Combos vs Head and Cabs

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Which do you prefer ?

I'll take a 4x10 combo anyday over a half stack. For me 4x10s just fit my fuzzy sound perfectly and I find 4x12s and even 2x12s sound too boomy and I have never played a head I liked the sound of to be honest. I run a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special 4x10 open back now and love it





What is your preference and why ?

 

[dominus]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Heads, because I don't use physical speakers.

Although, if I can get a combo cheaper than a head, I'll chop it down and sell the speaker(s). My Vypyr 30 was nearly free after I sold the speaker and Sanpera pedal that came with it.

 

[esandes]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

nice amp. i prefer the sound of an "A" closed back 4x12. it projects nicely and the 12" speaker is perfect, all around, for my tonal needs. just the right amount of bass. so i prefer heads/cabs. it's also more versatile to adjust different heads and speaker cabs.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

nice amp. i prefer the sound of an "A" closed back 4x12. it projects nicely and the 12" speaker is perfect, all around, for my tonal needs. just the right amount of bass. so i prefer heads/cabs. it's also more versatile to adjust different heads and speaker cabs.

yeah everyones sound is different so that makes sense. Also the versatility to switch heads around is cool too!

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

For what i do, my ideal setup would be a closed back 2x12 with an open back 2x12 on top of it. I highly recommend trying an open back 2x12 if you havent already

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

That is a handsome amp.
I think it would be even better looking if it were a head...sitting atop a 4x10 cab.
Guess that gives you my answer...

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Most combos are open back cabs, and I've never found an open back cab with the chunk I get from my 2x12 cab.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Yeah Closed back for sure has more chunk to it... I have an already bassy sound so Open back sounds perfect for me and disperses the sound more evenly in a room

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

You know you can get a 4x10 cab under a head, right!!!! Best of both worlds.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

You know you can get a 4x10 cab under a head, right!!!! Best of both worlds.

Yeah Mesa has some cool looking 4x10 extension cabs, along with Avatar.

Yeah Closed back for sure has more chunk to it... I have an already bassy sound so Open back sounds perfect for me and disperses the sound more evenly in a room

That's partly why I want that Mesa cab, so I can have the best of both worlds. My tone is already very bass-heavy, but I just play loud enough that the closed back cab disperses very nicely. I think part of it is the size of the cab too - the speaker has room to breathe a lot in my cab. Another reason why I like the Mesa.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Yeah Mesa has some cool looking 4x10 extension cabs, along with Avatar.



That's partly why I want that Mesa cab, so I can have the best of both worlds. My tone is already very bass-heavy, but I just play loud enough that the closed back cab disperses very nicely. I think part of it is the size of the cab too - the speaker has room to breathe a lot in my cab. Another reason why I like the Mesa.

Yeah I feel like that Mesa cab you are getting is goanna be a nice combo of both. I had a 2x12 oversized fender tonemaster cab for awhile but it was a B to move around and at the time I did not have a very good head so I sold the package for a guitar. Thing sounded BIG though with cannabis rexes in it

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

I used to prefer head/cab but since I acquired a Deluxe Reverb RI it has been nice to have have the option to use the combo or bypass the combo speaker and run it into my 2x12 cab.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Both. I dig my C-Rex loaded, closed back 2x12 with the Jet City, but also like my 1X12 open back Randall combo and my Pro Junior.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

I prefer head/cab, but I really appreciate a good combo. My vote goes for a little of column A, and a little of column B.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Heads and cabinets because it is easier to mix 'n match.

 

[mantis]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

I like Combo amps. Head and cab is good to as said you can mix and match , upgrade just the head and keep your cab.

 

[Securb]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Back in the day I mixed and matched. I had a Fender Quad Reverb on top of a Ampeg V4 closed 4x12 cab. Loved the tone, sparkling highs and a boomy bottom. That is way too much to bring to a gig these days so it is the Marshall VS100 or the Quad Reverb I drag around depending on the gig and room size.

That being said I do still have a variety of heads and cabs I like to mix and match. My Fender Excelsior sounds great on top of my 4x12 or 2x10 cab..

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Back in the day I mixed and matched. I had a Fender Quad Reverb on top of a Ampeg V4 closed 4x12 cab. Loved the tone, sparkling highs and a boomy bottom. That is way too much to bring to a gig these days so it is the Marshall VS100 or the Quad Reverb I drag around depending on the gig and room size.

That being said I do still have a variety of heads and cabs I like to mix and match. My Fender Excelsior sounds great on top of my 4x12 or 2x10 cab..

I always wondered how the Excelsior would sound with a ext cab... I have been curious about adding a cab to my 4x10 mesa just for ***** and giggles so whenever I'm on craigslist or kijiji I always scout out cabs

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

Head and cabs for me. I actually took the chasis out of a combo I liked and built a head cab for it. I found that once you get a combo amp with a big enough speaker cab to sound good in band situation with a drummer; it becomes too big to handle, and is usually just as loud.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Combos vs Head and Cabs

When asked, I prefer an open back 2x12 cab.

I like the separation of 2x12's best. I have a 4x10 blue angel which is very nice and not too cumbersome with the right hand truck.

I have a Marshall 4x12 and a Mesa/ Boogie Traditional 4X12 and I can't stand them without a drummer playing with me.