Amp Heads

[Mattbass97]

hi guys i am asking for help here, what does a amp head do? and does the sound physically come out of the amp head itself or does it need to be plugged into an amp, also how is it powered? and finally for talks sake say i had a 60 watt bass amp and a Behringer BXR1800H Ultrabass Bass Head (only pick that one caus its dirt cheap) what would i be doing with them and what would be the finishing sound output?

thanks guys

[Thor]

Read this section linked in the FAQ's above. That will answer many of your questions!

TalkBass Amps FAQ

[alexofc69]

looks like a noob. help him out here! The FAQ may be a little too much info.

You have a bass guitar that has magnetic pickups that pickup the vibration of the strings and the output is routed via tone controls on a passive bass (no battery power) or an active bass with a battery powered preamp/eq. Then from there via instrument cable to an Amplifier "Head" then from the amp to speaker.

Now to understand your question a little more. You already have a 60w bass amp? so why would you get another amp? A head is just a term for a separate amplifier unit from the speakers. Combos are the head unit and speaker built in one unit.

[tdub0199]

amplifiers are manufactured in two main forms. The "combination" (or "combo") amplifier contains the amplifier head and guitar speakers in a single unit which is typically housed in a rectangular wooden box. The amplifier head or "amp head" contains the electronic circuitry constituting the preamp, built-in effects processing, and the power amplifier. Combo amps have at least one 1/4" input jack where the patch cord from the electric guitar can be plugged in. Other jacks may also be provided, such as an additional input jack, "send" and "return" jacks to create an effects loop (for connecting electronic effects such as compression, reverb, etc.), an extension speaker jack (for connecting an additional speaker cabinet). Some smaller practice amps have stereo RCA jacks for connecting a CD player, iPod or other sound source and a 1/4" headphone jack so that the player can practice without disturbing neighbours or family members.


Kustom 200 bass amp - amp head and speakers, 100 watts RMS, two channels, two 15" speakers, 1971Some amplifiers have a line out jack for connecting the amplifier's signal to a PA system or recording console or to connect the amplifier to another guitar amp. In but most styles of rock and blues guitar, the line out is not used to connect the guitar amp to a PA system or recording console, because the tonal coloration and overdrive from the amplifier and speaker is considered an important part of the amplifier's sound. However, players do use the line out to connect one guitar amplifier to another amplifier, in order to create different tone colors or sound effects.

In the "amp head" form, the amplifier head is separate from the speakers, and joined to them by speaker cables. The separate amplifier is called an amplifier head, and is commonly placed on top of one or more loudspeaker enclosures. A separate amplifier head placed atop a guitar speaker enclosure or guitar speaker cabinet forms an amplifier "stack" or "amp stack". Amp heads may also have the different types of input and output jacks listed above in the combo section. In addition to a 1/4" input jack, acoustic guitar amplifiers typically have an additional input jack for a microphone, which is easily identified because it will use a three-pin XLR connector. Phantom power is not often provided on general-use amps, restricting the choice of microphones for use with these inputs. However, for high-end acoustic amplifiers, phantom power is often provided, so that musicians can use condenser microphones.

Amplifiers used with electric guitars may be solid state, which are lighter in weight and less expensive than tube amplifiers. Most guitarists, particularly in the genres of blues and rock, prefer the sound of vacuum tube amplifiers despite their higher cost, heavier weight, the need to periodically replace tubes and need to re-bias the output tubes (every year or two with moderate use). Some companies design amplifiers that require no biasing as long as properly rated tubes are used. Some modern amplifiers use a mixture of tube and solid-state technologies.

Since the advent of microprocessors and digital signal processing, "modeling amps" have been developed in the late 1990s, these can simulate the sounds of a variety of well-known tube amplifiers without needing to use vacuum tubes. Amplifiers with processors and software emulate the sound of a classic amp well, but from the player's point of view the response of these amplifiers may not feel the same as the digital modeling does not accurately model all aspects of a tube amplifier.

[Mattbass97]

only a noob when it comes to amps guys seriously ive always wondered wat they actually do and im not joking

[MuzikMan]

Your terminology is a little confusing. The picture on the left is a combo amp. Is this what you are calling an amp? The picture on the right is a head. A combo amp (or just amp) contains all of the electronics of a head. You can't use a head with a combo amp.

[Mattbass97]

by amp im mean something as simple as a stagg bass amp

[Lo-E]

Amps come in two forms: "combo" amps, and separates or "stacks"

In a combo amp, the amplifier and the speaker are combined in one unit.

In a stack, the speakers are separate, and the amplifier - or "head" - sits on top of that.

The advantages of a combo are that it is more portable and the speaker and amplifier are well-matched to each other.

The advantages to separates are that they are versatile (you can use different heads or speaker cabunets as you choose) and often they are more powerful than combos.

Hope this helped-
E

[MuzikMan]

A head will make no sound on its own. It needs to be attached to a speaker cabinet like the one in the pic. This is really no different then hooking up your stereo to your speakers.

[tdub0199]

Originally Posted by Mattbass97

by amp im mean something as simple as a stagg bass amp

Did you read what I posted?

[Shappo]

Originally Posted by Mattbass97

what does a amp head do? and does the sound physically come out of the amp head itself or does it need to be plugged into an amp, also how is it powered?

An amp head amplifies and EQ's the signal from your instrument. The sound does not physically come out of the amp, it comes from the speaker cabinet that is connected to the amp head. And the amp head is powered by electricity.

LOL.

[tdub0199]

Heres the whole artical:

Guitar amplifier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mattbass97]

yes guys i see what u mean now thanks u have explained it just how i needed to be, i was thinking of a combo amp

[Mattbass97]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

A head will make no sound on its own. It needs to be attached to a speaker cabinet like the one in the pic. This is really no different then hooking up your stereo to your speakers.

this is exactly what i wanted to know thanks

[Mattbass97]

so to be clear an amp head needs a speaker cabinet just like a stereo needs it speakers?

[tdub0199]

Yes sir...

[Lo-E]

Exactly!

[Mattbass97]

finally! i was pretty confused for a while, i just never understood that a combo amp is the amp head and speaker cabinet together

[MuzikMan]

That's all there is to it. Another mystery solved !!!

[Mattbass97]

so does that mean that if i had a 400watt speaker cabinet and then a 180watt amp head together the power would be 580watts?