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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 149
Location: New York, NY | OK, so I've been playing for a few years and I'm thinking about buying a new (or vintage) amp. Till now I've always just used my Roland Micro Cube, which is great but I'm looking for some more juice so I can play out too.
My big question is... what's the difference between a large (100 wattish) fender type amp which is one piece, or the Marshall 1/2 stack type with the guitar head and speaker (what is a guitar head anyway?). Is it possible to just play through the amp head at home and store the speaker of a 1/2 stack for when I play out? If this sounds naive, it is, cause while I consider myself knowledgable about guitars, I don't know squat about the amps that make them sound so good. :)
Thanks all.
Cheers,
JT |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Interesting question with a lot of possible responses. My first observation is that if I were in your position, I would go out and try a bunch of different amps to see which one provides you with the tone you want. There are a lot of different amps for good reason. There are also modeling amps that digitally copy many different famous amps and approximate their sound. The user switches between them. (And there are modeling pedals, too.)
Another question is the application. A Marshall stack can stimulate some testosterone, but is too much stage volume for me anymore -- not to mention a lot to haul around. In my last electric band, I used a Peavey Classic 30, a tube amp with a single 12", and mic'd the sweetspot and ran it through the house mix. That amp had amazing tone for the cost -- I am cheap by nature -- and it was extremely portable. There are many better sounding amps, but they are probably going to cost a lot more.
I suspect the title amp 'head', or brain, was developed to distinguish it from a combo amp, which is what most people think of when they here the word 'amp'. One that has a headphone jack can be used for practice without the cabinet if the amp is designed for that function.
A more precise answer to this question, from me, would require knowing more about the band and how it is going to be used. A few guys jamming with a loud drummer usually requires a pretty loud amp. A band using a sound system with monitors and mains opens up a lot of other possibilities.
You might want to investigate good ear protection, too! |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | What Paul says...
I find it amazing that even some pretty heavy metal type rock bands appear on stage will some pretty small "all in one" amp/speaker combos that are mic'd to the PA and really spank a lot of big stack combo's.
The "head" typically refers only to the amplifier section. This is one half of what you need to play without headphones...the other have being the speaker (and box).
A combo or combination amp has the amp head mounted in the box with the speaker and really makes nice portable set up that is still loud enough for all but auditorium settings.
As Paul said, go and try the features, size and sound of several different amps to see what you like, and check out some gear review places like Harmony Central.
I have a friend who bought a Fender cybertwin and loves the on-board electronics. I typically play my electric through a pedal direct into my PA system just because I don't want any more junk to haul around and it works fine (but can get lost in the mix compared to a seperate mic'd amp).
I would lean toward a seperate combo amp with a couple of 10's or a single 12 as my first unit and just buy an effects pedal to go with it rather than a unit with the on-board electronics. But that is just a preference. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I came to the conclusion years ago that a good 20 to 30 watt tube combo is more than enough. My back and my ears continually thank me for that decision |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I tend to agree with Paul.A few years ago I realized that my Twin Reverb loaded with JBL's, was just too heavy to haul to every gig.
About that time Peavey came out with the Classic 410 series. Guitar Player Mag. gave it a great review in a shootout.
The owner of my local music shop gave me the 410 for a weekend to try it on a gig. It sounded great in the store and even better on stage. Needless to say, I bought it on Monday with no regrets. (10 years ago)
I have found that what sounds good in the store doesn't mean, for whatever reason, that it will sound good in your working environment.
I am now down to a Special 130 as I am doing a regular jazz gig. It is small, single 12, lots of power, 130 watts, pretty light, and great eq.
Tomorrow may bring a new challenge. I still have the Twin just in case.
Good luck.
Tom |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | I've got a Peavey Special 130 as well. It's normally too much for small setups and there's just nothing between 0 and 1 on the volume, anything over 4 & the cops are gonna be knocking on the door. I downsized to a Crate Acoustic CA60 last year, much better handling with an Ovation on one side and vocal's on the other. The Roland Micro cube is my traveling/practice amp for all situations short of fullblown group get-togethers.
Tim |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I agree with you Tim that the Special 130 can bring on the cops. I generally do my jazz gig with a number of horns, piano, bass and drums.
I generally run the amp around 3. The treble is pretty much rolled off on my guitar, so a little extra omph from the amp allows me to cut through, much like a horn.
In a pinch I also use the 130 with my Balladeer special. I use an MXR eq to keep things under control.
Tom |
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OT: Electric amps
