Combo amps or head+cab?

[madmax1012]

always wondered what people prefer. i love me some combo amps, but there seems to be love for both of them on ILF. so which do you prefer and why?

[coldbrightsunlight]

Have one of each and there are things I love about combos (generally more portable, fewer leads) but with a head/cab setup you can have just one cab and switch between a few totally different amps for different shows/recordings, and there are so many more options for speaker configurations and stuff. The setup I have now with a head and a combo that also has a speaker out jack is probably perfect though. Got the small 1x10 combo if I need to just grab an amp for a jam, but I can use my head and cab or the combo through my cab too.

[MSUsousaphone]

Man. I was ALL about the head and cabs. Back when we were playing in shit dives and just at people's houses and stuff.

Lately, we've been playing only at venues and when we play smaller, it'll be A LOT lower than we used to....so I would totally rock a combo and an extension cab.

That's pretty much it, for me. If I'm playing exclusively in places that mic/DI me, I'm cool with a combo. If I'm playing where it's my amp and only my amp, I want a modular thinger.

[Deltaphoenix]

Hedz N Kabz R KEWL

[goroth]

Head and cab!

1) It's badass.
2) See 1.

If badassery is not enough of a reason, as Monkey mentioned, the flexibility is nice. Also when playing live it is nice to be able to take your own head to guarantee a certain amount of your own sound then share a cab with the other bands on the bill. Then there's the fact that it's easier to lug around - I use 2x12 cabs and they're not that heavy at all, and the head isn't too bad on its own either. But a 2x12 combo is a back breaker and generally they're bigger and more awkward than a straight cab. As for home use, I'd prefer a combo, although I actually have a small head and a 1x12 cab, but it would be convenient with a 1x10 combo.

[D.o.S.]

Heads and cabs. Usually better, usually easier, and always, always spinning.

[Holy Schnikes]

Head + cab always as it's easier to mix n' match setups for different results. Combos are heavy as ballz too, I'd rather make two trips carrying a separate head and cab honestly. Any combo I've owned develops annoying structural rattles/miscellaneous noise over time as well, a result of high volume + speakers and a tube amp sharing the same enclosure.

Lastly, and of utmost importance, head/cab stacks just look better imo, no contest really...

[transients]

I guess it depends on the situation. I love my verellen head for the versatility, stereo ins and outs so I can use whatever speakers I want and place them wherever I want, or I can use it as two amps in one, as a bass and/or guitar amp, etc etc. On the downside, it weighs a ton, and hauling big cabs around also sucks. If I ever bought emperor cabs I'd be too afraid to damage their awesome finish. But they would look really cool, so maybe I'd risk it.

When it comes to simplicity and mobility, nothing beats my little ampeg superjet. Weighs almost nothing, 50 loud watts, nice and compact and sounds amazing. So for lazy's sake, I'm more of a combo guy.

[Holy Schnikes]

My combo hate probably originates from lugging a VT-40 around years ago. As for Emperors, those cabs are insanely light and easy to move (4x12 and smaller at least). Also, they'll hook it up with covers for those fearing damage....

[dubkitty]

what i really like is using a small amp--something the size of a Fender Princeton or an AC15--to drive a 2x12 cabinet. that gives you the crunch and touch sensitivity of a hot amp with the air-moving capability of a pair of larger speakers. i just don't have the opportunity to play loud enough to use a head+big cabinet setup...back when i used a Twin Reverb i don't think i ever turned it up over 6 and a half. so by default i use combo amps, though if i could afford it i'd at least test the THD BiValve head. my dream setup is two Marshall 18-watts.

[sevenSHARPnine]

Combos all day. Even better, 2 combos in stereo! Maybe I'm just a man of simple pleasures, but there's just something about head-cab setups that do not appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, I've played through borrowed bass rigs that are absolutely bitchin. But for my own purposes I prefer smaller combos. My bigger bass rig is a Fender 15" combo and a JC-60 with a 12" run in stereo and it's sick. Yuuuup.

[madmax1012]

I've never actually had a head + cab, but I love my vox. Most bands I listen to play combos, but I've always wanted an Orange....

[Zounds Perspex]

refuse to choose. I've been enjoying my combos the most lately, though.

[cheesecats]

i use one of each in a stereo setup--there should be an option to vote for both

[dubkitty]

i'd love to run a Plexi half-stack or an SVT, which is one of my favorite guitar tones i've ever gotten...i just never play anywhere i have an excuse to be that loud