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Confused....really dumb questions

Sturg

Sturg

Nov 29, 2013
140
39
pittsburgh
#1
trying to decide between a combo purchase or an amp/cab separates purchase.
i understand that if i buy a combo there is just the ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE that you plug your guitar into to make sound.

if i go the amp/cab route, does this mean that i need to buy JUST TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, an amp/head unit and a cabinet????

then i am reading stuff about pre-amps, and getting confused. DO MOST amp/head units HAVE PRE-AMPS contained in them???? IF I GO SEPARATES, DO I ACTUALLY NEED 3 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT???

really dumb questions, i know.
 
#2
Most that use a pre-amp use it with a PA type 2 channel power amp, although if there is a particular tone that the built in pre-amp on the head cannot obtain, you run a seperate pre to the pre-amp in or effects in to accomplish what you can't with the head by itself. Also, you'll need a SPEAKER cable to connect the head to the cab, not an instrument cable.
 
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#3
Sturg said:
if i go the amp/cab route, does this mean that i need to buy JUST TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, an amp/head unit and a cabinet????
Click to expand...
Yes. Well - you will need a cable to connect the head to the cab... But yes.

DO MOST amp/head units HAVE PRE-AMPS contained in them????
Click to expand...
Yes.
By convention as much as anything, an amplifier that is _not_ an integrated pre-amp/amplifier is called a "power amp."
The preamp section _typically_ contains the tone-shaping and voicing stuff.

really dumb questions, i know.
Click to expand...
Not dumb, just basic. It's not always clearly stated. No harm in asking; it's how we learn... (Well - some learn The Hard Way, by doing first and asking later.)
 
#4
Jaco who? said:
Most that use a pre-amp use it with a PA type 2 channel power amp, although if there is a particular tone that the built in pre-amp on the head cannot obtain, you run a seperate pre to the pre-amp in or effects in to accomplish what you can't with the head by itself. Also, you'll need a SPEAKER cable to connect the head to the cab, not an instrument cable.
Click to expand...
you have confused me even more
 
#6
generally speaking and to keep things simple you've got three options-

#1- COMBO amp- A speaker box with a preamp/power amp combined into one unit

#2- Preamp/power amp combination (which is how most typical Bass amps are built) plugged into speaker cabinets of your choice

#3- A separate pre amp of your choice, plugged into a separate power amp of your choice, plugged into speaker cabs of your choice.

Most BASS amps on the market are a single unit that combine a preamp (shapes your tone) with a power section that provides power. Not too complicated but great question....
 
#7
For your purposes, this is really easy. Don't get confused by talk of power amps, preamps, etc.

1) Combo: unit that has speaker and amp-head built in. Plug-n-play.

2) Bass amp + speaker cabinet. Two units. One box has your speaker, one box has all the 'amp stuff' you need in one place. One cable goes from amp to cab.

Without getting into the technical stuff those are your viable choices to keep things simple and get you up and running.
 
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#8
I think the guys nailed it. I though I might throw in a bit of practical advice. In my humble opinion, the attractions of getting a combo (all in one) amp can lead you into a trap.

If you get an amp head + speaker cabinet instead of a combo, you can upgrade either one if you need more volume or a different sound. They call this "modular." With the combo, you are just plain stuck with both. Yes, in some cases you can add a second speaker to a combo, but so what? In my experience, you can always add a second speaker to an amp + cabinet. Some might quibble, but then that's their job, :thumbsup:.

If you get a combo (all in one), and the speaker blows, you probably can not EASILY use the built-in amplifier by itself. If the built-in amp dies or malfunctions, connecting it to another speaker is not usually easy.

Note that in the above two failure scenarios, using the working part still means getting something to replace the broken part. So that means you will have gone modular in order to get working! By-the-way, if you have a combo (all-in-one) with a second separate speaker cabinet, and the amp head dies, you will likely lose the use of the speaker built-in to the same box as the amplifier.

If either the built-in amp or speaker in a combo dies, you at a minimum you will losing function of a speaker. Combos look simple—and they are as long as 1) you never want to change anything, or 2) nothing breaks.

Combo's are harder to sell, IME, and I owned and sold 3, and used six others regularly. I will spare you the list.

Your mileage may vary, and their will be others who have drunk the "combo" kool-aid that will dangle lovely low priced options before your eyes. Be brave, get a two piece rig. They are smaller, pack more easily into a vehicle or closet, and a friend can carry part of it while you carry part, making if faster AND easier to move.

I could go on, but this is already too long. :cool:
 
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#9
Sturg said:
trying to decide between a combo purchase or an amp/cab separates purchase.
i understand that if i buy a combo there is just the ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE that you plug your guitar into to make sound.

if i go the amp/cab route, does this mean that i need to buy JUST TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, an amp/head unit and a cabinet????

then i am reading stuff about pre-amps, and getting confused. DO MOST amp/head units HAVE PRE-AMPS contained in them???? IF I GO SEPARATES, DO I ACTUALLY NEED 3 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT???

really dumb questions, i know.
Click to expand...
What's your realistic budget for the combo or amp (preamp/power amp together in one box) + speaker cabinet(s)?

