Head + 4x12 cab or Combo and 2x12 extension cab

feylya

I was at a gig on Saturday where they were using two half stacks and it got me thinking. Is there really any need in this country to own a complete half stack. Obviously, you're going to get more air movement on stage from the extra speakers but is the hassle of trying to move the fecker really worth it?

You could get a combo and use that on stage cos most gigs in this country are going to result in the amps being miced. For any gigs that aren't being miced, or are being poorly miced, an extension cabinet is not only easier to transport than a 4x12 cab but also produces roughly the same amount of air movement.

Opinions?

Karl Hungus

Why does it have to be a 4x12? Why not a 2x12 and a 2x15? Better possibilities with a head methinks.

feylya

Because 99% of half stacks in this country are 4x12. What commonly available cabinet has 2 12s and a 15?

Karl Hungus

2 seperate cabs, of course.

feylya

Yes, well you're just awkward.

And everyone knows 2 10s and a 15 would be far better

Karl Hungus

I'm awkward!? Well you're just being contradictory!

feylya

No I'm not

But that's the point of this thread. It's to figure out which people think is better to have - a half stack or a combo and extension cab.

Pistol Pete

I use two 12s and two 15s, well at least I will do until I buy up every available Mesa Boogie amp that poor Karl there intends on purchasing

Karl Hungus

I think you're a little late for that pete, the nomad 45 combo is mine.

dabhoys

Bar the look on stage. I have my 4x12 cab and its oversized too and its not worth the hassle. A 2 x 12 would have done me fine and would have been plenty loud. I never have to go pass 11 o'clock on the master volume on the mesa at a gig!!! Its a beast but my heard does be broken carrying around the 4x12. Not to mention I was on my way to practice one nite and I hadn't secured the cab properly and it busted out my back window in my jeep I'm currently looking into purchasing a nice little combo to go along with the 4x12...

feylya

Aye, half stacks look cool but which would you rather - a back that doesn't hurt so you can play the gig well or to look cool but be in pain standing there...

Karl Hungus

I'd rather look cool and have a gang of hunchbacked minions.

Doctor J

A 30W guitar amp is plenty loud for every venue in Dublin outside of Vicar Street, Ambassador, Olympia and the Point and even then you'd get away with it. In fact, in the rest of the venues not mentioned above your amp is really only working as a monitor. Your amp is mic'd and what is mic'd is what comes out of the PA. If the punters can hear your amp from around the venue you are way too loud and that's why you can't hear the singer or the drummer onstage and why the singer can't hear himself and is getting feedback and is singing out of tune and why the bass player keeps asking for more bass. Only one speaker is ever mic'd (usually) so the rest of the speakers are doing nothing that the audience are aware of. A stack is there for aesthetic use only to inflate the guitarist's ego (Look what lovely gear I have grandma)

NeMiSiS

I use a Marshall TSL 100 with a 4 x 12.. because.. that's rock n roll !
I want an amp so big it is an afront to God himself!

Tom..

dabhoys

I play a les paul my backs going to hurt no matter what. I'm not complaining. The benefits are worth it. But yes my amp serves no other purpose then looks on stage but it does sound nice too. But most punters would notice or even care. But It's what I wanted so I went and got it. I'm looking in to getting a nice little valve 1x12 combo. I like the mesa Lone Star. Extremely nice amp!!!

feylya wrote:

Aye, half stacks look cool but which would you rather - a back that doesn't hurt so you can play the gig well or to look cool but be in pain standing there...

feylya

It's just not worth the hassle or cost imo but the poll says otherwise

dabhoys

Well I have one and I only wish I went for the combo. I could have got the 2x12 recto combo. Or even the head with a the 2 x12 cab. There is no need for the 4x12 other then look. The dual rect's 100watt is way to much for any venue in dublin. I never go pass 10-11 o'clock. But the 4x12 and 100watts do come in nice when recording.

Historically the only reason there was a 4x12 cab was it was needed to handle the output power of the amp. Back then a single speaker couldn't handle that power!!! But its so iconic to have the 4x12 that it stuck. I mean there's plenty 100watt valve amp combo's out there with a single 12inch driver in them!!! Back when ampeg realeased there valve bass amp heads they we're like 300watt and needed two 8x10 cabs to handle to the o/p. So the biggest reason for a 4x12 is to look cool

feylya

Yeah, they do look cool. Just don't try getting all your gear into a mini!

dabhoys

Lol it defo wouldn't fit in a mini

feylya

I want to try and play a gig with a microcube Use the PA as a monitor instead of the amp

dabhoys

Or even fancier. Use an in ear monitor

feylya

Yeah, but they cost money.

dabhoys

You only live once

feylya

Are you trying to tell me to rob a bank? Again?

Karl Hungus

feylya wrote:

Are you trying to tell me to rob a bank? Again?

Weren't you listening to the Doc? Rob a post office!

feylya

Yeah, that's what I said. A post bank.

Karl Hungus

You bogglesome twonk!

feylya

The Bogglesome Twonk... Interesting name for a guitar.

D!ve^Bomb!

what's wrong with just a combo??

as much as i'd like a great head + 4x12 i don't need one and will probably never need one.. the next amp i buy will be a combo and will be awesome!!!! no need for the 2x12 either

Doctor J

I wouldn't go through the pain of bringing the 2x12. This is all I'll ever bring to a gig


Sweet Fender clean channel, tube distortion channel, 70W. Nice

Eoin Madsen

The number and size of speakers does make a big difference to the sound. A 4x12 really does sound better for certain types of music (rocking out like a mo****fu**** for example). As the doc says, amp is usually one cone miced up, so in a live scenario it probably doesn't matter (though the sound in any one speaker may be changed dramatically just by having others wired in, it's something that I'd need to check by experiment). Even that said, if the amp sounded truely amazing, a little sound coming off stage and a little less in the PA might be preferable. It just happens so rarely. The problem is that your average 1x12 Solidstate combo usually needs a shedload of EQ to make it listenable, so less on stage is essential (and always a problem).

So my answer is . (But in my initial haste I voted for 4x12 )