Combo or Head /2x12 Cab

[68_Custom Shop]

Give me the pro's and con's. I use a combo now,but it barely fits in the trunk of my Mustang. I worry about damage to the combo from transportation. On the other hand. Do I want to carry more freaking gear. I got to take a head,cab,board,cables,guitar. I can now put the head in my back seat and protect it from damage. When its mic'd up back stage it doesn't have to go in the box with the speakers. So it wont cook , and it should last longer and perform better.

Combo
or
Head/Cab

 

[Rick360]

Howdy,

With a sober assesment of one's power needs, one can then decide what format is best with respect to amps. I used combos for years. My Fender Super 112 was my "go-to" and weighs 60 lbs in 1-12 combo form. BTW, I've got two herniated discs..
Then a few years ago I discovered an old bandmate who was gigging with a Dr. Z Z28 and a single 12-inch speaker cab. True, he had to make two trips to and from his car, but the load was lighter each time. If I went back to gigging, I'd opt for a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia, Z-28 or similar in piggyback form with a 2-10 or 1-12 speaker cab. Just my two cents and YMMV.

Rick360

 

[Lucidology]

As one who gigs for a living ...
Give me a high wattage combo with HUGE Castors so it can also be used as a dolly
over a seperate head & cab any day ..............

Castors are key because then you can simply roll it into the gig,
only having to lift it into a van or trunk once a night....
Plus you can also carry something on top of it which even saves you more trips...

So if the combo you want doesn't have castors ... make sure they can be installed
(very easy to do BTW)

 

[Rick51]

As one who gigs for a living ...
Give me a high wattage combo with HUGE Castors so it can also be used as a dolly
over a seperate head & cab any day ..............

Castors are key because then you can simply roll it into the gig,
only having to lift it into a van or trunk once a night....
Plus you can also carry something on top of it which even saves you more trips...

So if the combo you want doesn't have castors ... make sure they can be installed
(very easy to do BTW)

Joe's right about the casters. But, you can put casters on a cabinet, too.

 

[Mattbedrock]

For years I have gigged with head / cab setups. I currently have Fender Tremolux's, Bassman, Marshall JCM900 and 1986X and Orange Rocker 30 heads and a variety of 2 x 12 and 2 x 10 cabs. The caster arguement makes sense, but since I'm usually driving a truck and hauling PA as well, I have a handtruck with big inflatable tires that eases the load on my old back. For gigs where hand carry is required (we play one club that's actually in a shopping mall), I have cheated and used a Crate Powerblock and GNX-3 in a shoulder bag, a small 2 x 10 cab in one hand and a guitar in the other.

On the other hand, I just acquired a great old silverface Fender Super Reverb that weighs a ton but has casters. As long as the way in is smooth, it's easy to roll (don't like bouncing an old tube amp on cobblestones). It is a hell of a potent combo - sounds great and is loud as s#$%. So, either way works.

 

[vds5000]

Combos do offer the convenience of an 'all-in-one' package, but aren't as versatile as a head/cab combo. Personally, I prefer the head/cab combo because each piece is usually physically lighter than a comparable combo.

 

[KillerK]

I would say head and cab, a decent sized combo is a bitch to move around. I dont know personally i like have a 4x12 , it sounds different to me, tighter low end i guess.

 

[68_Custom Shop]

The combo I am using the most now is the Ac-30. 80 f'n lbs. I don't like to lug it around either. I gotta flip it on it's side and slide it in my trunk. If it were 1/8" wider,it wouldn't even fit. Do you think tube life is extended in a head vs. combo ?

 

[Ascension]

I gig 2 to 3 times a week. I also have a pair of Fender Prosonics I use. A combo that has been converted to a 1/12 and a one off 120 watt head with Reverb that I bought from Brad Whitford.
Both the head and combo due to the MASSIVE transformers in the head are within 5 lbs of each other in weight.
Right now I use the combo on most gigs as it is easier to set up and I only have to carry one piece. However with the head and cab I have more flexability. For example being I am primarily a Praise and Worship player in churches I can set the cab off stage and mic it in a situation where on stage volume is a critical issue. I can also pick cabs for the particular venue and taylor my tones and amount of projection to the enviorment. I own 3 2/12 cabs and a 4/12. I also can leave a cab at a location I play regularly and save room in transport.
Bottom line both have pros and cons which is best depends on tones needed, projection needed, physical space available and any volume controll issues.

 

[Rick360]

Howdy,

This thread's like a Tennis match! BTW, I've got a red knob "The Twin" with castors, but sheesh; weighs 77 lbs. She stays at home 92% of the time I play out.

Rick360