Which is better: combo or head?

The answer to that question really does depend on what you want it for.

First of all, let's get some definitions:

• Head: Guitar amplifier in a single (wooden) box. Includes the pre-amp and power amp stages.
• Combo: Guitar amplifier and speaker driver in a single wooden box. Again, includes the pre-amp and power amp stages.
• Cab: (cabinet) Wooden box including speaker drivers. Also known as the enclosure.
• Driver: the speaker inside the cab, including the cone and magnet.

For simplicity's sake, a combo is an amp with driver included. With a head, you still have to provide a driver by plugging into a cab.

For a main amp, I've always preferred to have a head and cabinet. Amplifier heads usually have more functionality than the combo versions of the same amp. There are a few brands that provide the same functionality in their top of the range amp heads and combos, but these are the exception. Sometimes the head version has an extra channel, speaker selection, a larger power output, better switching capabilities or better power-scaling options.

Transportability

The majority of combos are easier to fit in cars. It's not so much about combo vs head as it is about the number of speaker drivers. It's about breaking down the total number of units, so a 1x12 combo with a 1x12 extension is likely to be a lot easier to transport than a 2x12 combo or a head with a 2x12 cab.

Portability

When you're carrying the amp, the 1x12 combo wins outright. It's not just the weight, but the size of the box and the location of the handle.

But, and it's a big but, if you want anything larger, then switch to a head and cabinet system. 2x12 combos are heavy, especially those with large transformers. I've never liked carrying 2x12 combos between car and stage. In these cases, then a separate head and 2x12 (or even 4x12) win over a 2x12 combo. One feature worth checking is where the handles are. There are still some 2x12 combos with handles in very awkward places, especially if you don't have help to carry it.

Efficiency

Combos are easier to get ready on stage. One power cable, one instrument cable and that's it. Maybe it's a bit more complicated if you have to take the pedal board out of the back of the combo (or attach one if there's no storage), but it's a simple set-up.

At the other end of the scale, there's at least one additional cable with the head and cab; the cable for the speaker signal between amp and cab. If you're in a band, then that cable will get lost often so as a guitarist, look after it. Make sure it's easy to differentiate between that cable and your normal guitar cable.

Placement and Sound Projection

Although you can pick a combo up and place it on a table or amp stand, it's a lot easier to get a sound that projects out to the audience with a 4x12 cab. It may just be a matter of the number of speaker drivers, with a 4x12 moving more air than a 1x12 or 2x12 combo. This explains the 2x12 extension cabinets that are sold to match 2x12 combos. My preference here is the head plus 4x12 cab.

Volume

There's no actual difference that I've ever figured out. A 100W combo will have the same volume as a 100W head and cabinet assuming an equal number of speaker drivers and drivers of the same impedance. Any difference you can tell is more down to ability to have more speaker drivers with a separate head and cabinet rig than with a combo. One main difference is that some manufacturers only produce their highest power products as heads. However there's little difference in volume between 50W and 100W.

Sound Quality

I've heard some people say that the amplifier should never be in the same box as the speaker driver. It has to do with the speaker interfering with the amplifier signal. I've never noticed it, nor have I seen any evidence for it. Bear in mind that most amp heads are placed directly on the speaker cabinet anyway so wouldn't that interfere as well?

Flexibility

One of the great advantages of amp heads is the ability to use different cabinets. Don't like the cabinet or driver you're playing with, then plug into another (after having checked the power rating and impedence). It's often also easier to change the speaker drivers in a separate cab than in a combo.

There's an extra bit of flexibility in that you don't always have to take a cabinet with you. If your rehearsal space has cabs, you may be able to just take along your head and plug into whatever cabinet is already there.

Maintainability

I've always found it easier to open an amp head than combos. I'm really not that experienced in this but I've found that some combos have to be taken apart upside-down to get to the parts you want. Or that you have to remove the speaker before removing the amp or vice versa. It's a smaller space with more components so it's more likely to be awkward.

Appeal

The only thing better than a head and 4x12 combination is a full-stack consisting of an amp head and two 4x12 cabs. Combos just don't have the appeal.

A selection of combos and equivalent stacks

Blackstart HT Series

1. Blackstar HT Series HT-5 5W 1x10 Tube Guitar Combo Amp BlackThe Blackstar HT-5C is a 1x10" combo amp ideal for studio work or practice, packing all the great tone and innovative features of the award-winning HT tube pedals into a 2-channel, footswitchable tube amp format. The patent-applied-for ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) circuit gives you infinite adjustment over the characteristics of the tone control network and takes your tone from the USA to the UK and any where in between. So now you can effectively design your own tone and finally find "that sound in your head." In making the Blackstar HT-5 amplifier ideally suited to home and studio use, the aim was to develop a tube amp that sounded full and toneful even at the lowest volume level. With this in mind Blackstar designed a brand-new tube power amplifier topology. The HT-5C power amplifier is a low-powered, push-pull design which producing the crunch and breakup characteristics of a traditional 100W output stage but at a much lower volume via its 12BH7 dual-triode in push-pull configuration producing 5 watts output, which is rich in tube harmonics and compression. The HT-5 guitar combo amp also has a fully specified speaker-emulated output, further enhancing its studio credentials and allowing any guitarist to get amazing tube tone straight to tape or disk, or through headphones. It also features the unique 4x12/1x12 voicing switch, allowing you to change the tonal characteristics of the emulated signal between 2 emulated cabinet types. Add to this an effects loop with switchable level, along with 16-ohm and 8-ohm speaker outputs allowing you to run the guitar amp into an external speaker cabinet of your choice, and you have everything you need for recording or practicing.
2. Blackstar HT Series HT-5H and HT-110 Guitar Mini Half StackThis mini half stack from the HT Series pairs the Blackstar HT-5H guitar amp head with the HT-110 speaker cab delivers great tone during practice or studio work at any volume level.The Blackstar HT-5H Guitar Amp Head The HT-5H tube guitar amp from Blackstar is ideal for studio work or practice, packing all the great tone and innovative features of the award-winning HT tube pedals into a 2-channel, footswitchable tube amp format. The patent-applied-for ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) circuit gives you infinite adjustment over the characteristics of the tone control network and takes your tone from the USA to the UK and any where in between. So now you can effectively design your own tone and finally find "that sound in your head." In making the Blackstar HT-5H ideally suited to home and studio use, the aim was to develop a tube amp that sounded full in tone even at the lowest volume level. With this in mind Blackstar designed a brand-new tube power amplifier topology. The HT-5H power amplifier is a low-powered, push-pull design that produces the crunch and breakup characteristics of a traditional 100W output but at a much lower volume via its 12BH7 dual-triode in push-pull configuration producing 5 watts output and delivers rich harmonics and compression.The HT-5H amplifier head also has a fully specified speaker-emulated output, further enhancing its studio credentials and allowing any guitarist to get amazing tube tone straight to tape or disk, or through headphones. It also features the unique 4x12/1x12 voicing switch, allowing you to change the tonal characteristics of the emulated signal between 2 emulated cabinet types.Add to this an effects loop with switchable level, along with 16-ohm and 8-ohm speaker outputs allowing you to run the amp into an external speaker cabinet of your choice, and you have everything you need for recording or practicing.The HT-110 Cabinet The Blackstar HT-110 speaker cabinet packs 40W RMS and a 10" Celestion speaker for superb power delivery, and at under 24 pounds it goes wherever your music takes you.
3. Blackstar HT-5H and HT110 Mini Full Stack

Blackstar Artisan Series

1. Blackstar Artisan Series 30 30W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp BurgundyThere is something undoubtedly magical in the sonic qualities of the 30W EL84 power stage driving a pair of classic British speakers. The Blackstar Artisan 30 guitar amp takes the tone and carefully distills it, taking it to a new level of tonal purity. One channel is built around an EF86 with a 5-way Bass Shape switch and the other an ECC83 with the addition of a Voice control for extra tonal flexibility. The Master Volume delivers the pure, natural crunch that you would expect from an amp of this quality. The Artisan Series of hand wired amplifiers represents the absolute highest standard of craftsmanship and boutique tone. With the emphasis on simplicity and sonic purity, every feature on these guitar amplifiers has been refined to provide the musician with the widest range of reference vintage tones. Point-to-point tag board construction, welded steel chassis and finger jointed birch-ply cabinets are complemented by beautiful vintage red Tolex and etched aluminum panels.
2. Blackstar Artisan 30 A30H 30W Guitar Amp Head BurgundyThe Blackstar Artisan 30H is a guitar amp head that is deceptively simple in operation and yet highly flexible in functionality and tone—In keeping with its classic design, With the emphasis on simplicity and sonic purity, every feature of the Blackstar Artisan 30H amplifier head has been refined to provide you with the widest range of reference vintage tones. That's because the electronic circuitry works in harmony with the finest components and materials available. The Artisan 30H is a guitar amp built to last a lifetime. The 30W amp head effortlessly combines vintage style and rugged, road tested reliability. The point-to-point tag board construction, welded steel chassis and finger-jointed birch-ply cabinet are complemented by beautiful vintage red Tolex and etched aluminum panels. Power AmplifierThe Blackstar Artisan 30H power amplifier uses 4 EL84 power pentode tubes in Class A bias. The EL84s used are graded in terms of quiescent operating point and transconductance, to give you excellent hum performance and dynamic feel. The Blackstar Artisan 30H power amplifier operates in 2 modes, namely push-pull (30W) or single-ended (10W), depending on the setting of the power amplifier mode control. This control is designed to maintain the optimum operating point in both single-ended and push-pull modes to ensure maximum performance.In push-pull mode the power amplifier takes on characteristics similar to that of a Class A early '60s British amplifier. The single-ended mode allows the generation of the critical power amplifier harmonic distortion at a much lower volume. The lower power setting is particularly effective for home and studio use.A cathode-coupled phase splitter enhances the power amplifier and provides balance in the power amplifier drive as well as superb dynamic response. In keeping with the vintage sonic signature of the Blackstar Artisan 30H, the use of a tube rectifier adds compression to the power amplifier response and is critical in generating its feel and responsiveness. The GZ34 tube rectifier used in the Artisan 30H is also found in other classic designs. With an amplifier that is built to last, reliability of the electronics circuitry is essential.PreamplierChannel 1 – The ECC83 ChannelHi/Lo inputs provide perfect matching either directly to the guitar (high sensitivity) or for connection to higher output effects pedals (low sensitivity). This channel is based on the EF86 preamplifier pentode tube. Originally, this tube was most commonly used in high-end audio applications due to its high gain and low noise characteristics. However, in very early American guitar amplifier designs a pentode was used in the preamplifier circuit. The use of a pentode in these early designs provided unique gain and compression characteristics that make these amplifiers so revered for studio use today. The extra gain of the EF86 allows the power amplifier to be driven harder for more compression and rich harmonic distortion.
3. Blackstar Artisan A212 120W 2x12 Guitar Extension Cabinet BurgundyThe Blackstar Artisan 212 guitar speaker cabinet is a classic-sized 2x12 design packed with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. Constructed from premium grade materials and using traditional methods, the Artisan A 212 speaker cab's finger-jointed, birch-ply cabinet delivers awesome tone and projection.

Marshall JVM

1. Marshall JVM Series JVM410C Tube Combo AmpIn a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 4-channel JVM410C 100-Watt, 2x12" combo is the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made. It also boasts more Gain than any other Marshall to date and that's really saying something!!Each of its 4-channels Clean, Crunch, OD1 & OD2 are not only completely independent of each other, they all boast three Modes, all 12 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 4-channel effectively 12 Marshalls in one! The JVM410C has built-in, studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls. Even though the head and combo both house 28 controls and 8 LED switches on their front panels, they're incredibly simple to understand because of the extremely logical layout. Each of the 4 channels has the usual suspects when it comes to controls Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble & Gain accounting for 20 of the 28 controls right away. Take away the 4 reverb controls and you're only left with 4 Master controls 2 master volumes plus Resonance and Presence.Add to this an ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 6-way footswitch boasts 7 LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable. From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM410C all-valve combo amp will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.
2. Marshall JVM Series JVM410H Tube Amp HeadIn a nutshell, the Marshall all-valve, 4-channel JVM410H 100-Watt tube head is the most versatile Marshall amplifier ever made. It also boasts more gain than any other Marshall to date-and that's really saying something!Each of its 4 channels-Clean, Crunch, OD1 & OD2 are not only completely independent of each other, they all boast 3 Modes, all 12 of which are footswitchable and feature their own unique gain structure. It makes the JVM 4-channel effectively 12 Marshalls in one! The JVM410H has studio-quality digital reverb with a level control for each channel. This is also footswitchable, as are the amp's two Master Volume controls and the Series/Parallel effects loop. Resonance and Presence are equipped with master controls. Even though the head and combo both house 28 controls and 8 LED switches on their front panels, they're incredibly simple to understand because of the extremely logical layout. Each of the 4 channels has the usual suspects when it comes to controls Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble & Gain-accounting for 20 of the 28 controls right away. Take away the 4 reverb controls and you're only left with 4 Master controls-2 Master Volumes plus Resonance & Presence. Add to this an ingenious footswitch (UK patent pending) and the fact all the amp's switching (channel/modes, Reverb, Master Volume selection, FX loop) can be done via MIDI and you're looking at an incredibly flexible amp! The 6-way footswitch boasts 7 LEDs and memory, plus it connects to the amp via a regular guitar cable.From the cleanest clean to the filthiest distortion ever found in a Marshall and all points in-between, the JVM410H all-valve amp head will give you whatever tone you need right when you need it.

