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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
Yes!Not to muddy up the waters even more, but a more important question is....are Combos a pretzel or a cracker?
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View attachment 4046368
Although I'm not an Ampeg fan, I acknowledge the importance of the 'flip-top' B-15(and B-18*), but you ain't gonna carry it "flipped" up, so, AYE.Whew, you people wore me out. I just finished reading all your posts since Thursday, my last visit, and all I can say is if you miss a little...you still miss a little if only one main topic is running! So before I spend more time not going to bed, I want to prep the conversation.
First, C7 is a valued member of this organization with several combos in the past year, and, like me, he definitely loves new and shiny objects. I gotta admit too, that Genzler is a sweetie.
Second, if something happens to me, [articularly this school year, I nominate Jakob T to replace me as FL and Grand Poobah. I like the way he thinks, though I must admit a large number of you have come through big time with some candid and unique observations. I enjoyed RR's let's-keep-this-civil prose because that's what this club is built on and you've all done so magnificently!
Third, Recon, I hope you can keep all the nuts and bolts in place for a while longer. Before ya know it you'll be rockin' the new AC/DC album in the living room!
Fourth, I thought a while back I gave a summary of VOX vs. VOX: Battle of the NuTubes, but if time allows I will offer another installment. My one-sentence comment is that the Super Beetle offers a slightly deeper tone (larger cab space?) and the fuzz (which I like much more than the OD) thus making it my fave, but the two are very close when talking are sonic differences. On a bad day, kinda muddy and nondescript, but on a good day vintage tube tone that plays well with the right bass. the clear winner with the Beatle bass; not so much with the P. I'm using the SB as we speak but heading to the Stage 800 next weekend to record the orchestra's latest piece.
Also, I've missed you guys terribly but have been so busy with school work I haven't even had time to play. The worse thing is we found out Sunday afternoon that one of my teaching partners tested positive and that sent all 56 kids home for two weeks. The teachers, except for her, are staying but we're going mo-bile, as Daltrey would sing. Online for two weeks, including us subbing for those teachers currently at home. I'll record my lesson, post it in our google Classroom, and then go teach the first grade or something. Yep, a 60-year-old cranky man trying to corral all that energy. Can you say, heavenly? Three weeks to T'giving and I'm counting the seconds...
So for a response to the headlining dilemma, is it a combo or not? I'll begin with a question: did ya ever experience that feeling the minute you made a decision, answered a question, or gave advice you immediately wanted to take it right back and say, "forget it"? Yep, me too. Like the day I waved my sword and claimed that the B-15 would be counted as a combo. So I'm an Ampeg fanboy...sue me.
On second thought, don't. My vision at the time was since it's physically (screwing the amp onto the lid) connected, then why not? I'll tell ya why not...because numerous companies (Ampeg included) are selling wonderful 2-in-1 separates/combos that defy description and definition. Is it a combo? Are they separate? In a word, yes, and that's the problem. IMHO, you're all correct in your well-delivered arguments. Yes, the Genzler is a two-piece unit, though not a combo in the traditional sense of a single chassis holding a power amp, preamp, and speaker. Yet, the two pieces work in harmony to create a single unit by way of the metal brace that comes along in the purchase.
So if we're sticking to the original ruling (BTW, 'dog, loved looking up the CC page), then the Genzler would indeed be a combo, but darn it, we all know (including C7) it's not in the sense of the more portable one-piece box that held everything as one. GP's Kasino is a combo. Biggie's GK is definitely a combo. Even the Markbass amps are combos, though you can detach the amp because it's all in one housing thus making it portable.
By the same token, my Super Beetle is not, nor is Cracker's new rig. If you can physically separate the two for purposes of transportation, to allow easy swapping of different heads, or to add drivers for more power (the Rumble 500 is a combo, but when it's paired with a separate cab it's now a combo/cab rig), then it has to be called separates. Yes, I'm now going against my own ruling and requesting an amendment change where we throw out the B-15 and all its cousins because they're not truly combos of which we profess our love and allegiance to. If you're in favor of such an amendment change (lucky I'm deep into social studies right now where we're studying the Constitution), then vote aye. If you wish to keep the Ampeg in the club and add basically all other two-piece rigs built as a single unit, like C7's Genzler, then vote nay. I'll keep track and let you know the outcome next weekend.
Again, had I not been swayed by the Ampeg's historical mystique, I may have said no then and been done with it. I also think we were trying to get a new member at the time too. If it'll bring peace and tranquillity back to the CC, then I vote to disqualify the B-15 and not allow any other amps in here other than legit combos, which we all know what they are.
