Home players with a few amps: heads or combos?

allen · December 2023

I’ve got 3 combo amps and 1 head and now got gas to add to the collection.

Trouble is, space is an issue.

Those of you who have got a few amps what’s your preference? Multiple heads with one or two cabs? Or is it too much hassle and easier to have combos? What are the pros and cons?

Pics of your setup?

Moe_Zambeek · December 2023

I prefer combos and I don’t really know why, having grown up on bands who used stacks.

I have a head and cab and a 1x12 combo at the mo.

I was all-in on combos last year but the tube rattle got to me, plus as a lot of places have backline cabs it makes sense to have a head available…

ElectricXII · December 2023

Three combos here, but I gig two of them. At home, strictly a Tweed Princeton clone in a Tweed Deluxe-sized cabinet.

joeW · December 2023

4 combos 3 heads 2 cabs. No preference. Not much space either… oh well

Fiftyshadesofjay · December 2023

A few heads and a few cabs here. I play out and rehearse regularly and combos are just a massive pain to move around, not to mention the fact you can use cabs at shared gigs/rehearsal rooms etc.

Bear in mind I like a 2x12 at least which always weighs a ton in combo format, might not be such an issue for a 1x12.

spirit7 · December 2023

7 heads 3 cabs here!

sweepy · December 2023

Three Heads
Two Rock CRS 50
Friedman BE100
Selmer TnB 50

Four Cabs
PRS Stealth 2x12
Marshall Stereo 2x12
Zilla 1x12

Custom 1x12

Got to have proper amps and decent cabs, if you can plug straight in and feel inspired then it’s worth it

Crazed_Fandango · December 2023

Nu>X Mighty Space
Laney Linebacker 50w combo
Victory V40 Deluxe head and 2x12 Zilla cab

I live out of the way in a detached cottage, so I don't have to worry about neighbours, so tend to use #3 a lot. If I'm writing or short on time, I tend to use #1.

bertie · December 2023

3 "combos"

Main valve amp, with a few pedals and shit - in main "office/music room"
little Blackstar Silverline for "plug and play" in bedroom (in case Mrs bert using offce room)
THR-C for outdoor shenanigans

Stratavarious · December 2023

2 marshall combos, Mesa combo, Mesa stack Laney combo, 3 amps I made myself, two as heads / cabs and one as a combo. Bass combo and a Trace Elliott head/cab. The Mesa combo is just too heavy for me to regularly gig as a combo, so my choice today would tend to more heads and cabs,

The amps I made also share a common chasis size and I do swap them between the combo and head shell sometimes.

That said, i generally use IR cab files to fine tune recordings now, so I don’t need to mix and match much now, if at all. Game changer.

Fortheloveofguitar · December 2023

I had 10 heads a one cab with a switcher for them all.

Now down to just 4 heads

Petepassion · December 2023

AC50 and a 100w Selmer TnB heads.
Orange 4x12 cab and a Marshall jcm800 2x12 cab.

Combo’s…
Hook R20(for sale)
AC30S1
AC10
Wienbrock Gringo
Dr.Z Maz 18
Tweedy-Luxe 5e3
Boss Katana 50w
THR10

The Katana stays at work, the Orange 4x12 stays in the Transit, the rest scattered about my place. Gotta clear some really as I’m running out of space…but they all sound magnificent.

Litterick · December 2023

One room, two combos, many neighbours.

jasonbone75 · December 2023

2 heads (down from 3). 2 cabs - 2x12 and 4x12. Heads every time so much flexibility.

Cabs not used/kept at home - that is what a decent load box and impulse response is for!

HAL9000 · December 2023

Only ever owned combos. They work for me, but agree they can be on the heavy side.

stufisher · December 2023

Fiio DAC/pre-amp feeding into a Fender Mustang LT25 for everyday playing to backing music.

Orange micro terror/Mooer GE200 into a 25W Orange speaker for when I have plenty of time to explore new noises.

Vox MV50 rock into Harley Benton G112 Celestion cab for when Mrs F is out and there are no neighbours to complain.

Nux Mighty Air for downstairs sofa noodling and for when at our caravan.

My old 30W HH cab is now boxed up and residing in the loft because I have no space in the spare bedroom.

Modulus_Amps · December 2023

in my playing room I have 17 heads, 7 cabs, 3 combo's, 3 load boxes.

Some amps the combo cab shape/size is very much apart of the sound, so that is something to be aware of.

allen · December 2023

Thanks all. I'm currently fighting the idea of buying another amp. It's a struggle, but I take one day at a time.

At least some people have several combo amps so I wouldn't be a complete loony. Although I don't play out - so that's a bit bad.

Yorkie · December 2023

Three combos here: Marshall DSL20, Vox AC15 and a farty micro cube

Lestratcaster · December 2023

Mostly combos, 2 Marshall DSL's and a Peavey head that's far too loud with my Orange 4x12 but its in storage in the garage so hardly gets played.

timmypix · December 2023

2 heads and currently cabless - run the heads through a Two Notes Torpedo Live into speakers when I want to play the amps. Bit of a faff though as I can't leave it set up permanently, so it'd probably be easier if I either got a cab or went ampless for a bit.

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Home players with a few amps: heads or combos?

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