Marshall Vintage Modern

1. Marshall Vintage Modern 2266 Tube Combo AmpThe Marshall Vintage Modern 2266C 50 Watt 2 x 12 is an all-valve single channel amplifier with a choice of two dynamic ranges selectable by footswitch. The Low range equates to the performance you would come to expect from a stock vintage Marshall amplifier in terms of tone and available gain. The High range adds an extra preamp valve into the signal path, facilitating those classic hard rock tones of the seventies. Add to this the ability to dynamically interface with your instrument's Volume and Tone controls and the experience translates into a truly expressive and organic feel in performance. Two frequency selective Pre-amp Volumes (Gains) - Body and Detail - facilitate greater flexibility of tonal shaping for individual guitars and styles while the power amplifier is heavily based on the first Marshall amplifiers to be produced, with two KT66 output valves yielding that substantial fat and smooth tone. A MID Boost switch on the front panel fattens the tone even more while a traditional Marshall tone control circuit enables fine tuning of your sound. A master volume has been included in order to practically manage the output levels at all venues. This is implemented after the phase splitter in order to fully exploit maximum preamp drive when the master is turned down low. A reverb level control mixes the on board plate reverb with the direct signal to whatever degree the player chooses. The reverb can be toggled on and off via the footswitch.Finally, a series FX loop is provided for those players who wish to use outboard effect to further enhance their sound. Loop levels of 10dB and +4dB are catered for via rear panel switch as well as the option to completely bypass this feature if it is not required. The Combo comes fitted with two Celestion G12C 25 Watt greenback speakers enabling stand-alone performance. There is a facility for using an extension cab if required. The cosmetics are also a carefully crafted hybrid of old and new styles made even more dramatic by the deep purple vinyl that covers the entire series.
2. Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp HeadThe Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp Head is an all-valve amplifier with a choice of two dynamic ranges selectable by footswitch. The Low range equates equates to the performance you would come to expect from a stock vintage Marshall amplifier in terms of tone and available gain. The High range adds an extra preamp valve into the signal path, facilitating those classic hard rock tones of the seventies. Add to this the ability to dynamically interface with your instrument's Volume and Tone controls and the experience translates into a truly expressive and organic feel in performance. Two frequency selective Pre-amp Volumes (Gains) - Body and Detail - facilitate greater flexibility in tone shaping for individual guitars and styles while the power amplifier is heavily influenced by the first Marshall amplifiers to be produced, with four KT66 output valves yielding that substantial, fat and smooth tone. A MID Boost switch on the front panel fattens the tone even more while a traditional Marshall tone control circuit enables fine tuning of your sound. A master volume has been included in order to practically manage the output levels at all venues. This is implemented after the phase splitter in order to fully exploit maximum preamp drive when the master is turned down low. A reverb level control mixes the on board plate reverb with the direct signal to whatever degree the player chooses. The reverb can be toggled on and off via the footswitch. Finally, a series FX loop is provided for those players who wish to use outboard effects to further enhance their sound. Loop levels of 10dB and +4dB can be controlled via a rear panel switch as well as the option to completely bypass this feature if it is not required. The cosmetics are also a carefully crafted hybrid of old and new styles made even more dramatic by the deep purple vinyl that covers the entire series.

Engl Classic

1. Engl Classic 50W 2x10 Guitar Combo AmpThe Engl Classic Tube 50 delivers 100% vintage tube tone in an amplifier that lets vintage meet the demands of the 21st century. 2 channels with separate gain and master volume control deliver a wide range of vintage tones. Up to date features like FX Loop, foot switchable channels, and 2 foot switchable volume levels meet the demands of the modern guitar player without sacrificing vintage tube tone.
2. Engl Classic Tube 50 50W Guitar Amp HeadThe Engl Classic Tube 50 is an ideal guitar amp head for vintage tone connoisseurs. The Classic 50 is your amp if you like to play with warm shimmering clean sounds and cut through with fat sustain and singing, creamy lead tones. This is an amp that jazz players and blues rockers alike will appreciate. Features an effects loop, reverb, and channel switching.
3. Engl Classic 2x10 60W Guitar Extension CabinetThis speaker features the crunchy character of the amp. Perfect for small clubs.

There are other options

I haven't mentioned rack systems or DI/modelling systems into the PA. I'll get to them in later articles.