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What's up with the Combo negativity?

#41
They're not all bad, and some people will do fine with one, but I view them like any other product that claims to package multiple things in one (i.e. TVs with computers in them). One of the items is likely to not be as good as the other, or might possibly break, so at some point you're going to be faced with replacing the whole system rather than the one part of it that's not performing.

Add to that the fact that many combos don't have adequate space for the speaker.

And personally, I find it easier to carry my separate 1x12 cabinets and head than to carry a combo that has it all in one.
 
#42
Bassists started out using combos but by the time I started playing in 1965 they had already started to go toward cabs & heads. Much of this, I believe, was in response to rising stage volume and the fact that PA support in those days was almost unheard of. The Fender Dual Showman and the Kustom 200 series were very popular in 1968-1970. I saw Crosby Stills Nash & Young in 1969 and they were one of the first acts -- if not the first -- to carry their own sound system. Still, bassist Greg Reeves was using a single Acoustic 360 and the rest of the band had mostly old Fender tweed 50-watt Bassman heads with 212 cabs for guitar. After that, things got really loud and heads & cabs took over.

It has taken 40+ years, but I think that bands now are rediscovering that stage volume can and should be low, so combos may yet make a comeback. Over the last three years I've seen TC Electronic and Genz Benz and a number of other manufacturers roll out some decently powered bass combos. It's still beyond me, though, why a bassist in a four-piece band with PA support in a small club would need more than 300 watts to be heard.
 
#44
I have been a combo guy for the last 6 years or more. But I got tired of the weight of my Fender 75 lbs and after it fell out and hit my knee this past winter I said enough. I went to a Little mark III (6 lbs) and a 210p MB cab (25lbs?) and its a dream. Power,clear light...I'm set. There are new NEO combo's and class D so they are coming around.
 
#45
I use my SWR Workingmans 15 combo all the time. It's a great amp for the right situation. I have other head/cab options when needed but the portability and convenience of the SWR along with the great bottom punch that combo puts out makes it a keeper. It's seen a lot of action but it's in good cosmetic shape and still does the job. AND it fits in the passenger seat of my Z3 with the bass in a gig bag.
 
#47
hdracer said:
My point exactly.
300 watt tube head and a couple 15's or a 810 and all is well.....

Some bands do not always get full PA support.
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I favor 215s myself, but a correctly made 212 combo is also pretty good these days. Genaz Benz used to make the NEOX 400, which was a 112 combo that put out 300w and was a very nice amp. Their new Contour 500 with 1 15 might be really good. I agree on the PA support is not universal, but I still think that in small clubs, it's not needed.

Heard a local blues band last week where the bassist used an old Polytone 112 combo and it was plenty loud for the room. Guitars had old Fender combos. No microphones on drums.
 
#48
It needs to be better, faster, louder and that just don't come in a combo. 1 6" 8 10" 2 15" and 1 18" and 5000 watts is the least you can do with. Never heard of how we bassist are never getting heard or the loudness war. It's a tough world out there if you are going to compete.
 
#51
CL400Peavey said:
As I said, combos sacrifice enclosure size for weight/size savings. That is a tonal sacrifice as well. Also what if I cant play through the PA, making DI'ing for additional volume a moot point?

I want my stage sound to sound like I want, I cant get that from the small box of a combo. I also may need to carry the room, I also dont see a combo as a viable solution to that. I can do all that with my 15/6, and guess what? its still lighter than the majority of combo's.
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Well, that's your particular situation, not everybody's. I use my Roland at a small restaurant in a Blues band with no PA support, and it carries the room fine, no problems. I also get the tone I need and want . Roll it in, roll it out. Not everybody needs to bring a large, or powerful rig to get the job done, imho, of course.
 
#52
nortonrider said:
The Combo weighs 53 pounds, the extension cab is obviously lighter,
so... under 100 lbs. for the entire stack.
500 watts, 4 - 10's.

Check out post #21 from svtb15 - he's been using one.
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If the box size is appropriate for the tuning of those speakers, and if they can actually make use of that much power then that could be a cool combo. It is still sitting in the weight range where I would just grab a head and cab though.

swspiers said:
Yep. My Art of Noise 1212/6 is lighter than any combo I ever owned @ about 46 pounds. On small gigis I use a Genz Shuttlemax 12. One hand carry, bass slung over my shoulder, head in another bag on the other shoulder.

Nothing against combos at all- used one since 1978. But I'm not going back...
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+1 to this.

One with an appropriate lightweight head (7-pro) in an "Airhead" rack built in would be my combo of choice.

Im not saying that combo's cant work, but the general run of the mill cheapo at GC is going to leave a lot of people wanting. At a similar price point used separates are more bang for you buck.
 