I'm also going to set up a tribunal for future conflicts in this area to make future decisions on this topic based on facts and scientific reasoning. The three people I nominate are Jakob T (by way of his superior brain), RodRy (by way of his caring heart), and Doc Intrepid (because they have lots of forests in Canada with maybe a cowardly lion or two). Use these powers I give you for the good of the club and settle disputes that may jeopardize our good nature. Now GO!!! (tip 'o the hat to The Wizard of Oz)
I'm going to bed. I hope this helped or at least continued to cause further disagreement. Ya know I love a good battle and looooong response.
See ya!
FL
*played through a B-18 a coupla times. O-M-G!
I generally don't care enuff to translate-unless it's possibly funny or 'romance' oriented.
I thank our FL for his kind words, and in the light of his cogent reasoning, I admit that his definition is the more practical one, although I also see the arguments for the other side (having, in fact, made several of them myself). In the interest of peace and unity, I therefore vote aye.
Aye
(Have been in Marvel mode lately so it was difficult not to type, "AYE SAY THEE NAY!")
(Have been in Marvel mode lately so it was difficult not to type, "AYE SAY THEE NAY!")
I am not in favor of herd mentality, in which the majority is right. So I will withdraw from this vote.
Agreed, it does get blurry. And also agreeing with @Doctor Intrepid that we are really trying to decide what family should components be lumped into.
I think that for me, a working definition is that a "combo amp" is something that has the amplifier and speaker integrated into one cabinet. So I think (not having seen pics) that the Markbass & TC Electronics would count, while the Ampeg and Genzler do not. Of course, I fully realize that the Ampeg flip-top has been given dispensation to be counted, and I'm not arguing against that special case. I am only pointing out that this particular deviation from what I see as a "family of features" is why it is indeed a special case.
Paul Jones? No. Phil Jones Bass? Yes.
I love my little Double Four. For the size, I've never heard an amp so powerful. It also sounds better than nearly all other amps I've heard, but that is of course subjective.
I like a high-fi sound where the string-to-string sound is even, and each different bass plugged into it can be discerned as a different instrument.
Hoo, boy! Fearless Leader is needink his beauty sleep! Since vass "after midnight" he vass "lettink it all hang down"! Hehehe ... he vass about to "chugalug and shout", even.
.
Obviously, Fearless Leader is not rememberink clarification of original rulink limited to Ampeg fliptops! That effectively eliminates many such challenges while preserving historical recognition.
.
If a woter vishes to keepink Ampeg fliptops in da club, but not allow more modern, more obviously separate heads&cabs, den how he can wote??? Eh??? Vhy must to be all or nothink??? Again, what about exception beink limited to historically significant Ampeg fliptops? An exception to prove the rule, as it may be??? Is it so wrong to acknowledge such early evolutionary trend from 'true combos' to head&cab?
.
Ah! Fearless Leader does somehow recall reason for exception! But then lapses back to "all or nothink" from all confusink arguments, lack of sleep, and wild leetle kidniks at his day job. Poor Fearless Leader. "Heavy is the head that wears the ..." uh, ... Leader's cap.
.
I am beggink of Most Exalted Tribunal, and of all our beloved Comboites*, to wote to ratify original rulink, with clarification limitink only to Ampeg fliptops, and spare Fearless Leader headache of wote countink.
Wote Ratify! Wote Ratify!
"How Can You Say NO To Combos?"
"How Can You Say NO To Combos?"
*Yes, "Comboites" is a word!.
..
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G-Dog, my go-to site for translations is linguee.com. Used it daily in my last job. Fun fact (for the moderators), amp in French is ampli.
I'm really hoping that the dude that pops in here every 6 months to complain that our posts are really private messages and not relevant to combos pops in now! Likely won't happen ...
First, fully agree that @Cracker7 is a fine contributing member of this fine club!First, C7 is a valued member of this organization with several combos in the past year, and, like me, he definitely loves new and shiny objects. I gotta admit too, that Genzler is a sweetie.
Second, if something happens to me, [articularly this school year, I nominate Jakob T to replace me as FL and Grand Poobah. I like the way he thinks, though I must admit a large number of you have come through big time with some candid and unique observations. I enjoyed RR's let's-keep-this-civil prose because that's what this club is built on and you've all done so magnificently!
Third, Recon, I hope you can keep all the nuts and bolts in place for a while longer. Before ya know it you'll be rockin' the new AC/DC album in the living room!
