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Why Combos?

#43
brettson said:
I believe combos are slowly becoming a thing of the past.
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To a certain extent, with micro and Class D amp heads, and smaller, lighter cabs, there's some truth to this. But I don't think combos will ever really go away completely.

I've used both combos and modular rigs. While I've never found the perfect combo, I have found a couple of good ones, but there's a right situation for either type of set up. It's good to have access to either. Just like it's good to know how to play fingerstyle and with a pick.
 
#46
I was using an 800RB into a Pro 2200 2x12 for 5 years before both the head and the cab needed service about 2 months ago. Tone was good and there appeared to be enough headroom there for any live situation.

Well, after having to bring my Fender BXR300C to a few shows while the 800RB and 2x12 were being serviced, it got old pretty quick, so I bought a new MB212 combo.

I A/B'd the MB212 with the 800RB/2200 a lot and found that the tone from the combo was just better(to me) with a lot more headroom. Being it's a one trip load in now is the icing on the cake.

I will say the 800RB retained it's value pretty well. First time I was ever able to sell a piece of gear for as much as I paid for it.
 
#47
brettson said:
I believe combos are slowly becoming a thing of the past.
Click to expand...

I believe powered cabinets are the wave of the future. Watts are cheap, class-d is easy to cool and can be built into anything. The amp/power supply can be set to product max output to the internal driver(s)

And we get rid of the millions of posts of people trying to figure out the cabinet impedance trying to squeeze every watt out of their head.

Well it's coming true in other parts of the music industry.
 
#50
hover said:
I could not disagree more. I believe they are moreso just getting refined and becoming modular and smarter.
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Me too. You are now seeing companies like GK and Carvin, putting their 5 lb wonder heads in a lightweight, combo format. I don't think they would be bringing out these new models if combos were starting to fade in popularity. Time will tell, I guess.
 
#52
My $.02. Combos are traditionally more convenient - just 1 piece of equipment, and most applicable for lower wattage, smaller gig use.

Of course there are some pretty powerful combos these days, at the high end. I dreamed of an Eden Metro, essentially a WT600 married with a sweet 210 cab, all in one.

I think the equation changes though with the mini class D heads. I can now put my head (LOL) in my gigbag or gearbag (both of which I would carry anyway) and then a great cab which is less bulky and less heavy than a good combo. The possibilties for killer mini rigs is amazing these days, and I can upgrade the head or cab as needed without being "stuck" with whatever came in the combo.
 
#54
seamonkey said:
I believe powered cabinets are the wave of the future. Watts are cheap, class-d is easy to cool and can be built into anything. The amp/power supply can be set to product max output to the internal driver(s)

And we get rid of the millions of posts of people trying to figure out the cabinet impedance trying to squeeze every watt out of their head.

Well it's coming true in other parts of the music industry.
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Yamaha has a new series of powered cabs and they are great. DSR 112, 115 and 118 sub. I played bass with a 112 and it sounded darn good. 1,300 watts, can be used as a monitor, but I wish it was lighter.

I'm not quite ready yet (but I'm close) to using one for my rig, but if I was going to buy a PA, I'd get two DSR112's, two DSR118's and a nice Yamaha board like we just got at church. Can't remember the model. That and a few MS100's for monitors and you'd be set.
 
#55
Convenience. I can walk into a gig with all my gear in one trip, if I choose to. Two basses (double gigbag), combo, toolbox (cables, mic, swirlygig, tuner, stands, etc), mic stand. I'm set up and ready to go in 5 minutes. Strike and loadout is the same. If I feel like taking along the extra 112, make it two trips.

If I'm moving the "big rig", it's at least 3 trips: two 210s on a fold-up handtruck, preamp rack, amp rack (separated for weight's sake, plus no need to drag power amp along for recording, also allows amp to be used elsewhere, if needed), basses, toolbox, mic stand.
 
#57
LJ Michaaels said:
GK MBE112 w/ 112 MBX Kick ass mini stack, does what I need it to do.
This amp is no wimp! Tone monster!!
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Ha. I hadn't read EVERY post in this thread until after I posted my reply.

This is my exact "small gig rig". I actually seldom use the 112MBX, but it does, indeed, make the sound more full.

100_0455.jpg
 

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