#54
I've owned a couple of combos in my time, and tons of heads and cabinets. My first amp was a little practice combo, and then I had a small (100-150 watts?) Yamaha single 12" (maybe it was a 15"?) combo for a little while. Then nothing but separates until about eight years ago, when I got a GK 700RB in a 210 combo, tiltback with wheels and collapsable suitcase-style handle. Great unit! But ... had a problem with the head that needed repairs, and the whole thing has to go to the shop.

From there, I moved back to separates. If I have a problem with either the head or cab, I just replace that component while it's getting repaired. Plus, I have a couple of cabs (410 and 210) that I use for different gigs, but I can keep the same head being used on both of them. Flexibility, modularity, replaceability - those are the reasons why I don't own a combo now.

The fact that heads are getting lighter and lighter is also a good reason for me not to have a combo. Someone posted above that we could be moving to powered cabs with preamps for tone shaping. But there are many modern micro heads that are no bigger than a preamp! There's no need to take the poweramp OUT of the preamp anymore. Hell, throw a class D amp in every cabinet AND head, and have multiple inputs on the cabs (one to the poweramp, one bypassing it directly to the speaker) - and use whatever combination you like - done.
 
#55
jnewmark said:
Well, that's your particular situation, not everybody's. I use my Roland at a small restaurant in a Blues band with no PA support, and it carries the room fine, no problems. I also get the tone I need and want . Roll it in, roll it out. Not everybody needs to bring a large, or powerful rig to get the job done, imho, of course.
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I agree completely. Let me ask though, how much does your combo weigh? I think the one listed in your profile is spec'ed at 75 pounds? In that weight class there are a lot of separates options that may work for others as well.

My point is, for my needs on weight, sound/volume, and price, there are few combo's that even fit the bill. If I'm going to haul a 75 pound rig, there are more and better options in separates. For the sound and volume I want out of that same rig, there are more and better options in separates. For the amount of money I want to spend, there are more and better options in separates.


IMO a combo has limitations due to form factor. If someone finds one that meets their needs, they are blessed. For expand-ability and versatility I see separates as a better option.
 
#56
CL400Peavey said:
I agree completely. Let me ask though, how much does your combo weigh? I think the one listed in your profile is spec'ed at 75 pounds? In that weight class there are a lot of separates options that may work for others as well.

My point is, for my needs on weight, sound/volume, and price, there are few combo's that even fit the bill. If I'm going to haul a 75 pound rig, there are more and better options in separates. For the sound and volume I want out of that same rig, there are more and better options in separates. For the amount of money I want to spend, there are more and better options in separates.


IMO a combo has limitations due to form factor. If someone finds one that meets their needs, they are blessed. For expand-ability and versatility I see separates as a better option.
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It is listed at that weight , but I don't think it is accurate. It is also listed at 270 watts, but my tech tells me it is actually 300+ watts. But, as with many SVT fans, I love the tone I get from it - it is perfect for this particular gig. Fits perfectly in my hatchback, so I put up with the weight. And, I have tried different, lighter rigs for this particular gig, and the Roland gives me more satisfaction, tonewise. I use a lightweight rig, an LDS 212/horn cab loaded with 3012HO's and an 18 Sound tweet with a Carvin BX1500 head with my big wedding band, so I am not oppossed to lighter, more powerful rigs. Different rigs for different gigs is the way I roll. :bassist:
 
#57
The right tool for the right job. I've found that my old super redhead gets the job done most of the time, and when I need a little extra I bring along the son of bertha 1x15 extension. The super redhead is kind of a tank, but it works for me. I've also got an old workingman's 12 that works great as a nice little practice amp. (looks like I've become a SWR guy) I've had GAS over the years for some bigger/different rigs and owned a bunch of different gear, but what it comes down to is that my current setup works better for me than these other options.
 
#59
I use that Combo on some gigs.. I started with it on small coffee house type gigs.. and goig to experiment with it on top of my Uber 115 cab at a larger gig next week... So far it is plenty loud .. Even when i gig with my LOUD large room band... And the DI out is the very good sounding GB DI.

DSCN1813-1.gif
nortonrider said:
Thanks for the replies, a lot of the responses are what I expected to read.

For you rig guys - I have to wonder though........

.Do you break your amp or cab often enough that the extra step of separating a combo to send out the non working part for repair is even an issue?

(mine never breaks)

.I understand having the ability to move a head to different cabinets is cool, but how many people actually have a room full of different cabs that they are constantly using and swapping between?
From my experience, not too many. players will build a rig and use that setup, interchangeability doesn't factor in after that.

.If you think that something like this wont "carry the room", then you must be playing some pretty humongous rooms.

CTR500.210T_ext210.jpg
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