Amp Setups

Martin89 · #1 02-14-2011, 03:15 PM

What do you use most often and why?

I<34080 · #2 02-14-2011, 03:22 PM

Head cab. My combo is alright, but definitely isn't loud enough for anything more than a three piece in a coffee shop. Plus I prefer the sound I get from my Head+Cab to my combo or any DI I've used.

My name is Mudd · #3 02-14-2011, 03:49 PM

Couldn't vote in the poll, as it only allows for a single choice...

I have a head/cab rig now (Trace Elliot AH130SM...pre-Gibson British goodness > Markbass Traveler 102P) and am putting together a preamp/power amp/cab bedroom rig (Tronographic Rusty Box > Epiphone Valve Jr head > a cab TBDL), which will replace my Acoustic B20 combo.

With certain exceptions (SWR Redhead, for example), I prefer the head/cab route in general.

christw · #4 02-14-2011, 03:51 PM

I really want to do a preamp/poweramp/cabs but I can't afford it yet.

Something like JGR's tube preamp -> stereo poweramp -> two fEarful 15/6 or 1515/66 cabs would be my killin' babies and moving buses rig. I've just got to land a real job and a band worth upgrading for. The latter seams to be harder to do.

Calaverasgrande · #5 02-14-2011, 03:57 PM

I used to do combos back in the neolithic, pre-internet era. Then I made it up to heads and cabs. From there I "evolved" to a Pearce/Intersound IVP-1 with a DBX160, rack tuner, ART multieffects and a QSC power amp pushing an Acoustic 2x15 and Ampeg 4x10. Never actually sounded very good though. Devolved back to a Mesa Boogie 400 head and various combinations of cabs. That sounded good and loud!
I am looking to get a combo or somehthing smaller someday. Just for little pickup jams or whatever.

christw · #6 02-14-2011, 04:05 PM

I guess I should clarify that I currently do and have been running heads to cabs for both guitar and bass since day 1 with the exception of a Roland Jazz Chorus. I loved the additional flexibility and always felt that a full rig is better than a tiny combo. I saw them as the better prepaired choice. Better to have more than you need than too little, right?

Marko5657 · #7 02-14-2011, 05:03 PM

Head/cab, GK MB500 head over 212MBE.

I don’t have any bass combos, but nothing wrong with them, especially for most of my gigs which are small bars/clubs with full PA support.

The combo version of what I’m using I’m sure would work fine, but I started with the cab meaning to use it with the head I was using, then ended up getting the head.

I do prefer the versatility of separates (as I have other heads/cabs), and I got enough of a deal on them that it didn’t cost much more than the combo.

I have a rack setup, 1,000 watts into two 410s, but it’s heavy, and only for bigger/outside gigs. It's what I use in my rehearsal studio.