I don't like impulse buys. Rather fix something broken and use something else meanwhile that I know is working.
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What's up with the Combo negativity?
- Thread starter nortonrider
- Start date
I don't like impulse buys. Rather fix something broken and use something else meanwhile that I know is working.
My "big" rig as descibed is for whether I have PA support of not. It easily gets way louder than I could possibly need.
I don't want a large rig so strangely enough I don't find myself needing one. Probably just a coincidence.
It's not the only factor, though. When you take into account that you can swap cabinets out under the same head (sometimes I use my 2x10, sometimes my 4x10, depending on the gig) AND the fact that if one item goes down I have my own backup, together that makes it worthwhile for me to own separate components.
No one else needs to make the same choice, as their criteria will be different.
I think its time someone stood up and admitted it:
I hate combos.
And not for any rational reason - they just creep me out, all mixed up together in one box like that.
I hate combos.
And not for any rational reason - they just creep me out, all mixed up together in one box like that.
Hell, I just had a look at the 4x10 version- weighs less than my Golight 4x10 all by itself. Wow. Neato.
Why do we need a rational reason? I hate lots of things for no rational reason... Dave Matthews, Apple Computers, GK Amps. And I hate lots of things for rational reasons(fans of Dave Matthews and Apple Computers... GK Amp users are fine, though).
You don't need a tangible reason not to like something...
Would I tell someone "don't buy a combo!!!"? No... I would say "personally, I don't like em... they're lame." If someone is going to value my opinion highly enough to not consider a combo... good for him. If not? Whatever...
Not trolling, I'm trying to illustrate a point here. You're on an internet message board... for any post you are going to get replies that consist of 20% Nonsense, 35% Badly worded bad advice, 35% of intelligent sounding bad advice, and 10% of actual useable knowledge. That's just the way it goes, and someone coming to a message board for advice should be aware of that... there's no amount of complaining that will change it, you just have to develop an eye for which content is worth your while and weed through the rest. If you start posting threads about "why do so many people hate..." you're going to end up 100 threads, none if which will give you a good enough answer to make it less annoying. Better to just accept that it comes with the territory and learn to tune it out.
Your question was answered in the first page of the thread: Haters gonna hate.
Your question was answered in the first page of the thread: Haters gonna hate.
+1. Especially about the irrational stuff. Most of the stuff I dislike, is an irrational dislike. I know that. I also know that as a human, I'm predisposed to bias. Especially anything mega-popular. the two biggest brands in bass- I practically loathe them and go out of my way not to use them. Ever. I keep it to myself, because I realize it has no rational basis whatsoever. I actually like some of the people who use their gear, and no longer thing they're sheep. Which in itself is a ridiculous opinion to have.
Personally, I like combos. Used them exclusively for over 30 years. But now I'm hooked on swapping different things around. There is a lot of good, really good bass gear out there right now. I want to try them all- except for the biggest two. They get enough attention.
Been playing through a Markbass Jeff Berlin for a while now and love it. At the same time, I'm not going to use a combo that I consider a practice amp on a gig. There are combos and then there are combos. Amp/cab set ups are great as well and if it works for somebody, why mess with it.
I never slapped eyes on a modern combo, can't afford one, wouldn't recommend one to a newbie for a first rig. No flexibility to change rig piecemeal, poor resales. Doesn't make me a hater.
Sometimes all you need is a screwdriver. Other times you need a power drill with a screwdriver attachment. Sometimes you need a hammer.
Which you use is dependent upon what job you are trying to accomplish.
I absolutely love my little Acoustic B20 combo. It probably gets used by me more than anything else. Light enough to not care how much it weighs and the headphone jack and cd imput works great. Perfect for what I want it to do. But I'd hesitate using it for a job that it's not really designed for. That would be like using a hammer as a screwdriver. Done it in a pinch. Doesn't always work out well.
Which you use is dependent upon what job you are trying to accomplish.
I absolutely love my little Acoustic B20 combo. It probably gets used by me more than anything else. Light enough to not care how much it weighs and the headphone jack and cd imput works great. Perfect for what I want it to do. But I'd hesitate using it for a job that it's not really designed for. That would be like using a hammer as a screwdriver. Done it in a pinch. Doesn't always work out well.
exactly.. For me a separate hed and cab is more versatile.. it's about what floats my boat when I am offering up an opinion .. not what floats somebody else's...
Apart from the one hand carry, plug in and play aspects of my Markbass CMD102P combo, one of the features I really appreciate on a gig is being able to tilt it back like a wedge monitor (without the need for a separate stand). I'd probably miss that on quite a few gigs now if I went back to a comparable separates setup. Works for me, YMMV and so on.
Most of the ones that would be large enough for my needs also would be so large as to be awkward to carry. Most combos I've seen only have the single handle on the top, but are a bit too heavy and bulky to get by with just one handle.
Also, I like my amp, and usually I just use a small cab or a large cab depending on what my volume needs will be.
Last, there aren't a whole lot of tube combos available.
Also, I like my amp, and usually I just use a small cab or a large cab depending on what my volume needs will be.
Last, there aren't a whole lot of tube combos available.
If it's not heavy enough to be too heavy, it's not loud enough or it's too expensive, sums it up very well.
Why not a pair of combos to accomplish the exact same thing? Imagine, for example, owning two combos: A Hydrive 5210c and a 5410. The 5210 for small gigs, the 5410 for medium size gigs... and then, for larger gigs, stack 'em together. 750 watts into six 10" speakers. AND it gives you greater tonal versatility than a single amp.
Of course, you could do the same with two heads and two cabs. But if you forget speaker cables, you're hosed
C'mon... don't we all have a clue already what we'd likely purchase in such a scenario? Who here doesn't check out gear regularly?
Why not a pair of combos to accomplish the exact same thing? Imagine, for example, owning two combos: A Hydrive 5210c and a 5410. The 5210 for small gigs, the 5410 for medium size gigs... and then, for larger gigs, stack 'em together. 750 watts into six 10" speakers. AND it gives you greater tonal versatility than a single amp.
Of course, you could do the same with two heads and two cabs. But if you forget speaker cables, you're hosed
Either of those combo's weigh less than 46 pounds? Using both of them would defiantly weigh more.
Then you are also schlepping two pieces of gear. Your total volume output might be a little more than my 15/6, but you wont have nearly the low end. Add in comb filtering of horizontal speakers, the fact that I am using a head that is built, and it still add up to a "no" in my book.
I realize that your post is pointing out that you can have versatility in combo's, and you are right. It still comes down to the fact that they are still heavier than my "grab and go" rig and no combo has what I would consider a well designed cab section. Those two alone are enough for some to swear off combos for them selves, and to not recommend them to others unless that person knows what they are getting in to with a combo design.
With all that said let me make this statement as from a "combo hater." Once I win the lottery I will have a combo in the form of a SVT-7 pro or Genz SL-900 built into a fEARful 12/6 with a 12sub extension cab.
I would have one right now if I had the cash, but I am fortunate enough to have two fEARfuls and a few heads. My GAS is never ending and I would love to own such a "Combo" but it wouldnt be fiscally responsible...