Fourth, I thought a while back I gave a summary of VOX vs. VOX: Battle of the NuTubes, but if time allows I will offer another installment. My one-sentence comment is that the Super Beetle offers a slightly deeper tone (larger cab space?) and the fuzz (which I like much more than the OD) thus making it my fave, but the two are very close when talking are sonic differences. On a bad day, kinda muddy and nondescript, but on a good day vintage tube tone that plays well with the right bass. the clear winner with the Beatle bass; not so much with the P. I'm using the SB as we speak but heading to the Stage 800 next weekend to record the orchestra's latest piece.
Also, I've missed you guys terribly but have been so busy with school work I haven't even had time to play. The worse thing is we found out Sunday afternoon that one of my teaching partners tested positive and that sent all 56 kids home for two weeks. The teachers, except for her, are staying but we're going mo-bile, as Daltrey would sing. Online for two weeks, including us subbing for those teachers currently at home. I'll record my lesson, post it in our google Classroom, and then go teach the first grade or something. Yep, a 60-year-old cranky man trying to corral all that energy. Can you say, heavenly? Three weeks to T'giving and I'm counting the seconds...
So for a response to the headlining dilemma, is it a combo or not? I'll begin with a question: did ya ever experience that feeling the minute you made a decision, answered a question, or gave advice you immediately wanted to take it right back and say, "forget it"? Yep, me too. Like the day I waved my sword and claimed that the B-15 would be counted as a combo. So I'm an Ampeg fanboy...sue me.
On second thought, don't. My vision at the time was since it's physically (screwing the amp onto the lid) connected, then why not? I'll tell ya why not...because numerous companies (Ampeg included) are selling wonderful 2-in-1 separates/combos that defy description and definition. Is it a combo? Are they separate? In a word, yes, and that's the problem. IMHO, you're all correct in your well-delivered arguments. Yes, the Genzler is a two-piece unit, though not a combo in the traditional sense of a single chassis holding a power amp, preamp, and speaker. Yet, the two pieces work in harmony to create a single unit by way of the metal brace that comes along in the purchase.
So if we're sticking to the original ruling (BTW, 'dog, loved looking up the CC page), then the Genzler would indeed be a combo, but darn it, we all know (including C7) it's not in the sense of the more portable one-piece box that held everything as one. GP's Kasino is a combo. Biggie's GK is definitely a combo. Even the Markbass amps are combos, though you can detach the amp because it's all in one housing thus making it portable.
By the same token, my Super Beetle is not, nor is Cracker's new rig. If you can physically separate the two for purposes of transportation, to allow easy swapping of different heads, or to add drivers for more power (the Rumble 500 is a combo, but when it's paired with a separate cab it's now a combo/cab rig), then it has to be called separates. Yes, I'm now going against my own ruling and requesting an amendment change where we throw out the B-15 and all its cousins because they're not truly combos of which we profess our love and allegiance to. If you're in favor of such an amendment change (lucky I'm deep into social studies right now where we're studying the Constitution), then vote aye. If you wish to keep the Ampeg in the club and add basically all other two-piece rigs built as a single unit, like C7's Genzler, then vote nay. I'll keep track and let you know the outcome next weekend.
Again, had I not been swayed by the Ampeg's historical mystique, I may have said no then and been done with it. I also think we were trying to get a new member at the time too. If it'll bring peace and tranquillity back to the CC, then I vote to disqualify the B-15 and not allow any other amps in here other than legit combos, which we all know what they are.
I'm also going to set up a tribunal for future conflicts in this area to make future decisions on this topic based on facts and scientific reasoning. The three people I nominate are Jakob T (by way of his superior brain), RodRy (by way of his caring heart), and Doc Intrepid (because they have lots of forests in Canada with maybe a cowardly lion or two). Use these powers I give you for the good of the club and settle disputes that may jeopardize our good nature. Now GO!!! (tip 'o the hat to The Wizard of Oz)
I'm going to bed. I hope this helped or at least continued to cause further disagreement. Ya know I love a good battle and looooong response.
See ya!
FL
Second, I shudder to think that there should ever be a need for a new Fearless Leader! Having said that, and with all the bad that has happened in 2020, I agree that @JakobT is a good choice, and if he is willing, I would support him if the terrible conditions be met.
And on the combo definition topic, my vote be Aye, maties. I'd prefer to more closely define the family of combo amps, but I think that it's fine to include the Ampeg flip-top as the exception to the rule. It sets an interesting precedent of establishing a solid basis for Combo-ness, while leaving it open to be reinterpreted as situations, opinions, and manufactured offerings warrant.
Still fully on-board with allowing any and all interested parties to post and delight us with their company, and anyone who has an integrated amp and speaker is welcome to be a member for life.
Yes, even somethink like dis:
