On Jan 18, 2005, at 4:37 PM, Jerry Korb wrote:
> An assembled MK-II or MK-II weighs-in at 360 lb.
> Add an additional 50-80 lb. for road-case and you're talking serious
> hernia here !
>
> Jimmy's SFX/6 might need to be partially disassembled to ease
> transport
> to the basement. Power-pack weighs about 70 lb, top-lid and back
> panels can be removed,etc. Will bring the weight down to 225-250 lb.
> A three-person move.
>
> The less stairs the better. Via a bulkhead door or similar.
> If the Tron is secured with 2" straps , and planking laid on stairs,
> 2-3 people can help guide it down s-l-o-w-l-y to avoid a crashing-end !
>
> My tuppence worth,gang. --JK--
I lugged my SFX all over hell's half acre for a few years and that
involved going up and down a lot of stairs since many clubs were not at
street level. Now mind you, when we were doing this, we were in our
early 20s and had 2 experienced roadies to help. Yes, they are very
heavy and somewhat unwieldy (I'm referring to trons here, but the same
could be said for roadies), but if you know the right way to pick heavy
things up, it's a lot easier. I have taken the SFX up a two-flight
stairway with one other person, although that was NOT fun. Stairs
(unless they're very cramped) are better done with 4 people.
A Roll-or-Kari would work just fine and allows 4 people to lift it much
easier, although I think I'd rather do it without the Kari if I had to
move it with one other person (see next paragraph). A Roll-or-Kari
would also work with a flight case (using the flight case wheels,
though, rather than the ones on the Kari), because the arms on the Kari
are easier to lift from than the handles on a flight case.
The straps Ken talks about are what piano movers use. I've seen two
rather short guys using a pair of these straps pick up a concert grand
piano and carry it with no problem at all. Those things weigh 600
pounds! Now mind you, both these guys were pros and had forearms like
Popeye. Lifting straps are a good investment for moving very heavy
things and they do work.
Jerry's suggestion of removing the power pack is a good one if the move
is a 1-time thing. (I wouldn't want to take it in and out every time it
was moved for a gig.)
What's the easiest way to lift one of these suckers up? Crouch down
slightly, tilt the tron forward with one hand just under the keyboard
and slip your other hand under the back where it's off the ground. Now
stand up by flexing your legs, NEVER your back. Slide the hand that's
under the keyboard down to the bottom (your shoulder against the
keyboard can help stabilize the tron) and you should be able to hold it
comfortably. This is all assuming that you're capable of holding around
200 lbs for several minutes. The secret, though, is tilting to get one
hand underneath. This is the way movers always pick up heavy items.
It's way easier to lift, and holding it by the bottom means that your
legs are much more free to move. When you hold a tron low (one hand
under the keyboard and one under the backboard [back panel is off for
this], you'll only make it harder to move around, unless you like
barking your shins. After you've done this a few times, you'll be
inclined to laugh at all those whinging sods complaining about moving a
measly 400!
Now the smartest thing that Jimmy could do is have several husky lads
on hand to help him move his SFX. This is what I now do, being older
and wiser. Then he can stand around and bark orders, while enjoying a
frosty beer or other fine beverage. My darling wife and I were very
clever, planning ahead for just this sort of thing by having two husky
lads (both over six feet and very strong). They're quite good at moving
trons now -- when they can avoid arguing over the best way to do it.
As for lifting the tron into its road case, the tilt and lift makes it
a snap. I've actually gotten it into the case with just my wife and me
-- although she is quite strong. (She gave JB two black eyes once when
he got a bit fresh and threatened to chuck him in the River Blith.)
That's MY ten bob's worth.
Rick