Head + cab or combo

[Arlekiin]

Hello,

Anyways as all noobs I come with questions and I hope someone can share some wisdom and advice from their own past experiences.

I own Ibanez Iceman 300EX but I need an amp to go with it.
I have tested solid states and valves and I am quite certain I want to go with valves.

Also I have been considering combos, but I feel 1x15" is not enough in terms of sound quality I would prefer to have 4x10" Cabinet which gives much better sound not only in terms of loudness but in terms of sound width. I should also mention Im interested in 70's rock and progressive space rock/stoner themes something not as dull as average stoner but the general signature of desert-rock is appealing to me.

Terror Bass 500 <<< Might be the best choice in terms of price performance ratio?

Terror Bass Combo <<< Good bundle?

Orange AD200B-MK3 <<<Might be very good but alternative recommendations are welcome, maybe something based on KT88 valves as KT88 is supposedly harsher/heavier sounding?

Orange PIX combo <<< Cheap but might not be good enough?

Anyways I realize its all orange in here, I like vintage sound so I decided to start with these, but I am open to all suggestions.

Basically I want to start cheap but then again I would like to get something I wont have to replace in 3 months time. At the moment Terror Bass seems to be a good middle ground, its not full valve but its not terribly Expensive.

But then again if I need to I will eat ramen and get the full valve head.

Also I would like to get recommendations on cabinets because orange ones are terribly expensive and I suspect there are others that might be as good but way cheaper.

Thank you for your help,

[countrybass007]

I use a Orange Terror Bass with an Orange SP212, and add an Orange OBC115 for the bigger gigs. It does a great job, and is an easy transport. I also have a GK Neo 212, which is a great cab, and quite a bit cheaper than the Orange cabs. My Terror Bass works great with the GK cab.

[uaudio]

The word you're looking for is "hybrid." Valve/tube preamp with solid state power section. There are tons of them; nearly every higher end manufacturer makes these now. I also like the newer trend in combo amps where you can remove the head from the combo to use it with different cabinets.

The Mesa Walkabout Scout comes to mind here, but there are others.

[uglyrumor]

I have always felt that heat and vibration are the enemies of an amplifier, and although many many many combo amps and head on cabinet amps have played for years, I insist on seperating my head and cab, with a folded towel if not distance. Even the old timers used to put their Fender Bassman heads on the floor away from the amp. Heat you just have to accept. The best you can do is a fan, which I prefer to blow out, as the smoky rooms I used to play were prettyintense, and having cleaned houses where one person smoked for years, I always figured I was getting that in spades at clubs. Just my 2 cents...

[Matt Dean]

IMO, this is a no brainer... get a head and put it on a cab.

Easier to transport... easier to upgrade and in many cases, sounds better.

[Arlekiin]

Thank you people, I will get a head and some cheaper cabs so I wont go bust and upgrade over time