Combo vs. head/cab

[cdub66]

Please forgive the noobness, but if you don't ask, how will you know?
I'm a 41 yr. old beginner, bought a Line 6 30w and MIM Strat to see what this is all about. Havin' a ball learning the basics so far.
I already "need" :rolleyes: another guitar (or two) :tongue: and am wondering about the wisdom of my amp choice. I'm a basement player and don't see any live performances in the future.
What's the advantage in a head/cab setup over a combo amp like I've got? Just more volume or better sound? Right now I can't use what I've got anywhere near it's potential, but will likely invest more $$ in this fantastic new obsession in the near future.
Would I be better off buying another guitar or upgrading the amp?

I'm not unhappy with anything I've got, just like to spend money on stuff that makes me happy! :banana:

Any opinions welcome. :food-smiley-004:

[al3d]

Hey cdub66, i'm in your situation right now, 41 also..hehe except i've been playing for 25 years, but i now only play in my basment and sometimes with my former bandmates who like me still own their gear.

In the days, Full Marshall stack was the rule..now to sound good, those need to be cranked up VERY lood, so sitting on your couch and playing not to loud while wathching TV for exemple is outa the question. Now Tub amps are usually need to be played louder in order to give the proper gain..:), but you can get good result with low watt amps i've notice. i just sold my Line6 Spider III amp to most likely get the Valve Spider 1x12 combo. i went to try it, sounds pretty good, loud enough to actually gig if i would want to, and i love the modeling section of the amp.

Now you can get lots of nice little tube amp, the Fender deluxe reverb 65 Reissue is very popular, goes for about 799$ new if you want one of the best clean sound. for distortion, you need a load of FX doh. Main reason why i did'nt get one. at 41, i'm a 80's metal head myself, so distortion is my main factor.

Now a days, there are SO MANY models to go for, it's insane. The YCS50 - Custom Special 50 is realy good as well, 2 channel, and all tube. i'm still considering this model myself.

As for guitars go, MIM fenders are'nt bad realy. The style of music you play always dictate a bit your instrument's choice realy to a certain limit. i mean you can play any style with any guitars realy doh. I now love strats, but for metal a single coil does'nt do it, so i replaced the bridge one with Hot rails, and there your go..LOTS of gain just like a humbucker.

What kiinda music do you like to play?...tell use more.

[zdogma]

Please forgive the noobness, but if you don't ask, how will you know?
I'm a 41 yr. old beginner, bought a Line 6 30w and MIM Strat to see what this is all about. Havin' a ball learning the basics so far.
I already "need" :rolleyes: another guitar (or two) :tongue: and am wondering about the wisdom of my amp choice. I'm a basement player and don't see any live performances in the future.
What's the advantage in a head/cab setup over a combo amp like I've got? Just more volume or better sound? Right now I can't use what I've got anywhere near it's potential, but will likely invest more $$ in this fantastic new obsession in the near future.
Would I be better off buying another guitar or upgrading the amp?

I'm not unhappy with anything I've got, just like to spend money on stuff that makes me happy! :banana:

Any opinions welcome. :food-smiley-004:

I prefer the head/cab route. As the amps get bigger they get heavy, the 212 tube combos can be backbreaking to lift. I do have two combo amps, but they are smaller/lower wattage tube combos.

In higher gain amps, the head helps to prevent microphonics and tube rattle.

And, it gives you the flexibility to use different cabs and speakers, I use a 210, 112 and 212 for different tones/volume level.

I think a good amp is essential, and will be a bigger tone upgrade than a new guitar (I agree the MIM's are good guitars, a good setup and a nice set of pickups and you're good to go)

[guitarman2]

Mainly for your home use you made the right decision getting combo. When I had my stack I found that better sounds were attained at louder volumes. My 4X12 stack gave me a nice full chunk sound that I don't get with my combo. Some say that the chassis being in the same cabinet as the speaker lends it self to dmage due to more vibration on the chasis. I went to a combo recently as it was less pain to transport to gigs. Although I don't think the advantage was that great as I got a Fender Twin which weighs in about 80lbs. Although it is very heavy it does take up way less space than my head and cabinet did.

[david henman]

...for my rehearsals and the rather small venues in which i perform, a small combo works best.

that said, i would prefer a head/cab set up, but that will require bigger shows and a larger vehicle than my toyota echo.

-dh

[Tarl]

I use a 50 watt 1x12 combo for practice and small gigs. If Iwanna get loud I also have a 2x12 cab that I use with my combo. All 3 speakers output with the cab attached so I guess its a 3/8 stack.......

sdsre

[cdub66]

al3d-into the same music as you-graduated in '84, still listening to the same stuff. :rockon2:

I'm wishing I would have gone for the 75 instead of the 30 (Line 6 Spider) Oh well, I'll see how it shakes out. I've got a couple trades cooking-trading my old obsession (handguns) away to fund the new one.
I may have a PRS Santana SE and/or Ibanez SZ520QM soon.

I'll keep ya posted!

[Soldano16]

There's no need to change just to have what you don't have now. Many cabs are closed back which does affect the overall sound somewhat.

Why do you want a 75 watt amp is you don't currently use the 30 watts you have today?

Best to focus on the TONE you want and finding what amp will give you that type of tone.

Almost everyone who has an AC-30 has an AC-30 combo. I happen to have a head from 1963, so I use it with a cab. But the point is the magic is mostly in the amp, not the decision to go combo or cab with it.

[konasexone]

Get rid of that line six. Its gonna break, trust me. Get something with tubes.

[cdub66]

There's no need to change just to have what you don't have now. Many cabs are closed back which does affect the overall sound somewhat.

Why do you want a 75 watt amp is you don't currently use the 30 watts you have today?



Mainly for the extra bells and whistles I guess-integrated tuner, more presets etc. Certainly not for volume!

[dwagar]

If you're just playing at home, stay with very low wattage. eg the little Epi or the little Orange.

I'd suggest you try out some of them, see what you like. Do you want clean, crunchy, distortion?

Personally, I don't like an amp with a lot of bells and whistles built in. I think it's better to add the pedals you like than to be stuck with theirs.

If you aren't playing out, a small combo is probably easier. But again, test the amps at the volumes you're playing at, with your own guitar if possible.

by the way, good for you for starting now.

[cdub66]

Personally, I don't like an amp with a lot of bells and whistles built in. I think it's better to add the pedals you like than to be stuck with theirs.



That was another thought, but not really knowing what I want (yet) for effects, I'd likely wind up with several hundred dollars worth of different pedals before I was happy!

For now I'd best just learn how to play :tongue:

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

[greco]

For now I'd best just learn how to play :tongue:

That is exactly what I keep telling myself....every day:food-smiley-004:

Cheers

Dave

[Slidewinder]

I fully agree with what Soldano16 said.
At this point volume is the least of your concerns. You need an amp that will motivate you to keep learning and your line 6 has enough presets to allow you to work on a lot of different styles. If you become good enough to work with a band at some point then you'll start looking for something to set the tone for the music you're doing. That's probably still quite a ways off.
Don't wind up in the position that a number of new players do, you learn 6 or 7 chords, can play a solo that sounds like you stepped on a cat's tail, and then decide you need to find your "tone".
You've got the right equipment to learn to play. Focus on being a good player, and when the time comes to move on to something else you won't need to ask whether it's the right choice.
And welcome to the club.:rockon:

[cdub66]

you learn 6 or 7 chords, can play a solo that sounds like you stepped on a cat's tail,

Hey-that's pretty much where I'm at...must be doing something right! :banana: