Carrying equipment has to be the least favorable part of playing live. Your focus should be on playing your instrument, so streamlining the carrying process as much as possible is ideal.
I know some people, particularly drummers, who hire a roadie to do the transportation work for them. Although this is probably the best route to take, it’s not always feasible for most musicians, especially if you want to make as much profit as possible from the gig. After all, musicians are not paid very well, so a roadie usually only comes in hand if you’re making higher-than-usual pay or you’re just playing for the fun of it and want the process to be as easy as possible.
Before continuing, I want to point out that most guitar amps are designed to be taken out on the road. This means that a good quality amp should be able to take the occasional knock without breaking down. Not really relevant for the purpose of this article, but if your amp does not take well to transportation then you may need to have it serviced. Unlike some self-proclaimed experts out there, I do not recommend transporting your amplifier face down. This will put unnecessary pressure on the control knobs as well as the grill cloth.
Chances are you already own an amplifier, but if not, you may want to get your hands on something that will be easy to carry, provided your focus is going to be on playing live. I’ve always advised people to not buy a combo amplifier (2×12 configuration), due to the fact that these amps can be difficult to transport. Your best bet is a head and cabinet configuration, and preferably a smaller sized cabinet. A 1×12 cab is essentially all you’re going to need provided you’re playing through a PA system. See: Choosing the Right Amp Size for the Gig.
Check out the following options that will streamline the carrying process…
This transportation cart is essential for guitar players with heavy gear, and will allow you to transport your amplifier effortlessly. This is of course most helpful if the venue you’re playing at doesn’t have a flight of stairs. The Rock ‘n Roller Multi-Cart is very popular amongst musicians and includes foldable sides for heavy loads.
If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option, you may want to check out this folding handcart from Welcom (best seller on Amazon).
If a trolley is not for you, you may want to consider installing a set of Ernie Ball wheels on your amplifier. My recommendation, however, would be to use one of the above options as this solution will require you to drill 5/8” holes in the bottom of your amplifier.
Do you have any tips and tricks for transporting a guitar amp? Let us know in the comments below.
