ilovefuzz.com

Hi all

I have always wanted to know whether a head and cab is better over a combo amplifier. I've stayed away from 'separates' on the pretense that its more gear to carry (although on the flip side, if the venue is providing a cab or two you've only got to bring the head). However since being on ILF I've seen a lot of you guys running with heads and cabs. Have I been missing a trick or is it simply down to taste? Love to hear your opinions.

Thanks!

I play in a loud band so a 4x12 cab is pretty much essential. Also, I prefer moving around a head and cab. Heads are easier to carry than combo amps and cabs have wheels.

easier to transport, easier to mix and match (i.e. only bringing half of your rig if it's a quiet venue, etc.), more options in general.

Got ya - I guess smaller cabs, 2x12s, are (relatively) lighter on their own rather than them being in with the amp on a combo?

I think it depends largely on your preference and style of music. Unless you play bass, in which case head/cab will always be better just because speaker cabs without a bunch of amplification shoved in have better low end response broadly speaking

Smarty wrote:Got ya - I guess smaller cabs, 2x12s, are (relatively) lighter on their own rather than them being in with the amp on a combo?

Yes, and they're not nearly as ungainly. It may seem counter-intuitive, but head + cab trumps combo for mobility nine times out of ten.

Also, I feel like playing loudly out of a combo amp might be worse for the amp itself. I had a Beta Lead combo that basically rattled itself to death. After converting it to a head I haven't had any problems. I could just be talking out of my ass on that one though, I haven't really heard anyone else complain about this problem.

I feel like I've also read that the sound waves blasting your tubes (combos) can put a dent in longevity. After buying NOS stuff I'm aiming to put off having to replace any of that business for a while.

for amp and tube life, head and cab all the way, for portability, head and cab all the way, for flexibility, head and cab all the way. the only thing a combo has over a head and cab is size factor.

That said, trusting a venue's cab...

...no fucking way.

I wish practically all my combos were heads at this point. Way easier to move.

waltdogg wrote:for amp and tube life, head and cab all the way, for portability, head and cab all the way, for flexibility, head and cab all the way. the only thing a combo has over a head and cab is size factor.

Werd.

D.o.S. wrote:

Smarty wrote:Got ya - I guess smaller cabs, 2x12s, are (relatively) lighter on their own rather than them being in with the amp on a combo?

Yes, and they're not nearly as ungainly. It may seem counter-intuitive, but head + cab trumps combo for mobility nine times out of ten.

Unless you get an Orange cab. Because they weigh about as much as a 412.
But fuck they sound godly.
get an orange 412, suffer the lack of wheels and own life forever.

Combo because twin reverb.

Or you can have whatever speakers you want and the same amp with a Dual Showman Reverb in head format!

rfurtkamp wrote:Or you can have whatever speakers you want and the same amp with a Dual Showman Reverb in head format!

You can have whatever speakers you want with a twin too
edit. plus, dual showman reverb is ugly af.