for support, you should be good.

as long as the frame doesnt brake.

half the problem with carrying amps in your arms, i think, is the shape of them. its really hard to get a comfortable hold on them. also, the weight distribution can make it hard.
 i know my uber is awkward to carry because the trannies are at one side, where as my Avenger is much more balanced.

Frame is warranted for up to 50Kg (and their website says there is enough buffer in the construction. So the frame will probably break after your bones ;)

[Dmoney]

sounds to me like it could work pretty well!
i might invest to help me get my amps down 2 flights of stairs to my front door! not sure if i can do the same with my 4x12's.  :?

[hunter]

The dimensions are pretty ideal for heads (78x35x28cm).

Only thing I'm wondering is which type of bands or stuff to use to fix the head to the unit safely.

[Dmoney]

id use those big heavy dutty straps.
roof rack tie down straps spring to mind.
big fat ones that some venues use to tie down PA speakers...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-meter-x-50mm-H-D-RATCHET-STRAPS-ENDLESS_W0QQitemZ360195420784QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts?hash=item53dd51f270

something like that...but better...

[hunter]

That might work but I would definitely invest in a padded cover on top to not hurt the tolex, as the metal thing as well as the extreme force of the thing could easily create marks.

[Dmoney]

totally!
i assumed you'd wrap the amp up all nice anyway. you can probably slide a small bit of board between the ratchet and the amp, or maybe there is even a way the keep the ratchet totally off the amp. guess it depends how you want to tie the amp on, but id say some fat ties like that would keep it super secure.

[hunter]

Ok so who takes the risk and gets it first?

 :headphones1:

[Dmoney]

well, haha, i aint needing it for a while, im not playing shows till december! i wish i could take my amp to pratice though, our pratice room amps are aweful.

[FELINEGUITARS]

It will be the 4x12 that will kill you!

[hunter]

It will be the 4x12 that will kill you!

4x12 is not an option. I have cabs at home and at rehearsal. What I carry is top/gtr/fx.

So far it's guitar on back, fx one hand and head the other. But it's a stretch and impacts the fun quite heavily.

[Jonny]

Heavy things and carrying them on your back (or just carrying them in general) always results negatively.