Combo or Head???

[Haze]

So, I'm looking at getting a Bugera v55 (which Mike also conviently bought and demo'd) and I'm torn between the combo 1x12 version or the head version.
If I do the head for $350 I'll save $100 but have to turn around and spend around $300 for a Marshall 4x12. The combo sounds easy but I'll be stuck with a single 12" speaker.

SO - combo for $450
OR - head for $350 + ~$300 for a 4x12 =~$600

HALP SHORTSCALE!!!

[endsjustifymeans]

Can the combo be used with a cab?

[James]

but have to turn around and spend around $300 for a Marshall 4x12.

You don't have to do that. You could get an avatar 2x12 for much less.

[Will]

Lots will disagree, but here's my take:

6L6 tubes have a nasty reputation for going microphonic (and my limited experience with them bares that out). If you use a lot of volume, or especially bass, they can go bad within a few months of regular use in a combo. In a head, they're separated from the vibration so they get less damaged and can be used for longer even as they start to go microphonic. Similarly, you'll be able to use more bass and volume with a head because you don't have to worry about tube damage. I'd pick the head just for that reason alone.

Speaker cabs can be had for very little these days. My local Music Go Round can't give away 4x12"s - even nice ones can be gotten for under $150. A 2x12" would be much more reasonable for normal use, though.

[mickie08]

I would say get the head and order the Bugera 2x12 cabinet for 199.00. as long as you are ordering it, you can get the return policy if you don't like it and then buy an Avatar (which unfortunately have gone up in price although still good deals) The reviews I have heard have been pretty good and I saw a demo where a guy ran a Marshall head through a Marshall 4x12 1960 and then through a Bugera 4x12. I couldn't hear any real difference.

Also, music 123 is still doing 20% off Bugera pre-orders (not sure how long, but I just checked it while typing this.)

So:

349
199

548 +20% off

439.99 plus shipping for the cabinet....

V55 head and 2x12 cabinet for 440 seems the deal to beat...

[Haze]

*googles* yes the combos have 4-8-16 ohm outs
I'll research the avatar 2x12s price + shipping...

[Haze]

Thanks Mickie! I don't get my paycheck until the 15th but it should come in around $800
$500 out of pocket for a few weeks doesn't sound like a great idea at the moment but if it's the only chance to get 20% off I might have to do it. But I won't be able to until the 15th so HOPEFULLY they'll still be doing that

head plus a bugera 2x12 is sounding pretty good to me

[mickie08]

Call them and see how long they are expecting to have that deal going on. It might end this week and it might be a long term thing.

[Chicago Mike]

I loved heads and cabs until I started giging reguallary...then it's been combos ever since for convience and ease of transport.

Heads are nice b/c you can swap cabs round for different sounds if you're searching for something different but a good 1x12 combo still is hard to be in a live and espically recording situation.

I've had combos that rattled like buckets of bolts but others that didn't. Heads have been more reliable in general, but honestly I've had two heads blow up but never a combo. SO I think that's a wash.

[Sloan]

LOTS OF CABS EVERYWHERE.

I'm tired of being bigger than my amps, so i'm looking to get like four fucking cabs. it's gonna be FUCKING TRILL.

[Chicago Mike]

so i'm looking to get like four fucking cabs. it's gonna be FUCKING TRILL.

This is why you kick so much fucking ass.