The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

What I see in the CC is the contributions here go a long way to dispel the historical perception of combo amps as "inferior" or "unprofessional". I'm open to all talk here about combos, amps, strings, cables, music theory LOL, you name it because we're talking our passions, and what brings us joy.

 

[JakobT]

How would you tell between a head & speaker and an all-in-one?

Now that I think of it: what would we call an all-in-one with outboard speaker?

First of all, I’m not sure exactly what an «all-in-one» means in this connection. Any combo amp is a combination of a head and a speaker, but I guess a lack of a physical connection between the two apart from the speaker cable would make me view it as a separate head & separate speaker.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Wittgenstein would love this discussion, as it would confirm his claim that essentialist definitions are not possible. That is, we cannot generate a list of necessary and sufficient conditions to define a thing. Rather, all we can generate are descriptions that create a 'family resemblance' amongst the things we are trying to group together. So 'combos' when it comes to bass amps is a family resemblance term. It refers to a group of traits that include items we sometimes don't want to include.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Wittgenstein would love this discussion, as it would confirm his claim that essentialist definitions are not possible. That is, we cannot generate a list of necessary and sufficient conditions to define a thing. Rather, all we can generate are descriptions that create a 'family resemblance' amongst the things we are trying to group together. So 'combos' when it comes to bass amps is a family resemblance term. It refers to a group of traits that include items we sometimes don't want to include.

Or to the Platonic ideal of Combo!

 

[GonePlaid]

One of these was my first real bass amp. With the 7ender installed hardware, the head and cab were connected. I never considered carrying them that way.

 

[JakobT]

So let's look at what we tend to understand a "combo amp" to be. From everything I've ever understood about it, the definition was about an amplifier which is put right into the overall cabinet which also contains speakers. Some makers go a bit out onto the fringes, and that's fine. Owners of those combinations are whole-heartedly encouraged to enjoy them, and share tales of their bliss with us.

This is where things get a bit blurry. It’s certainly the case that this is what is commonly understood by a «combo» amp. But is it true? We see makers of «combo» amps ( Markbass and TC Electronics are prime examples) making what is essentially a head within an extended cabinet. The head can be removed altogether. Is that a combo amp? On the other hand, we have makers that provide a way to couple heads and cabs together (Ampeg and Genzler). Is that a combo amp? Hmmm...

 

[Killed_by_Death]

argh, pages of 'whether it's a combo',
fun fun


I'm reminded of when someone tried to explain that Active pickups aren't really Active.
I'm more pedantic than most, but sometimes you just have to use the common nomenclature, if it's not inherently flawed.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

argh, pages of 'whether it's a combo',
fun fun


I'm reminded of when someone tried to explain that Active pickups aren't really Active.
I'm more pedantic than most, but sometimes you just have to use the common nomenclature, if it's not inherently flawed.

Yes, that is Wittgenstein.

 

[swink]

 

[jmhaslip]

View attachment 4045628

Non? Alors quoi?

 

[themickster]

See, now this is a type of discussion I like. Polite, respectful disagreement on a position is a way to grow understanding. I promise, I am completely respectful to any and all participants, and any slight which is taken from any of my statements is not intended, and I apologize in advance if I give any offence.

So let's look at what we tend to understand a "combo amp" to be. From everything I've ever understood about it, the definition was about an amplifier which is put right into the overall cabinet which also contains speakers. Some makers go a bit out onto the fringes, and that's fine. Owners of those combinations are whole-heartedly encouraged to enjoy them, and share tales of their bliss with us.

To me, that's what the mighty Magellan 350 MG12T-V is. A beautiful piece of kit, and I'm really interested in reading a review of it. But, I cannot look at it and think, "combo amp." It looks like a head with a bracket holding it to the cabinet. Not significantly different from the brackets which hold the earlier mentioned Fender Bassman to one another.

As mentioned, I'm happy to invite any to participate and enjoy the thread, but if we are going to be called the "combo club" we do need to have a somewhat solid definition of what that means, and hold to it.

I am guessing that @Cracker7 may have another amp around which qualifies as a "combo" as I have defined it. And if not, then I still welcome a new contributor to the growing collection of people on this forum.

Others may differ in opinion, and I fully respect them for that.

I'm with you on being thankful for the friendliness and respect on TB.

 

[G-Dog]

View attachment 4045628

Non? Alors c'est quoi?

FIFY.
.

 

[GonePlaid]

FIFY.
.

Huh?(not in French)

 

[swink]

Huh?(not in French)

Je l'ai arrangé pour vous

 

[G-Dog]

Je l'ai arrangé pour vous

Je l'ai réparé pour toi
.

 

[themickster]

First of all, I’m not sure exactly what an «all-in-one» means in this connection. Any combo amp is a combination of a head and a speaker, but I guess a lack of a physical connection between the two apart from the speaker cable would make me view it as a separate head & separate speaker.

Um. All of the workings in one housing, as against a head in one and a speaker in another.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

View attachment 4045553 One of these was my first real bass amp. With the 7ender installed hardware, the head and cab were connected. I never considered carrying them that way.

I can bolt a motor to a bicycle. That doesn’t make it a motorcycle, even if it was designed to allow or require a motor. It’s a motorized bicycle.

 

[SoulReflection]

Sittin' on the fence again?

Still...

 

[Protagonist]

I can bolt a motor to a bicycle. That doesn’t make it a motorcycle, even if it was designed to allow or require a motor. It’s a motorized bicycle.

ORLY?

Only posted for silliness. Not arguing your point.

 

[GonePlaid]

Je l'ai réparé pour toi
.

I gots enuff trouble with English. Too lazy to translate.