Members elsupermanny14 Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I'm curious what the differences are...other then yes one is a stack and one is an amp. For example an ACC30 combo and an ACC30 head with a 2x12 stack and other examples too the Little Giant 5w stack to the Little Giant 5w combo. Assuming you're using the matching cabinet what is the tonal difference in a stack and a combo? What are the advantages or disadvantages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 advantages for stack: separate pieces are often easier to carry than a heavy combo combos can vibrate from the frequencies produced by your speaker, this makes your tubes rattle, sometimes they can go microphonic faster, other times its just an annoyance... stacks wont have that problem as the cab and amp are separated you can play with your sound more with stacks, experiment with different speaker combinations, as well as closed and open back cabs, for combos, you are usually stuck with open back cabs if thats what you get (not a good idea to close it up because it will overheat) advantages of combos: its a neat small package, this makes it fairly convenient in terms of space, and portability if its a small combo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Stacks have volume and projection. Combo's have tone. It's hard to crank either...but it's easier to crank a combo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Stacks have volume and projection.Combo's have tone.It's hard to crank either...but it's easier to crank a combo. I'm not critisizing, but explain the combo's having tone part. I personally only own and play combos at the moment. Are you saying there is a tonal advantage to combos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I'm not critisizing, but explain the combo's having tone part. I personally only own and play combos at the moment. Are you saying there is a tonal advantage to combos? USUALLY, combos have lower wattage than their head counterpart. Meaning you can crank the combo and get poweramp breakup. That is what I mean by better tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I'm not critisizing, but explain the combo's having tone part. I personally only own and play combos at the moment. Are you saying there is a tonal advantage to combos? well when you have the amp, and the speakers in separate enclosures you lose the tone, its really that simple..... whats not to get:idk: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 But you can mix and match head's and cabinets...which makes that a cheaper alternative to combos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 USUALLY, combos have lower wattage than their head counterpart. Meaning you can crank the combo and get poweramp breakup.That is what I mean by better tone. what about low powered heads....... or high powered combos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimmypage Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Advantages of stack---------------Blow doors off:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roygbiv Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Combo's have tone. FALSE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 well when you have the amp, and the speakers in separate enclosures you lose the tone, its really that simple..... whats not to get:idk: We get it...apparently he don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Yeah...Bassman's/Bluesbreakers/Deluxes don't have tone. I'm not gonna argue any more...I'm not trying to argue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 the only real problem I have encountered with combos in my time has been excessive vibration and microphonic tubes as a result..... not a problem for low volume players, but once you get above conversation volume, it gets annoying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Advantages of stack---------------Blow doors off:thu: And they're tough to get poweramp breakup WITHOUT blowing doors off. Do you mainly play stadiums?:poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abstract Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 the only real problem I have encountered with combos in my time has been excessive vibration and microphonic tubes as a result..... not a problem for low volume players, but once you get above conversation volume, it gets annoying... Better tubes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Better tubes? its not always the tubes, its different parts of the amp that vibrate too..... not a problem for the sturdier built amps, say Boogies and upwards in the boutique market.... but for the more budget oriented tube amps, I have found it to be a problem (those are mostly what the OP was refering to I gather) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Motorcycle Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Stack looks cool behind you. Combo looks wimpy. or... Stack guys are compensating for something - combo guys aren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimmypage Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 And they're tough to get poweramp breakup WITHOUT blowing doors off. Do you mainly play stadiums?:poke: NO but willing to learn!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CGord Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Can't bring teh br00talz with a combo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katintokyo Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I think it is a lot easier to sit on MOST combos and play, whereas you probably have to stand up and play with a STACK. That means you get better Metal poses, but can't look as laid back when playing the blues. You need a chair if you're BBKing or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I own both. Advantages : Combo - Easy to carry, easy to pack, some can get pretty loud Stack - Awsome and impressive looking to the audience, generally really loud for big venues Disadvantages : Combo - Not as impressive looking or as loud as a stack Stack - Frickin heavy, takes lots of muscle to move, takes a bigger vehicle to transport, usually too loud in the hands of newbies FWIW. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TravvyBear Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I'm getting a 15w Blackheart stack...just for looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shred and roll Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 My Marshall TSL602 combo weighs 82 LBS. That's a lot to haul around when getting re-tubed. I wish I had waited to get the head version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hvymtl939 Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 I use a boogie rocket 44 with a 4x12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted February 5, 2008 Members Share Posted February 5, 2008 Yeah...Bassman's/Bluesbreakers/Deluxes don't have tone.I'm not gonna argue any more...I'm not trying to argue. Sorry, I didn't mean to set that off. I wonder what the difference would be between the same amp, speakers and cab size in a combo format and a stack format. Just curious. I have dealt with the downfalls of combos for sure. Microphonic tubes, rattles, and other strange noises due to vibration, but have never taken the effort to take out the chassis to see if what it would sound like seperated. I know how to effectively fix the issues when they arrise, but its still a pain when it does happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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