Half Stack VS Combo

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

oh well, another random question from me:rolleyes:

Is there any advantage appart from more volume, from having a half-stack instead of the combo? As for the volume, I use a 100 watt combo, for some of the pubs we play, there is no need for it to go through the pa at all.

e.g. You walk into a shop, there is a Marahall JVM half stack, and a 100watt combo, and there speakers in both cabs are of high quality. Which one would you part your cash with?

One of my mates is willing to spend around 1k on an amp, I told him not to get a half-stack, as the guitar amps for their gigs are always put through the pa, so the extra volume is not really necessary. Also, i was advised when I was getting a new amp not to get a half-stack as they are a b*tch to transport, and i didnt have a car at the time:) However, some people are telling him to get a half-stack, saying that they sound better.

so, what's the boards wiew on this? Do half-stacks have better tone than combos? If so is it worth the extra cash and effort in transporting it:D

Karl Hungus

I think part of what it really comes down to is if the amp you're after is available as both combo and head? Many amps are not, so getting a stack of some description is the only choice.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

good point, im on thomann at the moment, I didnt realise the amount of marshall heads that are not available as a combo

Voodu Child

For one, most combos are open back, so straight away that is one possible difference, depending on the cab you want to use. A closed-back cab will have the ability to sound tighter and more focused, with maybe more bottom end and punch (not 'better' ) than the open-back cab in a combo. So even if the amp is identical, there can be a vast difference in sound between a combo or head+cab setup, not just louder/quieter.

And on top of that, most combos arent even good open-back cabs; they have tonnes of junk inside them (the amp chassis, the valves and transformers etc) taking up their internal volume. So again, even if you are talking about a open-back cab vs an open-back combo, there can be a fairly substantial difference in the character of the tone.

Personally I prefer a head+cab setup every time, but that is just a preference, I have always prefered a tighter sound compared to the more airy sound of your typical open-back combo.

Fatgoogle

Its really a very evenly divided argument.

When you have a head and cab you can easily just take the head or the cab if the venue has a head and cab of its own. Also the cab are head is quite often better quality separate. Defiantly cabs, they've been better designed and tuned than a combo, not in all cases though. Combos's are smaller easier, to store or hide away, heavier but i find them easier to mive, especially with castors.

Paolo_M

If you're into your high gain stuff then a head will be more reliable than a combo.
Just a generalisation, but most valve combos have the valves hanging in the cab with the speaker, which moves obviously. This is not ideal for valves and tends to be fairly troublesome if you play loud, high gain stuff.
The other advantage of using a head is that you can have versistility in terms of speaker choice. I'm really getting into the idea of having 2 or 3 2 X 12 loaded with different speakers combinations for different "flavours".

Having said that, nothing can beat a vintage combo for the old school blues and rock stuff. As the lads mentioned, open backed cabs are much less direct and focused, and lend themselves very well to expressive bluesy stuff.

punchdrunk

i prefer half stacks

ball ox

I find half stacks handier, especially in the studio when you can try different cabs and vice versa. Transporting them is a bitch though. I gig with a 2x12 and seperate head but dont drive. Getting to and from gigs is generally inconvenient and expensive.
Just think at about it practically, if I your gonna be playing small pub gigs I'd go for something like an AC15, or any small tube combo and mic it up, but if your looking at bigger venues and a bigger amp its worth just getting seperates. I wouldnt fancy lugging a 100W tube combo (do they exist?) up a flight of stairs to a venue. Having it in 2 parts takes the sting off

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

ball ox wrote: »

I wouldnt fancy lugging a 100W tube combo (do they exist?) up a flight of stairs to a venue. Having it in 2 parts takes the sting off

I have had to do it with my 100 watt vox a few times not a nice experience!

Eoin Madsen

I prefer the sound of a closed cab to an open one in most cases. And open cabs are much more susceptible to variations in the acoustics of the room they're in, which makes them harder to predict in any given venue. If a 4x12 is too big or inconvenient, then my vote is for a closed 2x12 cab as an alternative rather than going combo. :pac:

-=al=-

id like to have a nice combo and 2x12 cab or something extra

just so much handier, and if u need the extra speakers u got em, best of both

rcaz

As for 'sounding better', that's WAY too broad a statement. Fender Twin Reverbs are combos, and they have gorgeous super-clean tones. If you want to play distorted guitars, then obviously a JCM800 stack will be 'better'. If you want that 'classic Vox tone', then you'll get a Vox AC30 combo, etc.

Tell your friend to get whichever amp he likes the sound of best.

Different strokes for different applications and preferences

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

thanks for the help!

mattfender

i love the sound off a 4x12...i run it as an extension to my 1x12 combo:pac:

sparse

mattfender wrote: »

i love the sound off a 4x12...i run it as an extension to my 1x12 combo:pac:

is that not just a different speaker/open vs closed back sound difference?