Why do so many combos have the control panel on the top rear?

[bobalu]

Back in the mists of time when rock & roll was invented, musicians used to stand behind their amps when playing so the amp manufacturers put the knobs where they could easily be seen and adjusted by the players.

^^^^This is true. I have several Fender history books and they are riddled with old photo's of various performers/groups of the late 40's and 50's on stage with their Fender amps off to the side, and standing behind them. A lot of lap steel players used them as well and they are always seated to play with the amp beside them. Top controls just made sense then. Getting the sound out front to the crowd was the priority and more challenging back then I guess! Not so much a problem today .

 

[bobalu]

It doesn’t matter when you have one of the coolest combos ever put on this earth!
View attachment 4106928

My Walkabout is the only piece of my "original" equipment that I still have today and will never part with. Just an absolutely amazing piece of gear, and I've been through them all over the years!

 

[Kukulkan61]

My Walkabout is the only piece of my "original" equipment that I still have today and will never part with. Just an absolutely amazing piece of gear, and I've been through them all over the years!

I get it!!

 

[socialleper]

It is convenient for the designers to have the controls and the power section in one place.

 

[daveman50]

I have a 1990's Fender Blues Junior (confession, I can also play guitar) with the "backwards" control panel. Tradition. Stupid. Frustrating. I printed out my own label the right way around so I could read it. But Fender has finally changed the orientation in the current model (Blues Jr. IV) so you can read it from the front. Great little amp by the way.

 

[abarson]

^^^^This is true. I have several Fender history books and they are riddled with old photo's of various performers/groups of the late 40's and 50's on stage with their Fender amps off to the side, and standing behind them. A lot of lap steel players used them as well and they are always seated to play with the amp beside them. Top controls just made sense then. Getting the sound out front to the crowd was the priority and more challenging back then I guess! Not so much a problem today .

Many guitar amps are open back, so the player is still getting plenty of sound with the amp placed in front of the player. Not so with either sealed or ported bass amplification.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Why do so many combos have the control panel on the top rear?


So I have a place to sit

 

[Carl Hillman]

Here's my (conspiracy) theory: Using upward-facing controls encourages users to place the combo on the floor next to or behind them for easy access. With the speaker blasting the backs of the players legs, they have to turn up the volume to hear themselves. This of course causes the rest of the band to turn up, in which case everyone realizes that they need to buy bigger amps. Rinse and repeat. Manufacturers sell a lot more amps.

A QAnon-worthy conspiracy!!

 

[juancaminos]

At the rear is how many combo’s were done in the late 1950’s by companies such as Fender. In the case of a tube amp, you want the tubes and transformers to clear the speaker so it has to be set back from the speaker baffle. There is also tubes cooling better when close to the open back and easy access to changing them.

Why do some non tube amp manufacturers do this now? Cooling of the power transistors and tradition.

Some companies turn the labels around so you can see them properly from the front.

View attachment 4106790

THIS!

 

[MattZilla]

the speaker must be firing at your legs or at best at your waist - not your ears

precisely why I dislike physically diminutive rigs for performing or group rehearsals.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Aren't the newfangled amps in these units oriented vertically nowadays too? As opposed to horizontally on top like older units. Saves space and stays out of the driver's way like you said.

Manufacturers often want to be distinctive from their competition. Marketing tells them what to do.

 

[JCW308]

If cooling was an issue, why did Leo put the tubes in upside down, so that the heat goes right up into the the tube socket and chassis? Also, they tend to rattle loose and gravity makes them fall out of the socket.

You have tubes FALLING OUT of the sockets? Say what now?

 

[Dr. Keebs]

Here's my (conspiracy) theory: Using upward-facing controls encourages users to place the combo on the floor next to or behind them for easy access. With the speaker blasting the backs of the players legs, they have to turn up the volume to hear themselves. This of course causes the rest of the band to turn up, in which case everyone realizes that they need to buy bigger amps. Rinse and repeat. Manufacturers sell a lot more amps.

I'm going with you in this one. Cheeky buggers.

 

[Geddaric]

I like my rig to be high off the ground so I can hear it. Unfortunately most combos aren't very user friendly in that respect. I did find the perfect format for me however:
View attachment 4106983
Pretty heavy for a 1x12 combo at 50lbs, but on top of my 2x12 it's a monster.

Slightly off-topic, but what brand hanger are you using on the side of your cab? I`ve never found one I liked but that one looks pretty nice.

 

[Jack Deth]

Controls easy to reach on top, and what better place to set a beverage than the front.

 

[Ruknrole]

Here's my (conspiracy) theory: Using upward-facing controls encourages users to place the combo on the floor next to or behind them for easy access. With the speaker blasting the backs of the players legs, they have to turn up the volume to hear themselves. This of course causes the rest of the band to turn up, in which case everyone realizes that they need to buy bigger amps. Rinse and repeat. Manufacturers sell a lot more amps.

Along those lines, so when you knock down your beer it spills all over the controls, hence increasing the change of frying your amp and having to buy a new one.

 

[Gsnorgathon]

Having the controls in the back also protects them from flying beer bottles. Not that I'd have any personal experience of this, mind you... *cough*

 

[SirMjac28]

It doesn’t matter when you have one of the coolest combos ever put on this earth!
View attachment 4106928

 

[Dr Zee]

A review of the combos I have had;
Polytone MiniBrute, top in the back
Crate, terrible amp but Front facing
G&K, front facing
Trace Elliot, front facing
Carvin MB10, current combo, top in the back

Small sample but front facing wins by a nose.

 

[birminghambass]

Slightly off-topic, but what brand hanger are you using on the side of your cab? I`ve never found one I liked but that one looks pretty nice.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/off-the-wall-heavy-duty-guitar-hanger
The "hook" easily detaches from the bass. I've been doing this for about 20 years now.