Why does a head than cab have better tone than combo amps?

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why does a head than cab have better tone than combo amps?

Basically here's what I Like....

Open back....Clean tones with reverb...More dimension of tone...
Closed Back...Gain,tighter tone,and better forward projection..

I Like a closed back cab overall for best of both worlds if I can only pick one.

That's my preference too. If it's cleans, I like open back combos.
As soon as any gain is introduced, it's gotta be closed back.....it keeps the low end from mushing out. Since I use a lot of tones out of 1 amp, it's gotta be a head/cab setup.

Another thing that makes me biased is that I grew up playing almost nothing but head/4-12 cabs. That sound is so solid and tight with bass, that my ears got tuned to it. I still love combos too though.....but I aquired that taste over time.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Why does a head than cab have better tone than combo amps?

Let's not forget to throw this into the mix - how about an open back combo with a closed back extension cab!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Why does a head than cab have better tone than combo amps?

Let's not forget to throw this into the mix - how about an open back combo with a closed back extension cab!

Thats what i love about my Classic 30 set up with the matching ext cab! The C30 combo is open back and the ext cab is sealed! Love the C30 a lot with that ext cab! The drummer in my last band loved me using that C30 set up as the open back combo cab let him hear me clear as a bell and the sealed back cab gave me the extra lows i wanted...... I'll sometimes use my C50 head version into that little C30 ext cab! The C50 has a slightly different sound then the C30....

One of my favourite set ups for larger gigs is my 5150 head, the Classic 50 head into a head switcher that allows you to A/B between heads into a single cab, into a Marshall 1912 ext cab.... That little 1912 cab has a 150 watt single 12 in it so it can handle all the 5150 has to offer, plus when i switch to the C50 for cleans it stays very clean! I regretted buying that 1912 cab at first until i found out how to really use it! It sounds amazing with this set up!

I have a little amp stand that tilds my 1x12 cabs back like monitors... for small quiet gigs i do this to hear myself and the sound man can get a good stage mix without my 4x12 cutting everyone else on stage off...

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Why does a head than cab have better tone than combo amps?

i owned several amps until now.
Most are combo, because different amps help me achieve different sounds also its cheaper than getting afew heads and 1 cabinet. I guess its just preference, i still do have the mentality that a head will sound better than a combo. Prolly its because of convenience also, just a head and somewhere has the cabinet =)
All my amps are open back,
JCM800/900 combo
DSL 401, unscrewed back
Fender Super twin reverb, non-reissue