Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

[34029324079]

lets see...no one ever really has the need for the volume of a full stack. a combo provides adequate power to power up a 4x12. but it is more portable and gives you the option of using it on its own. So why would you ever buy a head unit? what gives? What is the theory behind this? What are the pros and cons generally?

Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I really don't understand this. Usually combos cost as much as the head version too. lets say for instance a Mesa Mark IV - the combo costs about as much as the head.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I can think of two reasons:

1. Head and cab is more portable than the equivalent size combo.
2. You can buy several heads and use the same cab for all of them. This saves space, and quite often money.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Maybe a 4x12 is bigger than a combo...but most combos are so friggin heavey, that it kills!
Plus I really do not like openbacks all that much!!

Heads are nice and easy!

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I had this very dilemma recently, over whether to buy a new Mesa Stiletto Ace combo or head. The 112 combo sounds killer by itself, and of course has the ability to feed a good 412 too. However, the Ace combo uses a sealed back for the speaker, which is unusual for tube combos. I prefer the sound of a closed back cab myself over an open back combo.

I already had a Celestion loaded 412, and I have a recently acquired pair of Basson 112 sealed cabinets. I decided on the head, as I can use it with either speaker arrangement just as easily. The Bassons are very portable, the Ace head isn't very heavy either. I have enough speakers in the house already, I just didn't need to add any more with the combo.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Instead? hehe

 

[ErikH]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

When I needed to get another amp this past summer, I debated between a head or a combo but decided on a combo, with the help of a friend's advice, for the simple fact that it's got a speaker out, it is closed back, weighs no more than my Marshall head, and costs less than the head version. I can use it pretty much anywhere and can lug the big cabinet out for outdoor shows or bigger venues if it's needed.

 

[StratTom]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I'd connect a combo to a 4x12 cab if I could use the speaker from the combo as well! That would be 5x12!!!:laugh2:

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I think it just depends on how much headroom you need most of the time.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I tried to use a marshall JCM900 2-12" combo (50-watt tube) with a 2-12" marshall extension cab with my band in the past, and it wasn't as loud as a JCM800 50-watt head and a Carvin 4-12" cab. Go figure. There's probably some combos that would work, but it didn't for me, even though on paper it looks good. It was also quite cumbersome to move around. The combo weighed a ton and was awkward to carrry.

It's kind of like when I thought that my little crate practice amp (which sounds pretty dang good to me with my tube-based overdrive pedal into the clean channel) should sound great if I bypass the little 10-inch speaker and go into my 4-12 cab through the speaker out. But it sounds totally different and not as good as the combo by itself.

Nothing wrong with combos, but it's fun to collect heads (especially small ones) that you can store more easily and use with one set speaker cab you like. If I had to store a bunch of combos, I wouldn't be able to have as many.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

One reason might be that not all amps are manufactured as combos.

And, like was stated, you can have multiple heads for every cabinet.

 

[Davey]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

heads of the same amp are cheaper than combos

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I've got 4 heads & 5 cabs....no combos.

Combos are too damned heavy & most of the time, limited.

And yes....a head is cheaper than a combo.

Head/cab over combo any day :bigthumb:

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I use four cabs
2 4x12, one 1x12" closedback cab, and one 1x15" closed back cab, and the combo's we have....well I always end up plugin those to a closed back cab, or wait until we have a head version instead

 

[34029324079]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

awesome - thanks - I understand that side of the coin now - awesome rigs yall are pluggin guitars into!

I used to have a marshall JCM 800 half stack and a peavey 2x12 combo. I never plugged the combo into the JCM800 4x12 I had though. I actually used both amps simultaneously, so the drummer could hear the guitar better (our bassist was not so good so he listened to guitar more).

I never thought much about the weight issue, but the specs on alot of the 2x12 combos show the amp weighing alot.

Thanks

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I have a small open back 1x12 Fender Concert II cab already, so I got a used Mesa head, even though they are the same price range used for a combo. I prefer the options of a head model, like a choice of open or closed back. Plus, with a head, you do not have so much tube fatigue from being sonically pounded by a combo's speakers.

 

[MikeF]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Commandments

11. Tubes and speakers shall not share cabinetry.:chairfall

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Meh...it's different tools for different jobs.

For me, I MUCH prefer walking into a gig once with an amp in one hand and the guitar in the other. Even now I'm looking at options for a PodXT and begrudging going with a cab and refusing to go with more than a 2 x 12 and being able to sling the rest of the rig over my shoulder.

But I always found the whole "combos are too heavy" thing to be curious. You're calling a combo too heavy yet you can find the space for a 4 x 12 cabinet?

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

My Traynor 50Blue is heavier than all shizz. I throw my shoulder out sometimes! and I need it to play guitar!

...I'm thinking of coverting it into a head...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

I'm up for the combo's. Take it as-is to rehearsal and small gigs. For larger gigs and closed-back thump, add a 1-12 extension cab, or just disconnect the internal speaker a drive a 4-12.

I never should have sold my Marshall 4010 - a JCM800 2204 50-watt chassis in a 1-12 combo. Of course, my power needs are lower these days, so I built a 18 Watter combo, but I want to build a matching cab, too.

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Re: Why Doesn't Everyone Get Combos Instead of Heads Since You can Plug Em Into 4x12s?

Here's my new head: