heads & cabs v combos

[tomjackson]

I've always been a combo guy, 2x10 or 1x12 but I'm thinking of maybe switching to a decent cab and head.
Has anybody who made the switch ever looked back, or do you still have combos for different applications?

I know nothing about cabs either really, what should I be looking for, for say a 30w head?

For example, does a 1x12 in an oversize cab (like the zilla one) sound much different from a 2x12 with the same speakers?

One advantage I can imagine on a 2x12 is mixing speakers, something which I've never tried but I'm slightly worried about the directional nature of cabs....

[Antag]

I've never looked back after moving from a combo to head/cab.  I found it more flexible (can have the head & the cab in different places to make tweaking easier etc), more portable (2x12" combos are WAY heavier than a head or a cab - OK, it's two trips to/from the car, but it's easier IMHO), & for me a much better sound (though that probably had more to do with the head/cab I switched to being far superior to what I was using...)

As for what to look for, something with a power rating of 30w or more :)  Beyond that, I guess it depends on what sound you want to achieve or what your favourite speakers are...

[tomjackson]

I think I'll go in that direction then but still have a small grab-and-go combo for really small gigs.

I'm not sure exactly what sound I'm after but I'm thinking something with a firm low end (in a vintage sense) with another speaker with a detailed top might be the way to go for a full range sound.

May be an G12H (or Eminence Wizard) and a celestion blue (or Eminence Red fang).

[TheIronBeast]

I've been asking myself the same question on and off for the past few years, but in the end I've just stuck with using combos. When I gig I don't usually play to a crowd much larger than maybe 150-200 people maximum and I can get all the right volume and sound from the Marshall combo or Vox AC30 that I have been using.

I always feel that if I was to go out and buy a head and cab that I would never be using it to it's full potential and therefor unnecessary for me to have one. Perhaps if I start playing bigger gigs then I would switch to using a head and cab but until then I am more than happy with using combos.

[Antag]

I think I'll go in that direction then but still have a small grab-and-go combo for really small gigs.

I'm not sure exactly what sound I'm after but I'm thinking something with a firm low end (in a vintage sense) with another speaker with a detailed top might be the way to go for a full range sound.

May be an G12H (or Eminence Wizard) and a celestion blue (or Eminence Red fang).

FWIW, I put two diffferent speaker types in my cab with a similar goal in mind:

2 Celestion Classic Lead 80s & 2 Celestion G12K-100s in my Engl "brutal" 4x12 :twisted:

For me, it was a good choice: the two speakers do sound different & do seem to compliment each other well - the K100s have absolutely tons of low end, the CL80s seem to have a bit more upper-mid presence.  You can't really pick out the individual characteristics when playing the cab in mono (perhaps it sounds a little different standing off to one side over the other) but the sound is very full - kind of like having 2 guitarists playing in unison :)

I can isolate either speaker type (I wired them in avertical pattern) & its useable (especially at low volume) & useful for close mic'd recording, but usually I just go with mono mode.

Not sure how well it would work in a 2x12" but thought this might be useful...

[Twinfan]

I use heads and cabs for gigs exclusively, both 2x12s and 4x12s.  I have a combo for rehearsals which is stored there.

Tonally, I've found heads and cabs to be superior because the cabinets are usually nice and solid.  If you try and instill that into a combo, they end up weighing an absolute ton.  My 2x12s are semi open backed and are less directional than my closed back 4x12, but still have a nice big wallop in the low end.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that neither option necessarily sounds any better than the other.  It's all about the convenience of the package that suits you best.

[Fourth Feline]

I use heads and cabs for gigs exclusively, both 2x12s and 4x12s.  I have a combo for rehearsals which is stored there.

Tonally, I've found heads and cabs to be superior because the cabinets are usually nice and solid.  If you try and instill that into a combo, they end up weighing an absolute ton.  My 2x12s are semi open backed and are less directional than my closed back 4x12, but still have a nice big wallop in the low end.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that neither option necessarily sounds any better than the other.  It's all about the convenience of the package that suits you best.

Dave has covered it there ; the bits I would have written if Dave had not prompted me are :

Both have merit, but for the 'main feature' I liked seperate head and cab .

The cab is usually built like a tank, yet very portable ( if you only have a lift in a small car for a BIG gig  ).

A solid cab makes a great' base'  for the speakers.

For tonal experimentation the mix & match is quicker. You quickly plug into your mate's cabs and visa versa . If you are experimenting with different speakers within the cab , you can then try it with every amp in sight.

You can have the amp facing you / side stage and up at face height for quick adjustments, when prompted by the sound man. Ditto for the cab -  facing away / across the pub/ stage / getting sweet revenge on the drummer.

Sell one, keep the other if needed ; or lend / borrow a 1 x 12 / 2 x 12 / 4 x 12 to accommodate venue / style / room acoustics.

Flexibility.



 :)