Author Topic: Cab / Combo (Read 3441 times)

Jonny · « **on:** March 20, 2008, 10:40:21 PM »

I was looking at tube heads and combos and thought, does choosing a head/cab or combo depend on your usage?

I know, if you're gigging, you usually buy a head/cab or a decent combo. But if you're a bedroom rocker, would buying a head/cab be sensible?

I know it's just a slight (just a slight) bit silly if someone was to buy a Triple Rectifier and a 4x12 cab and plonked it into their bedroom to play at God knows what hour in the early morning. But what about 50W? Is that sensible or is a head complete balone?

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:42:12 PM »

50 watts without an attenuator is far too loud.

Trust me - I'm living it ><

Jonny · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:50:49 PM »

Quote from: noodleplugerine

50 watts without an attenuator is far too loud.

Trust me - I'm living it ><

So you're saying head = bad for bedroom use?

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:53:10 PM »

Quote from: Jonny

Quote from: noodleplugerine
50 watts without an attenuator is far too loud.

Trust me - I'm living it ><

So you're saying head = bad for bedroom use?

Depends on the head.

A tiny terror would be fine - But its only 15w.

Head doesn't automatically mean louder - And a stack could be appropriate for bedroom use if you had an attenuator.

Jonny · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:56:23 PM »

Quote from: noodleplugerine

Quote from: Jonny
Quote from: noodleplugerine
50 watts without an attenuator is far too loud.

Trust me - I'm living it ><

So you're saying head = bad for bedroom use?

Depends on the head.

A tiny terror would be fine - But its only 15w.

Head doesn't automatically mean louder - And a stack could be appropriate for bedroom use if you had an attenuator.

I thought of this 'question' when I was looking at the Hughes & Kettner Switchblade Head (100W). It's the same price for the combo (50W). So I'm sort of stuck between what to choose, it will be more expensive with a cab of course, but the cab will be fairly cheap (like the Framus on Thomann, or something)

Attentuator with the head of course.

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:27:05 PM »

Isn't this really two different questions? Low power vs. high power and head/cab vs. combo?

A head doesn't have to be 100W and a cab doesn't have to be 4x12". And a combo doesn't have to be 20W.

Personally I have no use for big, powerful amps - I don't gig and probably never will. For home use, I've always owned combos in the past but I'm starting to favour separate heads and cabs. I can have one 1x12" and a few different heads - without taking up too much space overall.

And if I ever do start gigging, I can take my own amp head and just rent or borrow a bigger cab.

shaman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2008, 02:02:09 AM »

amps are different animals-I own a Mesa Boogie Coliseum....a beast at 180 watts..6 ..count em'..6 6L6 power tubes....however, with its half power switch and the fact that you can dial in a ton of preamp gain, i get awesome bedroom tones-it can also kill small animals of course..but I have a 2 yr old AND a pregnant wifey(thanks..thanks... :D ) and I never wake them
...of course, they ARE heavy sleepers..

hamfist · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2008, 08:10:22 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Isn't this really two different questions? Low power vs. high power and head/cab vs. combo?

I think you are spot on there Philly. The OP definately seems to have got these two issues mixed up in his mind.

For home use (ie. low volume) I don't think the head/cab rig has the main advantages that it would have for gigging - which are :-

1/ distances the tubes from the vibrations of the speaker cab at high volume, reducing tube microphonics.

2/ Allows a larger cab to be used, or multiple cabs (although this is, of course, also possible with most decent combo's too).

But a head/cab is also just as appropriate for home use too. Let us not forget that cab's come is all sizes from 1x12 to 4x12.

For sheer minimum size and space, a small combo cannot be beaten. However, some combo's are very powerful , very big, and very heavy - these are much more oriented towards players who play live (although it takes a bigger man than me to lift a 2x12 AC30 or Fender Twin for any length of time).

As for power, and suitability for home use, it all depends on the design of the amp. High wattage amps which are designed around pre-amp gain will often sound just as good at home volumes. But amps whose tone is dependant on some power tube break up or compression (eg Ac30 or Vintage Modern) need to be much, much louder before they start to sound good. An Attenuator is a must for home use ( and also usually for gig use) with these amps. Remember, if you use much gain at all, any amp over about 20W will be monstrously loud over about 2 on the volume.
Attenuators and power-scaling are your friends !!

Ian Price · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2008, 08:45:13 AM »

I was a bit naive when I started buying amps and thought more w = better sound ( :oops: ). I bought a Fender HRD 2x12, this has 65w of power. Even on 2 it was way too loud for bedroom use, for gigs it was way too loud on 4.5. After I realised my mistake (just over a year!) I sold it on a bought a Laney 5w combo. It is the best decision I have made as is it awesome at bedroom levels and loud enough for small bars - even in this situation the volume is only on about 8 or 9. It is also a lot lighter than the HRD so portability of it is good.

Never trieda head so I don't know what these are like :?

Jonny · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:22:24 AM »

Thanks for the replies. :)

I suppose I am getting a little mixed up and somewhat confused. My eyes are still on a head and cab, but seeing as it's not an instant purchase my mind has been wandering over it.

Really I'm losing £200 or just sound from a cab.

QS-Nalle · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2008, 07:32:20 PM »

About power:

I just calculated for fun that at band rehearsal I use about 15W of power (Diezel VH4) and its loud as HELL!!!!!

To put things in perspective you can check out a spec sheet of any speaker where it says sensitivity and they give you a number (usually around 100dB)
that is measured with 1W, 1 m away from the speaker so even 1 W (depending on the speaker used) is enough to give you hearing damage!

Just rambling on a bout power.........

There are some great projects for people who know electronics at www.ax84.com , the projects are suitable for beginners too so grab that solder iron and build for example the P1 which is 2W all tube amp (fun stuff).

Just a thought.