Guitar amp as a head?

[Kekal]

This may be a stupid question, but I'm new to using bigger, better gear, and I was wondering, If I have an amp that I like the sound of, can I use that with say a 4x12 cab, instead of some sort of head?

Thanks.

[Milkman]

This may be a stupid question, but I'm new to using bigger, better gear, and I was wondering, If I have an amp that I like the sound of, can I use that with say a 4x12 cab, instead of some sort of head?

Thanks.

Not a stupid question at all.

Yes, one way or another you can. Does the amp have an extension speaker out put somewhere on the back? If so that's the easiest way. If not it can still be done safely.

What kind of amp is it?

[bolero]

yeah, it's a great technique to get a bigger sound...I have a 20w amp I plug into a 4x12 & it sounds FANTASTIC!! but not insanely loud....very useful combination IMO

if your amp has a second output you can use it's 1x12 internal speaker as well as a 4x12 cab, if the impedences are the same ( 8 ohm 4x12 plus 8 ohm 1x12, for example )

or you can just use your combo as a head, with the 4x12 instead of the 1x12

[bobb]

100w Marshall combo for easy to carry convenience and a 4x12 cab for those times when you just need to peel paint.

http://www3.telus.net/landoyo/stack2.jpg

[Mooh]

It's a very versatile rig, and when you're not using the 4X cab, it makes a great looking amp stand!

I once used a cheap Fender Bullet Reverb (which was a pretty good amp on its own, for a SS practice tool) into a 4X12 cab, and it sounded amazingly good. Go figure. Not as good as my Traynor tube combos, naturally.

Peace, Mooh.

[Kekal]

Thank you guys for the info. I'm messing around in this little band I've got put together, and my amp just isn't cutting it, but I like the tone, and I noticed that it had place to run a line out through the front of the amp, and thought that it should be possible, but I wanted to know before I committed to buying a cab.

To milkman:
I'm currently rockin' a Line 6 Spider III series 120w.

Thank again.

[Paul]

Thank you guys for the info. I'm messing around in this little band I've got put together, and my amp just isn't cutting it, but I like the tone, and I noticed that it had place to run a line out through the front of the amp, and thought that it should be possible, but I wanted to know before I committed to buying a cab.

To milkman:
I'm currently rockin' a Line 6 Spider III series 120w.

Thank again.


That output on the front of your Line6 is a line level output. It is useful for recording direct. It will also drive headphones. Plugging into that jack will likely disconnect the power amp section and turn off the speakers in the combo.

Are you serious that you can't cut it with 120 W???? There's a lot of folks so say that "Tube watts are louder", which is a defiance of the laws of physics, but seriously......120 Watts should be enough. I use a 12 watt amp in a 17 piece big band with no problems.

[zontar]

100w Marshall combo for easy to carry convenience and a 4x12 cab for those times when you just need to peel paint.



A friend of mine used to do this with a Fender Deluxe Reverb & Marshall cabinet. It worked great.

[Ripper]

I do it with my 64 concert, I put it on top of a 4x12, and also with a Garnet RebelII. I like the sound of a champ through a 4x12 too.

[Kekal]

That output on the front of your Line6 is a line level output. It is useful for recording direct. It will also drive headphones. Plugging into that jack will likely disconnect the power amp section and turn off the speakers in the combo.

Are you serious that you can't cut it with 120 W???? There's a lot of folks so say that "Tube watts are louder", which is a defiance of the laws of physics, but seriously......120 Watts should be enough. I use a 12 watt amp in a 17 piece big band with no problems.

This is very unfortunate news, indeed. I'm still going to try it out. I'll probably have to buy a head anyway, now, but after doing some research, I've learned that I can get the Line 6 Spider III head for like 280 new. So... That's not too bad. Thank for the info on this one, at least I won't be disappointed if it doesn't work, because I'm halfway expecting it to not work...

Also, Yes. I am serious. I've never met a person in my life that play drums as loud as this guy I'm jammin' with. Also, we play Heavy/Power Metal, not very successfully, but we do, and it's a very loud genre. XD So... Thanks again for the info.

[RIFF WRATH]

check the back of your line six..........should have a spot to plug in 2 extension speakers..........

[Paul]

check the back of your line six..........should have a spot to plug in 2 extension speakers..........

Not according to the manual. (http://line6.com/data/l/0a06000f1627d4547c34accbca/application/pdf/Spider%20III%2075/120/150/HD150%20User%20Manual%20(Rev%20B)%20-%20English.pdf)

[Paul]

Also, Yes. I am serious. I've never met a person in my life that play drums as loud as this guy I'm jammin' with. Also, we play Heavy/Power Metal, not very successfully, but we do, and it's a very loud genre. XD So... Thanks again for the info.

Well, if he won't play quieter, then perhaps HE should buy the new amp for you. After all, he is the problem.:smile:

[caaustin02]

Are you serious that you can't cut it with 120 W???? There's a lot of folks so say that "Tube watts are louder", which is a defiance of the laws of physics, but seriously......120 Watts should be enough.

There are no broken laws of physics. A Watt is a Watt, and is just a measure of power. For home stereo amps they usually quote the power rating at a certain distortion level (ie 0.01% THD - Total Harmonic Distortion).

That is true of guitar amps as well, it's just that no distortion rating is quoted with the power rating. Think of both amps being able to output the same amount of crystal clean sound. Tube amps can deliver far more power in the nonlinear (ie distorted) regime, sometimes even 50% to 100% more power than what it is cleanly rated for.

[Tarl]

I always use my 2x12 Avatar closed back cab with my 1x12 V combo or my 2x12 V combo..sounds great and gives me more bottom end.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s33/Tarl-Saxon/n666731392_211518_3246.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s33/Tarl-Saxon/100_0137.jpg

[Budda]

HOLD THE PHONE.

what EQ/amp models do you use when you play with these guys?

50W can cut like a knife. what are your mids at...

[zontar]

Also, Yes. I am serious. I've never met a person in my life that play drums as loud as this guy I'm jammin' with. Also, we play Heavy/Power Metal, not very successfully, but we do, and it's a very loud genre. XD So... Thanks again for the info.

I hope you're using some sort of ear protection.

[SinCron]

You should be able to cut through easily. If you're wire savvy, you can take the back panel off and rewire a 1/4" plug off of the wire that goes to the speaker/s.

[Budda]

no one saw my post, did they...

if buddy has his mids on 2, then no - he wont cut through anything. and if his gain is too high, he wont have any articulation or clarity either.