I don't have a budget anymore. My temp work is over. I want a set up that is louder than my ampeg ba115hp, while being lighter and/or smaller...
You are lucky, in that you are at the beginning of the problem cycle, not the end. You haven't sunken a lot of money into a rig that can't be upgraded without a total redo. However, your rig weighs 86 lbs, is in a hard to carry cube form, and doesn't do an extension speaker out. I hear you. There are a lot of better combos or even used cab + amp rigs that are lighter and way louder, but we are talking about something costing ~$800—at least for used modular gear (head and cab). For a better new combo, probably about $700 or so.
IME, if you have a micro head and a good 8 ohm cabinet, the total weight is often less than many combos, and the performance is better. Plus, you can change individual components, i.e., better cab(s), or more powerful/lighter/cooler head. I agree having a combo with an extension speaker out might help you in your situation, but in reality, it is just going to make pulling out of the kind of situation you are in
more expensive in the long run.
IMHO, after adding an extension speaker, with a few exceptions you are stuck at the end of the road. If you want a change, your entire rig has to be replaced, not just one component, unless you integrate the extension speaker—a strategy I once used, but which has some built in disadvantages I will skip here.
So, a job and some savings must come first. Meanwhile, do some research. Go hear some bands. Talk to other bass players in your area whose amps you can see and hear. Look at Talkbass classifieds. The sellers can help you via private messages and in the for sale thread.
This web site is a good place to see selection and prices:
Bass Guitar Amps | Sweetwater.com
Don't know which continent you are on, but if it is North America, you might look at Craigslist or Kijiji for used gear once you have a better idea of what you want.