Only want new or willing to go used (used usually provides the most bang-for-the-buck)?

How loud do you want/need to be? What are you up against? How many guitars? Their amps/cabs? Hard-hitting drummer?

To briefly answer your questions:

A. If you buy a combo, yes, it's the only piece of amplifier/speaker (driver) equipment you need. Unless the combo on its own isn't loud enough. Then you'll need an additional speaker cabinet. Not all combos allow for an additional cabinet.

B. If you go amp (preamp/power amp combined in a single box, forget about a separate preamp & power amp at least for now) & cabinet, then yes, 2 pieces of equipment (unless you want more than 1 cab).

Combo pros...Less bucks to much less bucks, most simple option.

Amp + Cab pros...Can pick the exact amp & cab you want rather than being forced to go with the amp/cab combination (that's what a combo is, of course) that the manufacturer has selected.
 
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#10
I don't think I would ever buy used. Just seems like a bad idea. Like buying a used corvette... I just assume that abuse has probably taken place. I don't have a specific budget in mind. I might research for a while then spend up to $1500.00. Not really looking to buy and sell repeatedly. Want to spend money on something good one time. Not even in a band, just want some decent sound in my home.
 
#11
Sturg said:
I don't think I would ever buy used. Just seems like a bad idea... ...might research for a while then spend up to $1500.00. ...Want to spend money on something good one time. Not even in a band, just want some decent sound in my home.
Click to expand...


Ok. That's how things look now, and I can sympathize. However, you might find yourself in a band much sooner than you think, or even just wanting to jam with friends at home. You can get some terrific gear for $1.5k USD. If you don't buy used, don't plan on moving the gear very often, won't ever up-grade, then it seems that the only real issue is how many bells and whistles you want.

Just get any ~$500 combo amp from guitar center. Find one that sounds nice to you, which you like the looks of, buy, and have at it.
 
#12
You know what, the best option for you is to get one of them new Fender Rumble Combos, the Rumble 100 is a really decent combo and all you need to do is plug your bass in and switch it on. There is nothing else that needs to be set up, maintained, kept aware of, minded. You will just enjoy playing a nice sounding amp. Everything else will eventually follow later in your live, no beginner needs to know what a 2 channel PA power amp is, don't worry and play that bass ;-)
 
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#13
To try to summarize, in addition to your instrument, you need two devices: an electronic device which shapes and strengthens the signal from your guitar, called an amp, and a physical device, a box with drivers, known as speakers. This second device is known as a cabinet. If you buy these as two separate devices, they are called an amp or head. And a cabinet. Sometimes, both devices are combined in one piece of equipment. This has the amplifier built into the cabinet. This is a combo.
 
#14
What PSI-LOG said. A Rumble Combo is a good choice.

Some people love them, others hate them, but another option I would suggest for home use (or even small gigs) is a TC Electronic BG250 Combo. They have loads of effects pre-built into the amp so there's no need to buy lots of effects pedals, which is great for bedroom bassists.

Final thought: bass is addictive, so whatever you buy now is probably going to be a stepping stone towards something massive, powerful, expensive and will upset your wife and neighbours.
 
#16
Sturg said:
I don't think I would ever buy used. Just seems like a bad idea. Like buying a used corvette... I just assume that abuse has probably taken place. .
Click to expand...
I've been buying used equipment for 40+ years without getting burned. Just be careful, use common sense and you'll be fine, especially if you buy high end equipment. People don't drop big money on equipment to abuse it.
 
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#18
I almost always buy used and it's almost always great. You can get so much more amp for the money in the used market (tb classifieds is a great resource). To me, $1500 is a lot to drop on an amp and cabinet, and if you are looking at nothing larger than one 12" or 15" driver, or a 2x10 (which is really the most you should need for playing at home), you can get some of the "best" or higher-end stuff on the market (new or used).

If you want to save most of that $1500 to spend on really nice socks or smuggled unpasteurized cheeses, there are still many great options in combos or separates that should be keep you satisfied.
 
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#19
I'd recommend a head and cabinet approach as it gives you more flexibility. And I'd also recommend a cabinet that is not equal to the lowest impedance of the amp head.

If your amp can go down to 4 ohms, buy an 8 ohm cab so you can add an additional one later.

If your amp can go down to 2 ohms then use 4 ohm cabinets.

Many are fine with a combo, or a combo that can use an external cabinet.

I just replaced my combo with a head and 2 cabinets. No right or wrong answers here. Just think about what you expect to be going in the next few years. Pick accordingly.
 

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